Staff vs. Deacons

This fall our church had an evangelism emphasis series that was tied into football. Perfect really for the section of the country that we live in, which is very committed to and extremely enthusiastic about football of all kinds...

...high school, college, pro and the ever time consuming, computer hogging,but if your husband has to have a bad habit praise the Lord it is nothing worse than, fantasy football (can I get an amen from the fellow FFL widows out there. Hang in there girls, this thing can't go on forever!!)

It really was a great idea. There were videos during the worship service tied in to football. Clips from Rudy, Remember the Titans, Bryan's Song and Facing the Giants (which are all some of my favorites. I love a great sports movie!!) were all shown. Then there was the Evangelism Linebacker. I laughed until I cried!!

The staff did a great job by starting with something that many could relate to in football,and connecting it to something that we all need to be doing, telling others about Jesus.

One of the highlights was the staff versus deacon flag football game. Weeks before the game, practices started and the trash talk began. All in the name of good Christian fun, of course!!

Several weeks passed, practices continued and word on the street indicated that there was a mysterious increase of sales of BenGay and advil in the region.

Finally game day arrived and we prepared our tailgate picnic and met friends in the parking lot for a pregame meal. Side note: That is what J2 called our rehearsal dinner - the pregame meal.

The parking lots were full and the team colors of yellow (for the deacons)and green(for the staff) were seen in mass. There was even a group of boys that painted themselves green. It really was such fun!!

My prayer for the night was that no one would get hurt. That probably sounds like I am thinking that the deacons and staff are old or out of shape...

But perhaps when you consider my own history of a major accident which required surgery from just running in a straight line on a flat surface with no one chasing me to tear a flag from my waist, you will realize it is not a statement against those playing in the game.

Fortunately, there were nothing more than some minor bumps and bruises and everyone who came to the game seemed to really have a blast. I know that we did.

The kids really loved watching J2 play and showing his athletic ability. They were very proud of their dad. I was too.

Both teams played well, and in the end the deacons emerged with the most points. If it were left up to me I would say that they were both winners.

But every other member of my ultra competitive family would have to correct me and say "Mom, (or honey), really the team with the most points was the winner. And that would be the deacons."

The pictures are bitter sweet to me. There are many of J2 and his great friend B. B and his family are moving to Texas. I can't imagine what our lives here will be like with them in another state. At some point, I will do an entry just about them and how much they have meant to our family. But for today, I am just enjoying the images captured on film by my precious friend, MM, of our husbands sharing some great times out on the field.

Happy 18th Anniversary

We met in the library at Furman. I was in there studying intensely (in case my mom and dad are reading this!!) and he came in with a couple of his buddies.

I had seen him play basketball games and thought many times how incredibly cute he was, but was quickly reminded by friends that he was taken. So that was the end of that.

That night in the library, there was an official introduction and some small talk. Some how it came up about what his dad did for a living. He said he was a baptist preacher.

I mean, how much better could he get..handsome and son of a baptist preacher. Oh yes, but still taken. So again that was the end of that.

Many months later we had a class together. It was basketball season and he missed a lot of classes while they were on the road, so we would study together to help him get what he missed.(I am sure it took a lot of persuasion on his part).

Eventually, following much mocking by my room mates after he left my apartment ("Oh Joey! You're so funny! he, he, he") I finally admitted that I had a crush. How could I not? He was sweet, kind, funny, thoughtful,generous, easy to talk to,unselfish, smart and have I mentioned extremely cute...

Oh and don't let me forget,suddenly available.

We soon started dating. Fast forward 20 years and I am still incredibly in love with this man. I wasn't wrong those nights in my apartment...he really was and is still all that -sweet, kind, funny, thoughtful, generous, easy to talk to, unselfish, smart and unbelievably handsome -and have I brought up the great looking thing!!

I cannot put into words what a blessing he has been to my life. Guys like him are a rare find. He loves the Lord with all his heart and desires to live a life that honors Him. He is committed to his family and never puts his needs or desires above ours. He is really just a wonderful man.

And regarding J2's statement that night we met about his dad,the baptist minister,Rev. B...it was all just a trick to impress a girl in the library.

Guess it worked!!

Aquarium

Do you like the bubble effect on the pictures...get it? Aquarium trip, water, bubbles???

While J2 was on a business trip, the kids and I decided to take off to GA and visit with Mom and Dad. We hadn't been for a visit since the spring, which is way too long. I love my parents so much! We had a great time and even included a trip to the aquarium during the week.

What an amazing place! So much to see and learn. The kids are studying Swimming Creatures in their zoology class. (I always call it science and the kids always correct me, so in their honor I will make sure I refer to it as zoology). Several times this semester they have refered back to something they saw or heard while we were there. It is a great reminder that "hands on" learning really is a way to make things stick.

I Have A Fig and I Am Not Afraid To Use It

This story, despite its "far fetched" sound is 100% true.

I had a fig explode in my laundry room.


"How?" you might ask. Well, I am not exactly sure...

It all started with a beautiful day spent hanging out at a friend's house. The kids played and the moms talked...it was such a great day.

As we were leaving, my friend was showing us her apple tree. The kids were chowing down on apples they had picked and getting a few more for us to take home when my friend offered what seemed to be a harmless fig or two to take home with the apples.

That afternoon my fridge was rather full and the apples and figs wouldn't fit in my crisper drawer, so I took the bag with the fruit and hung it in the laundry room, on a hook that is above and over to the side from where I sort my laundry. Safe enough, so I thought.

Fast forward a few days...I went out to laundry room to do laundry (call me crazy!) and noticed a strange purplish-brown stain on a jacket that I had worn to church the previous Sunday.

"Wow! I didn't remember spilling anything like that I my jacket!"

Now if you know me well, you may be thinking "You absolutely spilled something on your jacket, so get out your Shout and be done with the story." I mean, I didn't earn the nickname of Messy Marvina for nothing!!

But then, I noticed in the basket where I keep my light colored clothes another similar stain.

"What in the world??"

My laundry baskets are kept on these large wooden shelves, two on top and two on bottom. I looked in the baskets on the bottom shelf...same type stains and there were similar stains on the actual shelves themselves.


My first thought was "What did those kids get into!!" Bless their hearts - isn't that immediately where the mind goes.

Come to find out it wasn't the kids at all...I was looking around and noticed a hole in the bag that held the apples and the figs.Upon careful examination I realized that somehow a fig had literally exploded with such force it put a hole in the bag and sprayed the laundry on the first shelf with fig juice. It also had enough force to it that it seeped through the space between the slats of the shelf and dripped on the clothes in the basket on the bottom shelf.

All that from a fig...who would have known!!

Pray 7 x 7

I love this picture. When I had it developed, honestly, it wasn't one of my favorites, but now I just love it. From a photographic stand point, it is not an excellent shot. Certainly not perfect. But when I look at that picture of my kids, I see joy. In their eyes and in their faces.

I remember when I took it...I was trying to get a really good shot of them sitting in the grass together and they wouldn't cooperate. (Imagine that!!) One would look this way, or turn that way. Then the other would start being silly and there was no perfect shot to be had. And there were moments of frustration on my part. I just couldn't get things the way I wanted. But now, I look back on it and I am so thankful for that image of them just being happy.

Life as a parent is so similar to that moment...we try our best to orchestrate the perfect scenarios in life for our kids. We do everything that we can to provide them with every opportunity for success and attempt to give them just the right environment. We long for the easy and uncomplicated. How desperately we try to hold tight, to prepare for every possible difficulty. Protecting them from adversity and a life filled with flaws,inadequacy, disappointments and pain.

But the truth is there are so many things that are just beyond our control. No matter how hard we try to protect and provide, hard times will ooccur, pain will happen and difficulties will come.

But in the end we hope. Our hearts may break, but we have faith that we serve a mighty God. We cling to the promise that we will look back at those less than perfect moments in their lives and will see joy and good come as a result.

Good that runs deep. Eternal good. And the kind of joy that lasts more than the fraction of a second that it takes to take a photograph. That which is independent of circumstances or surroundings. The kind of good and joy that only our heavenly Father can produce.

One of the certain things in our most uncertain journey as parents is the desperate need to cover our children in prayer. I came across a great post in a blog that I visit often that challenges us to pray scripture over our children seven times a day for seven days. Posted to the left is a link to the post that describes the reasoning behind it and gives sample scriptures and times to use them. All you have to do is click on the 7x7 link on the side and it will take you to the post. Be sure to scroll down just a bit so that you get to the scriptures(but the introduction is really good too). There is power in God's Word. And what an under utilized weapon it often is in this battleground we live in.

Let us not lay down and surrender in this battle, fellow warriors no matter how weary we may have become, no matter how difficult the circumstances that surround us or those we love.

The stakes are too high. Life may be hard at times, but pick up your armor, be determined to put your faith in The One who won't disappoint and prepare for victory.

The Dreaded School Picture

We all have it. At least one...I feel certain! The ugly school picture.

Some of us (that would be me) have more than one!!

Maybe it was during those awkward middle school years. Or perhaps sometime in elementary school when your permanent teeth were disproportionally large in comparison to the rest of your body.

Or could it have been in those high school years if you are around my age and went to high school in the 80s.

I mean really - what were we thinking!!

I was blog surfing and came across a post on a blog that really cracked me up. Click on this link and you can see a contest for the ugliest school picture. Be sure to give it a minute to load. It is worth the wait.

The blog belongs to an amazing photographer friend of ours and she is having a contest for the ugliest school picture. If you want to vote, cast one on behalf of our children's minister's wife. She is the fifth one down and could win a great prize if she gets the most votes.

I'd enter myself, confident that I would have a good chance of winning, if I could just find one of those pictures! Wonder what ever happen to those things. Seems like they may have mysteriously disappeared!

School Days

When we were thinking about embarking on this journey of homeschooling, I worried about so many things that my kids were going to miss. For example, field trips, recess, the morning pledge of allegiance. learning how to walk in a line with other children and of course the first day of school.

We are almost finishing up our fifth full year of homeschooling and I am happy to report that my kids seem to be well adjusted and happy kids, despite what they have missed. And they can even walk in a line when told to...okay, with J3 there may be a random cartwheel or two involved or perhaps even a little kung-fu move, but he does understand the concept.

And thankfully because of the co-op that the kids go to, they even get to experience a more traditional first day of school.

I always loved getting ready for that first day - new school supplies, maybe a new outfit but always new school shoes, a new teacher and the excitement over seeing friends that you hadn't seen in months. It is nice to know that somethings never change - my kids shared that same anticipation and joy that I once had over a new beginning and a new school year.

However, I don't think it kicked in until after breakfast!

We're back!!

Well, I have been a blogger slacker in the biggest sense of the word...but now because of the inspiration of my daughter and her recent posts, I am going to try and get back on track!

Be sure to leave her a comment about the cell phone situation. She is checking in frequently to see what is being said and enjoyed seeing the two comments that were left!

My plan is to post every other day until I get caught up...it shouldn't take as long as you would think. I have been a little bit of a picture taking slacker too!!

Cell Phones!!!!

Hey guys, A here. As you may know lots of kids nowadays have cell phones. Well I want to know how many people agree with me that I NEED ONE!!!!!!! Now this is not something you have to sign but I would encourage you to do so. Why??? Because MAYBE if I get enough people to sign, I could get one!!!If you agree just leave a comment saying YES. THANKS!!!:)

~A~

The busy busy week

Hola!!!! This is A!!!! This week has been crazy!!!!!! We've had a very busy schedule!! This is how it went.....

Thursday-Drop dad off at the airport, go to history , swim team and go to a friends house.

Friday- Halloween!!!! Set up for the garage sale and go trick or treating!!!(I dressed as a hippie and J3 was a cowboy)

Saturday- Get up at 6:00 and leave for the garage sale!!!

Sunday-Church, me and J3 had friends over and at 4:30 we had choir.

Monday-Co-op

Tuesday-Swim team, mom voted, we bought J3's tennis shoes

Wednsday-Mom had aerobics and we had church

Thursday-School, History, Swim team, I went to friends while J3 had basketball, play with friends baby brother

Friday(today)-School, Mom's aerobics, Pick up dad from the air port, costco, pick up a cake from strossners, (now)watch brother, dad, and cousins play game cube

As you can see we've had a lot going on!!! Have agreat week!!!:D


~A~