one of those mystery fever things

Last night we were invited to a "welcome to the world" dinner for my nephew, Asher.  As my brother said, it was kind of like a baby dedication, but mostly (being the good Baptists that we are) we were just eating.  We had a great night celebrating this new life that God has given into the care of Philip and Rebecca.

After the party, we realized that D was running fever and not feeling well.  Even though he promises me that nothing hurts, he has done nothing today but camp out on the loveseat and watch cartoons.  Those of you who know my little hurricane, know how unusual it is for him to be still for more than 5 minutes at a time.  Still, he kept telling me that nothing hurt and that he felt fine, so I just let him vegitate with the cartoons and went on with my day. 

Finally, this afternoon, his sister found something that could coax him to eat, cantaloupe.  Between the two of them, they quickly polished off half of a large melon.  A little while later, D climbed up in my lap and told me that he felt better.  I told him that I was glad that he felt better, but that he and I would have to hang out at home tonight while the rest of the family goes to church so that he wouldn't risk spreading any germies to his friends. 

His response was classic D.

There were only 2 germies making me sick and they left in my pee. 
They just went out and washed away and now I don't have any germies left.

Yep, that's my boy.

daybook

#22 for 2010

Hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ... the weeds in the back yard are taller than the dog ... I really need to get it cut today!

I am hearing ... the soft snoring of one of the boys in my bed ... I think it is JW.

I am going ... to a dinner in celebration of the birth of my nephew.

I am wearing ... blue knit pants and a yellow t-shirt.

I am noticing that ... our puppy doesn't look much like a puppy anymore ... she is getting so big!

I am thinking ... about the vacation we are trying to plan for this fall and hoping it works out.  I think Ronnie is getting a little stir crazy ... he needs a break (and something to look forward to)!

I am hoping ... to get to see some friends from my college days who will be in town this weekend.  Catching up on Facebook is nice, but it would be MUCH better to actually see them in person.

I am reading ... Philippians.

I am creating ... LB's pillowcase dress.  I need to go to Mama's and finish hemming the dress we started and hopefully, I will soon get a chance to make the 2nd dress I bought material for.  LB wants to keep these, so I plan to buy more fabric to make dresses to donate.

On my mind ... my friend whose husband passed away last week and a young mother who is having a hard time following the birth of her 2nd child.

I am remembering ... the beautiful wedding we attended on Saturday.  The bride was in Ronnie's youth group 10 years ago when we came to the church where we are now.  It is hard for me to fathom that those kids are married and some of them even have kids of their own now ... tends to make a body feel rather old.

Counting my blessings ...  getting to attend Sammy's wedding, fresh cucumbers about to become pickles, LB getting to spend the day with my parents (if she'll ever get out of bed!), kids who still like to sit in my lap ~ even if they don't fit anymore, dreaming and planning vacations with Ronnie, making plans for promoting Operation Christmas Child this fall.

Words that I am pondering ... Is there something in your life that has no real spiritual meaning, but which you regularly do?

From the learning rooms ... LB is going shopping with Mama today while Daddy is in physical therapy, so it will just be JW and me ... we are going to spend some time reviewing the phonics book he just finished.

From the kitchen ... potato casserole and hot corn ... I'm helping my sister-in-law with the dinner for Asher tonight.

Around the house ... we are getting ready for Granny to come on Thursday ... today, I'll be tackling bathrooms.

A few plans for the rest of the week ... Granny coming, WMU dinner on Thursday, hoping to get together with friends this weekend, church picnic and bike parade (for the kids) on Sunday.

One of my favorite things ... weddings.

A picture to share with you ... LB working on her pillowcase dress

I hope you have a wonderful week!

a promise kept

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.  And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.   Genesis 9:13-16

life changing

Today, I have been to both a funeral and a wedding. 

This morning I helped to prepare a meal for the grieving family. 

This afternoon I shared a meal with another family as they celebrated
the joy in their daughter's eyes as she became a bride.

I have tried all day to come up with something profound to say about these
two events, but have come up dry. 

No doubt, neither family will ever be the same.

an e-mail worth passing on

This e-mail has been going around for years, but somehow it just seemed too good to pass up today.  Of course, I have no idea if Charles Schulz even had a philosophy, much less if this is it.  It really doesn't matter, though ... who doesn't like Peanuts and the thought is good ... so, enjoy!

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.

Just read the post straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies..
Awards tarnish..
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money...or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia !'

''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!"

Thanks Donna, for giving me the idea to share an e-mail on my blog!

daybook

#21 for 2010
Hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ... the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and it is already HOT!

I am hearing ... blog music and the sound of my tpying.

I am going ... nowhere today, Ronnie has my van since the air conditioner in his truck isn't working.

I am wearing ... blue jean capris and a gray Bass Pro Shops t-shirt.

I am noticing that ... I haven't done a daybook in several weeks.

I am thinking ... about what needs to be done this week, and realizing that I probably won't get it all done.

I am hoping ... to get a little more caught up on housework today.

I am reading ... a couple of "just for fun" novels and my Spurgeon devotional trying to get some direction for what I will share with the ladies tomorrow night.

I am will be creating ... a pillowcase dress with LB at Keeper's tomorrow.  The plan is to donate the dresses to Little Dresses for Africa.  I also think that, depending on how hard they are to make, it might be something we could include in Shoeboxes.  We'll have to see, though.

On my mind ... Mama getting chemo today and a friend whose husband is very ill.

I am remembering ... that our VBS is only a few weeks away! 

Counting my blessings ... fresh veggies to can, Vacation Bible School, watching the kids play with their cousins, Ronnie helping Daddy in the garden, leftovers, kids who like cereal for supper, fresh new days - with no mistakes.

Words that I am pondering ... "In order to see great things, we must be passionate about the things of God."

From the learning rooms ... continuing our summer session, mostly doing math and grammer/phonics, with a good bit of reading thrown in.

From the kitchen ... a great big mess!  I'll be tackling it first in my quest to catch up on housework.  Once I find the kitchen, I plan to bake some chicken and cook veggies for lunch.

Around the house ... you don't want to know!

A few plans for the rest of the week ... the big kids are back in VBS this week at my parents' church, we have Keepers tomorrow and possibly a play date on Thursday, and a wedding on Saturday.

One of my favorite things ... the popping sound of jars sealing.

A picture to share with you ... I love pictures of my kids sleeping ... this is D, inside my pajama pants.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

perfect peace

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Tonight, I sat in a room full of women and listened as they talked about The source of peace.  My mind understands everything they said and my heart even agrees, but that peace they speak of has been elusive in my life of late.

These ladies have been through so much in their lives.  Illness ... grief ... pain ... loneliness ...  and they speak of the peace of God in words and tones that can only be understood after one has come through the fire of testing.  That testing may not have been welcomed, but the results are clear.  They have experienced adversity beyond my imagination and while I moan my way through the little things in my life, they share a passion for the God who has brought them through each trial.

What is the difference in them and me?  I recognize that one difference is age and maturity, but that is only part of it.  I listened, inspired and convicted, as they spoke of their time spent with the Lord.  They rise early in the morning and begin their day reading the Word and praying.  They also take the time to actually listen to what God is saying to them.

Listening ... your problem is that you don't listen.

I spoke these very words to my son tonight.  He wanted to know why I was so frustrated with him.  Son, you just don't listen!  Do you ever hear what I am trying to say???

My child, are you listening?  Is your "mind stayed on" Me?  Do you trust Me?

Tears prick my eyes as I realize how deaf my heart is.  How can God speak to me when I am running at breakneck speed trying to be the person I think He wants me to be and yet feeling strangely empty at the end of the day.  Sometimes I wonder just what I would be different if I had been listening to the voice of my Father as I walked through the day.  How would my words and actions been different?

How would I have responded to my friend who told me today that she and her husband are getting a divorce?  What would I have said to that person who hasn't been to church in a long time and I don't really know why?  How would I have spoken to my child who wasn't obeying me?  Would I have responded to my friend in a way that probably sounded judgemental to her?  How different would the drive home have been had I not been frustrated by little things?

Tonight, I was reminded that perfect peace is available to every child of God.  It is available, but it isn't a given.  I must keep my mind and my heart so focused on God that I don't have time to focus on anything else.  It is only in building a relationship with my Father that I will be able to hear His voice when He speaks.

I am so thankful for the sweet lady who listened to the voice of her Father and shared what He put on her heart.  She may not have known how much I needed to hear this tonight, but He did.  He knew that I needed to sit quietly and listen to His voice.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10