Tuesday, October 5, 2010

October...

Isn't it funny and sad at the same time that people gossip. Or assume that they know the whole story to things that they truly know nothing of. Your sin of gossip is no greater than my sins. Your words are spreading like a wild fire and are doing terrible amounts of damage. I'm a blunt person. It gets me in trouble every time. But at least I will say it. I'd rather you say something to me than talk about me. What our family is going through is our business. No ONE ELSE'S. You can cover your gossip with the "I just want you to know so you can be praying" line all you want it is still gossip. If you want to pray for us please do. But cover it with "I have a friend who covets your prayer God know who this family is, there's no need to share details just pray for them". Gossip finds a way of coming back to the person it's about. And sometimes it is through the most innocent of ears. We've told our closest friends what is going on so if you weren't told then maybe we didn't feel you needed to know. We do as a family covet your prayer. And we are struggling right now. So are many others. But please don't use our struggles to encourage your sin of gossip. Most likely if you email or text us we will share with you what God lays on our hearts to share.


"Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive."- C.S. Lewis

Proverbs 20:19 -a gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.


James 1:2 -count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Ephesians 4:29-
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up of others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Monday, June 21, 2010

really....

Its been a rough day. So here is my soap box. I am amazed at the growth or the lack of growth of Christians... I know it is not my place to judge. That's not what this is, it is more of an observation. Do you really think your numbers driven, street preaching, track passing out ministry will really work? If there isn't any follow up and you leave these people with nothing but frustration what good have you done? Frustration towards all Christians. There needs to be a relationship... not preaching. A devotion to living in a tight friendship through tough times and times of fun. Living out what you believe not just having hope that you can draw people into your building on Sundays. Take time to read what you say you believe. The Jesus I read about hung out with Murderers, outcast,and adulterers. And had a relationship with them. I don't see many churches in our area jumping up to meet these people. They would rather have the deep pocketed heavy tither. Who is going to help with their building fund. It is my observation that God still has a lot of work to do in our self-centered hearts. Mine and yours. If you have a chance look up Rob Bell. Nooma Videos- "Bull Horn" It is more deep and clear than I am.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Schools out!!!!

OK almost.... I am so ready. My kids are so ready. I LOVE summer time! So this is our normal summer day:

*7 am wake up
* 7:30 am pack up our breakfast
* 7:45 am get swim suits on
* 8 am go to the pool
* swim!!!
* take a break and eat breakfast
*swim
*10 am play at the park
* home/shower
*Play
*12 noon lunch
* nap/rest time
* chores/ clean up
* 4:30 pm Daddy Home!!!!
* 5 pm dinner prep
* 6 dinner
* walk
* bed time routine/next day prep
* Mommy/Daddy quiet time :)

I Love you summer time!!!!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Note to parents

Do the rest of the world a favor and teach your children basic manners! Please, Thank you, your welcome, no ma'am, yes ma'am. Respect for elders. NO ONE will want to be around your child if you don't. The fruit of the spirit. Teach them to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gentle, and to have SELF CONTROL!
I see so many students in trouble everyday who lack basic skills. And guess what in 6 years these students will be on the loose in grown up land and expected to fit into society. Don't reward bad behavior or mediocrity. Reward good behavior or going above the rest. Praise them when they do a good job. Reward verbally. Not with toys or possessions.

If you don't spank your children the rest of the world will want to.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

here we go....

May 1998....
Oct. 2000....
July 2004...
Nov. 2005....
These were the years I was supposed to go to collage and continue my education. Each time I would start to enroll I would end up having beebee's. But I have no more beebees coming. At least not that I know of. :) It would be a miracle of God. I love teaching. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I have a crazy passion for Jr. High kids. I've known this for the last 10 years. I've been blessed to teach Jr.High kids in youth ministry and in the public school system. There is something about Jr. High that is so fun. They're still reachable. By high school they've made up their minds to be a jerk or not but Jr. High you can still get to them. I love these kids. So here we go. I've enrolled to start taking classes online. It may take me years but I at least have a goal ahead of me. I've been extremely blessed to be able to stay home with all of my children and be there for them in these precious early years of life. It does scare the pee out of me to think about doing this but I know I need to go and I need to go now. I feel a underlying sense of urgency with this. I can't explain it other than like a restlessness. So I covet your prayers. Prayers for my family, me and that it will go by fast and easy on the school end of it.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

fear...

I love the students at Barton Middle School but, there are some students at Barton Middle School that I really love. I enjoy seeing their faces. They are so much fun to be around and make work not feel like work at all. There is one student whom I enjoy having robust dialog with. He is my little brother in Christ. His family attends a church in Austin. We get to talk about what God is doing in different areas. It is very cool. He told me a while back he had been praying for one of his teachers. And asked me if I would too. This teacher is an Atheist. And likes to announce it ever so often. Today as I was in his class with him. This young man made a bold move. He walked over to the teacher and handed him an invitation and an Easter egg. He said Mr. _______, God placed it on my heart to invite you to church this Sunday. I know you might not come. But I had to be obedient and invite you like God said." It was precious. This young mans faith and courage to do this was amazing. This teacher is pretty intimidating.... and this young man obeyed. The teacher was taken back, "Oh son I'll be playing golf this Sunday, you won't find me in a church." And the student said "How about You go to church with me and then I'll go play golf with you". The teacher smiled.... "I'll think about it. "he said I could not believe what I heard and saw. It gave me chills. I went back to the student a little later and told him how proud I was of him. God may not do anything with this.... he may never change his beliefs but there were 20 other kids in that class who witnessed this go down. And It may be a seed planted in one of their hearts. As I pray for this teachers salvation and many of these students I wonder if I would be that bold and obedient if God told me to share with someone like him. Would I brush it off and pretend I didn't hear or come up with another excuse. ..............................My fear of God is greater than my fear of man. I would much rather please him than others.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010


Bridget opens her presents and is so precious :)

Spring '10


My poor little blog hasn't been touched in a while. I love writing. It is not my giftedness but I enjoy getting my thoughts out. I'm usually scattered and not an organized writer. I jump around a lot. Spring and summer are my favorite seasons. It gives my so much happiness to have things blooming and the sun out. Our spring break was a nice one. Bailey and I went on "The amazing Race" with the Creeks youth. It was so much fun. I loved my team. They were energetic, creative and HILARIOUS! We even joked about not going home and staying together. I missed killa bee and the bee bees so much. The 19th was my baby girl Bridget's 6th birthday so we went to her favorite place Chick Fila or "Chicken Lake" as Benjamin calls it. We celebrated and had a great time. Now we are back to school and the craziness of a busy life again. I'm ready for summer and the bee bees being home again. I'm going to write more later... so much to jabber about and so little time.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

To connect or to disconnect....

Was Jesus connected with the people he hung out with? I think about this often. I see the pros and con's. Staying in touch with the next generation. Was he up to the latest tech of the time for his time period? My house hold personally trys to. We text, facebook, blog, tweet, GPS in the cars, have iPhones with the best apps. As soon as new technology comes out we try to jump on as soon as we can. Are we wrong in doing that? We also try and stay current on the news. Not in a crazy way but we have the news on when we are getting ready in the mornings. And I usually check it at lunch time or in the afternoon. I'm really bad with staying in touch with people if they aren't in my everyday/weekly lives. Some of these outlets keep me doing a better job at this. I HATE talking on the phone. I don't like to be in the middle of washing dishes, making dinner, cleaning house and have to answer a phone call. I LOVE texting. It is so much more convenient for my personality. We have friends who are the total opposite. No TV, no texting, don't face book, don't twitter... you get my point. There are so many times that I have started to text them or post something to them but can't. There also is the issue of homeschooling... this is such a sensitive subject. I go before the throne so often on this matter. I make no excuses about it. I AM A SELFISH PERSON. I don't like to share my children. When they are at school I miss them terribly. BUT God has told us that our children are to remain in public school. I totally get the whole in the world but not of the world aspect. And you can interpret that both ways. "my kids go to school as our mission field" or "we home school because we want to be set apart". It is a tough choice. We used to go to a church where very few kids were home schooled and were rare. The church we are currently attending my kids are the odd man out. It is different. The isolation my kids have felt has driven me to anger more than I could have ever thought. The very things that home school parents are hoping to avoid, their kids have done to my kids. -That's beside the point. Whole different blog sorry.... the whole to connect to not connect makes me ponder quite often. Here is my reasoning for "up to date"... Brett and I have a love and passion for youth. They told us way back when facebook first came out. 'You guys should get a face book... Hey you guys should get on twitter....hey can I text you?" If they are struggling in an area I want to be available and approachable to be there for them. There have been so many opertunities on each of these where I've been able to have great dialog with these youth and they have said you really helped me get through this. This may not always be our calling. My kids schools are my mission Field. I signed up to sub in HaysCISD. There are over 20 kids in most classrooms everyday that I can be a positive influence on. Without even saying one word about God. But just building a relationship. Mentoring.. a whole area where one hr. a week can impact a child's life FOREVER. I can name numerous times that getting info out on twitter has helped. House fires... this family needs help. A huge one. This earthquake in Haiti... the first info out that it even happened was on twitter.... "please send help...." I could keep going on about this.
We have some friends who have grown children who we are crazy about. They were some of our youth in Jr.High and are now grown. We asked their parents what helped them grow into awesome kids? They responded "Stay current. Get the latest games, keep your fridge stocked, be the fun house. Let your house be the hangout spot. Be involved in everything they do."
This is my prayer. That Brett and I are always involved. That we would be appealing and approachable to the current generation. That our gifts and talents would be used to bless others with all he has given us.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Homemaking

I'm a homemaker. I enjoy the mundaneness (is that even a word?) of the everyday chores that come with being a mom. Laundry, cleaning, cooking, organizing, scheduling, dishes... OK maybe not dishes, decorating, planning and yard work. I know I've said this before but when other little girls were talking about "when I grow up I want to be a doctor, lawyer, etc...." I just wanted to be a mommy and wife. My mom was a fly by the seat of your pants, organization out the window, live in the moment Mom. It was great for having a fun childhood. She would let us have our dessert first and never cleaned unless we had too. She also had to support 4 children on her own. So times for lessons in cooking and cleaning were scarce. So when I became a wife and Mom I needed to learn and learn fast. So I went to non other than Martha Stewart. What ever your feelings of her may be she is great at what she does. Now I thrive on organization. I love order and labels. It gives me peace of mind and calms me. When I was first learning and had piles of laundry, dishes on every counter and a messy apartment it hit me hard one day- God is a God of order, Not chaos. He doesn't do a half done job. He does it to the fullest. I have specific jobs in my life that I will be accountable for someday. Being a good helpmate to Brett. Helping with the things he needs. (Words of affirmation is his love language so giving him plenty of complements )Making his time at home enjoyable not stressful. Encouraging him in his giftedness. I am responsible for teaching my girls to be Godly women, wives and mothers. I am responsible for teaching Benjamin how to be a Godly Man, husband and father. Teaching all of my children how to be good adults who love God passionately and walk with integrity. I love my job. It pays more to me than any other ever will. The benefits will never end. In a blink it will be gone. They will be grown and gone. Right now my children are begging for my attention just hoping for a minute with me. In a few short years it will be the other way around and I will be begging for theirs. I will never get this time back. My all time favorite quote is (if you've ever gotten an e-mail from me its at the bottom) "You only get today once"- Matt Chandler. No one else can be Brett's wife, Bailey,Beatrice,Bridget and Benjamin's Mom like I can. This is my JOB and I love it.