The Blazi Gang

Here's to 2012...

2012-01-04T16:50:00.002-05:00

Where did 2011 go?? I sit here four days into January and am amazed that this past year went by so fast. It was a good one though.

We did so much last year. It was a year filled with lots of love…laughter…prayer…fear…tears…uncertainties…excitement…growth…passports….and life. That’s what we do around here…we just live life. I love my crazy life…I really do!

We saw the ocean a bunch last year and we spent countless hours riding our bikes and swimming in the surf. It’s my favorite place on earth to be…and I look forward to spending several weeks there this spring and summer! St. Simon’s Island is truly my happy place and I would pick it over any tropical destination. So thankful for my in-laws and them allowing us to spend time with them there at their home!! It’s seriously so cool!!

We surprised the kids and took them to Disney World this spring! It was a dream come true for sure…I never thought we would get to take them. They loved it and we just had the best time. And while it was a dream of ours to go to Disney…while we were there Ric and Josh went to the Ligonier conference and Ric got to meet several of their heroes in the faith…RC Sproul, RC Sproul Jr., and John Piper. They loved the conference…and I loved the pool so it worked out great! Can’t wait to go this spring!!!

This year the kids went on the youth retreat and our mission trip with us. It was good to have them with us and let them see us do ministry and take part in it as well. I was so proud of them this summer on the mission trip and how hard they worked alongside our teenagers. They are good kids! We hope to take them skiing again this winter when our church goes on our family ski trip. They love to ski!!

Ric went to Ecuador twice this year and our lives were forever changed. Our church planted a church in the mountains of Ecuador. Shelby would find a dime on the ground and say “this is for Ecuador”. Ric went just about 3 weeks ago and he got to see the church building almost finished and one day I pray that our entire family will get to go and minister there.

I took a lot of pictures…a lot…kinda thankful for the winter and a little down time. I photographed more people than I count…did 3 weddings…and just loved being behind the camera. I really am grateful for the opportunity God has given me with taking pictures. Hoping to learn as much as I can during this break time and come back in the spring ready to go!

I got to visit with my family more this year than I have in the past. We made the journey up 85 four times this year. It was so good to be there and visit with my family. Living so far away from them for 11 years hasn’t been ideal, but I am so thankful for the time I get to see them!

I once again got to be part of an amazing church body. We have been on staff at the same church for over 12 years. We have been through so many ups and downs in ministry…even times I wanted to just throw in the towel, but thankful that God didn’t let us. We love our church and the people in it. Our kids are there….all the time…so much so, we dubbed them the “church rats”. I was a “gym rat” growing up playing ball….I think I would much rather my kids be “church rats”!! Thankful they love being there and being around our teenagers!

The kids are doing marvelously at school. They are learning so much and enjoy being there…and we love our little school here in town. I am not looking forward to next fall though…all 4 will be in school and then what in the world am I gonna do??? All I have done for the last 10 years is be a stay at home mom….I dread August….DREAD it!! The kids are still playing sports…not sure what this spring will hold for us…last year they all played baseball/softball, but not sure if they want to do that again. I’m game for whatever they want so we will wait and see when it comes around. Jesse started gymnastics this year and is a freak of nature. He does cartwheels and handstands and is unbelievable. He has more body control than I do!!

I have thought a lot about my goals for the next year. I first and foremost just want to know God…get deep in His word and just know Him. I want to really honor Him in every area of my life…in my home…my relationships…my ministry…my photography…my body. I want to do more and be better. So many times I get caught up in the craziness of our lives and feel like a little boat out in the middle of the water…just tossing and turning and floating. I want to, despite how busy and crazy our lives are, to live with a purpose. I was teaching Romans 15 in Sunday school this week and read a verse that stopped me…and it almost brought me to tears. Paul was finishing up his letter to Rome and he was telling them about all that God had done through him and he was just boasting on God and His greatness. He told them about his ministry and why he does what he does and then he said this to them:

“and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,

and those who have never heard will understand.”

(Romans 15:20-21 ESV)

Those words gripped at my heart…for what they said and for the sad fact that I don’t have a purpose statement like that. Paul, who was one of the greatest men of faith to walk the earth, had a vision…a purpose for his life…and we all know that he was successful in doing what he had set out to do. It convicted me to find a purpose/vision statement for my life…for my family. We have one for ministry, but not personally. I don’t know what it will be…I’m still working on it…but I know I need one.

2011 was good to the Blazi’s…but 2012…it’s gonna blow my mind…I just know it!! To God be the Glory…great things HE has done!!

Don't get crazy...

2011-12-02T12:04:00.000-05:00

It's been crazy around here...

I don't feel like I have had time to even catch my breath! It's a good crazy I guess...but crazy none the less. We have been super busy with school, church, sports...and photo shoots! I have had a photo shoot every weekend for the best 2 months and most of the time I have had more than one. I have loved it, but boy am I ready for a break from it!

Ric leaves for Ecuador in a few short days and we are super excited for him. A team from our church is going over to be there for the finishing of the church building in Zhud. It has been a neat process to be a part of and I can't wait for the days ahead when we really get in and minister to the people of the hill. I am sad that I am not going, but I just didn't feel like this was the time for me to go. I will stay home and tend to my flock here...and pray that I make it by myself for a week!

The kids are in a Christmas parade tomorrow night and are so excited. They are singing "Little Drummer Boy" and Jesse has parumpumed all over our house for the past few weeks. He loves to sing! I am excited to go watch them and cheer them on!

Basketball has started and I am coaching two teams...what was I thinking?? I am coaching both of my girls again and am really excited for the season to get underway. Addie is a natural...and Shelby has an amazing shot for a 6 year old.

Charlie is playing cello at school and I so hope he sticks with it...I love hearing him practice! It is such a beautiful instrument. Addie has taken up violin and I love it as well...it's the one instrument that I wish I had learned to play. I love music and hope that my kids stay passionate about it!

Shelby Jean is just taking off at school. She is reading so good. If she doesn't know a word, then she will spell it out for me and ask me what it is. It only takes one time and then she knows the word. I am amazed at how she soaks things up!

I am going to try and get back in the swing of things with my blog...I have fallen way behind and have just been in a writing funk! Looking forward to getting back on here and keeping my family updated on the Blazi happenings!

The Lost get found…even if you have to yell for help…

2011-10-18T13:55:00.001-04:00

The kids had fall break a week or so ago and we decided to make the trek up to Virginia to visit with my family. We had an amazing weekend, filled with laughter…lots of food…and fun. I love going home and it really refreshes me…just to be around “my people” and to just be. I love my family…I do. I hate living so far away…something that has gotten to be normal…but never easy!

On Saturday we decided to head up to the pumpkin patch. It was a gorgeous day…the sun was out…there was a slight breeze…all seemed right with the world for a little while. We paid our way to get in…and on a side note…that place was a racket…you have to pay an arm and a leg to get in and then buy tokens to do all of the activities. They made a FORTUNE off of us alone….and I bet there were over a thousand people there in the same time span we were. I am seriously looking into having a pumpkin patch in my back yard next year…I can grow some pumpkins…do a hay ride…have a pumpkin launcher….but I will not be having a corn maze. I venture to say that I will NEVER go in one again!!!

We had done all of the overpriced activities for the day and the last thing we were going to do was the corn maze. There were 4 adult women…and 7 kids. We had a map…clues…we were ready to go. We were taking pictures going in and thinking this is gonnna be so much fun….oh, little did we know. About 5 minutes into the maze we ran across a guy that worked there and he said we were going in the right direction…about that time a family walked up all disheveled…corn in their hair…sweat dripping off their brow (ok…I am exaggerating, but they were in a panic)…”you have got to get us out of here…we have small kids and we are done…we can’t find our way out”!!! That should have been clue #1…note to self!!

We walk around for what seems like forever…we are still laughing at this point. Then we realize that we are walking in circles and we haven’t seen a clue in ages. We soon found a “guide” who told us to take a left than a right…than another left…to get to the next clue. Well, we did what he said and never found the clue and again proceed to walk in circles for the next 15 minutes. AT this point JB is exhausted…he is 3…I have him on my hip…my sister-in-law is carrying her 4 year old…and half the big kids are dragging through the hot corn field…(the breeze had left us at this point)!! I start yelling for help…my mom is done…we just want out of this stupid maze…who cares how we have to get out!!!

We wander and finally see the blaze orange shirt…(a dude that works there)…we tell him he has to get us out…that he isn’t going to tell us how to get out, he is gonna walk us straight through this maze to the exit!!! He begins to walk us and we are soon joined by a few other families…just trying to get out. I ask him very politely…since we just basically threatened him with his life if he didn’t get us out…”you’re not supposed to help us are you?”. To which he replied with his sweet country smile “no m’am…not really”. Well, Mr. “no m’am not really” got us lost a few times and couldn’t really read the map…but then…but then…he realized where we were and within minutes we were at the exit. I threw myself across the table at the entrance and looked that sweet lady in the eyes and said “ never…ever let people with small children go in that maze…ever”!!! She just smiled and said “I told you it was the more difficult maze”…which I sweetly responded with “difficult…how about impossible…your worker even got lost”…and then I told her to have a lovely day…really I did.

We were out and we were done…forget the hayride…we needed a car ride to the closest restaurant so we could get these poor kids something to drink and eat. We laughed about it…the horrible corn maze, but I think we all decided that we won’t make that mistake again. The guys picked at us and laughed…Ric thought it was funny…and then I heard on the news the next night about a couple calling 911 cause they were lost in a corn maze and I looked at Ric and said “see…we aren’t the only people that get lost…and why didn’t I think to call 911???”.

This picture was taken upon exiting the maze...see how pathetic they looked...oh wait that was the adults who aren't in the picture...

And that my friends was how the lost got found…

Honor...

2011-09-29T15:49:00.000-04:00

I photographed a wedding a few weekends ago for one of my first teenagers in youth ministry. I remember the day I met her...she was a tiny little thing...going into the six grade and when she smiled she had more dimples than I could even count. I love this young girl that has grown up before my eyes. There was a time in her life when she didn't love us so much...we aren't the kind of youth pastor/wife that gives up on kids...and when we wouldn't give up on her, she wrote us a note and told us to get out of her life...yeah that didn't work. My husband married her!!! We laugh about it today...she has always had a special place in my heart...no matter what!!

She looked gorgeous on her wedding day...like Hollywood glamour. My son was her ring bearer and thought he was hot stuff...and well, he was. He looked so stinkin' cute that day in his tux and Chuck Taylors. He loves his "Header" and wanted to be beside her all day.

I was taken pictures of the guys...Charlie, her now husband, is a Marine and was in his dress uniform. I loved the look of it, although I think he was horribly uncomfortable. I took pictures of him and his boys...goofing off...being serious...you know the normal. His grandfather walked up while we were taking pictures and Charlie immediately went to hug him. His grandfather was a very important figure in his life growing up...He was a Marine as well. Charlie asked me to take their picture and as his grandfather slung his arm around, Charlie went to do the same. His grandfather immediately stopped and said something to him along the lines of..."you are in uniform". Charlie dropped his arm and stood at attention for his pictures with him.

Some may say that is silly...it's a picture. I'm not in the military and don't have family presently serving, so I don't know what all the "codes" are...what they go by. But it spoke volumes to me what his grandfather said. It was about respect. Respect for the uniform...for his service...for our country. It was about commitment...to a cause...to a ranking. If only we lived our lives as Christians with such commitment!

During the ceremony my husband said these words as he married Heather and Charlie:

"Charlie, you have a rich family history in learning the importance of serving your country from your Grandfather and you now follow in his footsteps and proudly serve as a Marine today. As a Marine you know those Core values HONOR - Marines are held to the highest standards, ethically and morally. Respect for others is essential. Marines are expected to act responsibly in a manner befitting the title they’ve earned. COURAGE - Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to face fear and overcome it. It is the mental, moral and physical strength ingrained in every Marine. It steadies them in times of stress, carries them through every challenge and aids them in facing new and unknown confrontations. COMMITMENT - Commitment is the spirit of determination and dedication found in every Marine. It is what compels Marines to serve our country and the Corps. Every aspect of life in the Corps shows commitment, from the high standard of excellence to vigilance in training.
These very same principles are scripturally commanded and must be displayed in your marriage daily."

My prayer is that I would live my Christian life with Honor...Courage...Commitment. That I would have so much respect for the ~~uniform~~ Name that I wear...the name above all names...that I would show Him honor with the way that I carry myself. That I would show courage as I battle through this life that I live. That I would show commitment to Him above everything else...and that I would stand at attention at all times...for HIM!

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

(1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

Cats and Dogs...

2011-09-27T13:27:00.001-04:00

We got a kitten this summer. His name is Chester...sometimes we call him Chester Cheeto. He was a crazy kitten when we got him...wild!!! He scratched and bit...and let's just say I wouldn't go near him without my gardening gloves on at all times. He is now a super sweet cat...he stays outside and hunts snakes...and crickets...and field mice.

About 3 weeks or so ago we were given a dog. Here's the deal...we aren't good dog people. We have had several dogs since living in our home...my beloved Sadie died...Mocha our beautiful lab was stolen...Hogan our boxer just ran away...a lot. We don't do well with big dogs that stay outside...so we got one for inside. Some of our great friends didn't have the time to spend with him like they wanted to...they both worked and it was tough on little Levi. So we inherited this precious little Ewok. He is so sweet...such a good dog, and puts up with more wrestling than Hulk Hogan had to. Jesse thinks Levi is a toy most days...but they are pretty cute together.

I quickly introduced Levi and Chester to each other...and soon after thought that they were gonna always be at odds with each other. Chester got all puffed up...Levi was barking at him...the outlook was bleak. After a few days, I noticed them warming up to each other...playing together...chasing each other...wrestling. I soon dubbed them Milo and Otis...they have become very good buds and I think it is super cute....now if I could just get my kids to get along...all things would be right in my world!! Who says cats and dogs can't get along...they haven't seen my two!!

Young homie...

2011-09-22T12:49:00.000-04:00

I am doing another post about TV…I promise people, I do far more than watch TV! Last night was a late night…we had a big youth event at church…had to get our Insanity workout in and then I crashed on the floor while Ric watched a little TV. He woke me up and said “you have got to watch this guy sing…his story is unreal”.

He then rewinds…thank you Lord for DVR’s…the X-Factor. Now, I love singing shows…I mean I
l-o-v-e them!!! I missed Simon Cowell last season on American Idol, so to have him back…and it be on a singing show is just perfect. I watch as the story of a young man…Chris Rene…how he just got out of rehab and has been clean for 70 days. He tells his story of his childhood and how he had a great life growing up…and then taking his first drink at the age of 12 and the drugs that followed. I could hear the regret in his voice…but also the hope. Immediately you are sucked right in as he begins to sing about his life…the choices he has made…his recovery. The judges were blown away…people were on their feet…and Chris Rene was in tears.

I watched it as the judges put him through on the show…as they challenged him to stay clean…and he walked off the stage a different person. He was overwhelmed. I look at Ric and said…”that could have so been you…not the singing and rapping part(anyone that knows Ric is aware of this), but the addiction…the rehab”. He quietly shook his head and just simply said “but for the Grace of God”.

You see, my husband is a youth pastor. He is the Godliest man I know…by far. He has stood the test of time. I have watched as pastor after pastor has fallen around us…and he has stood firm…because of the Grace of God. Ric grew up in a good home….but made some poor choices growing up. He got involved in alcohol at a young age (7th grade)…got arrested several times… cost his family a lot of heart ache, tears, and money. He was kicked off of two college football teams…wasted opportunities…was on the path that Chris Rene was on. He drank…a lot. He was never heavy into drugs, but did dabble in it. That could have been my husband. He could have continued down that path of destruction…continuing living in rebellion…but for the grace of God!

You see, God interrupted my husband’s life…Ric wasn’t looking for God…seeking Him out. No, God came and invaded Ric’s life and he is changed forever. Ric is changed...he is a different man because of the grace of God. He extended His hand of mercy…took away the addiction...the shame…the sin…and he healed him…forever. Ric stands today, a man…radically changed. He has been transformed…I wrote about that a little bit yesterday…and now uses his life to minister to others…because of the grace of God. That kind of story gets me every time…every time!

I thought about all of this this morning as I was drinking my coffee…so many hurting people out there. So many people enslaved to sin…to addiction. What am I doing about it…what are we doing about? Yesterday Facebook changed…50% of the updates I saw were people fussing about that…it was on the news people! When are we gonna get in an uproar over the sin that is running rampant in the world…the babies that are killed everyday…the people that have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ? I’m not saying it’s bad to be upset over Facebook changing, but in the big scheme of things there are far more important things that should ruffle my feathers.

I will walk today mindful of His grace…mindful of hurting people…mindful of those in need…and I can only hope that I do something about it. But for the Grace of God…I would be lost and undone. Grateful that I am not!

“For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

1 Corinthians 15:9,10

Here is the video of Chris's story...it's poor quality but you can still hear his story!

You wear doubt like a coat...

2011-09-21T08:55:00.000-04:00

Last night my favorite show premiered for it's new season....The Biggest Loser. I love this show...love what it does for people's lives.

I came into this new season...not quite sure what to think. New trainers...Jillian was gone, and I wasn't sure how it would be. I like them...ok...I love Dolvett Quince! He is hard core...in your face...but man, I think he is a motivator. I watched him train his team...yelling at them...all up in their grill...and I look at Ric and said "I like him". Anna is good...yeah, she's beautiful and size -4...but whatev! She has a good heart...I cried when she ran to help her team in the challenge...I have a soft spot for her 'cause she is working with the "old people"....I may really like her! Bob is Bob...there are no words for him. I have loved him since the first season...he will always be my favorite (although he does need a haircut)!!

I cried several times through the show...yeah I'm a big baby. I love seeing the contestants lives...love seeing them go through transformation...inside and out. I cried when the NFL player layed on the floor in a blubbering mess...weeping because he was ashamed of who he had become. I cried when Johnny wanted to quit...the 60something year old who was done...on the first day...but he didn't. He thought of his grand kids and got back on that treadmill. My favorite moment from last night was when Patrick got on the scale...continued to hem and haw about how he beats himself up...that he wasn't going to lose a lot...that he doubted himself all the time...that he wasn't confident. He lost 20 pounds people... in a week. Dolvett looks at him and says "You wear doubt like a coat...it's time to take that coat off". LOVE it!!!

Yes, I admit that seeing these peoples lives changed because of their weight loss tears me up and gets to me....but even more than that...seeing some one's life transformed by Christ. Now that is what gets me! Just like those contestants that went on the show to change their life weight wise...Jesus Christ changes our lives in every way. I have seen people changed by the power of Christ...even more dramatically than some one's weight loss. I serve a big God who can change anyone. So many of those contestants say they could never change....so many sinners say that they can't change...that they are too far gone. Only God can make us new...only God can change our lives. Just like those trainers see something great in those players....even greater than that is a Holy God that wants to love us and change us....to be unrecognizable! When we see the players at the end of the season...we will hardly recognize them, they have been so transformed. When Jesus invades our lives...we should be unrecognizable to those who knew us...we should be that different!

SO yes, I love the show...but I love seeing lives changed by Christ. Yes, I will still tear up watching the show.....but I will always be brought to tears when a life is changed forever. Yes...I love to see people lose weight and get healthy...but I love to see people's eternal destination changed more than anything! Yes, I love the Biggest Loser and seriously want Bob or Dolvett to be my trainer...but I love God and am thankful he is constantly working on me!!

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God

Writing notes...

2011-09-15T23:05:00.000-04:00

Today I had my first parent/teacher conference of the year. I met with Shelby Jean's awesome teacher, Mrs. Musick. We went over her strengths...some of the areas she needs to work on...her work ethic...and then I found out about writing notes.

I asked Amy if Shelby was a good listener...and she responded with a laugh and said, "oh, Shelby Jean is a great listener...so good that we have to write notes." She then told me that Shelby is a great multi-tasker and can be sitting at her center all the way across the room and be listening to what the teachers are saying(there is a teacher's assistant in Kindergarten here). Amy said that her and Zabrina now have to write notes if they want to discuss the progress or ability of another child in the class because little miss Shelby is ALWAYS listening!!

I laughed when she told me about the Queen(that's what we call her, ya know) and wicked listening skills...and lets not even talk about how much she remembers. I have known about her skills for a long time. She hears everything...she listens intently...she takes it in. You won't know she is listening...nope you won't...not until she tells your friends all about he conversation you had the night before!! Ha!! But, not only does she listen...she acts on what she hears. If someone is sad...she comforts them. If someone needs help with a problem...she goes to them. If someone is heartbroken...well, she will cry right along with you(she does with me all the time). I love that about my sweet Shelby!!

She is clumsy...yep, really bad...and she may or may not have an overabundance of snot(we seriously need to take her to an ENT about it) and she may spill half of her lunch on her clothes...EVERY DAY...but oh her heart...her heart is so big. So accepting...so forgiving...so ready to love...so funny...so ready to listen...because I do believe she hears with her heart. It goes straight in her ears...and straight down to heart. I love Shelby Jean and pray that I could be half the listener she is...I pray that I would have my ears so open that I would hear when someone needs me...that I would speak things in front of her that she needs to hear...that I wouldn't have to write a note(my toes got stepped on a big time when I thought of that)...oh that I would hear with my heart...and that I would not just be a hearer, but a doer of His word!

James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Then he was ten...

2011-09-08T14:07:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning early to fix my son his favorite foods for breakfast...hung balloons and streamers in the kitchen...all because he is turning 10 today. He walked down the steps all sleepy eyed and saw it all and smiled...and simply said "thanks mom...thanks for putting all this together for me(his exact words...they tickled me)".

Oh my, where did the time go?? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was scurrying around my house tyring to pack a bag because my water had broken 5 weeks early? Wasn't it yesterday that I waited three long days in the hospital before he finally decided to make his grand appearance? Wasn't it yesterday that I brought him home and was scared out of my mind because I had no clue what I was doing? I think I blinked and when I opened my eyes...then he was ten!

It seems like yesterday that he went to school for the first time...

Lost a tooth...

Played in his first game...

Dressed up like a super hero...

...but it wasn't yesterday. No, it wasn't.

It's been a grand ten years with this young man...the one who first made me a mom...the little boy that stole my heart...the little boy who could then..and now...look at me with those big brown eyes and make my heart soar. I love this son of mine...yes, I do....I feel like you were 1 just yesterday...but I turned around...and then he is ten.

I am grateful to be his mom...watch him live life everyday. Hear the things that he says...how he laughs...his smile. He is a gentle soul...and cares about people deeply. He still loves me and isn't embarrassed by me...he lit up when I walked into his school today...maybe because I had Taco Bell, but he hugged me none the less. He didn't want me to leave...wanted me to stay the rest of the day and watch him in PE...go to math with him...just hang out. He still likes me and wants me around and I am a-ok with that. Grateful that I am still "cool" in his eyes(except when I dance:) that he loves me...and most importantly, that he loves Jesus.

He is something special, my Charlie boy...and I know that God is gonna use him in BIG ways. I can't wait to see what God does thorough his life...I just pray that Charlie gets it...I mean really gets it...that it is not about anything but Jesus...He is it!

Happy Birthday Chuckie B...we love you...real big...and can't believe we turned around...and then you were ten!!! Double digits baby...you are big time for real and we couldn't be more proud of you!!!
Leap for joy my son...10 is grand indeed!!

I had the time of my life...

2011-08-31T21:11:00.002-04:00

I photographed my first wedding about two weeks ago for a dear friend of mine. Hardest thing...next to having four babies...that I have ever physically done...but just like those four babies...it was worth it. I put together a video for her of her day...she was beautiful...he was regal...it was a grand day!!! Weddings always get me sentimental about my wedding day...which I will be celebrating 11 years on Friday. I can't believe that it sometimes seems like it was yesterday...yet other times seems so long ago...Love is a beautiful thing...and I have had the time of my life!

The story

2011-08-25T17:27:00.000-04:00

I woke up last Saturday morning to a beautiful day. The sun was shining...the coffee brewed...my bags packed. No, I wasn't going out of town...I just had a photo shoot. I hate to admit it, but I was not wanting to go. I wanted to stay home with my kids...enjoy one of the last free Saturday's we had, but I loaded those bags up in my car and went.

As I'm driving along, I start to think about my camera...photography...why I even do what I do. I would never have imagined a year ago when I got my camera that I would be where I am today. That I would have shot the images that I have...that I would have invested in people the way that I have. I am by no means the best photographer nor do I know enough about the camera...but there is something there when I pull that image up to edit it that speaks to me...there's a story behind every shot.

I have been privileged to shoot families that have their arms so full, that love just oozes...kids that have personality just exploding out of them...seniors that are on the cusp of that next stage in life...couples waiting to be married and so in love...families fighting cancer...children celebrating milestones...life. I can't tell you the amount of times I pull a picture up and tears come to my eyes. Not because I'm blown away by my photography skills...no, it's the story that gets me every time...

Here are a few of those stories...

A family that centers their homes around Jesus...and music...

A little boy that just got his "magic ears" and was so proud to wear them...

A young lady anticipating her final year of high school...

A baby just starting out in life...

A family fighting cancer together...rallying around...supporting...loving...

A family that has dealt with loss and ailing parents...and yet, there's joy...

A look so deep into a little girls eyes, that she speaks volumes without a word...

(taken by my crazy talented husband)

A country...oh, a country that I have grown to love, yet never even breathed it's air...

(taken by my crazy talented husband)

Brothers and Sisters...

A tender touch between a mom and her son...a simple gesture of love...

The kids...oh, the kids...their peronalities coming out when no one is watching...catching the essence of who they are with the click of the camera...

And the faces...they speak to me the most...and I tell you, it's forever changed me...forever.

I am looking forward to learning as much as I can about my camera...photography...take some classes...but I pray that the technical side of photography never takes the place of the story. Yes, there is always a story to be told.

The end came far too soon...

2011-08-23T10:04:00.000-04:00

Summer time....I hate to say goodbye.

I took the summer off…not that anyone probably noticed, except my ad company! I needed a break from blogging…needed to spend time with my family…my friends…and with everything we did this summer, I’m not sure I would have even had time for it!

It has finally come to an end…summer that is. The kids started back to school about two weeks ago and we said goodbye to our carefree days at the pool…the water park…and late night movie watching. This has been a good summer. One of the best I remember, and yes, I was sad to see it end.

We had our first basketball camp at church, and it was a huge success. There were so many kids there…I worked in the kitchen during the day getting their lunches cooked with some of the teenagers and my awesome friend Tonya. It was all day until 3:00…so needless to say…my kid’s were exhausted by weeks end! It was so much fun and the kids learned so much!

The kids went with us on our youth retreat and stayed at camp with us. It was different having them there and sometimes hard to balance being mom and youth leader, but I am so glad they came. They got to hang around the best group of teenagers ever. Our teenagers treat our kids so good…they always play with them, make them feel important, take time for them…it means the world to me that they do that! They swam during the day and went to the beach and played with their friends. The camp went awesome and many kids walked away different than when they walked in. I love teenagers….especially these!!! Thankful that I get to work with them week after week.

After we got home we unpacked and packed again to head out on vacation to my favorite place on earth…St. Simon’s Island. We had a great week with the Blazi family. We spent a TON of time on the beach…riding bikes…catching crabs(Charlie’s favorite thing to do)…playing games….and eating, can’t forget that. The kids loved being around their little cousins and playing with them. We took the kids on a bike ride one afternoon…and lawzee…I don’t know what we were thinking. I think we rode over 5 miles, and with 3 little ones on bikes and me toting a 33 pound toddler on my bike…lets just say it was interesting. Shelby wrecked her bike a few times…bad once and it tore her poor little chin up. By the time we got back the kids were sweating, sun burnt, bleeding…and so tired they could hardly walked. It was tough, but I have to say, they had such great attitudes and never quit…they made it all the way back and I was super proud of them for it! Jesse had the best hand dealt to him…he was just along for the ride…and fell asleep before we got home!!! It was a beautiful week and we were sad to leave that little island. On the way home we stopped by Ric’s mom and uncles farm and spent the afternoon fishing in the pond and eating watermelon…the kids love being there!

The day after we got home we had our 4th annual Family Fun Day at church. We have a huge “field day” the Sunday before the 4th of July and it is the most fun! The kids love it….ok, who am I kidding…I love it and it makes me feel young again to run in a 3 legged race! We had far too much fun…laughed so many times…and left that day wet…tired…with far too many memories to count!

We went to Pooler, GA this summer for our Mission Trip with our church. It was mostly our teenagers and some adults from our church…and my 4 kiddo’s. We had the BEST time that week. We ran VBS for a church in town…and I have to say that this place was precious and I just loved the people there. The kids…their leaders…it was just an awesome week. My older two helped run the VBS and they thought they were hot stuff…Shelby traveled around with her age group and knew the answer to every question I asked. I got to teach the bible story every day…which I have to say I was hesitant about….and God just used those lessons to bless me…to work in my heart….to shape and mold me. It was exactly what I needed…and He knew it!! …I loved telling those little kids about Jesus….they would sit with eyes wide open, hanging on every word. God blessed me that week in a huge way.

We came home for a few days and then packed back up and headed north to visit with my family in Virginia. We had the best time hanging out them….we swam…ate tons of food…just had a great time. I was so sad to leave them…my nieces and nephews are growing up far too fast and I hate missing it!! It was a good week…a refreshing week and one that I am thankful for.

We were a band of gypsy’s this summer for reals…traveling 5 weeks out of the summer and even when we were here, we were still crazy busy…but boy was it good!!

So now we are back in the swing of things….packing lunches…doing homework….soccer and football are starting...and Jesse is home alone with me. We miss the sleeping late days of summer, but I am looking forward to what lies ahead. As busy as we are, it’s nice to have a normal! Looking forward to class parties….field trips…lunches in the cafeteria…and cooler weather!!!!

Goodbye summer…it’s been real….

Zhud...

2011-06-07T10:27:00.000-04:00

You can get a lot for $25,000. That much cash will buy you a 22-foot sailboat, a month at a posh resort in the Cayman Islands, a rare 1913 Australian stamp, a new car(maybe), or about 10,000 hot dogs. A lot of people live off of $25,000 a year...it's a lot of cash to some, but to others it's not much. Did you know that $25,000 can build a church in the mountains of Ecuador? The same amount of money that can buy you 10,000 hot dogs or a new car can build a church building.

25 days ago our church body began a time of fasting and praying about our church plant in Ecuador. My husband and a team of 3 other men had just gotten back from the trip. They showed a slide show of pictures set to some really great songs...they shared testimonies of what they saw God doing in the hills of Ecuador...and they challenged us. Challenged us to fast and pray...and then at the end of that time...to give. We needed $25,000 to build the church...that seemed like a huge figure. Could it be done? Would people that are struggling to make ends meet reach way down deep in their pockets to give to people they don't even know? Would people really sacrifice...would they pray? I walked away that night giddy. Giddy still from the glow of my husband being home...and giddy about what I just knew that God was going to do through a little church in Douglasville, Georgia.

Over the past 25 days I have seen people make commitments...give things that they love up...sell things...all in an effort to reach our goal of $25,000. Today was the day. The day we have prayed about and looked forward to! Tonight the body of believers that I am blessed to be a part of laid their envelops in the offering plate. Envelopes that may have had tears on them...envelopes that a lot of sweat may have gone into....envelopes that had been bathed in prayer. They took those envelopes and began the process of counting the money while the service went on.

At the end of the service our pastor announced that he had bad news and good...the bad was that we didn't give $25,000...the good...that we had gave MORE!!!! We were blessed to be able to give $40,000!!!!!!!!! I don't really care what you can buy for $40,000...but I do know that it'll build a church building in Zhud Ecuador...that it will help our pastor there, Lucas...that it will further the Gospel to lost people! I'm stoked...ready to get my Passport done...ready to go...to see...and savor! To God be the Glory...He sure has done great things!

My friend said it so well the day after that service 25 days ago. She said "some may think that we are doing such a great thing helping these people with nothing out...I think that they are actually the ones helping us". I couldn't agree more. We have it all...everything we could imagine, and yet we are still not satisfied. They have nothing...and all they need is Jesus. Maybe they are teaching us something far greater than $40,000 in 25 days...thankful that we as a body can be part of their ministry!!

The line...

2011-05-17T15:35:00.000-04:00

This is the last week for Shelby Jean to play baseball this season. She still hasn't gotten a hit yet...I have unfortunately froze at all but one game(crazy spring in the south)...and I have learned some valuable lessons from her. I love this little girl of mine and am grateful for the things she teaches me!

Several weeks ago, Shelby had a game. This is the first year that she has played ball and this was her third or fourth game. She is seriously the cutest thing in her little uniform and her "guiser"...also

known to the general public as visor.

That night her coach got a wild hair and decided to let the queen play pitcher. She doesn't have to pitch...the coach does that...she just plays the position. She has to wear a face mask and everything. When I

Saw her out there I said to my friend Lydia.."lawzee, they have no clue what they have done"! She has never played the position...thus she has no clue what to do with the ball.

The ball got hit in her general direction a few times but she wasn't going after the ball...she stood in her area and would not be moved. We soon realized that Shelby thought that she couldn't come out of the circle...the pitcher's mound has a chalk circle around it. Towards the end of the game a ball was hit to her...it landed about 8 inches outside of the circle. She charged the ball and then got to that white line and stopped. She then proceeded to step over and then back into the circle like 4 times. You could see the inner struggle of wanting to get the ball, but thinking the line was her boundary and not wanting to break the rules. Everyone saw it and everyone was dying laughing. It was so funny! Her coach quickly came over and explained that she could come out of the line...and she just smiled at him!

Shelby thought that the chalk line was a boundary that had been set up for her to tell her where to be. She was willing to follow that "rule" even if it mean letting the other team score 4 runs!

Far too often we live our lives like we have no boundaries or even worse...we want to toe the line. That we are free to whatever we please...we will walk as close to that line as we can without "crossing" it. We fail to take into consideration what this does to our lives and the lives around us! God is very clear in the scripture about the guidelines he has laid out for our lives. He laid it out all throughout scripture...old testament and new...of what is expected of us. Moses preached on the law from Mt. Sinai... Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus...Corinth...Phillipi..and others where he spoke of what we, as Christians, should and should not do...Jesus preached on specific guidelines at the Sermon on the Mount...there were obviously boundaries in the Garden! It's no suprise that boundaries and rules have been laid out for us since the beginning of time...then why do we disregard them?

We disregard them because we, being born sinful people, are selfish. We feel we have a right to do whatever we choose. We want to live life just like the world, but yet "do" church, and because of that say we are Godly. I can't tell you how many teens have asked me..."where is the line", and I automatically respond..."if that is your question, you've already crossed it...your question should be...how do I stay as far away from that line as possible". We aren't in the Word enough...we aren't "putting in" the things of God...we are consumed with the worlds standards and fitting in. We must be saturated in the Word...aware of the boundaries that have been placed...acknowledge them and obey them. It's for our good, whether we realzie it or not.

I pray that I would know the guidelines and boundaries that God has laid out for me...that I would be aware of them...fearful of breaking them, just as Shelby was of that chalk line. The game went on while Shelby was battling with her line...just as the world will go on around me, but regardless of what is around me, I still have to be focused on obeying God! May I know His word so that my life would a testimony of one who obeyed His commandements and one that chose not to cross the line!

Read these two verses below...may we obey!

(Deuteronomy 28:1–2) And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and sovertake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

(Deuteronomy 28:15) “But lif you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and movertake you."

Welcome Home...

2011-05-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

Friday night we loaded up in the van to head to the airport. The long awaited day was here. Signs were made...kids were clean...hair was brushed...and Momma was smiling. We headed down to the gate with our friends to wait for them. My friend Heather and I were were whooping it up in the parking lot because we were so excited to see our men! People surely thought we were nuts running through that airport with seven kids...seven signs...and us two were as giddy as we were on our wedding days! We couldn't wait to see their faces again!

The guys had been in Ecuador for 8 days, beginning the process of planting our church in a town called Zhud. They are the "people of the hill"! A people in need of a church building...a people that need to hear about the love of Christ. We are beyond excited to start this...beyond expectant of what God is going to do! It's gonna be awesome! So lets go back to the airport where kids and excited wives are waiting...

We wait patiently as person after person comes down the escalator...each one gets a sigh because "nope..that's not dad either"! Everyone smiled at us...thought the kids were so cute...a few even said they wished they were "DAD"! Then we saw them...saw their shoes...and then the squeals started. As soon as they came through those revolving doors the kids were off running...you may have to watch the video a few times...just to watch the kids run to the different dads. Each one is pretty cool...and if you pay attention to the left screen you will see Mrs. Carol go up and hug her husband, Bro. Joe! She missed him so much!!! I loved the kids reactions...loved their excitement...and just love that Ric is home now!

The guys dished out the kids gifts...they were all so excited with each personal item that the men had looked for and bought. It was a special moment for sure...one I will never forget. As we rode home that night...hand in hand....I listened to Ric tell me story after story about what God had done in the hills of Ecuador...the funny stories...the heartbreaking tales...the hope that lies among those beautiful green hills. That hope is found thru Christ and is in a little church called Iglesia Evangelical Bautista. I can't wait to go there one day...to love on the people...to share Christ's love with them!

This Mother's Day is a grand one for sure...because of my sweet four kids that call me Mom every day(even if it is like 50,000 times a day). Because of my unbelievable Mother that is such a great example for me...a great friend to me...a bearer of my burdens...she has taught me well and I just love her to pieces...Happy Mother's Day Momma!!! To a great Mother-in-law that raised the man that I was so excited to see on Friday night...she is so good to us! And because my man is home...home from the hills for now! I am so thankful he is here...so thankful for the time he had...expectant of what God is going to do! What a grand day for sure!

25 cents a minute...

2011-04-30T20:16:00.001-04:00

Ric has been in Ecuador since Thursday evening. Their plane landed and they checked into their hotel and then we had the chance to skype. I have never skyped before, and oh my soul, that is seriously the coolest thing EVER!! He used his iPad and I sat in front of our desktop with my Garth Brooks looking headset on...we don't have a microphone on our desktop. We laughed...he told me about his trips...he caught a glimpse of a naked 3 year old running behind me...he talked with the kids. It was priceless! On Friday they were heading up the mountain to the town where they are staying for the duration of their trip. It was a four hour bus ride through some pretty rough terrain...but they got there.

He chatted with me on facebook last night for a few minutes from an Internet cafe, but we couldn't talk. I have been busy today...going to ball practice...doing chores...playing with kids. I had to drop my two bigs off with a friend for some time with their buddies and the littles and I headed to run a few errands. We were finishing up and sweet little Shelby told me she wanted to hit up the Sonic...it wasn't happy hour, but I took her anyway. We had just ordered our drinks when the call came in...it said Unknown! My heart lept...could it be him?? I answered, and then I heard the sweetest sound...it was my man! He was calling from a phone place where they charge you 25 cents a minute.

He told me how things were going...that they really liked the perspective pastor...that they got to see Inca ruins that he described as "beautiful"..he asked how we all were...gave a shout out to the kids in the car...and then he had to go. I felt like a new woman...I heard his voice it made things seem so much better. Yes, I am a big baby when it comes to being away from my husband. I don't think there has been a day, since we met 11 years ago, that has gone by that I haven't talked to him...that I haven't heard his voice. This has been harder than I thought...and I feel so completely guilty for having such a hard time when I know wives are away from their husbands for months and months as their men fight in the war. There are newly widowed wives at my church that my heart has broken for...I know how much I miss my husband right now...I can't even fathom how much they are missing theirs. But I do. I do miss him...like crazy.

I thought about how my heart lept when that call came in...how I had a peace after I hung up, just because of four minutes on the phone. How I had been dying to talk to him all day...and then my gut felt like I had been punched. Sometimes, if I am being real, I don't anticipate hearing from God the way I did hearing from Ric. Sometimes I don't cling to every word of scripture I read like I did every word Ric spoke. I sat in my kitchen...ashamed. Not ashamed at my love for my husband...my excitement for the call or even the fact that I felt soo much better after talking to him. My shame was in the mere fact that I don't treat God like that EVERY day. I should have a peace when I am done talking to Him...I should anticipate, with excitement, hearing from Him everyday...I should cling to every last word of scripture I read. I had a little bit of a reality check sitting there in the Sonic drive up...and I hope my husband knows it was worth 25 cents a minute. Thankful for that dollar for oh so many reasons....may God be honored in my life...may I love Him the way I should...may I adore Him...adore His word...adore hearing from Him!

Things are going great in Ecuador! They have met with the perspective pastor...have met with their translator...they have seen the city where we will be planting the church...they will be preaching the next 3 days to the town. Ric said they asked Lucas and Manuel if there was any way to get the word out that they will be having services...did they have a radio they could go on and tell them...their response was that word had been out...the town knew that they were coming...they would be there. Would you pray tonight for our men as they preach to this town, Zhud (I hope that's right..I heard him trying to tell me, but I could barely hear him)...that the gospel would be so clear, regardless of the language barrier...and that God would change lives. Thankful it's not up to our men or the translators...grateful it's all up to Him!

I will go to bed tonight...$1 poorer...but it was so worth the price for four minutes of my husbands voice and a grand wake up call!

Psalm 119:33-40

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;

and I will keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

Lead me in the path of your commandments,

for I delight in it.

Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain!

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

Confirm to your servant your promise,

that you may be feared.

Turn away the reproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness give me life!

Tornadoes and Suitcases...

2011-04-28T11:05:00.000-04:00

This morning came to quickly, for more reasons than one. We were up half the night watching the news on the coverage of the storms that were sweeping across our state. We had the kids sleeping in our playroom so that they were accessible if we needed to take shelter. We watched in horror as the footage showed town after town that had been devastated by the storms. We didn't go to sleep until we had been given the all clear. We quietly carried the sleeping kids up to their beds and we layed down to catch a few winks before we had to get up again.

My alarm went off at 4:30 and I looked to my right and Ric was not there. I quietly got up, because Little Booger #4 was slumbering beside me, and went to see where he was. He was up...moving around, so I got the last few things I needed for him as he got ready to go. He showered...zipped his suitcase up and laid down the letters that he had spent time writing that morning in the wee hours. Letters to me...to his four kids. All of them encouraged us to not worry...to trust the Lord...to be good for Mom(except mine didn't say that:)...to watch the ball when they are hitting in their next game...to know that Daddy loves them...and that Daddy is gone doing work for Jesus. Letters that encouraged them through scripture...and letters they will never forget!

I hugged him...for not near long enough...and away he drove. My heart fell...the tears came...and I knew our lives would never be the same. Where is he going you ask? Ric left for Ecuador this morning with a team of three other men to plant a church in the mountains. He will spend the next 8 days getting to know the people there...talking to our perspective pastor...preaching...spreading the Gospel...probably getting far too many bug bites...learning...growing...being the hands and feet. I am so excited for him to get this experience...to grow in his faith as he experiences new things. I know there will be lots of stories...lots of pictures...lots of excitement, and I can't wait to experience it with him when he comes home!

I miss him already. My little girls eyes brimmed with tears as I read her her daddy's letter this morning...they are scared...nervous...and don't want daddy gone. I know that 8 days is nothing compared to some of the military wives whose husbands are gone for a year...so I will try to take these next 8 days in stride...bathe this plant in prayer...love my man from afar...and I will pray for the people of Ecuador!

I love you Ric...thank you for being willing to go to all the nations...praying for souls to be saved...for you to be strengthened. I can't wait to see it all unfold...to God be the Glory!!

Singing...

2011-04-19T10:11:00.001-04:00

This past week has been a tough one at our church and in ministry. We have been grieving...heartbroken...and on our knees. Last Thursday we lost a faithful servant. Bro. Stephen was going about his normal day at work when he suddenly died...no warning...no illness. My heart broke for his precious wife and their family.

This sweet man taught every one of my children in Sunday School. Two of them got to be in his class for two straight years. He loved my kids...they loved him. He connected with them, and they always felt special. I can remember dropping my kids off, screaming and crying, and he would gently scoop them up and calm them down. He was a special man...and that nursery hall will never be the same.

We took the kids to the funeral home the night of visitation. I was worried about how they would respond...nervous about what they would say...hoping they didn't act like a bunch of hooligans! Shelby, my sensitive one, sweetly asked Mrs. Barbara about what happened...she wanted the details...wanted to know when it happened...how long it had been. She had the sweetest, most sincere look on her face while she talked. Her little lip poked out...ready for those tears to come. She cried when I told her the news...and I love that Shelby cares for people. Charlie and Addie gently hugged her and let her know they were sorry.

Jesse was enamored with Bro. Stephen. Kept looking at him while he talked to Mrs. Barbara. He just turned 3 and doesn't understand death...he asked her why he wasn't talking...we explained that he wasn't there anymore...that he was in heaven. I told Jesse..."he's talking in heaven now...better yet, he is singing in heaven". Mrs. Barbara shook her head and said "he sure is". Bro. Stephen was a singer and sang in our choir for as long as I can remember. Jesse kept saying over and over again..."I don't hear him singing Mommy...I wanna hear him sing". I smiled thinking about that day when we will hear him sing again...and it made me ever so grateful for my salvation. Grateful for God choosing me...for my hope in heaven...for the cross...and for little boys that wanna hear a dear man sing in heaven.

We lost another giant this morning. Bro. Daryl had fought an infection for over a week now. His family has been vigilant, sitting by his bedside...bathing him in prayer. Our church has been on our knees praying for healing! He was finally healed this morning. Maybe not in the way that we anticipated, but healed none the less. He will no longer be in pain...he is with his Savior now...face to face! I can't imagine the morning he had! My heart breaks for his precious family...they are pillars in our church. Faithful people...faithful followers. His daughter was one of my first teenagers here and is now a friend of mine. His wife is a vital part of our youth ministry where she serves over our drama team. She has been my co-partner in the nursery for years. I always loved to sit and listen to this lady as we watched children run around. She would tell me stories about her life...lessons she has learned...taught me about love...and life and being a wife. What a testimony she has been to the Lord all these years.

While we sit here with grief enveloping our hearts...tears in our eyes...and prayers on our lips, I will thank God for these men's lives. For what they have taught me and blessed me with...and I will remember Jesse and singing in Heaven. This song makes me think of them...thanking God this morning for His grace!

There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,

No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;

And forever I will be with the One who died for me,

What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,

And I look upon His face,

The One who saved me by His grace;

When He takes me by the hand

And leads me through the Promised Land,

What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day, glorious day that will be!

Isaiah 26:3,4

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."

Blessed from a blowout...

2011-04-12T12:39:00.000-04:00

We went to St. Simons Island last week for our kids spring break. My in-laws have a condo down there and we are blessed to be able to go every year. It is literally my favorite place on earth...it's where I feel the most relaxed...where I am rejuvenated. We played in the sand...the waves...rode our bikes for miles...ate far too much ice cream and good food...and just enjoyed being a family. It was a great week and I literally dreaded leaving this special place that I have dubbed my second home...even though it's my in-laws:)!

We set out Saturday afternoon with the van loaded down...kids tired from a day of biking and the beach...and headed back to our home. We were about 20 to 30 minutes into the drive when I noticed the car was bumping and not riding smooth. I mentioned to Ric that I thought we might have a flat so we pulled over. We looked at the tire...it wasn't flat but it had a huge bulge on the side of it and we knew the tire was separated....the third one to do this on this set of tires! We knew we needed to find a tire shop so we got on the iPhone's and started searching. We had two choices...go 14 miles to Walmart or 4 to a local place. Ric went back and forth and then decided to go to the local place. We had just started driving in that direction when it happened...the loudest boom I have heard and then grinding and the car jerking. We had blown the tire out. I screamed...Ric said "it's ok...I got it"...Jesse woke up...the kids asked what was going on...it was a few very scary moments.

We pulled over and checked out the damage. I couldn't believe a tire could do that to a vehicle...but now I know. We began the process of finding the spare...going through that process was insane. They put it in the strangest of places and it's seriously a project to get it out. Charlie is helping Ric...I'm all nervous thinking someone is gonna be texting and not paying attention and smash into us on the side of the road, when James came along.

James is a Georgian...through and through. He drove a big truck...had country music playing in the background...and had a smile that spread for miles. He asked if we needed help and Ric said that he had just about gotten the spare on so he offered to drive us and show us where the tire shop was. He threw our tore up tire in the back of that big 'ol pick up and off we went. We went to 3 places looking for somewhere open. Each time we stopped Ric told James that we could find one...he didn't have to go out of his way. He politely told Ric that he was in it to the end...he was gonna get us a tire! He drove over 15 miles to get us to the Walmart...surely out of his way. After he took Ric in and got things settled he came to my window. I thanked him profusely for being so kind and stopping to help us...he kept telling us the whole time that that was what he was here for....and I believe it. He then asked where Charlie was and went around to his side of the van. He stuck his hand out and told Charlie it was nice to meet him...and then he shook his hand and said "get you and your brother and sisters something with this"...and then James walked away. Charlie opened his hand and found a wadded up bill...and he opened it and said "he gave me $20 bucks"...I turned and said "what??" and then looked closer and saw that it was a 50 dollar bill.

Of course I cried...because of this stranger's kindness...because of God's provision and protection...and for God using something like a blowout to bless me. You see, I was irritated with the blowout...I wanted to be home...not stuck in some small town. God showed me that sometimes our inconveniences can produce huge blessings...that there are good, Godly people out there...and that He is still in control of it all. I will never forget that day...never forget James...never forget that sometimes blessings come in strange ways...even through a tire blowout!

Disney Part 1...

2011-03-31T12:58:00.001-04:00

Last week we had the privilege of going to Orlando with our family and our pastor's family. The guys had signed up to go to the Ligonier conference...my husband got to hear his hero in the faith...R.C. Sproul...and our pastor got to hear his as well...John Piper. The guys were stoked to get away and just listen to some solid preaching. Because of where the conference was, we decided that the kids would go along and we would surprise them and take them to Disney World for a day. Now mind you, the kids had NO idea we were going anywhere...much less Disney! We have never been and I was just so exited for them to get to go! We packed in secret...planned in secret...and we were ready to hop in the van and head down to the sunny state.

We woke up bright and early the next morning to head over to the park. The kids were brimming with excitement...and I can't lie..I was too. It was my first visit to the Magic Kingdom as well. I can't tell you everything in one post or your retina's would seriously be bleeding, so I will share with you some of my favorite pics from the first part of the day!!

This was the gang waiting in the parking lot....

We just knew it was going to be a magical day...

Waiting to go in...2 already had to go to the restroom...

I loved this picture and will print it just so we can remember what a great day it was...

The Castle...

Charlie pulling out the sword in the stone...

My girls in the matching shirts...

The 2 J's...Jesse and his buddy JohnMark...

Shelby and Karis on "It's a small world"...such a cool ride...

No words....

Dumbo...the longest line we waited in all day...

The tea cups...

Stay tuned for part 2 of the best day ever!!!

2 Birthdays...

2011-03-28T16:42:00.001-04:00

Three years ago on the 26th I gave birth to my sweet baby boy Jesse. I remember when they set my c-section date...and I politely told the doctor..."oh, that day doesn't work for me...my daughters birthday is the 28th and I just don't want his to be that close to hers...and I don't want to be in the hospital on her birthday". The Doctor then proceeded to look at me like I was a lunatic...and she politely told me..."uhm...that is the only day you can do it so it's gonna have to work". I remember crying...I was pregnant and all...and telling Ric that I didn't want to have it that day...that I didn't want Addie's birthday to be overlooked...that I couldn't have two birthday's that close together. Well...I did...and it's been just fine!

Jesse is my sweet little ball of energy that loves life. He is passionate...funny...loves to play...is my little spit fire...all boy...and a smile that can melt your heart. He loves his cars, dinosaurs, Handy Manny, and his tools. He is a fixer...if something is broke he runs to get his tool box to fix it. He loves to be outside and could literally swing for hours on end...or jump on the trampoline. He loves his brother and sisters. He misses them every day they leave to go to school...he loves to have them home with him. I love this little boy that came into my life 3 years ago. He is a blessing for sure. My prayer for him is that he loves Christ...and that he is burdened for lost people all over the world! I love you Jesse Man...JB...little man...Jess! Three is gonna be grand for sure!

Addie is 8 years old today! I can't believe that it's been that long. I will never forget the day I had her and just basking in the glow of having a daughter. She was so pretty as a baby...and even more beautiful now. I can't tell you how many times I hear..."she is just so beautiful"...and she is(she looks just like her daddy and aunt)...but what is even more beautiful is her sweet spirit. She is a little momma. Always playing with the little kids at church...always taking care of my friends little ones. I listened to her last night reading her bible to her little sister as they lay in bed. She was reading about Abraham and Issac...and my heart just got all welled up...I pray that she would always have a passion for the Word of God...for the Gospel!!! She is such a big helper...always ready to step in and do something for someone. She is crazy talented at art...an unbelievable athlete...smart as a whip...and just a great kid with a great big heart. I love you Addie Boo...Boo Bear...Boo Girl. Eight is gonna be great!!!

March is a great month for me...two blessings came in this great month...two lives changed mine in this month...two children stole my heart in this month. This month I am grateful for life...grateful for my children...grateful for the chaos that goes around celebrating two birthdays...even though it didn't work for me:)!! God is so good!

That picture at the top...yeah, it's at Disney World. We just got back on Saturday and we had the time of our lives...can't wait to share some pictures and memories with you. I told you March was a good month!

Professional people and the BFRO...

2011-03-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

Oh people, it seriously can't get any better than this...I mean really! This past Sunday in the Times Georgian, here in my home town, was an article about a local family that are believing to have had an encounter with Big Foot. There is evidence of it...they have seen it...smelt it...people they have even had the BFRO come out and investigate it. What is the BFRO you ask...it's the Bigfoot Field Research Organization(go look at the site...they even sell t-shirts). Yeah...there is such thing, can you believe it!

I am reading this article that two friends had sent me through Facebook and am literally dying from laughter...Ric was not so amused! His response is "I don't know what is so funny". Those who know my husband, know that he has a deep seeded belief that the Big Foot is real...that he is out there...and lawzee...now he's probably gonna be hunting him since he is in our neck of the woods and all. You can read about the hoax we pulled on Ric here. As I am reading this article out loud...to Ric...I get to this point and literally can't speak...my laughter is out of control folks....Ric's, not so much. Read this excerpt below...reminder...this is in my local paper:

“I don’t care what people think,” Lori Chandler said. “I know what we’ve heard. I know what we’ve seen and I know that outside one of the most elaborate practical jokes ever played there is nothing else to explain all of this.”

For the record, the Chandlers are professional people, have lived in the area most of their lives and haven’t seen space ships, don’t have mushrooms boiling on the stove and there’s no green leafy substance growing anywhere in sight on the property. "

FOR THE RECORD!!! Are ya kiddin' me???? I found it so completely humorous that they are throwing that line in there...because if we are keepin' it real...there is some validation needed so that we don't think these people are nut jobs, but the shrooms and pot is just too funny!

The next morning I am still just in stitches over this as we are getting ready for the day...he says to me very seriously "I think this one is a hoax...I really think someone is messing with these folks"...I respond..."really, who has time to do that...it's been going on for months!" He says in reply...still very seriously "well, you know unemployment is at an all time high...some people have a whole lot of time". Ok???

Go read the article...I'm telling you it will make your day...but it will make you think. For reals...there is a lot of evidence pointing towards the Big Foot...and now our town could be famous. When you come into Carroll County...the sign could read..."Welcome to Carrollton...the Home of Big Foot"! We could start tours...Big Foot museums...sell memorabilia...oh my soul, this could really help the unemployment in Carrollton!!

All of this to say...my husband makes me laugh more than anyone in this world. I love that he stands by what he believes in....even if it is Big Foot! I love that some "professional" person down the road from me has seen Big Foot...and don't be surprised if it turns out to be true! I'm just saying....they are professionals people...why would professional people make something up like this??? I may surprise Ric and call the BFRO and see what he needs to do to join in on the team...it would be pretty cool to run through the woods on a Big Foot hunt!

So here's to professional people...the BFRO...and my man! Find that Big Foot...

Go read the full article here...it'll bless you!

No names were changed in this article to protect the innocent...'cause they are professionals and all!

This goes out to the one I love...

2011-02-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

I remember growing up that it was a big deal on the radio stations to call in and have a dedication made. I never did it...promise I didn't, but I do remember people thinking it was just the coolest. You would listen to see who so and so's "song" was...what couple was fighting...moving on...new love. It was a tell all for any small town.

Ric is not a music person...he listens to sermons when he drives...the bible read aloud...he is an R.C. Sproul junkie, so if you get in his ride...that's what you will hear. We never had a "song"...didn't dance at our wedding(which I highly regret). Me on the other hand, I love music. I hear a song and it brings back a memory...I have an iPod full of my favorites...and music is important to me. All that to say, I heard this song this morning...a song I have heard before, but today it meant a whole lot more to me. It's a song about love...commitment...forever...and Jesus...and if I'm gonna have a song with my man..this would be the one. May there be lots of dancing in the minefields...and at the end of my days when I forget my name...I know you will remind me. This goes out to the one I love...

Just like her...

2011-02-14T15:20:00.002-05:00

I love Valentine's Day. I love candy...sweet little gifts...cheesy cards...school parties. I love celebrating my love for people on this day...as well as every other day of the year. I surely don't love them anymore just because the calendar tells me too...but I love expressing my love in an extra way on this particular day.

I love getting to spend time with my husband and kids on this day. Some years we have a special date...some years we are at home with the kids. This year we will be at basketball practice...such is life. I love my man though and pretty much think that he is awesomeness. He loves me, with all my faults...with all my strange tendencies...he just loves me, and I am grateful for that.

Valentines took on a whole 'nother meaning for me 8 years ago. Snow was glistening on the ground that morning...it was freezing cold. I had woken up extra early that morning...why I'm not sure. It could have been Charlie waking up...me getting ready for the day...not being able to sleep because I was almost 9 months pregnant...but I remember where I was...what we were doing when that phone call came. The phone call we knew was coming eventually...but the call that we dreaded. The phone rang sometime after 6 that morning...my mom answered it...I heard her voice quivering as she talked...and I just knew. Knew that my sweet Mama who had been fighting dementia for years had gone to be with Jesus. Knew that our lives would be forever changed because of that day. Mom got off the phone and we just hugged and cried. We were broken...sad...but thankful she was no longer in any pain. Thankful that she was healed...that dementia no longer had its ugly grip on her mind...thankful she was in the presence of the King. I remember smiling and saying to mom..."that's just like her...to go on a day that stands for love...because that is what she did the best...love."

Valentine's Day will never be just about loving on my sweet family...it will forever be a reminder of her life...her love...her legacy. I am thankful to God that He chose to call her home that snowy day...that she lived her life so full of His love...His grace...that it poured out into everyone around her. She stood for love...so for her to be in the presence of Christ that day...well, it's just like her!

Laminin...

2011-02-12T20:19:00.001-05:00

Wednesday nights we are going through the book of Colossians with the teenagers. What a big book for us to wrap our minds around. The Supremacy of Christ is big stuff, and stuff we want these teenagers to really get. We are in chapter 1 and we talked about how Jesus holds all things together...including our bodies. Ric used the illustration of Laminin...a protein molecule. Yeah...nerd stuff....stuff you probably don't care about if we are being honest. But this little video blew us away....left these teenagers with open mouths...some broken to tears...me, with chill bumps all over my body! Take 8 minutes to watch this message from Louie Giglio...it will knock your socks off...I promise it will. Tonight, I will be amazed at His Supremacy...how awesome He truly is...and how He holds all things together! And I will continue to be amazed by a molecule called Laminin...what a mighty God we serve and that He cares about little 'ol me!!!
Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Flowers and torn tights...

2011-02-11T09:42:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday night was Daddy/Daughter date night at Chick fil a. I made reservations about two weeks ago, and our girls were so excited to get a night out with Dad. They couldn't wait to get dressed up and go out to eat. After basketball we came home and got them all cleaned up...hair straightened just so...bows in...tights pulled up...and they were ready to go.

Dad came to the front door and knocked and the girls were just so giggly. They opened the door and then hid behind it as he asked if Addie and Shelby were at home. It was a hoot. We took lots of pictures and the girls loved spinning around in their "puffy" dresses. They looked so grown up and as I took Addie's picture I said "wow, this is the first time I have taken your picture with both of your front teeth"...she smiled cheesy the rest of the night! They left in their ~~limo~~ SportTrac and headed to the Chick fil a where a great time with Dad awaited.

They had time to talk, eat good food, eat ice cream, take pictures...and Shelby even won a bouquet of "roses". She was so excited that they called her name. It was a special time...just for dads and daughters.

I can't think of a more important relationship for a little girl to have and I'm so glad I have a husband who invests his time in them. A man that always tells them "why do I love you Addie/Shelby?" ...to hear every time..."cause I'm just Addie/Shelby". They know he loves them...just for who they are. Not because Addie is crazy talented in art(which she is)...or because Shelby is the funniest child ever(which she is). He just loves them 'cause they are his.

After dinner they went shopping at Wal-mart and went and picked me dinner up, and they came home on cloud nine. They showed off their flowers...the sweet little gifts that Ric had gave them...they hugged me and said "we had the best time with Dad...we even ate ice-cream"! Daddy/Daughter date was a success...two happy girls and one proud Dad!

And the torn tights....Shelby tore them in the car...on the way there...no words for this child...no words!

Thank you AT&T...

2011-02-04T09:45:00.000-05:00

Last night, my life as I know it, has been changed for the good. Why you ask? Oh, it's just so good I don't even know if words will do it justice...but I will try. Let me give you a little background so you will get the full affect of this life altering event.

When my husband and I moved to our house nestled in the ~~woods~~ open field we found out quickly that our cell phone service stunk to high heaven. I was dubbed "queen of the dropped calls" by my friends...had to stand by the window on one leg to get a signal...if I found said signal then I couldn't move for the entire conversation(and y'all know that I can talk). We would go outside and sit in the garage to talk...in the cars...it was a hot mess people. Soon folk just quit calling me because I couldn't talk but for two seconds without losing them. That 's the story people...and it's all true(well except for the standing on one leg part, but I thought that was funny).

Yesterday I get an email from AT&T...I NEVER open their marketing emails, but for some reason on this day I did. It said..."to thank you for being a loyal customer, we are offering you a FREE microcell tower for your home". I think my heart stopped...literally. We almost bought one of these last year, but they are $200, so I didn't. I start reading the fine print to see what the deal is...I only had to keep my contract with them for 12 months to get it for free...well, my contract is for 12 more months so that didn't change anything. I call Ric lickety split and tell him to hurry over to that precious AT&T store and get me my cell tower. I was so excited...people, you just don't know how this is gonna change my life!!! So Ric comes home last night with this beautiful orange and white box...I am squealing like a girl(even though I am a girl) and he hooks it up. I think angels were singing...the rain may have stopped for a few seconds...all was right in my world. My kids were clapping..."yeah Mommy doesn't have to go outside anymore to make a call"(seriously they were)...it was a monumental night on our street.

So, several things came out of this whole expereince....#1 I no longer will be the queen of dropped calls...#2 I know AT&T is doing this to try to keep their customers from switching to Verizon when the iPhone comes out (which we had talked about doing when my contract ran out)....#3 if I could only convince them to make a mini cell tower for my car...than life would be just peachy!!

You know I always love to pull spiritual cards when I write...maybe it's just cause I love Jesus and He is always teaching me awesome stuff through everyday life...even Microcell towers...but I learned something from that sweet orange and white box. When my service was bad, I was constantly dropping calls and had a bad connection...people couldn't hear me...I couldn't hear them. Same thing goes for our relationship with God... Psalm 66:18 " If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear." If we have unconfessed sin in our hearts...than there is a disconnection there. His word also tells us in Isaiah 59:1,2 that "God's hand is not short that He cannot save, neither His ear heavy that He cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear."

We want to blame God when things don't work out the way we want to...but from these verses we see that the problem is not on God's side...not His inability...His hand is not short and His hearing is just fine. It's us...our sin that breaks that connection with God. It cuts the line...drops the call...and until we confess that sin, our connection will never have "5 bars". I have lived without having a good connection on my cell phone for 5 years now...and yes, there have been times in my life where my connection with God was on the outs. I'm thankful that I don't have to wait on a promotional email...a little orange and white box...to get my connection with the Lord fixed. Praise God that He promises us in 1 John 1:9 that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

So today I am praising God for the blessing of my microcell tower...and more improtantly that I have a God that hears me...that loves me...and that I can have a real connection with!

Yes...this is my phone...with 5 bars...can I get a whoop whoop!

Wednesday ramblings...

2011-01-26T10:30:00.000-05:00

I'm gonna ramble today, yep I am. I am in a contest at church (Biggest Loser) to see who can lose the most weight...so I have been tracking every calorie I eat and exercising. I do Zumba with my friends on Monday night...we can't dance...ok one of us can, but the others are funny(including me). Our daughters score us...and they are honest. I am doing the Shred and Bob Harper's kettlebell workout the rest of the week...I could barely walk last Friday..no joke. I am craving junk...bad. I hope to see big results...well, I really just wanna get in shape if we're keepin' it real!

The kids are as busy as ever...playing ball...going to school...dumping tubs of toys out in the living room floor...you know usual business. I have loved coaching basketball this year...a friend asked me last Saturday if I was going to have a class on how to jump around and act crazy while coaching...I must be funny to watch. Jesse is getting better with his potty training(not that anyone but me cares...ok, maybe his Sunday School teachers do too). Ric is preparing for Ecuador. He leaves in April for 8 days...he went and got his passport done so it's official now! He is stoked...I am already thinking about 8 days by myself...should be interesting:), but I am so excited to see what God is going to do in this next step of our lives.

I have some photo shoots coming up...winter is slow. I am doing a couple of babies and I already have several shoots that are lined up for spring so I am anxious for stuff to start blooming around here. I love photography...like crazy love it, so I am trying to learn all I can. I need a bounce flash...in case you cared.

I miss my family in Virginia. I have felt so alone lately...wish I had my family to call on when I needed them. Wish I could go get coffee with my sister and mom...taco's with my brother...just hang with my dad. I miss my niece's and nephews and seeing them grow up. Sometimes I just want them here so they are a part of my day to day life. I have been gone 10 years now...and I miss them.

We are supposed to go skiing next month...still working on child care so I can go. We wanted to take kids like we did last year, but since Shelby had the flu and missed a bunch of school that option is out. Hope things will work out with that one. I love to ski...not good...but I love doing it.

Got church tonight...I love worshipping with our teenagers. We have been singing some good songs...Ric has been bringing it from the pulpit...I just love these kids. My little ones get to wear pj's tonight to Awana...I wonder if it would be inappropriate for me to wear mine...even though I don't do Awana! We have been taking my friend/neighbor's kids with us and they are too cute.

My phone got replaced. I dropped it down the steps...Apple gave me a new one. I could have hugged that dude behind the genius bar...but then when I asked if I could keep me old one for the kids to play on he looked at me like I was a little nuts...truth be told. I want an iPad too...but still need a new car. Guess the car may win out this time...we'll see!

That's about all I got going on in my noggin right now. Thanks for bearing with the ramblings of Genie...on a Wednesday...while it's cold and rainy.

In order...

2011-01-24T09:42:00.000-05:00

You ever wonder why the letters on a keyboard aren't in alphabetical order? I hadn't, until several nights ago(more on that in a minute)...so I did some research to find out why the letters are the way they are.

In 1868, Christopher Latham Sholes patented the typewriter that we commonly use today. He first had the letters in order, but when one typed fast the letters would get jammed...because the most used letters were beside each other. So Sholes, based on research by Amos Densmore, rearranged the typewriter keys out of order so that the most used letters were farther away from each other. This slowed typing speed and helped to prevent jams. Sholes patented the QWERTY keyboard in 1878...thus the modern day keyboard. Now you want to know why I did all this research?? Just read below!

That night I had a come to Jesus meeting with my daughters over the condition of their bedroom and bathroom. There was a trail of dirty clothes from the floor in their room into the bathroom where their hamper lives. I was frustrated with them for the mess, and they knew it. We made a dent in the disaster zone...I went to tuck Jesse in, and then I headed back down to the girls room to give them hugs and kisses.

Addie was reading and Shelby was playing on her play laptop that she got for Christmas. I bent down to hug her first...I said "I love you ...even if you are Miss Piggy and have the messiest room in the tri-state area"...she giggled and then I saw something in her hands. I asked her what it was...and she said " I just like them in order". I looked at her hands...the laptop...and figured out that she had keys from the keyboard. I quickly told her that she can't take the keys off the computer...that she will break it. She looked at me all confused...she said "Mom, all the letters are out of Alphabetical order and I don't like that. I'm just fixing them." I looked at the keyboard, and sure enough across the top of the keys instead of QWER was ABCD! I was dying laughing...I mean dying! Shelbs looked at me and said..."I don't like them out of order...it bothers me!". I just shook my head and told her that's the way it's always been and if she hits that new A it is still gonna be Q...and that she needed to go to bed...as I walked out of the room just a laughing!

Shelby took something that in her eyes she viewed as messed up...and she tried to fix it. She was going to pull off everyone of those keys and put them in order! I thought about Shelby and her venture to reinvent the keyboard...and how so many times in my life we try to fix things to be the way that we think they should be. We try to finagle circumstances so that in the end I get what we want...we think we know best...we think we can control things. Every time I do that....guess what? I bomb. My plans fail...things don't go as planned and I pout...I get down....and I come up with a new plan. Just like Shelby and her keys...we like to move things around to be just perfect...but guess what? IT NEVER WORKS...or at least not for me. Oh, it may for a short time...but in the end, someone elses plan always wins out(kinda like that A that can't be a Q)!

God has a plan for our lives friends...yes, He does. It's a good plan...a trustworthy plan...and way better than any plan that I can concoct. The bible tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". WOW! God has plans for us...He really does. He tells us that they are plans for welfare or good...which doesn't mean that we won't face trials or troubles, but those trials will produce good in our lives. The things that come our way aren't for evil....and they are too give us hope. Hope...the bible also says in Romans 5:5, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us". Praise the Lord! I am so glad I serve a God that not only has a plan for my life...it's the best plan and it's for my good! Praise Him that He promises me that His plan is to give me a hope...and then He assures me again in His scripture...that that hope will never disappoint!

Trust His plan today...quit moving your keys around to get the outcome you want. His plan is far better than one we could ever think up. If you are a child of the King, I encourage you to trust Him with your life wholly. Every square inch of it. If you don't know Jesus, I encourage you to give your life to Him...He has an awesome plan for your life....I promise, but better yet, He promises!

Keepin’ it real…

2011-01-18T21:29:00.001-05:00

I want you to weigh in…no not on a scale (thank the Lord)…but on your opinion of the usage of Facebook/Twitter/Blogging in today's society. How is it used for good…how is it used for bad? Which side do you side with more? I have been thinking about this for several weeks and as I took my bath tonight, after a long day's work, I thought about keepin' it real. I sure enough don't tell my facebook friends that I stayed in my pj's all day and just now got time to take a shower…that no one really like the dinner I cooked tonight…and that my house looks like a F4 just came through.

Over Christmas, my mother and I got in a discussion about Facebook and just Social Networking in general. Keep in mind that my Mom doesn't have facebook, doesn't have a clue what a tweet is…this precious lady doesn't even text…so we will just say that she really isn't in the "scene" of social networking. I love that about her…but I did disagree with her that day. She said Facebook was only used for bad, that everyone lives out some fabulous life on there…and really, "who cares that so and so is going on their lunch break and then getting a mani/pedi after work". I argued the point of reconnecting with family and friends…sharing prayer requests…promoting your company…connecting with our teenagers. I have seen the hurt that facebook can cause too…friends that are hurt through someone's words…statements that are made…the stupidity that some people show by living their lives out on FB for everyone to see…it's quite interesting. People try to call a brother or sister out and completely surpass Matthew 18…and that drives me bonkers!!

It's not just Facebook my friends. There are some blogs that I read that I wonder how that mom has the time to take pictures of the food she prepares at night…all the while her perfectly dressed kids play at the kitchen table and home school at the same time…and I can't even get a shower people!! I do wonder how they keep it together…how their kid's socks match every day…how their hair and makeup are always done (one of the reasons I am rarely in the pictures on my blog)…and why can't I be more like them? Some writers "keep it real", don't get me wrong…and I love those honest sincere posts…but it's such a fine line. Who wants to come across whiney…complaining about life…frustrated? I think there is a way to be real without crossing the line of divulging too much info. Where do we draw the line with over sharing? I can remember writing posts (especially during my study through Radical) that I felt vulnerable…weak…struggling…but that to me was what I believe God wanted me to share. I think there is the right kind of vulnerability…not when we are keepin' it real by saying that we think "so and so is a no good loser", but when we are vulnerable and bear our souls…our hearts…struggles…when we are relatable.

I'm gonna give you my positives now, since I feel like I have been more negative. I have reconnected with old friends that now feel like some of my closest friends. In college I knew a girl named Jen that we were brief acquaintances and seriously now she seems like a kindred spirit. I have read blogs that have encouraged my faith…stretched me beyond belief….given me hope on some pretty dreary days. There is a network of prayer that I can't even explain. I pray for people that I don't know…have never met face to face…but I am burdened for them and pray them because of a blog or tweet. I will come across someone's scripture post and it's just what I needed at that moment. I have made friends…I have poured out my heart…I have learned…and I'm grateful for it.

I pray that I don't come across as having it all together…but I might. I pray that others don't think I don't struggle…cause I do. I pray that I am vulnerable…real to the people that come across my status updates or blog posts. So here is where I want you to weigh in…so suck it in and take your shoes off…what is your opinion on social networking…is it positive…negative…both? What would you like to hear/see more of…less? What is your opinion of "keepin' it real"? I'm just wanting opinions…just trying to work through some thoughts going through my head.

Snow days...

2011-01-17T16:16:00.001-05:00

Last week was the big snow/ice storm of '11! We were snowed in for 4 days and it was pretty sweet. There have been crackeling fires, hot chocolate, snowball fights, homemade soup with friends, movies watched, and lots of sledding. It has been a fun week with Ric home and the kids all here....almost like another Christmas break...without the presents!

We have the ~~honor~~ ,misfortune on most cases, of living next to a huge chert pit...which is basically a big red mud hole where they dig for dirt. I hate that it is there on most days...last week is not included in those days. We took anything we thought was somewhat capable of sliding down a hill and headed over the ridge with two families that live near us. We had boogey boards, storage bin lids, inner tubes, and a sandbox top(which didn't work so good). The kids LOVED sledding down the frozen hills...over and over again. They honestly didn't tire of it, except for Jesse who fell the whole time because he was too light to crack through the frozen snow when he walked...and Addie who had a near fatal crash with her bestie Sydney!! After the crash, Boo was done!

We had been out there for a good hour or so when she crashed, when the boys found a new hill to go down. It was AWESOME! It was tall...steep...and even had two jumps in it. I had the honor of taking the trial run(thanks Trav)...and boy, it was sweet. Ric was up top with the kids and he was trying to get Addie to slide down the hill...she was still traumatized by the last spill and didn't want anything to do with it! Ric was assuring her she would be fine, but by the death grip she had on his arm, she was thinking otherwise. So what does any good Dad do? He lets her death grip stay in place...he lays on his stomach...and he slides down that massive hill right next to her, reassuring her all the way. Her face went from fear to sheer excitment faster than you can say bodysurfingdownasnowbank....and she loved it! And I loved her daddy even more for it!

It reminded me, that my job as a parent, is to love...nurture...hold their hand when fear rears it's ugly head...to listen..to slide down ice covered hills on our stomach's. I love being a mom...watching my husband be a dad, and being a parent is always a fresh reminder of the Father's love for me. His love reached way farther than a snow covered mountain...it stretched to a mountain called Calvary...oh, what a Savior! So as I reflect on this past week and the snow/ice storm we had...I will remember lots of things. I will remember the fires we sat by and played Sorry, the hot choclate that was consumed, the good times we had with friends and neighbors, the good food that we ate....and Ric and Addie going down the hill together...death grip and all! I will also choose to think about Jesus...and how good He is to me...an undeserving sinner!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

in my place condemned he stood;

sealed my pardon with his blood.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

*and no, I am a terrible mom and so didn't take any pictures of my kids sledding...the terrain was just too dangerous to carry my precious T1i over the ridge...just sayin'!

For the love of the game...

2011-01-07T16:27:00.000-05:00

This is a re post from last year...but with us starting basketball season tomorrow I wanted to post it again...for the love of the game:

It has been a busy couple of months in the Blazi house. We have ended soccer and basketball is now starting. The three oldest will be playing and Ric and I are coaching all three of them. WE are so excited, but know that it is going to be mayhem around our home! We love being involved in the sports program at our church though...it is crazy rewarding to be able to share Christ with these little ones...and teach them the best game that was ever created!

When I was in the third grade something happened the day I picked up that leather basketball. I fell in love with the game. I lived and breathed all things basketball. I decided that year...yes, at the ripe old age of 8, that I was going to play college basketball...Division 1 at that. I set a goal and was going to do whatever I had to do to reach it. I worked hard...and I mean hard. Every summer was spent away at camp just trying to get better. Early mornings were spent on the track and afternoons in the gym...just so I could play ball in college. Little did I know that God had a perfect plan layed out the whole time! I ended my career at my high school and went on to sign a full scholarship with Liberty University in Virginia. The school that I never wanted to go to...that I made fun of...the school that was literally 7 miles from my house...was where I went. I woke up one morning and knew that was where I was supposed to go. I could have gone to several other schools to play, but for some reason I knew I was supposed to go to LU!

I went and didn't play much my first year and decided that summer that I was going to work my hind end off to get a starting position. That fall I got saved...Jesus took me off the path to hell and put me on the path to heaven. I surrendered my life to Christ on the basketball court during a convocation service in the gym...the very place that had been my god for so long was where I surrendered my life to God . Not only did my life change...but so did my outlook on the game of basketball. No longer was it just a game, but a tool to reach the lost. I wanted to play ball and share the Gospel with my opponents. I wanted to glorify God in not just my life, but my basketball as well.

Needless to say, God used my basketball ability to give me the opportunity to share Christ with a whole bunch of people! I shared after games....during press conferences...with children in Spain.....and now with the kids that I will have the opportunity to coach. Every practice I have the blessing of teaching these kids(most of them are unchurched) God's word. We are learning the Ten Commandments and it's way cool. It's amazing how one game can do so much in a persons life! I will forever be grateful that I picked up that leather ball in the third grade! That I was a determined young girl...and that God used the game to change my life! I pray that me teaching these young kids about the game...will not just point them to basketball, but to a Holy God! And I do what I do, not just for the love of the game...but for the cause of Christ!

In a nutshell...

2011-01-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

I have taken a little of a blog break over the Christmas holidays. We were out of town for Christmas and the week after and I had limited Internet service so it gave me a great excuse to take a break...so now I have some catching up to do!!

We had a very blessed Christmas indeed. We spent time with our closest of friends and both of our families...the first time we have been able to do that in the 10 years we have been married. We had a big Christmas Eve birthday party for Jesus at our home and then the next morning we woke up in our home(only the 3rd time ever since we have been married). It was so relaxing...the kids opened gifts, I cooked breakfast...they played, and played...and played. It was a fun morning for sure. We left later that morning to head down to Ric's folks. Ric's family lost a dear cousin on Christmas Eve to cancer, so it was so good to just be able to spend time together and comfort one another on Christmas day. It snowed...for the first time ever too! We then headed to Virginia the next morning to spend the week with my family...what a beautiful drive it was. The entire drive was snow covered and just beautiful. The kids were SO excited to have snow on the ground and couldn't wait to play in it. After 203 questions of how much longer...7 movies...endless chatter...we finally got there to celebrate with my family. We had a great time hanging out...playing with cousins...games of charades...wii battles...playing in the snow...and eating!!!! Ric flew down to his cousins funeral and spent some good quality time with his extended family...Bebe was such a neat lady...one of those people that you meet and feel like you've just known forever. We will all miss her a ton!

It was sad to leave and know that we had to come back and go to school, but boy am I ready for some normalcy...if there is such thing in my household...ha! Here are some pics from our Christmas Vacation...and no cousin Eddie didn't come...and no, we didn't get a jelly of the month club...but we had a great time, indeed we did...and that's the last two weeks...in a nutshell!

This Christmas...

2010-12-23T11:10:00.000-05:00

May there be peace on earth...

May you have the laughter of a child....

May your feet walk steady....

May there be a skip in your step..

May you have the love of family....

May you notice the little things...

May you see His splendor...

May you experience His Grace...

May you feel His presence...

May you always remember...

"For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

May this Christmas be filled with His love!

Night of Lights...

2010-12-21T08:46:00.000-05:00

Last week we went with some sweet friends of ours to go see Fantasy in Lights in Callaway Gardens. We loaded up the van and headed out. I thought the ride there would be filled with the chatter of excited children....needless to say, everyone of them fell asleep and us adults got a nice relaxing ride. We got there and the kids woke up, and boy they were excited! We had tickets to ride the trolley through the lights instead of driving our car and there is no other way to do it! Everyone sings carols and the trolley is open so you can see the lights so much better. The kids oohed and ahhed and couldn't wait to see their favorite things. Charlie and Trenton just wanted to see Jack Frost...they loved the snow...the frog jumping in the pond. It is really cool and they do such a good job with it. There are over 8 Million lights displayed...that is a ton of lights! Here are a few pictures from our adventure!

Charlie and Trenton awaiting Jack Frost....

Addie was so excited...

This was what I saw of Jesse the whole trip...except for when he saw the Nutcrackers...he hid his face

from them..."they scur me Mom"!

Me and the "Queens"...she loved it ALL!

My favorite...the big oak tree...

this was the snow section and it was just gorgeous...

Definitely a must see if you live in the Atlanta area!

25 things...

2010-12-09T08:43:00.000-05:00

I was looking at my facebook page this morning and came across a note I wrote over 2 years ago(one of those things that people use to pass around). I almost peed on myself laughing at some of the things I wrote...and since I needed a really good laugh today, I figured someone else might too! It was 25 Random things about yourself...and in the note I said..."you asked for it, you wanted random...you got it". Enjoy my friends...and feel free to laugh at my expense.

1. I tried out for the Lead of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz in the third grade...and got the part of a Lollipop Kid! Go figure...try out for the pretty girl with the red shoes and end up being the dirty kid with the lollipop!

2. The Lion (aka Jonathan) in the play had a crush on me and gave me Diamond(ok QZ) lightning bolt earrings at the wrap party.

3. In the third grade I also decided I was going to play Division 1 Basketball....the same year I decided to play ball, I was lifting weights to show up my older brother and dropped the bar on my front tooth and chipped it. I sure showed him!

4. I use to coon hunt, gig, fish....well you see the pattern...when I was in high school. I was in tight with the redneck boys and loved every minute of it.

5. I once threw myself in the floor when I found out my cat Butterball died. I was 10 and to this day my family still makes fun of me and my drama. Good thing I don't act like that anymore:)

6. My brother Paul was my best friend in high school and we went to every high school dance together...with OTHER people...look people we didn't live in West Virginia!

7. My brother was in a horrific car accident my senior year of high school...I think that was the hardest thing I have ever been through in my life. The memories I have of those days are still so fresh in my mind. It made me realize how fleeting life is. I believe that was when God truly began to work in my life and draw me to him.

8. I scored over 1200 points in high school...they even stopped the game to present me with the game ball...and then we LOST the game to Nelson County!!!!

9. God completely interrupted my life when I was a sophomore at Liberty and saved me at Spiritual Emphasis Week. I had lived the life of a good girl my whole life and God showed me that night that I still needed Jesus. Basketball had been my "god" since the 3rd grade and He saw fit to take me to the place that had been my "god" for so long to show me how much I truly needed a Savior. I prayed to receive Christ on the basketball court that night...the place that had been everything to me....turned out to be the place I gave Everything to Holy God! Praise God for His Grace!

9. I played basketball at Liberty University and won about 10 games the first 3 years....My senior year we had a great crop of freshman come in and we ended up winning our conference and playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time ever.

10. We lost that game....horribly...but what memories!

11. I got to pray at the end of our Big South Championship Game with about 2000 fans in the stands...it was so cool because it got really quiet and you could hear me praying all over the Vines Center....God was so good and still is!

12. Out of college I worked at a nursing home as an activities director...yep, I played Bingo and listened to Bluegrass Gospel with the old folks...it was such a rewarding job. I loved being there and loving on the residents.

13. I quit my job to stay at home and take care of my MaMa after my PaPa died. One of the most rewarding years of my life. She taught me so much in that short time. I believe to this day that she had a huge part in my Christian Life. She was always praying for me and asking me to go to church...I miss her so much. She went to be with Jesus almost 8 years ago on Valentine's Day.

14. 25. My husband bought me golf clubs for Christmas years ago and I secretly want to get really good at golf and go on the TV show "Big Break". I would love to get really good...hey, I just like spending the time with my man on the course. Seriously the best date ever:)

15. I met my husband on a blind date and pretty much knew that night that I was going to marry him. 3 dates later we talked about "being the one" and how we knew we were going to get married. We were engaged in 5 weeks and married by 6 months. He is the love of my life and the One God chose for me. He is my best friend....and yes I still think he is "Hot Lovin"!

16. I didn't kiss my husband until our Wedding Day! SO glad I waited....but boy it was hard:) Thank God we weren't engaged very long!

17. I am a Pastor's wife and in all of it's craziness...I love it! I love ministering to people, seeing people saved, seeing people grow...just seeing lives transformed by a Holy God! I love teenagers(use to hate them when I first got out of school...hence the old folks) but I love being around them. There is really no place I'd rather be!!

18. I teach Purity to teenage girls and it is truly a passion of mine. I have had the opportunity to teach it in several different places and would love to eventually write a book. God has truly laid this on my heart and I desire to see young girls stay Pure...not just physically, but emotionally!

19. I am a stay at home mom and love it ...LOVE it! I have 4 precious children and would have more if my sanity would allow it...okay who am I kidding....if Ric would allow it. I have no sanity left. I do love my babies and can't believe my oldest is 7!

20. I had to have 4 C-sections and ladies....no, they will not accidentally let the laser slip and HAVE to preform a tummy tuck during the C-section...I tried to get my Dr's to do it the last 2 times and they laughed at me! How Rude!

21. My kids all have an "e" sound at the end of their names....I know corny right....but it just flows and that is important when you have to yell all their names in order when they are trying to kill one another!

22. My daughter Shelby is not named after a family member or dear friend...Nope, it is from the greatest movie ever..Steel Magnolias! I wanted Truvey and Jackson too but Ric had to draw the line.

23. My MaMa called Ric..."Rex" while we were dating. She had dementia and couldn't always get his name right..me and my family still call him that to this day! The dog in Steel Magnolias was Rex...I'm just saying people!

24. I am truly blessed to be a wife to the greatest man ever and mother to the four greatest kids ever. My family is wonderful and I have the most supportive mom and dad any girl could ever ask for. I love my sister and brother and their families...there are nine grand kids in all. My in-laws are awesome and I love Ric's family...They are such a blessing as well! I have the greatest friends in the world and count it an honor to be able to call them every day numerous times to bug them for no reason at all. Thankfully they answer and if they don't I just leave really long messages:)

25. I love to sing...would seriously trade my van(that is broke down in my driveway) for the ability to sing really good. No really, I would love to be able to REALLY sing!!

I'm crazy blessed...I can't explain it!

You are such a card…

2010-12-04T08:25:00.003-05:00

I love this time of the year for several reasons, but one of my favorite things about Christmas is walking down to the mailbox to see who we got Christmas cards from that day(I still love snail mail). I love to display them so that all season long we think about the ones who love us. I have been doing photo Christmas cards for years so that people can see our kids and how much they have grown over the last year. We have to get the perfect photo!! Photo cards aren’t the same anymore…and that’s why I am excited to tell you about the awesome products Shutterfly has for you this Christmas season. You can get awesome cards like this with multiple pictures on them…here are a few of my favorites:

Shutterfly doesn’t just print cards…oh no, they have it all. You can get personalized calendars…what grandparent wouldn’t want to see their sweet grand babies all year long?? Shutterfly also does really great photo mugs…and coming from a coffee drinker…you can never have too many mugs!!

With gift ideas galore you really should check out Shutterfly. They are always offering special deals and sales and well, as much as I love photography, I could really get in trouble!!

Happy card hunting...from one card to another!

Butter glasses...

2010-11-30T21:32:00.003-05:00

We took the kids to see the movie "Tangled" over the Thanksgiving break. We had wanted to go see the regular movie, but soon found out that the only one playing was in 3-D. I have been to one 3-D movie with our kids before and swore I would never go again. Between telling them to keep their glasses on 254 times, getting a headache from wearing them myself, getting scared several times from stuff jumping out at me, and having to turn them in at the end of the movie(even though I paid extra for them)....I swore I would never grace the doors of a 3-D movie again. But alas...I did!

We get our glasses and get comfy while Ric goes to get popcorn...cause seriously, who goes to a movie without the refillable popcorn bucket(ahem...3 times)! Shout out to Pops for spotting us the popcorn! The movie was so stinkin' cute and I was really into it. I am dishing out cups of corn...picking up Jesse's glasses 22 times when I notice that Shelby has her glasses off...I'm like "pssstt..Shelby you have to wear your glasses". She puts the glasses down on her eyes and then two minutes later they are back up. "Shelby...put your glasses on...you can't get the full effect without them on(like she knows what that means)." She slides them back on her little button nose...and then we repeat above actions about 3 more times. Finally she gets up and brings them to me...."Mom...I can not see anything out of these things...they are drivin' me nut's". Finally I just switched with her...gave up my glasses for the "ones you can't see out of!".

I seriously thought she was just having a hard time with them because they are strange to look through...that was until I put her pair on. I slid Shelby's glasses on my nose with a little chuckle under my breath thinking "she is so crazy...can't see out of her glasses", and then I got them up....and lo and behold, I couldn't see out of them. There was so much butter on her lenses that seriously Paula Deen could have used them in a recipe. I was dying laughing and Ric is all "what, what...what are you laughing at??". I proceed to tell him what had just transpired as I took my comfy sweatshirt and wiped those butter laden glasses clean. He giggled and just said "Shelby"".

As the movie wore on I thought about those butter glasses and how there once was a time that I was blind...my "vision" was messed up, but God came and interrupted my life. He sought me out and wanted to heal my broken spirit. Man oh Man...do I remember the moment that my vision was corrected...I was 19 years old and in the middle of a revival at Liberty. I don't know what was being preached...but I do know that God was drawing me...He had revealed my sinfulness to me...showed me a need for repentance. He wiped my dirty glasses...my dirty heart, and He made me clean. When I looked up...I could see...praise God...I could see. I knew He had a plan for my life...a purpose and I was running after it.

I am thankful that 16 years later, He still moves in my heart. He still teaches me things(even if it's through butter glasses)...He still loves me. Have you had the butter wiped off of your glasses yet??? If you haven't, I encourage you to let Him help you to see clearly....I promise the "movie" will be way better if you do!!

Mark 8:25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Thankful for much...

2010-11-25T07:15:00.003-05:00

I am sitting at my in-laws house this quiet Thanksgiving morning...I can smell the ham in the oven, I hear the soft breathing of my four kids just steps away, I know that the man I loves thinks I hung the moon...and I am thankful for much!

This year I am thankful for God's grace in my life...for His saving grace, sustaining grace, and His undeserving grace. God has stretched me and showed me so many things this past 6 months and I am so grateful for it. Thankful that He doesn't give up on me when I wanted to live comfortably, when I ignored His word, when I was selfish, when I sinned, when I ignored the poor, when I didn't go...when I failed. If you read my blog, you know I have been through a journey (Radical), and I am so glad I did. My faith has been challenged, encouraged, stretched beyond belief...and I'm thankful for much!

I am thankful for my sweet husband. Yes, the man that I met almost 11 years ago still has my heart today. He still makes me laugh...still makes my heart skip a beat...still loves me in my crazy imperfections. He's a good man...a faithful man...a man of truth and substance...and a man that loves Jesus. I can overlook his strong belief in Big Foot...yep, I can...and I am thankful for much!
I am thankful for my precious kids...for their tender hearts, the way they laugh, the way they love. I love being their mom...when times are tough and when times are just plain good...they are great kids that challenge me daily to be a better person. They are a gift from God and I am so thankful He trusted me enough to raise them. They put my heart in puddles...and I am thankful for much!

I am thankful for my family. I live away from my family, and although it has gotten to be "normal"...it has never been easy. I miss my parents...my sweet sister and her family, my funny brother and his. They have been with me through it all and I love them. Love that even though we are so far apart distance wise, I know in my heart that we are always close at hand. I am thankful for Ric's sweet family and the way that they love us. I never would have thought that I could fit in so well with people that I wasn't "blood related" with...but I do...bless their hearts! What a blessing it is to have family and to feel loved. They rock for reals...and I am thankful for much!

I am thankful for friends and our church family. I am blown away by what great friends we have had placed in our lives. People that have stuck with us through the good times and bad. Friends that we can call on to help out...to feed a guinea pig...to help us when our cars mess up...to mow our grass...to take our kids when we need a break...to encourage us...give us a shoulder to cry on. Yep, I love my friends...my church...and I am thankful for much!

On this day I will remember how God has blessed me. I will acknowledge His hand in my life...and I will be thankful for much!

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your

hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

5 things...Radical Chapter 9

2010-11-16T23:00:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it's here...I can't believe I actually stuck with this...and I am sad that it's over, yet excited to see what happens in the next year. Reading this book has brought some many mixed feelings up...feelings of regret, conviction, embarrassment, excitement, expectancy...oh I could go on and on. All through the first 8 chapters, I knew what was coming in Chapter 9. I knew there was a commitment...I knew there were specifics. I have never been the type of person to read the end of the book first, and so I have waited...I didn't even peek. My book is so tattered and worn, but the pages of Chapter 9 are fresh...untouched until this past week. I would hush my mom when she tried to tell me about the commitment. I would tell my friends that I didn't want to know what was in Chapter 9 until it was time for me to get there...and I'm glad I didn't.

Can you imagine if I had just read that last chapter and that was all I did? I would have been like...sure I'll pray...read..."sacrifice"...go...get involved in my church...big deal. I would never have stuck with any of those things if I had done it that way. But now when I see "pray for the whole world", specifics are brought to mind...4.5 billion specifics and I really do want to pray for them. I want my kids to pray for the world and know that their prayers make a difference. I'm excited to pick different countries and tell the kids who we are praying for...my prayer for us is that we realize that we need to personally be invested in the gospel.

The second dare was to read through the Bible in 1 year. Gulp...I have to admit, I have been a Christian since I was 19 years old and I have never read through the ENTIRE Bible in a year. Sure I read my bible...that's enough right?? I am excited to take this challenge underway....I am ready for the challenge and anticipating God growing me through it. Why would this be part of the Radical Experiment you ask? Platt said "we hold the matchless Word of God in our hands, and it DEMANDS a superior position in our lives, our families, our small groups, and our churches. If you and I are going to penetrate our culture and the cultures of the world with the gospel, we desperately need minds saturated with God's Word." May my mind be saturated...may I hide His word deep in my heart.

The third challenge is to sacrifice you money for a specific purpose. This is one I so saw coming...I mean the whole book has stepped on and broken my toes over sacrificing. I am so grateful that I already know what I will be sacrificing my money for and I can't wait to share it with all of you...I am literally busting at the seams(and not because I am eating chips and salsa at 11:00 at night) to tell people, but I have to wait for the right time. So I know where my money will go...now where to take that money from. I am horribly convicted over the money we spend in eating out and unnecessary trips to the grocery store...I know that through planning and using coupons I can cut our budget in more than half in that are, but those things take discipline and that is something I am short on sometimes. Not now...it's now a choice...it's a commitment and to me that is binding so I will strive to sacrifice in that. We are looking to cut back on many other things in our lives just to be able to give together. We want to sell this house that looms over my shoulders now....Lord willing we will get to that point as well. This challenge makes me crazy nervous...if I'm being real and all. Lord help me to sacrifice.

The fourth challenge is to spend our time in another context. Well...I kinda know where this one is going too and I am beyond excited for it....I mean beyond! But above that, we, as a family are going to do one mission trip every summer so that our kids lives aren't eat up with free for all vacations, but teaching them to minister to others. I am praying that God will specifically lay a ministry on our hearts that we can get involved in and really invest our lives in.

The fifth challenge is to commit my life to a multiplying community...my church. Some could say that I have this one in the bag since I am married to the ministry per say...but I believe it goes so much more deeper than just having our names on the role. If I am to encourage my church body to live radically, then I have to live a radical life out in front of them. I have to be involved because I want to, not just because I am expected to. I want to take that extra time to pray with people...encourage people...love on folk! I won't lie...ministry is tough and sometimes I feel like the church gets more of my husband than I do. Sometimes I feel like it sucks the life out of us...and that my friends is what happens when you minister in the flesh. May I throw all that aside and just minister for Christ's sake, because really, it's not about me or my wants at all! May my precious church in Georgia get on board with this Radical Experiment...I can't wait to see what God does in spite of us!

It's been a great ride these last 9 weeks...one that I am glad doesn't end just because the book did. May God be please with my life! This next year I will ...pray...read...give...go...and commit. To God be the Glory!!

I'm joining in the Radical Read Along over at www.MarlaTaviano.com. Come on over...

Somewhat life long dreams fulfilled...

2010-11-15T09:03:00.008-05:00

This past weekend we had our youth group come out to our 4 acres out in the country and have a good ol' bonfire and several (vicious) games of capture the flag. Yes it was tough terrain to be playing said game on...yes there were several injuries(including my husband and our pastor)...and yes, a good time was had by all!

I had walked up to the house to check on all of the littles (youth workers kids) that were in the midst of a serious game of hide and seek too...there were no lights on in the house! When I cam back out I almost got choked up....I looked at the big bonfire blazing in the night sky and could see the shadows of more than 50 teenagers singing to Jesus. When we built our house....this was our dream, our vision. We wanted to open our home to friends...family...church folk...and make it place that would honor God and it was so neat to finally truly see that!

The kids played...fell down the hills...ran into trees(along with my good buddy Heather)...many flags were captured...then taken back...and I got to wear a flash light on my head. It was a good night that only got better.

My husband believes in Big Foot...yes, you heard me right. It has kind of become the resident joke around our youth group and even in the church that Ric thinks Big Foot is for real...to the point that my oldest daughter even made the statement to him several weeks ago when he told her the tooth fairy was not real "so you're telling me that you don't think the tooth fairy is real, but you think Big Foot is??". So I got an idea...just one to make my husband laugh. I decided to rent a Big Foot costume and have our 6 foot 5 inch friend Scott run across my backyard in it. We(the few of us who knew about Operation Big Foot) were dying to see Ric's reaction...and we were hoping to scare a few kids in return. The only one who got really scared was my 2 year old Jesse(who is still talking about it) and one of our teenage boys...whom you could have heard screaming in Alabama...ahem...Tyler Shaw!

Ric was surprised...laughed really hard...tried to figure out who the Sasquatch was...and then they sat down and had a coke together. It was a great night!! One that was filled with fun...a little bit of mischief...Jesus...and some crazy teenagers! I love being a youth pastor's wife...can you tell??

What were the life long dreams you ask??? Mine was getting to wear a head light(seriously I have wanted to do it forever and my husband surprised me with one that night)...Ric's was to have a legitimate sighting of Big Foot(although it wasn't really legit)...ours...to have our home filled with teenagers and friends...praising the Lord! What a great night of fulfillment!

My house was trashed...carpet now needs to be replaced...yard looked like Samford and Sons...but boy was it fun!

Worth the Risk…Radical Chapter 8

2010-11-09T22:45:00.002-05:00

I sit here tonight writing this post with my four sweet babes tucked into their own beds. Chris Tomlin is softly playing in my youngest son's room…"where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty" can be heard all the way down here where I sit on my super comfortable couch. I'm on my laptop while my husband works on our other computer…and both of our iPhones are close at hand. I fixed a great supper for my family and some of our friends tonight…we had family worship and jammed out to some Shai Linne and Kim Walker…and then we went over the study we are doing through Luke(awesome Study that Mark Driscoll has done). We have a good life…a real good life…I can't complain, nope not one bit. And then I read Chapter 8…

When I was in college I read Elizabeth Elliot's book "Passion for Purity". Her story was riveting…it drew me in like no other book (other than God's word) had. I began to read everything I could come across that had anything remotely to do with Jim Elliot or Elizabeth. I wanted to risk it all…just like they did. I imagined a life in the jungle…one where I would scoop up my babies out of the dirt and lay them down in our hut to go to bed. I wanted to live the life of a missionary….one who denies themselves and gives all they have to further the Gospel. But now…now I live the life that I described above…a good life…but a life far from the one I imagine as a young college girl. The question that Platt asks towards the beginning of the chapter "do we believe the reward found in Jesus is worth the risk of following Him?"…and that question stuck with me for the next 20 pages. Is it worth the risk?

If I wanted to be all spiritual in front of you few that read this, I would say "sure, whatever happens is worth the risk…just to follow Him", but I would be remiss in saying that. If I'm being honest, I think about those four sweet babes tucked in their beds upstairs and my wonderful husband in the next room, and I don't want to risk them. I don't want anything to happen to my family…it hurts my heart to even think about it. I am a mom, and by my nature I want to protect them at any length possible…when deep down I truly know that I have very little (ok absolutely nothing) to do with them being protected. I know God is in control, and then I read about how he has called us into danger. Our society would say that a loving God would never put His children in harm's way….well I beg to differ. Y.E.S. He would. As I read through this section of the book where Platt talked about how we are sheep sent out among wolves, my eyes were opened big time. Why would Jesus send His sheep into a pack of wolves? Why would He send us amongst evil…vicious people, and that be His design? To further the gospel. I read example after example of men and women being killed on the mission field…giving up their lives to just share with a people group that had never heard. It was worth the risk for them. We like to think of God's will as a comfortable place…and if there is no conflict…no tragedy…no cost…no problems, then it's for sure God's will…right? No…just the opposite…there will be conflict…tragedy…we may pay dearly…there will be road blocks, because He told us there would be. Sheep among wolves isn't safe…nope, not at all…so why do we expect our Christian life to be?

I liked to be liked. I want people that I am around to like who I am…I surely don't want someone to dislike me. Hold the phone people…I'm about to drop a bomb…the bible says we will be hated…disliked…people will stab us in the back…mock us, if we become like Jesus. We will be hated because He himself was hated. I loved the quote on page167 "to everyone wanting a safe, untroubled, comfortable, life free from danger, stay away from Jesus". It's so true when I read this, and then I think…am I hated…uncomfortable…troubled…in danger?? No…No…No…and No. Hmm…well let's see what conclusion I came up with. It seems to be that I am not enough like Jesus, because if I was then those things would be prevalent in my life. Why am I not hated? Do I conform to the people around me? Why am I not in danger? These are all questions I have been wrestling with…studying through…figuring out. Lord, help me to wade through these waters and examine my life for what it is.

"Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all things. But in the end, such risks find it's reward in Christ. And He is more than enough for us."

I am taking steps, yes, I really am. I am letting go of some fears…my husband will board a plane in the next year to a place that scares me…to do something that I believe God laid on my heart years ago…and I know…it's worth the risk!

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

I'm joining in the Radical Read Along over at www.MarlaTaviano.com. Come on over...

We are His plan…Radical Chapter 7

2010-11-02T22:18:00.001-04:00

I can't believe we are already on Chapter 7 of our Radical journey. As I ventured into this chapter, I wasn't sure what to think. I have been warned about other chapters…wrestled through my feelings about things that Platt has brought to light and fought through wanting to throw this book across the room at times or bury my head in the sand. This chapter was different for me to start off with. I agree with everything Platt said and these are truths that I have learned for years, so there was no wrestling with what he wrote per say…but it brought to light some critical things for me.

The question posed in this chapter is what happens to someone who dies never having heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some people believe that we will all be in heaven…some believe that those who don't ever hear the gospel will just "get to go in"….this chapter breaks down the truth behind the scriptures so clearly…and it reveals that yes..Hell is real, that real people will go to this real place, and that we are His plan…and there is no plan b.

We struggle to believe that a loving God would send people to hell, but if we are being fair…that's what we all deserve. You see we fail to see that we are all evil…that we deserve God's wrath and that it is only by His grace that He holds that wrath at bay. God is loving, but He is just. We all know of God…we all reject God…we are all guilty before Him…we are condemned if we reject Him…God has made a way of salvation…people can't come to God apart from faith in Christ…and the last truth is that Christ's church is commanded to take the gospel to all people. That's where I want to sit for a bit.

As I read this chapter and heard about the 4.6 billion people that have NEVER heard the gospel of Christ and that it is our job to take the gospel to them. I loved the verse in Romans 10 where Paul quoted a verse from the book of Joel:

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of who they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?"

God sends His servants ->His servants preach->People Hear->Hearers Believe->Believers call->Everyone who calls is saved….that's the simple plan of taking the gospel to those 4.6 billion people and the only way that plan gets messed up is at the beginning…when servants of God don't preach the gospel to all peoples. We are the plan of God…and there is no plan B. So what do I do with that? This is God's will for me…bottom line, to share the gospel. I sat there and thought about how blessed we are…why are we (people here in America…affluent countries) the ones who hold the Truth in our hands? And if we are the ones that hold this truth in our hands…why are we wasting our time on this American Dream? Why am I concerned with the things I am. People are lost and dying…going to hell never hearing the name of Jesus…because I won't go. Because you won't go.

I loved the story Platt told about the man who went to minister to a group of people that were completely unreached…unengaged. They were kind to him and invited him in to have a drink. The man went into his shop and got a drink and came out with a classic red Coke can. It hit him immediately that a soft drink company here in Atlanta had done a better job getting brown sugar water to those unreached people than the church of Jesus Christ has done in getting the gospel to them. 4.6 billion…an astounding number. May I never forget that I am His plan….here am I…send me!

Radical Chapter 6…I was warned...

2010-10-26T09:46:00.002-04:00

I was warned. Everyone I know that has read Radical warned me about chapter 6. When folks hear that I am reading and doing a study on the book they ask me if I have gotten to chapter 6 yet. Well I got there…thanks for the warning! I am kinda kicking myself this morning. I wrote a post last week about my sweet son and how he literally lived this very chapter…you know Chapter 6…out right in front of my very eyes. Go read it here…I promise this 9 year old boy will bless you with his "radical" decision. I knew that God wanted me to write that post last week…and it could be really easy to just repost that post and be done with it, but I know that would just be me taking the easy way out. Obviously God still has something for me to learn from this.

I must admit I have been sorta blind. Not completely, because there are times that things would pop up and I would struggle with all that we had, and how so many others had nothing. My concern for the poor really began to come out when my kids started school. You see, our kids go to a Title 1 school…which is basically a school with a large population of low income students. My kids saw other students that got food on Friday's to take home with them, because that was all the food they would get. We saw kids that had very little clothing…and it has broken my kids hearts…broken mine. But as a whole, I've been blind. We have nice stuff…we have lived the "American dream"…have our dream home…have computers, TV's, iPhone's, game systems, furniture, décor galore(I love to decorate), we have far more than we need. We are givers though. We give to our church…to people within our church…to people struggling outside of our church(there is a man down on his luck driving one of our vehicles as we speak…and yes I even struggled with that) …but yet, it still isn't enough and I can't bank on that giving to say I am living biblically. How much is enough?

This whole chapter said one thing to me…give. Give my money…give my time…my resources…my comfort…my possessions, so that I could give to the poor the way God CALLED me to. It isn't an option…I'm called. I can sit here and say that I'm all radical with our spending…with our money. I want to be, but I'm not there yet. I think that is my biggest inner struggle right now. I go back and forth…I one day think it's wrong to spend money on x,y, or z, and then the next day am rationalizing x,y, and z. So it's a process for me…but one that I am willing to take.

I loved the quote that Platt said about learning from John Wesley's life in that "our perspective on our possessions radically changes when we open our eyes to the needs of the world around us. When we have the courage to look in the faces of brothers and sisters whose bodies are malnourished and whose brains are deformed because they have no food, Christ will change our desires, and we will long to sacrifice our resources for the glory of his name among them". I guess that is where I am…I'm ready to sacrifice…sell it all to see His name get glory among the lost…the poor. God has truly taken those blinders off of my eyes…through his Word…through this book…through my little boy. We (meaning my family) can adjust our lifestyle for the sake of the gospel…it may not be "easy" (isn't that sad that I typed that…really…giving up unnecessary things is not easy while 26,000 kids will die today from starvation..I am ashamed...God forgive me for materialistic mindset), but it can be done. Can you adjust yours? Can we as a body of believers see the need…hear the scriptures and give?

No warning could have prepared me for the way I feel…right now. Right now as I type on this keyboard I have tears coming down my cheeks. I wanna change…I really do…God help me to live so radically that others would reap the reward of my radical living. I know one thing…I can't do it on my own strength…only through His.

I’m joining in the Radical Read Along over at www.MarlaTaviano.com. Come on over...

Tiny Truth’s Thursday…$80 dollars and a bottle of water

2010-10-21T10:27:00.002-04:00

I have hesitated writing this post. There are several things that go through my mind about why not to write this post, but I believe God wants me to write it…so I write. Please know this isn't written to boast on my son, my parenting skills (cause trust me…my skills struggle daily), or any person. In 1 Corinthians 1:31 the Word says, "So that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." This is to boast in the Lord and how He worked in my little boy's heart a few weeks ago.

Charlie had his birthday at the beginning of September and one of his gifts was a gift card from my folks. He had gotten $100 Visa gift card and he thought he was hot stuff. He had never really had money before…much less on a "credit card"…much less $100!! He was stoked to say the least and his beloved gift card was pinned to our calendar in the kitchen for weeks...he was saving it for just the right thing. Fast forward to Shelby's birthday at the beginning of October, and we are at the mall for Shelby's party and Charlie had brought his gift card to go to Game Stop and buy a new game. He stood for a long time eyeing the Xbox's and asking how much they were. He shopped for ever before he finally picked out his game and bought it. He brought me his card to hold onto for him and we went on our way. He talked of saving his money up to get an Xbox…to buy new shoes…stuff for his room.

Fast forward again to two Sunday's ago. We get home from church and are at the table eating our lunch and he says to me this "I gave my $80 to Living Water. Did you know there are kids that have no water Mom? I'm gonna give them my $80 so they can have water…I have water everyday…I don't need my $80" I sat there and said to him "what made you do that Charlie?"...he said "I just felt like in my heart that was what I was supposed to do". Ric went on to explain how the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and guides us…and I cried. Not a big weepy cry, but tears were just brimming on my eye lids. He looked at me all concerned and said "mom, why are you so sad?" I told him it was a good kinda cry…the kind of cry that you do when you are overwhelmed with God and how awesome He is. I told Charlie I was proud of him…because if we are gonna be honest, and that's what I strive to do, Charlie is materialistic (and he has gotten it honest). We have created that in him…he wants all the time…he sees stuff other kids have and he asks to get it. He is always wanting the next new game system (even though he knows we won't buy it…seriously who needs a Playstation 3, Xbox, Wii, Psp). We have the Playstation 2 that I bought for Ric our 2^nd Christmas and we won a Wii several years back so really??? Another one? We have been reading Radical and trying to put things into perspective in our lives about what we truly need. We have talked to the kids about downsizing…giving things away…supporting missions so that we can break the cycle of materialism. Sadly to say my first thought when I heard about his $80 was…what, you are giving your money away...all of it…you've never even had money…but God stapled my mouth shut long enough to wack me over the head so that my flesh wouldn't speak. Maybe the tears in my eyes were for my own materialism and conviction over that…for wanting to hold on to something that's not even mine in the first place…'cause in reality nothing I have is mine in the first place. But God used my little boy that afternoon…in a big way.

He showed me that the best thing about money is giving it away…the joy that it brought him was immeasurable. He knew he was helping someone in need and that blessed him. As God is shaping me…and stripping me of my selfishness and materialism…He used my 9 year old little boy to remind me, once again, what it truly is all about. In Matthew 19:21 we are told this: "Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." He could have held onto that $80 and been just like the rich young man whom the above scripture was said to. You see, that rich young man walked away from Jesus because he didn't want to give up all his riches. But Charlie lived this scripture before my eyes…he didn't have to sell anything, but he gave ALL he had…to the poor. Would I be willing to do that? Would you?

Last Sunday he took a check to his children's ministry leaders and turned in everything he had. He got some bottled water as a visual of how he helped those kids. Evidently that $80 will give 40 kids drinking water for a year…a year. $ 80 may not seem like much to some, but to 40 kids in poverty stricken areas in Africa, India, or anywhere else they dig wells…it's a whole lot. He was so excited to give his money…may I be just as excited to sacrifice "my money" and time to help those in need. May I be willing to give all I have for a bottle of water…and for the opportunity to see God do big things in the world around us.

Tiny Truth's for this Thursday~

- Having two birthday's within one month is nuts

- That Charlie takes forever to shop for a new game

- That my son was broken over kids in need of water…and we should be too

- That God calls us to give to the poor…that is one way we follow Him

- That $80 buys a whole lot of water

- That I have so far to go in my spiritual life…God continue to strip away my selfishness so that I can be used by you

This song is one of Charlie's favorites to sing during our family worship time...it talks about our soul making it's boast in the Lord, so I though I'd share it.

Three words…

2010-10-12T23:14:00.001-04:00

Three words resonate through this 5^th chapter of Radical…three words that could change the face of the earth as we know it…three words that Jesus Christ himself taught…three words that we say over and over at our churches. We know these three words…but are we doing it? Are we living out Christ's plan…His mega strategy…His will?

These three words are simple enough. It doesn't take a biblical scholar to understand them…yet it takes a person willing to live Jesus in front of the world. Go…baptize…teach. Three words.

GO… Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples. We hear about a young man in the beginning of the chapter named Bullen who lived in Sudan and was living out the Gospel. He said he was going to "impact the world". He was a young man living in a poverty stricken land and just knew he was going to impact the world and make disciples of all nations. When Platt questioned him about this ambition, his answer was an easy "why not". I loved his answer and his heart. Platt says that "regardless of what country we live in, what skills we possess, what kind of education we have, or what kind of salary we make, Jesus has commanded each of us to make disciples, and this is the means by which we will impact the world." Jesus had the task of taking the gospel to the world; he went around Israel looking for a few men…not the masses…a few men. I think this next quote is my favorite from the chapter "All he wanted was a few men who would think as he did, love as he did, see as he did, teach as he did, and serve as he did. All he needed was to revolutionize the hearts of a few, and they would impact the world."

He trusted these men, at least 11 of them, He spoke of them…loved them….spent more time with them than anyone else…He instructs them in what He wants them to do …go, baptize, and teach. You see the scripture is clear that not only do we go, but we make disciples of them. That is what He did with them. He walked with them and taught them along the way. He knew the process would take time, but that it would impact the world. I pray that I would be obedient and just go. That I would share His love with people around me and that I would make disciples. That I would walk beside them…teach them how to study His word…how to pray…and that I would build a relationship with them.

BAPTIZE…I love to watch baptism's. I have had the honor of watching my husband baptize more folk than I can count and somehow I have never gotten over what a beautiful display it is. We see this person who has been changed by a Holy God, outwardly displaying the new life that has taken place in them. My favorite part of the service is when Ric brings them up out of the water, and his words are "raised to walk in the newness of life"…and you can literally see that on their faces. They are new…clean…healed and their faces are screaming it. I love how baptism identifies us with one another in the body of Christ…people from all walks of life bound together through the blood of Christ. This part of Jesus' call on our lives was important enough for Him to mention…I pray that we would never get tired and weary of going, and that we would begin to look at the faces that pass through the baptismal pool that have been made new…and that we would never get over it.

TEACHING… This one could be so easy for me to say…"Oh yeah, I got that one in the bag…I teach Sunday school…CHECK!", but wow did God kick me in the gut over this one. I teach every Sunday morning…I do small groups on Sunday nights…I have taught purity classes…and yet am I taking the time one on one with people to truly teach them? I pray that my focus would go from just teaching my classes to teaching individuals. Taking time to teach a new believer how to study…pray…walk with Christ. The part where Platt mentioned how teaching in this manor will keep us accountable…how when we take responsibility in helping others grow, than we will inadvertently grow in our own relationship with Jesus. We are doing accountability groups with our teens and I have to answer the same questions they do…and trust me, it keeps me accountable and I am growing! I pray I would start to focus on not mass production…but quality production.

As I taught my Sunday school class this past week we talked about doing hard things. We talked about being known more for what you do than what you don't do. Platt shares this at the end of the chapter and hearing it twice in one week assures me that I needed this. I feel I have always been known for what I don't do…"Oh Genie, she doesn't do this…and she won't do that…and she won't go there or partake in this." Do people know me for the things I do? I want to leave that mindset of disinfection and being good and move into what we do now…"propelling Christians into the world to risk their lives for the sake of others". I want to impact people's lives and for people to see Christ in my life...not what I don't do.

Why not? I can make a difference…you can make a difference…we can…because of what He did for us and because He showed us how to. Three words to live by…three words to die by…Go, baptize, and teach. May I never forget it…

This ain't no jive...Shelby is five...

2010-10-07T06:21:00.006-04:00

Five years ago today my sweet Shelby Jean was brought into this world...and the world hasn't been the same since!!!

Sweet Shelby Jean is a ray and a light...

A force to be reckoned with...

A light in this ever so dark world...

An outspoken child...about all things...and I mean all...

A child that is incredibly spiritually minded for a 5 year old...

A friend to the masses...and she has a way with the older generation I tell ya...

A lover of life and all things grand...

A gift...

A blessing...

Oh I love this 3rd child of mine...

I thank the Lord for your life...

and for what a difference it's made in mine!

Happy 5th Birthday Queenie!

Psalms 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Called...

2010-10-05T08:57:00.003-04:00

Radical Chapter 4:

11 years ago I felt "called" to foreign missions. I had gone on a short trip to Spain and I was a member of a church that oozed the mission mindset. You couldn't walk down the halls of our church without seeing pictures of all the missionaries that had been sent from our church. We prayed for missionaries that had been in captivity in Cambodia for years...we had missions conferences...our pastor called us during a Sunday morning service from a secret church in China. They got it and I wanted to be part of it. When I didn't get to go after college it was still in my heart to serve full time. Then I married my husband who was in full time ministry and I kinda chalked up my burden for lost souls around the world to God preparing me for ministry. And then checked off my responsibility to take the gospel to all the nations because "I'm ministering to teenagers...so that's enough". We sent money to the convention to help with missions...we never took an overseas mission trip(not once)...we just let "others" do it for us...and now my heart breaks for what I missed out on the last 10 years. And I realize that since I have been saved by His grace I am called...period!

Platt talks about how we created for two purposes: We were created by God to enjoy His grace and to extend His glory to the ends of the earth. All through the Bible we see times where God would bless His people so that His salvation would be made known among all people. Am I fulfilling my creator's purpose? Am I using the blessings I have been given so that I can make Him known...or am I ignoring His purpose? I have lived in a "me" centered Gospel for years. We think we are the end of the Gospel..."God loves ME"...but it truly is that "God loves me so that I might make Him-His ways, His salvation, His glory, and his greatness known among all nations". I know and believe that God loves me, but what have I done with that? Kept it centered on me or pointed it back to Him? This next quote broke me...

"It's a foundational truth: God creates, blesses, and saves each of us for a radically global purpose. But if we are not careful, we will be tempted to make exceptions. And in the process we will find ourselves settling for lesser plans that the culture around us-and even the church around us-deems more admirable, more manageable, more comfortable."

I have settled for the American Dream in the past years, and yet all of a sudden God is so working in my heart to shed that dream and just do His will. I have lived a life that is admirable, manageable, and comfortable...and it ain't all it's cracked up to be!

I have said of late that I had a mission field in my backyard. I live in a small town...one that is need of Christ...but yet, what I am I doing about it? My kids come home from school talking about kids that have no food on the weekends...that wear the same clothes most days...kids that have parents in jail...and my heart breaks and I pray for them...but what am I D.O.I.N.G.???? My hearts longs to minister to those hurting in poverty stricken countries...to unreached nations...and I agree with Platt, that we have been called to extend His glory not just to areas of need here but to areas of need around the world. Not EITHER here or there, but BOTH here and there. I am in debt to the nations....I owe Christ to the world because He owns me.

Will I be willing to step out of my comfort zone and be radical? Will it matter to me if others think I have lost my mind? If people don't like me? I shared with my bible study the other night that "our radical" isn't really all that radical...it should be the norm. It should be the way we as Christians live daily. I want to impact the world and through doing that impact my kids, so that they can live radical Christian lives... so that their kids can..and so that the nations would know Him! Just 'cause we are called to...period!

Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

I’m joining in the Radical Read Along over at www.MarlaTaviano.com. Come on over...

On this day…

2010-10-01T13:14:00.002-04:00

I awoke this morning to my husband coming up the steps saying "Kelly's at the hospital in labor"! The kids are all excited because cousin Rylnn is about to make her entrance into this world and we couldn't be happier! I am getting the kids all ready for school and then it hit me….what happened on this day.

On this day…the sweetest woman I have been blessed to know was born…and I couldn't think of a better day for sweet Rylnn to be born. My MaMa(my Mom's Mom) was born on the 1^st of October…well not really, but that is when we celebrated it. After my PaPa had died, I took her to the bank to get some things out of her safe deposit box and I found her Birth Certificate. I looked at it and it said October 2^nd….I said "MaMa, I thought your birthday was on the 1^st?". She said "it is". I looked again and sure enough it was the 2^nd…at 12:0something a.m.…she was born right after the strike of midnight and I guess her family just decided to celebrate on that day…her entire life. Is that funny or what? It still makes me laugh to think about that day in the bank when she learned her birthday was another day.

Gertrude Christine Flora Overfelt was just such an unbelievable woman…so full of love and graciousness. MaMa was so much a part of my life from the time I can remember. She went on vacations with us, we were together EVERY holiday, she went to all of my ballgames (and even cheered for me when I was on the bench), I would go eat lunch with her when I was in college (her and PaPa only lived about 2 miles from Liberty), and I had the privilege and honor of taking care of her after my PaPa died.

We had so much fun together…we would go to lunch, sit on the porch and drink coffee, I went to her church senior functions with her, took her to visit family, to Dr's appointments(the Dr's got sick of me asking questions), we hung with my sister and her boys…I just remember so many things. I would give her a bath in the mornings and fix her hair "just so"…she always wanted to look put together! She loved John Rocker when he played for the Braves and she would stay up and watch the games until the very end when he would come in. She would say "here comes that John Rocker". It would be midnight and I would tell her to go to bed and she would tell me she had to stay up and see him finish the game out. I think she liked him because he was cute…but whatever! When she met my husband(to be at that time) Ric she just welcomed him in…and called him Rex because she couldn't remember his name…and my family still calls him that to this day!

She was just a joy to have around and I loved being with her. I was a 24 year old girl hanging out with a 70 something year old lady and I was happy. She taught me so many things that year. I was with her when she grieved PaPa's death…she would just sit and cry and I would hug on her and tell her it was ok. She missed him so much it literally hurt her heart. We would listen to her favorite music on her CD player in her room (the one my daughter has today) and she had me read her bible to her every day. She loved Jesus! I remember growing up that her goal in life was to have us all at church on Sundays. She asked every Saturday if we were going and would even bribe me into spending the night with her so I had to go to church on Sunday with her….she cared about her family's eternal destination…and wasn't ashamed of that, nope, not one bit.

Around the spring time (she had been with us since September) things started going downhill so fast. Her dementia was getting worse and there were nights that she thought I was trying to kill her…she didn't know who I was sometimes…she was confused…and her body just started to shut down. After many months of struggling, my folks had to make the decision to put in her in full time care. She was a danger to herself and we could not provide her the nursing care she needed. We cried…oh how we cried. It was such a hard thing to do. We would all go sit with her and Mom was there every day to feed her lunch and dinner. I remember getting ready on my wedding day feeling such a void in my life…she wasn't there that day. The happiest day of my life and the woman who had been such a big part of my life couldn't be there. Mom gave me diamond earrings that morning…from MaMa and a sweet card saying "I know she wanted to see this day". I knew that I was moving away and wouldn't get to see her as much and that made my heart hurt.

She hung on for another 2 years. I introduced my newborn son to her on a cool day in October and she just smiled at him. Even when the dementia continued to take her mind she never forgot how to love…and she still sang praises to Jesus. She went to be with Jesus on Valentine's Day in '03…the winter I was pregnant with Addie. I was at my folks the morning they called with the news…what a sad day it was…but we knew that MaMa was in glory and for that we thanking God. We knew that dementia no longer had her mind…that her body was no longer suffering…that she was finally healed and whole!

Her funeral was a testament to the lady she was…full of God's love and His grace. Her grandchildren stood before the crowd that snowy day and shared her favorite verses…we sang her favorite songs…and we remembered the woman that she was and the legacy she has left behind. My prayer is that one day when I am old and gray, that I look behind me and see the same kind of legacy. She forever impacted my life…and I will forever be grateful.

Power...

2010-09-28T21:03:00.005-04:00

Radical Chapter 3

I'm an under liner. When I read I underline stuff....and sometimes I even star a sentence. As I was looking back through my chapter tonight I noticed something funny...almost(and by that I mean all but a few) every sentence I underlined had the word power in it. This chapter resonated God's power. The first sentence I marked was this one "The question for us, then, is whether we trust in His power..."

Do I trust in His power? Anybody else out there sometimes feel like they try to do things in their own power...even "stuff" we do for God? Reading this chapter...after just recently teaching "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan, was a fresh reminder of where my power comes from. I was reminded afresh and anew of how God gave me, a unlikely girl, His power so it is clear to those around me who deserves the glory for the success that takes place.

What do you think of when I say the word power? Do you think of the thing that makes your lights come on at home...that makes your car go...that keeps that laptop up and humming? Do we think about God? The power of God is so much greater than our minds can even fathom...yet we don't trust it. Platt says this "the gospel beckons us to die to ourselves and to believe in God and trust in His power" . Jesus tells us that "apart from me you can do nothing"...so then why do I try to do it in my own power so many times? Why does the church today try to "do church" on their own power? Have we forgotten the Holy Spirit completely? Am I dependent on my self or am I desperate for His spirit?

I have read many a story in scripture where men of God were put in positions so that God's power was magnified. I love the way Platt described Joshua and how God exalted his inability's. Here we have Joshua on the outside of Jericho and God is going to give Joshua the plans for the battle...he's waiting for a grand plan...a stoic plan...and he gets "walk around the city walls for six days and then on the seventh walk seven times and then blow your horns." I bet Joshua thought it was a weird plan...Platt even says that he probably wanted a second opinion. I laughed at that one because that is so something I would have done. You see I doubt His plan...His purpose...His power. When Joshua won the battle, it was clear to all those around that God was the one with the power...He got all the glory for what happened...not an army! God continually puts us in situations where we come face to face with our need for Him. I think my favorite quote was "He puts his people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness".

After reading this I questioned my life and if I had ever truly allowed God to make Himself known through my life. Is His greatness evident? Had I ever been so desperate for Him...desperate for His power 'cause I just couldn't do it alone? Yeah there are instances...but I don't want instances anymore. I am not satisfied with just sometimes relying on His power...or only relying on His power when I truly need Him. I want to live in the Spirit...make Him known through my life...my weakness...my inabilities. I am no longer content with self sufficiency(which is funny because that is what we teach our kids) or being self dependent. I want to be desperate for His Spirit, and I want my family to live in desperation...as well as my church. So now I will plead...plead for Him to show up in a might way...to show me His power...my weakness...so that I can see His purpose through it all! There is power, power, wonder working power...

I’m joining in the Radical Read Along over at www.MarlaTaviano.com. Come on over...

Weight...

2010-09-27T13:55:00.009-04:00

Saturday night I did something that my son has been asking me to do for a few weeks now...

I was sick to my stomach and so didn't want to do it...and with the first stroke of the clippers I think there may have been tears in my eyes.

Charlie has been growing his hair out since March and it had only been cut once...it was so cute...it still had blonde streaks running through it from the summer sun...it swept right across the tops of his eyes...oh it was so stinkin' cute. He was sick of it though. He told me it was too hard to take care of...he hated that it hung down on his forehead while he played soccer and football...and he was just done with it. I think I tried to talk him out of it like 15 times and then I just said, "it's your hair Chuck...we'll cut it if that's what you want." And then I got out my trusty clippers.

The whole time I was cutting it he kept telling me why he wanted it short again...bless his heart, he was having to console me and convince me that it was going to be alright. As soon as it was done I looked at him and said "oh Charlie...you are just so handsome it wouldn't matter what you did to your hair...I love it".

He still felt like he should convince me of his need for a "new do". He was telling me how easy it was going to be...how much quicker he would shower...that it wouldn't hang in his eyes...that I wouldn't have to help him fix it...that he wouldn't even have a need for conditioner. I laughed at him as he ran up the steps to take a shower, all the while wondering where my little boy had gone.

After his shower I sat down to talk to him before bed...the other kids were knocked out, so it was just me and him. I joked with him about all that hair laying on the floor and how it had looked like a dead animal and I wondered how much it weighed! He said, "I wonder if I lost weight", as he jumped up and ran to the scale. I hear him holler from the other room..."Nah, I gained 1.2 pounds". I am dying laughing at my crazy son...especially when he came back and told me that he just knew that he was going to be able to run faster since he wouldn't have all that hair holding him back.

As I swept the kitchen today I came across one little bunch of hair that had somehow gotten lost under the kitchen desk after I had swept the small animal up Saturday night. It brought back all the things that took place and what was said...and God showed me something. Just like Charlie's hair weighed him down...that's how sin is...and that's how burdens are. They weigh us down..makes us slow...it takes longer to accomplish things(like Charlie showering)...they hinder us. So many times in our lives we carry our burdens around like "it's just our cross to bear" and we try to be a martyr, instead of just giving those burdens..that weight..to God. We stay in our sin and try to convince ourselves that we just can't give it up or get away from it...it ensnares us.

I have been there...where I felt like there was nothing I could do...I was trapped by my sin...my self-pity...my anger...my bitterness...and I was trapped. How grateful to God I am, that in His rich mercy He saw fit to reach down...work in my heart...He stripped that weight right off of me...and I laid those burdens down and I ran. Ran back to Him...ran to make things right with people that I had hurt...ran to the Word...I ran. I felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off of my chest...I had been so weighed down, and when God freed me of those burdens...that sin..I was lighter. I am sure it didn't show up on the scale (especially since the week this happened was my birthday week and I literally ate my face off)but I was lighter...and I can say that only because of Him. It had n-o-t-h-i-n-g to do with me being strong enough, or good enough, or anything enough. It was all Him...every last ounce.

Charlie reminded me of that when he cut his hair and felt lighter...free...even faster. Who doesn't want to weigh a little less and have better endurance? My friends, I urge you to lay those burdens aside...that sin that has you in a trap...and just run.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

All by myself...

2010-09-23T13:32:00.006-04:00

Jesse is all alone these days at home...

He was not sure what to do with with himself once the big kids went back to school...

And so every morning...he rides...

He rides with the sun glistening on his stark blonde hair...

He rides in his undies...with no shorts on...

He rides through the dirt...and loves to get his tires muddy...such a boy...

He likes to watch the tires spin...

He rides all the way across our big back yard...

He bites his lip while he concentrates...

and he rides...and rides...and rides...

all by himself...and he's starting to be ok with that!

Wrestling...

2010-09-21T08:32:00.003-04:00

Do you watch wrestling? I never did...sometimes accidentally I would walk by a TV when we were growing up and would see it if my brother had it on. I don't know much about wrestling...I never even went to a high school wrestling match, but this week I feel like I could beat the best of them...even Nacho Libre. I have been wrestling all week and feel like a seasoned pro. I have wrestled with myself(something you won't see on TV)...over God's Word...the line...my thoughts...my fears..my flesh. I don't know any other way to describe my last week...but one filled with wrestling.

I have read chapter 2 of Radical like 4 times and every time I read back through it something else stands out to me....and I underline it...and wrestle with it. I'm going to try my best to get my thoughts written out in a somewhat clear manner...and pray that what I write truly magnifies Christ and not me.

When David Platt writes about his experience in Asia with a secret church, I got a little sick to my stomach. He talked about how the leaders just wanted him to teach for hours on end...that all they wanted was to learn the Old Testament and then the New Testament. These men left their fields(their livelihood...they were farmers) unattended for weeks to learn the word...Jesus was all that mattered to them. The word he described them with was hungry...and it stuck a cord with me. Am I that hungry for the word...for the truth..for God's moving in my life? He described the scene in that little secret church where they all huddled together with their Bible's laid on their laps and one little light bulb hanging over their heads and then Platt wrote these words...

No Sound system.

No band.

No guitar.

No entertainment.

No cushioned chairs.

No heated or air-conditioned building.

Nothing but the people of God and the Word of God.

And strangely, that's enough...

But is His Word enough for us?

Would His Word still be enough for His people to come together?"

and my question for myself was...is He enough for me? I don't need all of those things above(although I do like them)...but there are a whole lot of other things that I think I "need". I know I need to be hungry for the revelation of God.

As I read through the rest of the chapter I was like "right on...preach it brother", because Platt teaches such sound doctrine when it comes to who we are(spiritually dead with an evil heart)...who He is(a loving Father, but also a wrathful judge...which you won't hear too often)...and what we need.

This is the part of the chapter that literally jumped off the page because far too many people are falling into the lies of "Christianity today"... We aren't saved from our sins because Roman soldiers hung Jesus on a cross with nails...it's not the judgement of men that payed the debt for all of man kinds sin...wood and nails and a crown of thorns is not powerful enough to save us. "What happened at the Cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus' hands and feet but about the wrath of your sin and my sin being thrust upon his soul" . The cup that He wanted to pass was not the cross itself...but divine judgement, the cup of God's wrath.

Today we tell people that the way to respond to this gospel is to say a prayer...invite Jesus into our lives...sign a card...walk an aisle...but that just doesn't seem adequate enough or even appropriate. In our ministry we have stressed this with our teenagers...that it's not a prayer...it has nothing to do with anything you have done or choose...that He chooses us...and that the sinner's prayer is nowhere in scripture. I loved Platt's statement here:

"We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced Him to a poor, puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept Him. Accept Him?? do we really think Jesus needs our acceptance? Don't we need Him?"

Oh, we so desperately need Him...and that I think is where the wrestling begins. I wrestled with whether or not I have not done the kids in our ministry justice. Have I stressed to them enough about what salvation truly is? Do they know Jesus intimately? Do they hunger after His word...do I? Do they truly get it or are they clinging to a prayer? Are they settling for less than "a God-centered, Christ-exalting, self-denying gospel"?

I am worn out from my wrestling this week...but I'm glad. I texted my husband yesterday to say to him ...I'm struggling...where do I draw the line? Is it wrong to go on vacations? Is it wrong to go through Dunkin Donuts and get my Pumpkin Spice Latte that I love? Is it wrong to want new things...is it wrong to have someone pray the sinner's prayer...am I a selfish baby because I don't see others needs like I should? His response...."good". I said "good what?"...he said "good that you are struggling". And I smiled...it is good...so I will put on my stretchy pants and cape this week...dive into God's Word...and keep wrestling. Maybe I'll even learn some new "moves" this week. I know one thing, after all this wrestling, I am just praying that I would follow Him and come out stronger on the other side...and maybe learn how to do a Superfly Snuka move(don't let it fool you...I had to google it)!

Radical...uncomfortable in my comfort

2010-09-14T09:46:00.004-04:00

In 1998 I left the comforts of my small town and flew half way across the world to Spain for a missions trip with my college basketball team. We traveled all over the country playing basketball, sharing testimonies, doing camps for kids where we shared the gospel, and ministering on the streets. We didn't see very much poverty…we stayed in nice hotels…ate at nice restaurants…went shopping….went to bull fights(which I will never go to again…no clue they actually killed the bull!!)…and we came home. It was a great experience…but I thirsted for more.

Shortly after coming back home to my small town I felt God calling me to do something bigger than anything I could have imagined. I was in my last semester of college when I signed up to go to India with Light Ministries out of Liberty University. I was signing up for a year term…and off I went to raise money. Months later the money hadn't come in and God shut the door. I didn't understand why, but shortly after that my grandfather died….I quit my job to take care of my grandmother who suffered from dementia, and then I met my husband. I saw that God's timing was perfect and that He truly did have a plan for life..and for now it was not in India. I married my husband and we set off for Georgia to begin our life together in the Ministry…and I have been comfortable ever since.

I have my mini-van…nice home…nice clothes…plenty of food…great church…yeah, I'm comfortable. But about 6 months ago I read Crazy Love and I became extremely uncomfortable in my "comfort". What was I missing? Was I willing to give it all away and follow Christ wherever He led my family? Would I put my kids in a dangerous mission field if God called us there? Would I quit living so materialistically? I was willing to GO twelve years ago, BUT…"I have kids now….there's no way I could do that now…right?". All of these questions have come up in my mind…and then I got the book Radical by David Platt, and I have been rocked to the core again…and the question that won't leave my mind is "am I content to settle for less than radical obedience to Him?"

We read in John 9 about the conditions required to follow Him…become homeless, let someone else bury your dad, don't say goodbye to family, to leave it all behind and follow Him… what does He mean by that? In our minds we think, "surely he doesn't require that of us today". Surely He doesn't require us to sell everything we have and give it to the poor and follow Him….surely not? Leave our families??? No, my Jesus would never do that either. Jesus was calling them to leave their comfort…drop their plans..their dreams, and follow Him..…and I have learned that He is STILL requiring us to do that today! The question is…can I do that?

I sit here typing this now and tears literally brim in my eyes…can I do that? I want to in my heart of hearts…but can I? I have told friends of late that I would sell everything I have…and I would! I would sell my dream house that my husband and I built…the furniture that sits within these four walls…gone. My jacked up mini-van…clothes…you name it. I would be willing to sell it all, for me that is saying a lot because 6 months ago I would have told you no way…I need my stuff. But lately I see it for what it is…STUFF, but even as I write that sentence I immediately think of things I wouldn't get rid of(my camera, photo's, my computer). I think about what my family could do with our money if we downsized it all and sometimes I get giddy at the thought. I desire to give to others…to ministries…to hurting people, but haven't done anything about it yet. I know that being Radical is much more than just selling my "stuff"…it's the other things I struggle with…and that is why I am doing this…to say that I am weak…that I struggle…that I am selfish…that I want to protect my kids…that I am controlling, and I want to be able to lay ALL of that down and just follow Him!

David Platt said it so well about how we have molded Jesus into a man that "doesn't mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who would not expect us to forsake our closet relationships so that He receives all of our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, because, after all, He loves us just the way we are. A Jesus who wants us to balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter, wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream". And I have fallen into that lie…and lived that kind of Christian life…ever since I became comfortable….and now I am uncomfortable in my comfort. My prayer is that while I study His word and read "Radical", that God would work in my heart…strip me of my pride and selfishness, and that the outcome would please Him.

If you would like to join in on the study…read the responses of other people going through this journey with me you can go to http://www.marlataviano.com/ and jump in on this crazy, radical journey!

It'll change you...I promise!

9 is fine...

2010-09-08T08:03:00.004-04:00

Charlie....Charlie...Charlie. What a great kid my Charlie is. Today he turns 9....which seems unfathomable to me...because I feel like I just had him. I feel like he was just learning how to walk, talk, and eat with a fork. Now he is 9! I don't know where the years have gone....or this little boy:

Charlie is a funny kid...and his smile can just melt your heart...along with those beautiful brown eyes. His sensitive heart makes this Momma proud...and yes he still hugs me and says that he loves me. I still make cupcakes for his class on his birthday(Shelby wanted to know if I would still bring them cupcakes in high school)...I still lay down with him at night and talk...he's still my little boy, but yet, he is young man.

He is quite a special kid my Charlie is. He is so smart and has wisdom beyond his years. He often sits back and watches and takes things in without saying a word. He is a passionate young man that loves to learn about animals, and science...and then for months on end he will tell you all the facts he knows about the mole rat. He wants to learn to play guitar, and he can sing...yes, an offspring of mine and Ric's can actually sing! I love to hear him sing praises to the Lord!

I think about where I was at this age. I was a basketball player and lived and breathed everything about the game. I set a goal when I was 9 that I was going to play college basketball(yes, I was kind of a freak of nature). I had someone ask me if it bothered me that Charlie wasn't into athletics as much as Ric and I were(don't get me wrong, he has a ton of ability...just not that into sports)...my answer is a quick..."not for a second". You see, I have said it from the day he was born that my prayer for him is that he knows what's important in life and that He lives for Jesus. All that other stuff is really just stuff!

I hope that he grows up to be a Godly young man. A young man who stands for the things of Christ...no matter what the circumstance is. A young man who tells people about Jesus....and lives Jesus in front of them. A young man who treats others with respect. A young man who trusts God in all things. A young man who always loves his family. A young man that is willing to say "here I am....send me". I pray that God would make him a leader...take him to ends of the earth to tell people about Jesus. That Charlie would live and breath everything about Jesus...I'd much rather that be his passion than a leather ball.

I love you Eric Charles Blazi III....I know God is gonna do big things through you...and I can't wait to watch your life unfold before my eyes. Happy 9th Birthday you big, handsome goofball....hope it's grand!!

Yes...9 is fine indeed!

9 02 10

2010-09-02T19:59:00.002-04:00

No, I'm not talking about Brenda, Brandon, or Donna. I was writing this date down and thought, that is too funny…but these numbers mean more than to me than just being the most popular show on TV when I was a teen. No, these numbers are a testament to God's goodness.

Today I am celebrating 10 years of marriage with my husband, Ric. A decade…that seems so crazy to be able to say that. What a ride it has been…and I am ever grateful for the ride. I thought that today, 10 years after I stood across from the love of my life, I would write about 10 things that I have learned in 10 years!

1.That Georgia football games trump anything…even babies being born (although we got married on the same day that Georgia played Georgia Southern…all the while several family members may have had ear buds in listening to the game during said wedding…I still get grief for that one)

2. That your wedding day is wonderful…but all the days that follow it is truly what it's all about…

3. That 4 kids are loud and crazy and make life so much fun…and yes, we know what causes babies in case our family is STILL wondering…and no we aren't having any more…as of now! Ok Mom, I'm kidding…hope you didn't have a heart attack!

4. That there is nothing sweeter than seeing the man that you love in the eyes of your children.

5. that keeping track of turns is VITAL…."Mommy"…."it's your turn, I got it last time"!

6. That paint thinner will not cause blindness…even when you are pregnant and shouldn't be painting!

7. That men truly have the secret…about mowing the lawn. I may have to explain that one day soon but yes men, I know you're secret and I will expose your secret to your wives….y'all are so tricky!!

8. That everything that happens is NOT a life or death situation…although I do regress in this knowledge…daily!

9. That romance is not about flowers and fancy dinners…but romance is having him do other sweet stuff for me. Nothing says I love you like taking out the trash or cleaning up the dishes...just sayin'! 1-800-Flowers has truly missed the boat….it should be 1-800-it'sokhoneyjustrelax! But seriously…it's seeing my husband play with my kids, pray over them at night, tuck them in at night, do something out of the ordinary(like the trash…ahem), back rubs…it's truly the little things that I love.

10. That God is Faithful…He brought me my perfect mate (no, Ric's not perfect…just perfect for me) in His perfect timing. I love Ric more today than I did 10 years ago, and although we have been through the greatest of times and the hardest of times my love for him has grown through it all. He is one special man…a man of faith, truth, love, consistency, and steadfastness! He rocks and I am so glad I'm beside him in this life!

Happy 10 Years babe! Can't wait to see what the next 10 years hold for us!

Don't be making fun of my scanned in pictures...it was a decade ago..I don't even think they had digital cameras back then!!

Tiny Truth's Thursday...17 Miles and a dollar bill…

2010-08-19T12:47:00.003-04:00

17 miles….

The other night coming home from soccer practice, I just had Shelby and Charlie in the car with me. Jesse and Addie were riding in the truck with Dad, so my oldest son and youngest daughter were having some rare quality time.

They were chatting and laughing and talking about school, and soccer, and rope swings, and all kinds of great things. They were bonding…getting along…being friends. It was a sweet moment for me to listen to as we drove the 17 miles to our home nestled in the country. Sometimes I learn a lot in those 17 miles.

I learn about my kids days, what makes them laugh, what makes them cry (like the movie "Letters to God"), and what makes them love. ON this particular night, I learned what makes Shelby come clean…in a sense.

Shelby is a saver….she saves everything…including her money. If she finds money, it's going in her bank. We kinda have a so called rule that if money is found on the floor…dryer…car…it's fair game, but you can't take money from someone. Well Charlie had some money go missing about 2 months ago out of his change jar…he suspected Miss Thing but she never fessed up. We figured it would come out sooner or later.

That night she came down from her shower….hair was still soaking wet…mismatched pj's on and she handed Charlie a dollar. She said "Here Charlie". He looked at it to check for counterfeit…and then looked at her and softly said "thanks Shelbs". Me, being the great Mom I am, couldn't just leave well enough alone…so I pried a little bit.

I asked Shelby why she was giving him the dollar…She said "'cause he was being sweet". I said "wow, Charlie did you hear that...she gave it to you because you were being nice to her". I asked Shelby where the dollar came from…and she told me she had taken it from Charlie, months ago. We saw a "teachable moment" and jumped on it. We then looked at "sweet little innocent" Shelby and told her that it was never ok for her to take someone's stuff (aka …stealing)…no matter what, but the reason she finally came clean was because she felt guilty…she knew she had done wrong. We also told Charlie that it's important to treat people right…that people always respond to kindness rather than to meanness…and that he needs to love his sisters and treat them with respect. Before when he would go to her about the dollar, he would holler at her…demand her to give him money…tells her she was a thief…you know…all kinds of nice things. But when kindness was displayed….she caved.

It showed me that even if I'm done wrong, which Charlie had been done wrong, it doesn't give me a right to respond in anger…hatred…frustration. I need to always be conscious of the way I respond to everyone….even those who see me at my worst.

I pray that kindness would ooze out of me…that God would strip away my selfishness…my pride…my anger…and that all those things would be replaced with the fruit of the spirit…patience, kindness, love, joy, peace, gentleness, faithfulness, self control, and goodness. God taught me that valuable lesson through a dollar bill….and 17 miles!

Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Say yes to the dress....

2010-08-18T13:15:00.008-04:00

Last week, my girls got to participate in a fashion show at our church. Not just any fashion show, it was one where they were modeling dresses that they had been making all summer long. This summer they taught our girls how to sew...and along with that they taught them some pretty cool life lessons from the Bible. It all related to sewing and it was just really neat(having a pattern, getting rid of the unwanted material, what kind of accessories to have, showing their personality). A lot of the lessons taught these young girls to know who they are in Christ...and that is by far the most important thing. The kids loved it and could not wait for the fashion show to get here.

They had the youth girls fix their hair....

They got escorted by sweet little boys...who ate cookies in the "holding room"...

Jesse ran around the gym telling everybody hi...and consuming several cookies and Doritos's

They hung with their friends...and yes Addie had on far too much makeup for a 7 year old(or 47 year old for that matter)...that's when I promptly told her..."who did that to you...your father is going to kill them"...and then I wiped off the 2 pounds of glitter she had above her eyes! She said that one of the teenagers did it...I'm going to have to talk to their youth pastor...oh wait, he's my husband!!!

They waited nervously for their big moment on the catwalk....

Shelby Jean strutting her stuff....

Addie Mae...she walked so fast I hardly got a picture...

Chuckie B looking all regal....

Walking....

Friends 'till the end....

I love this one...Shelby is classic...and I just love my kid's!

What a great night it was...I'm glad we said yes to the dress!

Dishes....

2010-08-16T13:29:00.010-04:00

I have finally gotten a little help around the house....

My two girls and youngest son have become infatuated with doing my dishes as of late...

They will stand at the sink for an hour...scrubbing...rinsing...scrubbing...rinsing and then drying...

They don't get ANY water on my floor...nope not any....

They don't get their clothes wet either....nah, they know what they are doing....

But they sure do look cute doing it....even if Mommy has to wash them again when they are done...

Crying...

2010-08-11T07:32:00.007-04:00

Monday morning was the first day of school for the rest of the Blazi Gang. Shelby already had one day under her belt and did so with flying colors....she LOVES school! Charlie and Addie started 3rd grad and 2nd grade this year....where has the time gone?? Of course I had to take some pics of the big day.....

Jesse had to get in the picture with the big kids....my mom has a picture of me doing this exact same thing...holding a lunch box and standing with my big sister and brother!

The gang's all here....is Charlie a big boy or what...uhm...young man...sorry Chuck!

The three school kids ready to go!

Stair steps....

Ric was making silly faces behind my head in this one...punk...but it made Shelby and Jesse laugh...really hard!

Outside of school...wait a second...is that Charlie showing love to one of his sister's??? Hold the phone people...this goes down in history!!

Jesse still had Chuck's lunch box and you can tell by his face that he didn't wanna give it up...at all!

Charlie in his class...might I add that his teacher is the cutest thing...ever. She is so super sweet and I think I'm really gonna like her..even though she is an Auburn fan!

Boo signing in...she was a little nervous. Her teacher is just precious(she taught Charlie last year) and I am SO thankful that she has her...Mrs. Driver rocks!!!

This is where Jesse sat...since he cried when he had to give Charlie the lunchbox that he had the death grip on...

and this is what he did for the next 3 hours...seriously people...3 hours!

He was crying when they left him....

Poor little man...he just doesn't understand! Hopefully soon he will figure out that he has ALL of my attention during the day...and that should make him quit crying...hopefully!

First day of school...

2010-08-06T08:57:00.007-04:00

Today was the day...

the day that my 4 year old started Pre-K.

We had been chanting "First day of school" just like Nemo all morning.

The emotions were mixed...the nervousness was on a all time high...

my eyes were all swollen...

cute shoes were on...precious outfit was being showcased...lunch packed...

and she did it.

She walked right in, hung up her backpack and went to play.

No tears...no clinging to my leg begging me not to go...

nope, just a "bye Mom, see you after school"!

I walked out a proud Momma...

but inside my heart was breaking that this precious child of mine had grown up...

before my very eyes, yep, right before them.

I love you sweet Shelby Jean....

congrats on your first day of Pre-K!

You are such a big girl!