Our Family Circus

The week prior to our Spring Break, we were loading buses and vans to send children home from AWANA . As we were lining up and getting head counts a 12 year old decided she needed to go find her friend. I told her no that she needed to stay with the group and we would insure that her friend was on the bus. The child, same height as I am, pulled away in anger and giving me an ear full. I held on to her until I was able to position her in a corner for her to calm down. The entire time I am in this situation, she continues to "let me have it" and I continue to repeat the instructions to her. Two things that went through my head....#1. I am not very strong, mental note to eat before AWANA because this confrontation was physical draining. #2. So this God, is why you had me teaching special education and going through the training for safe physical management. You will be pleased to know that "the friend" was on the bus the entire time, but I now had a new enemy and a b...

WOW! The strangest thing happened a week or so ago. My Dear left for work and returned home around lunch time to find me on the couch with all kinds of activity going on around me. This happened the next day too but instead of coming home he got a phone call from Billy saying, "We are hungry, come get us." Momma was sick! We were pretty sure it was flu. I could not hold my eyes open but would go to the couch to be in the middle of the activity during the day. The children continued to work in some workbooks with math and language getting done everyday. They would wake me with questions or Billy would help Dolly. At one time, I heard someone reading. The vocabulary seemed a bit hard for who I thought I heard reading. My eyes popped open to see Dolly have "story time" in her little rocking chair with B. parked on a blanket just like at the library. I would have never invited Dolly to read that book but she was knocking it out and so back to sleep I went...

It is D Now weekend!!!! Teenagers go to live in small herds together in the homes of church members. A Bible study leader is assigned to live with them as well. It is like a mini camp! Our friends come to do the worship music and we get to hang for just a bit! I know I wanted to be a part of the large group sessions and " Mami " our adopted(well, you name it, she is it) agreed to hang with what ever little people would rather stay with her. We were able to hang with our friends for a bit last night and made plans to meet up for lunch today and their daughter to come play. As we talked last night, I shared with my friend Joanna that I knew that more then anything God has called me to minister to our children because the season is just 18 years. I was so looking forward to what God would do over the weekend, then Man Cub got sick. So, today, I am thinking and praying for those kids while we lay around the house and watching far too much television. Wishing I could be ...

While at camp, I was asked to entertain the campers while the staff had a meeting. The camp dean came to me afterwards and asked if I was a teacher. I smiled but had a sense of pride from his comment. He liked what I had done with the kids. God began to remind me of humility. He has spoken it to me several times over the past couple of weeks. I needed to turn my pride into praise to Him and thank Him for what He was doing through me. The last day of camp, the Dean recognized the volunteers. He called them by position and thanked them. Bible Study leaders, cabin leaders, camp nurse, the music team, the craft lady....I know my position would be named too and I would stand and the kids would cheer wildly-cause what kid does not LOVE game time!? After all of those were recognized, he announced that the next person had done more to make camp a success that week then anyone. I thought that was pretty strong to say but I would take the compliment. Then he said, "and that person...

A friend once asked me if I faced Spiritual Warfare on Mondays. Her simple question made me realize that Thursdays were far worse! Wednesday night is AWANA night so on Thursdays, Satan liked to rough me up a bit. I knew they were hard, but had not considered why. Once I realized, I faced the day differently. I kept my expectations low for the day. I stick my Bible in the bathroom and grab a read at my appointed time (don't knock it, until you try it!) The sad thing is, Spiritual Warfare makes me anxious and bitter. My patience is less and frankly, I, and the family who has to live with me, are NOT fans of Spiritual Battle! Sunday night, I had the privilege of singing in an adult Christmas Performance. I have always wanted to do one but babies and My Dear's schedule have ruled it out in the past. This year, I went for it! It was work for me but I SO enjoyed it! When I worship, I move and I got to do just that, sing and sway. At one part in the production, I was unable to sing my...

It happened last night and it happened again tonight! As I put the girls to bed, Blake (2) is always eager to pray! She prays for the people in our home and many of them more than once because she does not recall who she already prayed for (or maybe they just need it more...huh.) She occasionally will add someone else like a grandparent or a teacher at church or her beloved "Mami" who cares for her during our small group. I prayed for the children and our children we have not met yet . This includes the spouses of our children and generations to come as well as any other children God adds to our family. I also prayed for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and those folks who call us family since we do not live close to any family. Then Miss Lydia, prays for, " all the mamas and daddies and children that are sick in the whole world ." As if I did not learn from that prayer, tonight she prayed for, " everybody she knows and everybody she does not know ....

I was certain the funding for the Spring Mission trip to Vietnam was to be paid for because we would sell a piece of property. But I was wrong. So wrong in fact, that the buyer tried 3 different resources including an auction of her property to buy ours. I hated it for her and to be honest, I hated it for me! That would have been MY money as well as some debt relief. It would have been as exciting as the birth of our babies-without the sleepless nights to follow! In fact, there probably would have been a sleepless night because I would not be able to stop smilin'!! But it did not happen that way. I continue to wait on God, 'cause frankly, I had it all worked out. That must have been the problem. Meanwhile I learn that a woman who loved me as a teenager is not doing well. This woman gave me a job when she learned I was considering quiting the high school cheerleader squad because I could not afford it. There were days she had to search for something for me to do. Medical bill...

My Favorite Hippies doin' their thang! Not so long ago, I read Matthew 25-the Parable of the Talents. I was challenged to check and see if I am using the talents that God has given me. The past 3 years I have been involved in a crazy, fun outreach event at our church called You Go Girl! Last year, I heard God, very clearly, tell me to step back from the planning team and to minister as a volunteer-which, I know is A LOT of work but is SO important! When I read this passage, I questioned God-in case He had forgotten, I guess-that He had told me to step back. I must say, it was hard not to be involved at times but at other times, I saw so clearly why He put the reigns on me. Later in my doubtfilled afternoon, I got a phone call from a planning member who was a little stressed. Her question was so simple, but it got my heart a jumpin' ! It was right in my "talent." She simply needed a song to open the event with. YEAH!!! I LOVE THIS STUFF!! I knew just the song! I took ...

We have lived in 2 states and I have heard it said in both places, "If you don't like the weather, stick around, it'll change." When we had warmer days this winter, the kids and I would head outside. I would hear people talking about the crazy weather but I have noticed it is exactly what we need! We need exercise, fresh air, and the great vitamins the sun gives us. Many of us need sunlight for our mental health. Call it "crazy weather" but I say it is just what the Great Physician prescribed! Today was another helping of just what the doctor ordered.

When looking at our spending, I am constantly asking myself and God how we can do better? We are preparing for a trip that was given to us. As we prepare for this once in a lifetime opportunity, we are on a spending freeze. I have learned how little I need and just when I think I know it all, God shows me more. Today, my precious husband had quite a day. He afforded me the luxuary of scrapbooking at a friend's house while he stayed home with the kids. After I was there for some time, he called to ask how much soap to use in the washer. My friend conveyed it to him and then told me that he said, stay as long as you like. I knew he meant it so, I stayed another hour or so. When I got home, he was cleaning up from feeding the children dinner. He asked if I ate and threw a plate in the microwave to warm my dinner. I sat with our son going through the pictures of his first year of life and talking. Mark walked by and told me he wanted to talk with me later about what happened that day. ...