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.

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.

December '09

Why must it go by so fast. Here we are again to another end of year with the same wishes on my list of accomplishments and "to do's" still not done. I'm recently crying and hurting on the inside for a couple I don't even know. I find myself petitioning before the Father on their behalf many times throughout my day. They are Matt and Lauren Chandler. Matt is the lead pastor at The Village Church in Highland Village (Dallas area). Matt has been our (Brett and my) sabbatical teacher. Refueling and feeding us as we minister to others. He has retaught us so many things, brought us to our knees, lovingly and sternly unapologetic preached Gods word to us weekly. We have podcast his sermons for years. Each week eagerly waiting for it to be up on i-tunes and then discussing how it taught us. We've grown to love, admire, and respect Matt and his wife Lauren from a far. On Thanksgiving morning Matt had a seizure. ( his first ever) He fell hit his head and was taken to the hospital. Once there they did testing and realized he had a brain tumor. I don't want to mess up facts, it is all on their website
http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/
or www.themchandlers.blogspot.com
both give details on his health and video of Matt speaking. As I petition and ponder I think about how this could be anyone of us. God choose Matt for this time to lead him through this and to bring him closer to him through this. Josh Patterson preached after these things happened on Jars of Clay. 2Cor. 7 About how the outer man wastes away but the inner man is renewed to look like the son. These things are momentary. My prayer today is I will be mindful of the frailness of life and we are just shells. That we will live each day to the fullest.

Winter.....

This morning I am in a sense of awe and praise. As most of you know Brett and I have run Pennington Service Company for 8 long years. It has been a rough 8 years. Feeling called to ministry and most days feeling pulled between church and business. We had done youth ministry at FBC Kyle with Chris and Tahrea Smith since 2000. And assisted Robert Irmen in the Children's Ministry since 2000. Then in 2007 took on the Children's ministry. Then Brett was ordained as a deacon in 2007. All this time feeling a call to ministry. THEN in spring 2009 deciding to "go".... no more waiting for the right time. We left our home church and Brett enrolled in Regents University. Planning to attend seminary after. This was a HUGE leap of faith for both of us. It was to the point where we felt like we were being disobedient by not following this calling. Last week Brett was brought on as Intern to Pastor Jonathan Leftwich at "The Creek". Then yesterday found out he was hired on as a teacher at The Gary Job Corps in San Marcos to teach and mentor underprivileged youth. A paid steady job doing all 3 things that God has trained him in. Ministry, Air Conditioning, and teaching. He will have insurance, benefits and teacher retirement. ( We have never had any of these things!) A School schedule, the same as our kids. Still being able to run his business after school each day. SO.... all this to say I'm in awe. In a mindset of praise and admiration to Gods faithfulness. Overwhelmed by his love and grace that we so don't deserve. Humbled......

Birthday Fun

Me and my beautiful friend Anne and our fun Mums we got each other

My yummy cake that my kids and Miss Linda made me.

Birthday Blog

October 23rd 1979..... wow. This has been a long time coming. I really never thought this day would come. It seems strange like I beat the odds. Like I'm some rare bread. Trouble-making rebel preachers kid who actually reached the old age of 30. It was hard for me when Brett turned 30. The thought of being married to a 30 year old, or even being intimate with him aren't their laws against that. :) GROSS. Just kidding. It is surreal to me that I'm finally here. Each year is a gift. This long road was bumpy, twisted, winding, with cliffs on each side of me. 2 words progressive sanctification. I am not what I once was. And I'm not yet what I'm going to be. I had a fun weekend. I got to swap mums with my friend Anne. Go to the football game, go to a movie with my kids, and had surprise visits from my Mom and my best forever friend Sarah and her pretty boy Alex. It was a good weekend. I want to say a special Thank you to all of you for sticking it out with me through the tough times. For loving the unlovable and enduring this road with me. You'll never know how much it means. Thanks You God. Thanks for this life you've given me. Attached is one of my favorite songs. This is my song of praise to God for another year. If you have time watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfy2JVLaCTw

Are you approachable?

I really try hard to give people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they've had a rough day. Maybe they have huge things in their lives that cause them to act a certain way. Or to not be at their best. Gods Anointed.... people who are called by God to a leadership position weather it is a deacon, a city official, a preacher or leader at a church, or a president (extreme I know, I'm not really talking about politics here just giving an example) have a big job. You are being watched how you act, what you say. The kids song "Oh be careful little eyes what you see" comes to mind. If you don't know it it goes... Oh be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little eyes what you see, For the Father up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see...... Then it's repeated with little ears what you hear instead of eyes then little hands what you do.
I teach my children to respect their elders. I want them to be mindful of people who have an authority over them and to be kind and loving. But today it has been on my mind in a frustrating way so much so that I had to write this in hopes that certain people will read this. ARE YOU MINDFUL THAT YOU ARE BEING WATCHED? Not in a creepy stalkerish way. In a way that... the next generation is watching you. Teens, tweens, and children. They look up to you. They are walking with the hope that some Sundays you just make eye contact with them or say hi. Are you approachable. I would hope so. In our place of worship I put a big emphasis on leadership. If my child cannot come and talk to me about something is she or he able to come and talk to you? ARE YOU APPROACHABLE? Or are you so enveloped your little group of friends and clicks with in the church that it leaves no room for those who may be needing to be ministered to? Teachers, are you so busy with school work and grades and being observed that you forget that there are students who may need you? Who may need someone to talk to. I understand that everyone has stress and is busy. I'm just saying you were put in this position of leadership for a reason. Are you worthy of their respect? Maybe this is just a friendly reminder that there are people who look up to you. Maybe you should think about it for a while..... I need people who are worthy of my children to look up to.