Monday's glance at the week

Lord Jesus - you have given my family a very exciting and busy week ahead.  We have 3 baseball games this week alone.  That right there makes homework tough and all the other things that the girls want to do.  There are times it seems like Tucker's events rules the house.  But the girlies are good about supporting him.

On Wednesday Emmajoy will be in a talent show at her school.  She is singing the Carrie Underwood version of I'll Stand By You.  Yeah - that is what I thought too - cant you start with a tad bit easier song??  But actually she sings it pretty well.  She is feeling it!!  ha  (Mom, I will tape it and post it on here or Facebook.)  She also made student council this week.  Her daddy helped her write the speech and I helped with all the other crafty stuff!  I had so rather help with speech.  lol!

Sarahjane and Elleigh both have gymnastics and cheerleading this week as well.  We have to fit that in during the games.  I am thankful for my friend Nathalie that is so willing to help me out in a pinch!  There have been a lot of pinches since school has started!!

This weekend I'm traveling to Washington, In. to speak to a group.  I'm very excited.  It is a small group of 60-70 ladies, but that usually means a lot more fun and intimacy.  I will be speaking on "What Does God Require of Me" based on the scripture Micah 6:8.  One of my favorite messages.  It will be a weekend of having another stand in the gap for Clay and I.  He will be traveling home at the same time I am to be there.  It happens like that often, but we have some great sitters to help us out if need be!

Lots is going on with Speaking Thru Me Ministries.  This week I am fervently praying Ps 90:17 "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands - yes, establish the work of our hands."  There is a really cool opportunity on the horizon and I want to know if this is something STMM is to be part and ask for the favor of the Lord to be all over it!  We shall see!

Lots of feelings and thoughts.  But this i know to be true - I am serving the Lord.  I love the Lord.  He loves me.  He is my judge.  He is weeding out my schedule to refine my "business".  Lord, establish the work of my hands!

913 - It's a fear - probably my worst one!

Do you have any fears?  I don't really feel like I have a lot of fears, but there is one that I wrestle with a ton!  What if my kids grow up and do not love the Lord???  This is a nightmare to me!

I don't really know where to go with my words, but there is a part of me that needed to get this out.  Getting it out is how I cope, it is how I adjust, and it is my own personal process of thinking through a situation.  Because I really believe that keeping it in and not at least expressing my fear, even if it is sin, is Satan's plan to destroy my joy, peace, and faith.

I love the Lord, I really do.  This is not a fake thing for me, this is not just a good idea, this is not just something that I saw in my parents and so I am gonna live this way too.  It is my life.  I think about the Lord ALL. THE. TIME.  I don't say anything of that to be boastful, but to just explain who HE has made me to be.  I love the Lord.

I have many, many benefits of serving the Lord.  I have grown to love Him from a very young age.  I have seen countless friends and strangers take a different road and there are so many consequences to pay, but the worst may be the miserable life they live until on the straight and narrow.  This is what I fear the most for my kids!!

I so desire for my kids to get it right the first time.  I don't want them to go down the path of testing to any degree if at all possible.  But I must be realistic.  Not realistic that the testing must occur - it doesn't have to, I am living proof - but I will be realistic about their relationship with the Lord.  It must be their own.  Please do not hear that I think I was perfect - far from it.  I may have been the worst because all my sin was private and the Lord had to break me to solidify our relationship.  It was equally painful!

And this is where I am stuck and get a bit overwhelmed.  How do I get out of the way so that their walk with the Lord is their own and not something they are copying from me, faking for my benefit, or just riding on mine and Clay's coattails?  It happens often and I personally think more times than not!

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.  

The only part that I am a little disappointed in with that verse - I am not sure I am allowed to say I am disappointed in a verse, obviously I don't quite have the faith - "when he is old he will not depart from it".  OH NO - does this mean that my kids have to be old before they come back to what they have been taught?  LORD, I want them to get it now!!!  I want them to digest it now!!

Do I think that my kids are going to be missionaries, preachers, speakers - all things of Him or for Him?  NO!!!!!  Ministry is really hard, possibly hardest on the family!  I am fully aware that my kids may be the wildest in the town.  I am fully aware they are not prefect.  I am fully aware that they are making big mistakes even now at their young ages.  I am fully aware that while my walk is such theirs may be the direct opposite at this time and days to come.

But this all goes back to...........their relationship with the Lord must be their own!

Oh Lord, keep me on my knees for them!  Keep me pressing into the Word so that I can reflect you in a loving way and not harsh.  Lord, Jesus, make yourself real to them so that they know You for who You really are in their lives.  Oh God, protect them from the evil one.  Make them kids that stand up for things that are right and of you!  God, give them a heart that longs to know You.  May you give me the answers to their questions!  May Your love abound in our home!!  Oh Jesus BE REAL to them!!

893 - The Low Down

Ok, so here's the deal....

A cagillion emails to return - important

House to clean and organize so that people have clothes for school, etc. - semi important

Prayer time at church - important

Walk with my friend - important

5 or 6 churches waiting on responses for dates they want a speaker - important

Thousand fb messages to get up to speed on - important

Raising money for baby in Liberia - important

Returning the love texts from friends and family getting the latest scoop - important

Losing weight - not so much important - ha

Giving my all to Sarahjane and making sure she gets the best - Paramount!!!!!!!! Trumps all!!

Lord, I miss a schedule since we had just gotten in a routine with school starting. But all the above can wait as I minister to my baby girl and her needs. She is on her way back to recovery. We go in for another root canal kind of thing this morning - we need to leave in just a few.

Life will return to "normal" (is our house ever normal?) and life will go on. But for now I have to ignore all and be with her! I love it, I adore this time, and I just eat her up!! God is so gracious. He is so faithful. and He is my Rock!

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess (homologia - means to agree with His Word), for He who promised is faithful. Heb. 10:23

I will get back with you - important - just maybe not today.

841 - Intentional Summer Plans!!

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me." Micah 7:7

What an incredible verse Lord Jesus. It is my heart's cry at this time in my life. I am just about overwhelmed with the things He has done and I can't wait to brag on You Lord!!

This summer is going to be what I call a very intentional summer. I have tried my best to see about getting each of the kids a relationship that grows them in some way. I want my kids to be encouraged and challenged, but sports - or sitting the bench - is not going to do it totally. Yes, there are so many good lessons I learned from sports growing up, but it was the influence from older individuals, even if it was for a very brief time, I remember and cherish. So, with your help, God Almighty, I am trying to do the same for my kids.

I have a particular older gentleman that loves the Lord contagiously who plays golf incredibly well - and loves it too! I am going to see about getting him to play with Tucker once a week. There are many men or even some fine teenagers that I think I could pair Tucker up with, but this man will not only instruct Tucker correctly on golf, but will probe him on the things of life and share the Lord at every angle in a cool and "I don't think you are totally strange" kind of way. As the verse says above, "I watch in hope for the Lord".

Emmajoy is a tough one, but I think I thought of something. We have a neighbor down the street that has many horses and she rises at least by 5:30am everyday to take care of them. Emmajoy has never been much on horses like she is dogs, but to get up and do something like that with one the sweetest ladies we know would be a thrill - even at 5:30am. I hope I can get in touch with her today and see if this might be something we can work out!

My baby, Elleigh,is going to be a little bit harder to find something to do - if she is suppose to do anything - she is only 6. But there is another lady at our church whom I love and care so deeply for. I am going to approach her today about maybe her and Elleigh learning to cook a few simple things over the summer..........or clean..........or just hang out! Elleigh would love this lady. We shall see what you provide, Lord.

The whole reason I thought about doing this is because my middle child is having a some real difficulties finding who she is and as a result of that having friend issues. Clay and I went and spoke to counselor about some of these issues we see and the first thing she encouraged us to do is to find something that only is for Sarahjane. Like the other kids might have a solo thing to do as well, but it be nothing like Sarahjane's.

I was expressing these things to my accountability partner that is a wonderful Godsend and she could totally relate. She was the middle child with overachieving big sister - even wrote her master's thesis on the effects of birth order in a family and especially the middle child!!!!!!! She remembers having some friend issues and just feeling the need to always try to catch up. After praying about it some time she has decided to have Sarahjane as her mommy's little helper from the summer. My friend was so excited to get started that she asked her to come over yesterday and help out. Sarahajne played with her 2 kids, changed diapers, gave baths, made homemade waffles, and also made a pizza dessert. Megan said they cuddled on the couch, talked about deep 8 year old things, and just had a blast. When I picked her up Sarahjane was so PROUD and felt so big. What an incredible blessing. My young friend is being the Titus 2 woman for my little girl - beautiful!!!

The effects didn't stop at the door though. Sarahjane wanted to share her homemade pizza dessert with neighbors - just the way she is. So we drove it 2 houses down and all by herself she went to the door and gave it away. She was pumped! But as we all got ready for bed last night Sarahjane proclaimed she wanted us to have family prayer time. This is something we don't do near enough especially during ball season. I usually pray with the kids individually, but group prayer is not our strong suit! So this was awesome. I am sure Sarahajane was included in some kind of prayer time with Megan's family and wanted that to happen here too. It was awesome!

Lord, I am trying! I am trying to invest my kids in the lives of others and see that they grow in You through it all. I want my kids to love all kinds of people. God i just want them to grow up healthy and serve you in whatever manner that might be - salesman or woman, vet, momma, daddy, an athlete, a teacher, a minister, a missionary - whatever you have for them Lord! But this I do know, ""But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me." Micah 7:7!!

Savior - I am overwhelmed by your love!!! Thank you!!!

Ecuador Trip - En Route! Family good-bye and I love you!

I just wanted to take a moment and say hello and good bye to my family. I am sitting in the Atlanta Airport waiting for Ginger and Shawna and others! I am so excited, but already miss my little boogers too! SJ cried her eyes out which is not uncommon anymore when I leave. The girls race me down the long driveway trying to keep me from coming! It was sweet, but makes it so hard too! Tucker hugged me softly in his manly way! Clay has graciously taken a week of vacation so that I could do this! What a man!! I love you!!!

708 - Beat you like a Pinata

This is great - as far as what my precious 5 year daughter wanted to do to her sister!!!  hee hee

There has a been a huge influx of "followers" as of recent.  Hey there - thanks for caring enough to know what the Lord says thru me.  Please take a few minutes - i beg you - to introduce yourself and let me know where you come from if you don't mind - we might just live right close!!  I love new friends!  

FBC Concord new friends - hello!!  Thank you for your sweetness and patience on Friday night!!  Boy did Satan try to spoil everything or what!!!  Love to know about the way God spoke to you that night!!!  Take a moment and see what He may say to you today!!  

Kudos to Southern Illinois

I am ready to go serve my last full-time day as a PE teacher for Mrs. Cindy Colman.  She is more than ready to get back to work and I am semi-ready to get back to my life.  This 6.5 week experience of teaching for me has been incredible.  I have felt such a privilege to go and be with great kids everyday and with outstanding teachers and administration!  

I have personally been in many, many school systems and my kids have now been in 2 since we have lived in Southern Illinois.  I have to say that I must tip my hat to the schools in Southern Illinois.  Entering Norris City when we arrived in January of 2007 I just knew that my kids would be quite far ahead - after all I was paying some big tuition prices in Charlotte.  Yikes - my kids had quite a bit of catching up to do.  Mrs. Barton did everything possible to get Tucker up to speed!!!  She did well.  And Jan Carroll just took Emmajoy in, treated as her own, and made a lasting impression on her!  Charlotte is a school I miss for the Christian education and wonderful staff, but the Lord was so faithful to give me all the same in Norris City just without the title of Christian school and without the big prices!!  Yeah!!  I am so thankful for my time there!  

Now we have moved on to Carmi just 10 miles down the road.  From a parent perspective it too has been wonderful.  But now I have had the privilege to "do" school with 2 of my daughters each and every day for an extended time.  I can not tell you how impressed I am!  

All teachers need roughly a $100,000 raise!  I have come to realize that I most enjoy 2nd grade and up.  So I am just amazed at what is asked of the Lincoln teachers because of the age of those kids.  There is not a trying day that goes by because of one reason or another and they do their jobs with smiles, enthusiasm, and energy.  I just about die around 11am and they just keep on ticking as if they had just gotten there!  I can say with authority that each and every teacher at Lincoln is incredible.  I have watched each one of them so closely while being there day in and day out and can not say enough!!  If any of you are reading - thank you!!!!!!  

Mrs. Stocke - wow!!!  The precious way that you interact with each child making them feel as if they are the only one there on that day - it is truly is a gift!  My Sarahjane feels so much love and knows that "you are cool" as she says it!  Thank you for allowing me in your school for a time!  I don't think I am cut out for a forever kind of job with kids that young, but I know who is - you and your staff!!!  Thank you thank you!!!  I have enjoyed it all!  

Jefferson has been much easier for me to teach at.  The kids are just that much more experienced in their skill levels that makes it extremely fun to teach, coach, etc!  I too can not say enough about that school.  Teacher are hands on - wanting to know how their kids did, and teachers love each other - it appears to me.  I see a very unified staff and one that is truly working for the betterment of the kids!  

At both schools I am just amazed at teacher aids!  Yall go above and beyond and just absolutely blow me away with your patience!  Melinda Nelson and Jeannie Browning - girls - those kids love you with all their hearts.  They would go home to live with you in half a heartbeat!  Mrs. Peacock - you are incredible!!!  So good.  I will never forget the day looking over to see you jumping rope, double dutch, with the girls in your flats!!!!!!!  Ginger, Kathy, Vicki, all of you!!!!  I know you may not be amassing a huge treasure here on earth - but your mansion in heaven is going to be something to see!!!  Holy cow girls - you are it!!!!!!!  

Dr. Dixon - you are step above and of course you always go above and beyond as well.  I am always impressed how your door is open and ready for any conversation.  You too are not scared to answer phones as I have seen Mrs. Stocke at Lincoln.  Amy, your teachers think the world of you and have the utmost respect - from what I have seen and heard!  The kids see you as quite an authority and look up to you as a hero.  They are eager to preform when you walk in the room.  Eyes never leave your presence and many are hoping to be just like you one day!  Thank you as well for allowing me in your school for this time!!!  

I would be remiss to leave out the wonderful janitors at each school.  I do not know all by name personally but you all are awesome.  Cleaner schools I have not seen.  Mr. Lee - you bring tears to my eyes when I try to muster up words to explain what you are to the kids at Lincoln.  My girls want to adopt Mr. Lee!  And Mr. Peacock - your gentle spirit and hard work with a smile is priceless.  Thank you both for helping me to learn the ropes and names of kids too!!  ha!  

Ok - I am going to be late!!!  I am excited and ready to go!!  I am sad and want to stay - all at the same time!!!  I love you all!  

676 - Not for the Weak!

There is not anything more fearful or daunting than the training of the child. I often, I mean VERY often, wonder why in the world God gave me any kids, and especially 4 to raise. I know I am not in this all by myself, and am so thankful to have friends, family, and a plethora of resources to help in this endeavor! But still I get overwhelm by my own personal shortcomings and how they will certainly affect my children.

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” I know many parents that hold on to that verse as if it is magic potion insuring their child will turn out right. They almost see it as an excuse for their own behavior because they are “giving” their kids all the right things. I will take them to church, I will make sure they have the right friends, I will make sure they are in all the right activities, and I will make sure they know who God is – even if I have to force it. And in our minds we feel like God will bless those things, and if the child goes away from what they have been taught they will come back to it. That is really not what this verse is talking about and certainly not promising.

As quite a self-proclaimed control freak it is very easy for me to want to force the kids to do exactly what I want. I will make all their choices and things will be great. But as my commentary was explaining this approach to parenting can many times only hurt the kids. In parenting it is vitally important to teach the child to make choices themselves, and hopefully the right ones. We train them in all the appropriate ways, but we leave the choosing up to them.

One of my kids made the choice to “go out” with someone even though it hurt their friend deeply. My child could not understand why their friend was so mad and hurt. Clay and I had to sit down with all the kids and explain about honoring a friendship, being loyal to those we love, and that girlfriends and boyfriends will be a dime a dozen most likely until college. We wanted the kids to understand that you never turn on a friend – they are there to the end – truly! I am so thankful for Clay’s examples of Jeff Neal, Reed Jackson, Paul Black, etc. that shows this to be true. (Because of my often moving growing up I really don’t have that so much to show for!)

We left that “meeting” with the kids wondering if they “got it”. Later that night my child came to me explaining that they had just broken up with the love and could not wait to mend things with the friend! Honestly, initially, I wanted to force the situation, but my patient husband was able to remain calm and do the training in a way that the right choices were sure to come. I am so proud of my child for their actions, but even more so I am proud of the way Clay trained them in this particular incident! Parenting is not easy, nor for the weak, but I am so thankful for the instruction manual God left for us to follow!

637 - Random pictures...

That is some serious blonde hair!!! I wish the quality of this picture were better - one of my favs! Tucker is just lovin' it!! Whatever!!!!!!!


Ok - so maybe this was one of my favorites!!! Now if i can only get them to mean it...one day!!


If you are one of my Christmas friends - you will be seeing this again! Elleigh (5), Emmajoy (8), Sarahjane (7), and Tucker (10). That is the Gray gang!


I love how Elleigh - the littlest one has her arm around Tucker. She is the only one that could get away with that...with Tucker. My hair was sick of the humility by then! I do mean humility!!

Sarahjane had to have minor tooth/gum surgery the other day. She wanted me to take a picture of it before she went back to school the same day. I tried to get her to stay at home, but no way... she could not wait to get back and show everyone. She had one tooth pulled and the muscle between her 2 front teeth snipped. Easy greasy were her words!

This is one of Emmajoy's favorite friends. They actually look a lot alike. Both tall, blonde, and SKINNY!!! Both smile a lot and talk a ton!! Love to laugh and love to do crazy kinds of adventures. Sweet girl from a wonderful family. I am thankful!

I don't know how long it will last, but i love that my girls usually love to sit together - close - when they are watching TV. I never had a sister and so this is one the greatest dynamics i love to watch in our house. Sissies probably watching the Cheetahs do their thang!!

620 - Overflowing Love

Oh Lord, thank you for last night. This summer the girls in our youth group have met 4 times and had what I thought was an amazing time. I have loved every minute of it. The first month they all came over had dinner, went to DQ, Bible study, and then spent the night - all over my house!! I loved it!!!!!!!

The next month I was not able to attend because I was too consumed with the new news about my daughter SJ. Holly, our youth ministers wife, still met with them and had a really cool time! Holly loves those girls more than they realize and pours her life into them! She is one of my heros! and so stinkin' creative!! love it!

The last 2 times that we met were not very far apart. But awesome. Technically in July, we went to a homeless men's shelter in Evansville. It was a "home" for men, but all kids of people eat at the kitchen. We fixed them the most awesome spaghetti dinner on the planet. All the girls worked like a well oiled machine and it was awesome. I was so very touched and even taken back at the faces of Jesus that I saw that day. Some of the faces looked as if they just got off the street - of course - but there were a few that looked as if they had just gotten off a golf course - no kidding! It was way out of my comfort zone, but so good for me to do that!! I can not wait for another opportunity to go back!!

And then last night may have been the best night of all. We went to a Nursing home here in town and gave out book marks of our favorite scriptures. Now please don't judge me too harshly, but I am scared to death of really old people. I don't know if it is because i really didn't grow up around any grandparents or what... But this was way out of my comfort zone and really tough - before i got there. I tried to make up every excuse in the book to not go. I was having a hard time finding a sitter which turned out to be a blessing.

I did pawn off Tucker to a friend, Holly's husband, but brought my girlies with me. They were my salvation - ha ha! Of course the older people wanted to love and hug on them. And my girls were not scared!! I think mainly because their grandparents are not old. Anyway... I can not wait to go back to that either!! I saw all the girls come out of their shells passing out bookmarks, talking to those that had no idea anyone was even there, and even consoling those that were asking to be taken home, i mean really home!! Broke my heart!

I did find a special lady and Emmajoy's favorite, named Marie - self proclaimed Cookie Monster. She was all shrivelled up with arthritis i suppose, but very much had all her faculties!! She was a Christian and asked if me and my girls were believers. Then her reply stunned me - "I knew that, I knew you were a Christian." That about made me have to walk away and have a good cry.

Here i was scared to death, afraid that I was going to break someone, or get hurt myself, and the Lord Almighty made Himself apparent on my face and in my speech. His amazing grace and mercy!!! I was so scared that I thought i could have possibly left Him in the van with my purse. But no way - He doesn't work that way. He came with me and even showed up in a huge and mighty way. He does not disappoint, He does not let down, He does not NOT come. He is there, He is real, He looks different everyday, and He is faithful even when i am scared and terrified! Oh Lord praise you!!

Oh one other miracle - Holly played the piano and we all sang hymns. I actually sounded ok - He showed up!!!!!!! I do know He did!!! Hymns are way out of my range usually and it was ok - no one turned away or rolled away. They smiled, some of them did, they clapped, some of them did, and they sang, some of them did! It was awesome!!! I loved it!!

My girls and I will go back and hopefully the whole family. That is it - Family night at the Nursing Home - that will thrill my son that is just so cool i can hardly stand it - and i think he can hardly stand himself too!! Ugh!

Lord, thank you!! Thank you for the praise time and scripture reading this morning! Thank you for the encouraging word to Val. Come through for them soon, Lord. I know You will. Well, we are off today to shop for some last items for school. Yeah! I love to shop with 4 kids - NOT! I love You Jesus - what will you look like today?

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matt. 25:40

607 - My New Sister

This is a true picture of how wonderful my day has been!!! God sent fireworks before it was dark on this day! Read on!!

************* Go to July 1 to post comment for free flops*****************

I have a new sister. One that I knew I would have some day, but I was not expecting it at this time. How sweet the Lord is to bring her to me at this time!! She is adorable. She is blonde. She is a bit smaller than me. She is cute as a button. She is VERY witty. She is a lover of animals. She is energetic even when it hurts. She loves the friends she loves. I would like to introduce you to my new sister - Sarahjane Louise Gray!!! otherwise known as "Stink Master Jam"!

She came to us last night with a big time crocodile tears wanting to ask Jesus in her heart. She said something about screaming too much and wanting to make a change in her life - how cute. She said she was ready to ask Jesus in her heart. We have gone down the road many times with her, but she could never answer any of the questions right. This time she was on the money - her Sunday School teacher is incredible - Mrs. Brenda!!! We asked her if she wanted to speak to the pastor the next day and she said yes oh yes. We told her to go to bed and pray through it all. She woke up this morning ready to go see Pastor Luke!! He explained it all beautifully and we now have another Sister Christian in our family! Thank you Father - praise you Lord!!

And this is the Stink Master Jam - or another name at this time in her

life is "Jackie" or Jack-o-lantern

After one of Sarahjane's many doctor's appointments the girls and I went to have our toes painted and get new purses - a girl has to have a new purse. I remember carrying one like this when I was small - with my tennis racket of course - and I left it in the shoes store and it was gone when we went back to get it. It was denim blue.

I love how her arm is around her big sissy!! Elleigh, Emmajoy, and Sarahjane!

Here are the toes painted - and one set of hands. Mom, who do think had to be different and get fingers instead of toes??? Yep - SJ!!!!!!!

This is a group of girls and one brave boy that we took to Holiday World! It was a fun, fun day!!

Here is Emmajoy's lucky swimming partner - Stroke! I just hope he doesn't!

It really does dedication to stay the whole time during a swimming match, I mean meet. And the fact that your sister's races are only 25 to 30 seconds long is a testimony to that! These girlies wanted to go swimming so badly too!

589 - Emmajoy Sings

This will be my last post until almost June. I leave on Thursday to go on the cruise and am not going to be back until Memorial Day. I thought I would leave you will a post to come back and enjoy many times while I am gone. Makes a momma proud! Maybe some day she will lead worship before my witty and hilarious Sarahjane gets up and gives a Word. It could be a powerful combo. Only He knows and only a momma can dream. hee hee!!

Love you all!! Thank you for your prayers and support! Please pray for safety, the kids, and of course the parents keeping the kids!! Oh and for good weather too! I hope you enjoy!!

If you don't mind - please leave a comment for Emmajoy. She is so excited to have this for the world to see. Hopefully all the girls and I will sing as a group this summer for the church. Not sure we will post that one!!

584 - It's Not My Thing

Oh Lord, thank you for a wonderful weekend. I appreciate the beautiful weather you gave us and the family time as well. It was busy as a bee weekend, but I do love those as well. Emmajoy spent the night at a friends and the rest of us just worked around the house and all. I was getting ready for a garage sale. OH - Friday the doctors would not burn or freeze anything off Emmajoy's neck. He said it scared too much and so we have to just let it go. Ugh!! I got a shot in my foot and I can not tell you the incredible difference in it!!! Wonderfully awesome!!! Thank you so much for cortisone!! Yeah baby! Garage sale was fun, but cold!!! Then that evening the kids had a sitter and the Trouts, Neibels, and us went to a play our friends were in - in Grayville. It was called Greater Tuna. Our friends did a really nice job. I have a hard time staying awake in anything after eating and dark... but what I saw was really good! Of course church was so good. SS just made me want to go home to Glory - what else could be better, and then church was that good as well. I keep waiting for my preacher to have an off day - nope! Have you visited our website? www.fbcarmi.org - i think!

All of my kids are in a church production that is being "aired" in the next couple of weeks. Of course the girls love it, each having some kind of solo and speaking lines, but not so much for Tucker. He had rather have many teeth pulled than to be on stage saying lines let alone singing. It just about kills him. There are only a few other boys his age in the church and they each are counting on one another to be there and suffer through this. I think as moms each one of us has told our own kid that if "you don't do it then so and so won't - you are an example to the smaller ones." Needless to say all of our boys think they are what the show is hinging on. For right now that is fine for them to think that. At least it has kept them there each week.

As the weeks have gone by it has been harder and harder to get Tucker there and get him to do anything too. I think the past 2 weeks on the way to church he has all of a sudden gotten the worst headache in history and felt as though he were going to throw up. It is amazing how after we leave the church and the neighbor boy is outside ready to play he miraculously gets healed and ready to play. Uh - I don't think so!!

This past week was really bad. "We" got deathly ill and even had to run off stage once to see if "we" were going to get sick. I was very, very frustrated. Many of the kids - mostly the boys - were not into it at all. Attitudes stunk and you could see and hear it all over their faces. Even some of the girls were quite pitiful. We stopped the show for a moment and had a word with the kids. My blood was pumping since it was 3 of my 4 that would have rather been doing other things, but the "word" was going to benefit the group.

I explained to the kids that Jesus is sitting a God's right hand and speaking wonderful things about us to the Father. Jesus never slouched his shoulders and hung his head when He spoke of us. He even had His own song He sang over us from time to time. He is excited to speak about His children and would never be bummed out to brag on us. I went on to say how it must break the heart of God to see us grumpy about not singing His praises and especially about the Risen Savior. My spiel then went on to those that will be there that day that may have never heard about Jesus's death and rising from the dead. There just might be someone that has never heard the gospel and this might be the chance they have to lead someone to the Lord through a musical. Getting long winded I rounded down the speech explaining to them that this may not be their thing. Some had rather be on the ball field. Some had rather be swinging with friends, some had rather be on the phone or even some watching TV. But for this moment and for this period of time this is where God (through their mother's hand) has placed them. It may not be their thing, but this is it. For such a time as this - this is where you are to be and to do a good job. Since you do have to be here you might as well enjoy your time and make the Lord proud.

After sitting down and seeing a few of the kids actually click with those words the Lord hit me. How many times am i placed in a situation that I had so rather be somewhere else or be around someone else? How many times am I called to a particular task and I end up just passing because it is not my cup of tea? Oh Lord - I know!!! How many times do I "preform" a certain house chore with a extremely grumpy attitude? When Clay gives me that Honey-Do list - do I have a great attitude? What kind of things am I called to at the moment and complain my way through it? LOTS!

Col. 3:17 "Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Lord Jesus help me to realize that no matter what You have brought me to I can do even it - washing dishes, changing a diaper, singing in choir, watching a baseball game, exercising, chemo treatments, working, waiting, cleaning house, etc. - to the glory of You and make You smile by my pleasing attitude and smile. The kids are going to learn by my example. Help me to not fall so short!! I love you , Jesus!

576 - Carmi from my perspective - 2nd post today

Carmi has a huge amount of absolutely gorgeous houses for a small town of 5000. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much I do driving by these beauties every day. There are so many more, but ........time! I will put pictures of my own house and purses I have promised later today or tomorrow. Thank you.

This house is THE Mansion to my family. I have heard there is a ballroom on the top floor. It has been for sale many times I believe is for sale right now.

If you can see, this is called Bedford Stone. It is like really long rock stone. It is very indicative for this area. I have never seen it anywhere else than Southern Illinois and Indiana.

Boots the cat sleeps on the dog's bed ALL the time!

I wish I could show you this house better. It is massive and beautiful!

This picture does not do my favorite house in all of Carmi justice. It is a really cool stone with an extremely well manicured lawn. I walked by it everyday...on my walk.

This is the preacher's house. Wonderfully decorated on the inside and always kept tidy!

I am not signing up to do window duty. I would love to see the inside of this house.

I just love this one because of the portico. I love any kind of open drive thru thingy.

This is my church. Big church on the corner of the main street.

Yes, your observations are correct. There is no playground on the whole property. I have always found that so odd and strange - no place to play outside!

This is the oldest house in Carmi. Emmajoy said the Abe Lincoln stops by for lunch, but she didn't think it was recent. ha

I just love all the landscaping with this house. It just looks so inviting and tender!

See the Dogwood. Oh I just love it!! And another portico.

This has been for sale as well. It is a real home, not a funeral home. Very stately.

This is my down the road neighbor. She and my hubby are on the Library board with some other fine folks. Don't you just love that cone roof.

Downtown at it's finest. I love that old truck off to the left in the picture. Makes it look older than it is.

I just think this is a really interesting house. There were places like this is Greece.

I think this is where Hansel and Gretel(???) came for soup. This is the cutest little pink house ever. And the flowers - millions of tulips.

This is part of our flooding. This is not suppose to be water here. And it is very deep.

I just think this house is kept so neat and clean. Not even sure if anyone lives there.

This is my diagonal neighbor. They do all kinds of entertaining here. It is not unusual to see him in a tux often. Incredible house and yard!!

And this is the other diagonal. Just a gorgeous street.

Even though this house appears to be old, it is a newer home made to look old. I love the scalloped shingles.

Another favorite. What a bold and beautiful color. This could easily sit right on the beach as well. Love the porch swings.

Really, this is our cleaners. Building looks worse than it is I guess. No damage with the earthquake.

Sarahjane and her friend at High School Musical.

Emmajoy and sister's friend at HSM on Ice.

Elleigh Belleigh and Boots.

And this is the thanks I get for taking them to High School Musical on Ice.

All the girlies!!!