do you watch them???

My girls and I enjoy watching "The Dugger's".  I tape every show that comes on, new or repeat.  This morning we were watching one of their current episodes and Amy, their cousin, made a quick appearance.  As the show goes into a commercial, Victoria, nonchalantly says, "Amy Dugger got blackmailed!"  I look at her and say, "how do you know that?" and she says, "I heard it on the news a couple of weeks ago."  What? When? we don't even watch the news.  Oh boy this girl, at 5, is a smart little thing.  I'm gonna have to ask her just what "blackmailed" means; if she knows that, well.....we've got ourselves a genius.....

(their show is completely appropriate for my girls to enjoy; no sex, no filfth (other than good ole dirt), virtuous, Christian, respectful, and full of integrity!!!!)

love my kids

My kids, and especially, God never cease to amaze me.  This past week Brennan was helping a friend, from church, scrap metal and take to the scrap yard.  He had a ball, never did he think he would get any money; he was just happy to help out a friend.  Saturday morning our friend called and asked if it would be okay to pay Brennan for his hard work.  I shared with him that he did not expect any money, he was just thrilled to spend the day with him and help him.  Brennan earned himself $112 for his hard work on Friday.  Brennan was so excited as he and his sister wanted to go on a retreat, from another church, this coming weekend and now he had half the money for them both to go.  Later, on Saturday, he got a birthday card, with $20 in it from his brother, and put that towards their retreat expenses.  I was deeply touched by my son's giving heart, wanting to pay for both him and his sister to go on the retreat.  Yesterday he got another $20 from another sibling and the pot rises for their retreat expenses.  This morning, one of our boys called, and said that he wanted to pay both of his siblings way for the retreat.  He said that God told him to take care of this and that he and his wife wanted to do this for them. What blessings do we miss out on when we chose to ignore God's voice?  I love how selfless my kids are and how they look out for each other.  What a blessing it is to their dad and I to see them care for each other....

my case for winter tanning.....

Friday night Den and I went to our first "gala" for Cornerstone University.  We were excited to have an evening out, dress-up, and enjoy adult conversation.  Our first concern, however, was the attire for the evening.  We rarely attend "dress-up" functions and this was "business formal".  What exactly is that? we questioned ourselves; is it dressier than church attire (conservative church attire)? is it formal? we were perplexed until several people shared with us exactly what it meant.  I had planned on wearing a certain black number the entire week until it came time to actually putting it on; I then decided that I needed something more sophisticated, changing to a black mid-length dress, but alas, no black nylons (I NEVER wear them).  I was all decked out and ready to go, minus the nylons; I slip on my black crocs and headed to Rite-Aid (such a cute accessory to a dressy dress).  I thought I could use the help of "control top" so I grabbed a pair, in black, paid for them and headed home.  It took several attempts to get them on, lots of wiggling and a few grunts! Finally I had them up but what did I find???? Oh My Gosh, the waist was super long, I think they were meant for full body control because I could, literally, pull them up and over my chest! They were "the" most uncomfortable pair of control-top nylons I've ever worn.  I knew once they were in place I would not be heading to the bathroom very often....at least I didn't have to worry about them rolling down, or finding the crotch between my knees (that's happened on a few occasions).  I could hardly wait until we got home (1:45 minute drive) to get those wretched things off.  Once home, I was talking with my manboys in the living room, sharing the evening and then I was telling them how horrible my night of nylons was! They had a good laugh and I exited the living room to take them off and dispose of them into "file 13"!!!!  This is one of the main reasons I tan through the winter months.  I'm thinking this may be a good case to get a membership......we'll see.....

it's just one of those kinda days. . . . .

I finally felt like I had caught up on just about everything this week; laundry, cleaning, studying, etc.  I decided after everyone got off to school I would head to the grocery store.  Victoria and I just walked into Kroger's when I received a call from Colson's teacher.  She said he was complaining of a sore throat, had forgotten his reading log and could I bring him a water bottle; no problem!  Once the groceries were loaded into the van, I got a call from Den (he's subbing at the middle school); would I bring him lunch; no problem!  I head home, quickly unloaded the groceries, grab some Ibuprofen and a water bottle (a "girl" one) and head out the door.  As I get half way to school I realize I forgot Colson's reading log; I turn the van around, zoom (literally) home, run into the study and print it off.  Back in the car, as I was going to the elementary school, I get a text from Brennan saying he has a migraine could I please pick him up; no problem!  I get to Colson's school, give him his meds and his reading log and hand over the "girl" water bottle of which he is not happy!  He says, "mom why did you have to bring a girl one?" I told him it was the only one in the fridge that was full and I didn't have time to dig for his.  He reluctantly agreed to take it, but said he'd leave it in his locker, no problem!  I then head to the gas station, get gas and drive through Wendy's for lunch for Den.  I swing by the Middle School, on my way to get Brennan, and drop off his lunch in the office and then, finally head to the high school to pick up my sick boy!  I think I really need one of these on the top of my van. . . . .no problem!

Faith, Hope and Charity. . . .

Trusting God to do the "impossible" is, often, hard to do.  We know He "can" yet do we really believe He "will"? Do we honestly believe, have faith, or trust that God will answer a deep prayer? or do we pray asking but not really believing He will answer?  That is where I am at today I've been praying that God would "come through" for a special family in our lives.  I want to believe, with my deepest soul, that God will answer my prayer.  I want to see Him perform a true miracle, to see a family blessed by Him, knowing that He truly does care and want their success. I want this family to be the recipient of a gift straight from God's hands, to see their faith grow and their trust deepen.  But more than anything I pray this family allows God to do it, through whatever means He chooses and to see, know and feel that He loves them, that serving Him is worth every ounce of heartache and joy we experience.