Great quote

I was reading a comment left on another blog and saw a quote that really struck a cord in me. It was on the back on a business card left by a technician:

"If you meet me and forget about me, you have lost NOTHING but if you meet Jesus and forget about Him, you have lost EVERYTHING".

I can't expand much on that as I think it says it all.

Why?

Okay, something has bugged me every since moving to TN and after driving today, I just have to ask.

WHY do they "do" the roads the way that they do here, I seriously don't get it.

You can be at a stop sign and if you turn right the road is under one name and if you turn left, it's another. Example - if you are at the intersection of Broad street and 96 it is Old Fort Parkway if you turn right (coming from Smyrna) or Memorial if you turn left. It is like that EVERYWHERE.

You can be driving on a road and it will change names for no apparent reason. Example - Nissan, Hwy 102, Lee Victory Parkway, Almaville Rd, and eventually Sam Ridley = ALL THE SAME ROAD!

Or, better yet, you can turn onto a new road but the name will be the exact same as the road you just turned off of. Example = One Mile Road, Rocky Fork (or whatever this road is named), etc.

Ackk! This makes a newbie to the area CRAZY.

Never thought I'd say this

I'm thankful for my insurance company!!! Dental insurance, that is. It's usually so much easier to gripe about insurance companies, I know I've had my fair share of gripes, but this time I'm kind of happy with them.

I went to the dentist this morning because I needed to get a crown on a back molar that I lost a filling from 3 weeks ago. After doing some work (basically whittling down my tooth to NOTHING), the dentist told me that I needed to be referred to an Endodontist for a root canal. The dr. they normally refer to was supposed to be really good and would probably be able to get me in today or tomorrow. Well, that didn't happen. I guess all the drs. in that practice were in PA for some kind of dental conference. Ughh. I sure didn't want to wait 10+ days to go get this root canal done as I imagine I'd be in some pain.

I started calling around and I called all the drs. that were in-network but none could get me in. I called another dr. and they could get me in tomorrow but they were out-of-network. Ughhh.

I called my insurance company, explained the situation, and they approved a one-time visit with this out-of-network dentist without any problem!!!! WOOHOO! I'm so used to having to fight with insurance companies for things that I was pleasantly suprised when they didn't give me any fight on this.

So - tomorrow I get to go have a root canal! YUCK. Good thing that dental work is the one thing that truly doesn't bother me that much. I guess it's from all those years growing up with a variety of orthodontic appliances in my mouth.

Glad I didn't have to wait 2 weeks as the numbing medication is wearing off and this thing HURTS.

OH & the dentist that I went to was great - Dr. Alissandratos. I wasn't overly impressed the first time I went there, I have to be honest, but today his staff was very friendly and he was very nice as well. I got to hear first hand how they interact with children and I am impressed and confident that they will do a great job with my kiddos.

Did you like the shovel & crackers?

Yesterday we went to Rock Springs Park with Suzanne & Nathan. It was a nice day out and we wanted to take advantage of the nice weather before the rain moved in. Nathan brought a purple shovel to play with and we brought a box of cracker sticks for a snack.

After playing on the playset for a while we decided to walk along the path for a little bit and left the shovel and the closed box of crackers behind, thinking they'd be safe. We were the only ones at the park so we didn't really think it was a problem.

We were gone for maybe 10-15 minutes and when we got back to the playset area the shovel and box of crackers were GONE! There was NO ONE else at the park.

What in the world?!

I was a bit freaked because I had left my car unlocked with a lot of valuable stuff in it but it was all still there.

It made me wonder if some lonely neighbor around there (this park backs up to a neighborhood) kept watch and decided to "clean up" when we walked away.

Who knows.

Hope who ever took it enjoyed the snack and has fun with the shovel.

Life of Hope Prayer & Praise Update

I've mentioned several times a ministry called LIFE OF HOPE that works with the street children in Latin America, specifically in Guatemala at this time. Here is their praise & prayer update, please say some prayers for the people below. Prayer is powerful so please join with us.

"Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you." 2 Timothy 1:14

Life transitions are always scary and difficult. God has entrusted us with His love and power to overcome the things that the evil one has done in our lives. This week a group of boys are leaving the streets and starting a new life as a family in the hostel home. This will be a time that God will speak to them more about His love and power. However, this will be a time that Satan will be at full battle trying to destroy these boys. They need our faithful prayers this week that God's angels will protect them from temptation and distractions. May the power of the Holy Spirit be extremely present within them blocking Satan from any earthly victories. In Christ, Life of Hope Staff

Please pray for the following throughout this week:

Jose Ernesto was very aggressive and reluctant to participate when he first came to the day center. However, he now has a positive attitude and takes part in a lot of activities. Thank God for this transformation, and please pray that Jose will continue forward in this way. Gerzon was at first very irregular in his attendance at the day center. However, he decided to continue with the process of leaving the streets, and is now at the hostel. He has a real desire to follow Jesus and to have a different life. Please pray that God will help him to achieve this. Jose Ricardo suffered a lot of bad treatment while on the streets, and was often in tears at the day center. He was encouraged to attend the day center by the love and attention he received there, and is now in the hostel. Please pray that God will heal Jose of the hurts from life on the streets, and that Jose will continue to know he is loved. Although at first Jose Antonio showed very negative attitudes and aggressive behavior in the day center, he discovered a love of carpentry. Because of this, he kept attending the center, and is now in the hostel. Although he found it very hard to stay off the streets, he has managed it. Please thank God for this transformation in Jose's life, and pray that he will stay in the hostel and away from street life. * Please pray for the protection of the street team as they work in dangerous areas: Cesar, Romeo, Dorita and Irma.

Ouch!

I was surfing through a few blogs that I've found and like to read and came across this entry that really, really convicted me for several reasons.

“Though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me”

I read this scripture in the dim earliness of this morning, and it lodged in my spirit like a splinter, poking and prodding me into active thought.

The Lord is speaking about His people, the chosen ones, the ones He has performed awesome deed after awesome deed for, only to see them continually flirt, court, and finally bed down with flashy impostors, all the while enjoying the fruits of His deliverance.

This speaks to me so profoundly. Israel didn’t leap into idolatry’s arms. It was the slow, gradual pull of easier things that led them there. Easy things. Moderate things. Don’t-rock-the-boat things. Why strive for the highest calling? Won’t the lower suffice? Why follow hard after His heart when a snooze in the hammock of apathy is so much more appealing? (ANDIE'S NOTE: Can I be honest and say that I struggle with this? Sometimes I get tired of pressing on and a "snooze" does sound more appealing. Satan & his footholds! Ughhh)

Israel wanted the shortcut to blessing, and so do I. But even when the outcome seems laudable (hey, I love my kids, my husband, my marriage), when it eclipses my love for God, it is idolatry.

Idolatry! It’s such an ugly word. Yet the definition is so simple, and like Israel I continually place the good above the best and reap the consequences.

The consequences? I speak lies about God. (OUCH!) When I set my children, or husband, or love of writing, or any thing above God, my perception of Him becomes skewed. I misrepresent Him, both to myself, and to the world. I view Him as colder, more distant, indifferent, and even cruel; someone who might at any moment inflict pain upon me for the sole purpose of watching me squirm. When I am in the midst of my idolatry I view the world as a terrifying place, one that is spinning out of control while God shrugs and mumbles “they asked for it.” Lies. He is not so, but I cannot see this through the haze of deception brought on by refusing to subvert the temporal to the Holy. His chastisement ceases to be that of a loving Daddy who cares about my eternal state and instead seems to be that of a harsh taskmaster who is determined to break me into pieces. Even reading His own words becomes difficult; I forget balance and see only the fire and brimstone.

When I view God inaccurately, my first response needs to be repentance. I need to examine my life and see what I have tried to place upon the throne where He alone belongs. He does not change. Yesterday, Today, and Forever, His character stands immovable and perfect: too wise to be unjust and too loving to be unkind. If I find His presence difficult to enter it is undoubtedly because I feel the weight of His sorrow at my prostitution.

Dare I hope?

Day two of NO ACCIDENTS for my little man! He was in undies all day long and did not have an accident - either pee or poop (if you know our history with poop then you will understand my joy about this one!).

WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally!!!

Finally for several things.

Finally - Sanjaya got voted off of American Idol!!!!!!! Nice enough guy but come on! Go Melinda!

Finally - Drew was in underwear and went ALL DAY without any accidents!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!! He still stresses over BM's and spent 30 minutes trying to take care of this today but, heck, it was on the potty and not in the pants.

Sweet Tea

I'm procrastinating putting the kids down for a nap and starting the clean-up process with random, stupid little thoughts.

So - what is it about sweet tea around this place? It's more like sugar syrup with a little bit of tea in it! Yikes! I like sweet stuff as much as the next person but I can't handle the sweet tea here. I tend to order 1/2 sweet & 1/2 unsweet and that's perfect.

Just a warning for all you "foreigners" who come to visit us in TN (and you'd better come!!!), be prepared.

He's got a baby in his belly

D that is. The kid is giving me lots of funny stuff lately which is good as it counters the bad stuff LOL!

So - we are sitting here at the lunch table and he takes a doll and puts it up his shirt and proceeds to tell me that he has a baby in his belly. Didn't know boys could have babies did ya?

Let me just repost this

Instead of retyping it, I'll just repost it.

I'm back in this place. I'm not suprised really. God has been doing some amazing things in my life lately.

So - if you think about it, please say a prayer for strength & focus. I really struggle sometimes and I just need peace tonight that I am having a hard time finding.

Satan - get thee behind me.

Blue

That is D's absolute favorite color. He's so funny about it. Today he was painting a picture and he only wanted to use the blue paints - no other color. He wanted his snack in a blue bowl and he wants to drink his water with a blue straw. BLUE BLUE BLUE. The other day he colored a picture and used every single blue crayon in the box of 96!

M was never overly crazy about one particular color, she just likes them all. D - well, it's all about blue.

Please pray

I am so sad. A family in our church has lost their little girl to cancer today. I did not know them but I know that they need all the prayers they can get right now. I just cannot imagine losing any of my children. My heart breaks for them.

Please pray for the family of Rachel Olerud.

Gotta love temper tantrums!

At the risk of being negative, once again, and hearing about it, I just have to recount the events of this morning/afternoon with my middle child, D.

We were at Christ Church with Becca & Tammy playing on their indoor playscape that is awesome. It had been a while since D had used the restroom and so I needed him to go. He wasn't excited about it but I truly did not expect him to throw a big fit over it. We get outside the play area and head to the bathroom (with Tammy, Braden & Eli) and D runs away from me. Now, we've had this issue before and he knows that it's not okay to run away from mommy but he kept doing it. I asked him repeatedly to stop running but he just kept going. He knows the consequences for running away - he gets a spanking (no comments please). I took him to a downstairs restroom, carrying him because he's crying, and we go in. He calms down, we talk, he gets a spanking, we hug, and then he starts crying again. I told him that he needed to control himself and stop crying. He continues. We go outside the restroom and once again he runs away from me. NOT COOL.

At this point it's obvious that we just need to leave. I got ahold of him and took him downstairs, throwing a fit and put him in the stroller so I can get O & M. Well, he just starts to lose it. He doesn't want to go home. I end up putting O in the stroller, having M push him while I hold D on the way to the car.

I was already embarrassed that my friends had to see my child throw a temper tantrum and I was getting looks from the other mothers in the play area but it got MUCH worse. D started hitting me, kicking me, scratching me, trying to bite me, etc. It took all I had to get him out to the car. On the way we had to pass a work-out room and a gym where there were guys playing basketball. D's fit was so bad that the guys STOPPED PLAYING BASKETBALL to watch, the guys in the work-out room came OUT OF THE ROOM to watch and it was all I could do to get my child out the door.

Can I be honest and say that it was VERY hard to control my temper and there was nothing I wanted to do more at that moment than to pull that kid's pants down and give him the spanking of a lifetime. Seriously.

I did not do that because regardless of how much he might deserve a spanking, I'm not going to act out of anger and frustration like that. How can I expect my child to learn to control himself if I can't do it myself. So, I held it together.

I finally get the kid buckled in his seat in the car and we head out. He got out of his seat in the car so I had to pull over and buckle him in with the buckle facing backwards.

We got home, he calmed down, I calmed down, we talked about self-control, obeying and making good choices and then he got a spanking. I made him call Becca & Tammy to apologize because he threw a fit in front of them and that's not okay, and then he went down for a nap. He has also lost his Friday night movie.

This is the second time this week that he's thrown a huge fit out in public and honestly, it's really the second time ever that he's thrown one this big. I remember that Morgan went through a time like this too. I think it's a lot about testing the limits. Yes, the easy thing would be to give in to him so that he would stop throwing a fit but it would be the hard thing in the long run because I'd be raising a spoiled brat. He has to know that he has to obey and control himself and that there are consequences for not doing those things.

This past week has got me thinking though. I don't want to over spiritualize things but my experiences with D this week have given me some insight on my relationship with Christ. God is my Father and He loves me and wants the best for me but He has expectations of me as well - God expects me to obey Him and His word. How often do I choose to disobey time & time again and throw a "fit" when things don't go my way. I know how much it frustrates me when D does not obey me and I've had to stop and think that I must really frustrated God sometimes when I choose to not obey. I must make Him crazy sometimes and yet He still loves me and wants the best for me. As with D, there are always consequences for disobeying, even for me.

I don't know, I can't express what I'm thinking very good today but if you're a parent, stop and think about how your experiences raising your children relate to your walk with the Lord and His role as your heavenly Father. It can be eye-opening.

A little bit of a vent

At the risk of being told by my husband that I gripe too much on this blog, I just couldn't resist this one.

I called to make an appt. for myself with a new women's Dr. that was recommended to me and I was told that the next available appt. wasn't until AUGUST, 4 months away. I was pretty surprised and asked a few questions before deciding whether or not to go to this Dr. While I am not having any issues, I don't want to go to a Dr. that can't see you forever if you did have a problem. I asked the receptionist (who wasn't very friendly) if I would have to wait until August if I was calling with a problem and she said that, yes, as a new patient I would.

Does that not seem ridiculous to you? The Dr. is accepting new patients but why the heck would anyone want to go to her with that kind of "service"?

So - as stupid as this sounds, I am just going to go back to my old Dr. in Bartlesville when I go out to visit later this Spring.

At any rate, that's my rant for the day. :) Sorry honey - couldn't help it.

Mary-tha

Tonight at church we were back in men's & women's groups. We typically do that all but one Wed. out of the month but it had been a while since we were in those groups b/c of Spring Break & Easter.

We talked about the story of Mary & Martha. Quick recap: Jesus was coming to Martha & Mary's house and Martha was busy doing the household things (cooking, cleaning, etc - all the stuff you do when you have guests in your home) and Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha got frustrated and talked to Jesus about it asking Him to have Mary help her. Jesus and basically commented to her that she needed to find balance & prioritize things in the midst of her many worries.

Amy then had us split into groups - those like Mary on one side, those like Martha on the other.

The "Martha's" outnumbered the "Mary's" by a lot. Not really suprising I guess.

I struggled to know where I fit. If I look at the story objectively and really look at myself, I guess I said I was more like Mary but so many of the Martha traits fit me as well. "Martha's" are more detail oriented, leaders, take-care-of-you type. They tend to be perfectionists and want things to be just so. Mary's are not like that.

Honestly, I think I'm a combination of both. I said "Mary" simply because I couldn't sit on the floor in the middle. I do tend to be a leader and I can plan with the best of them, I just lack the follow-thru at times. I'd like things to be "just so" but I struggle as it doesn't come naturally to me.

So, there you have it, I am a Mary-tha!

Easter Weekend

Just a real quick post as I am staring at a room full of laundry to put away.

Pics from this past weekend in Missouri. We had a blast!

The Cross of Christ

"I could never myself believe in God if it were not for the cross. In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing around his mouth, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world, but each time after a while I have had to turn away. And in imagination I have turned instead to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hand and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God forsaken darkness. That is the God for me! He laid aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in the light of his. There is still a question mark against human suffering, but over it we boldly stamp another mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering. The cross of Christ… is God’s only self justification in such a world as ours."

--John Stott, The Cross of Christ

"Mine"

That is the latest word in the ever growing vocabulary of my 18-month old son! Gotta love it when they learn the word "mine" and "no". LOVE IT! ;)

Had a check-up for each of the boys today and they are doing great! O is in the 75% for height & weight and doing good. D, well, I don't know what percentile he's in but he's doing good too. He threw a minor fit for the finger poke but that's okay, we got through it and I treated the boys to McD's afterwards.

Now they are all "resting" and I am obviously getting LOTS done around the house, better run!

The Barbarian Way - Again

Can you tell that I am really enjoying reading this book? If you haven't read it - YOU NEED TO.

And, you DEFINITELY need to read THIS book if you haven't - it doesn't get better than this.

Let me preface this by saying a few things. Yes, many of my posts as of late have been about the Lord and what He is teaching me. I'm excited about it and I want to share it. That said, I don't have it all together and I am FAR from a perfect Christian. I fail on a regular basis, just ask my husband and children. I'm not claiming by any means to have it all together, I just know the One that does have it all together! :)

Looking back on my Christian journey so far, I would say that my first year as a Christian was incredible. God had radically changed my life and I was SO excited about that. I was active in sharing my faith and zeal for the Lord. I saw God do some amazing things that first year.

It was my senior year of high school and I decided that it would be AWESOME to go to a Christian college. My naive expectation of a Christian college was that it was a place where EVERYONE was excited about God. I pictured going to my Bible classes and learning all kinds of new things, going to chapel and having an all around amazing time. I honestly didn't understand it when the Bible Dept. chair said that he really hoped that I wouldn't come out of my 4-years there with any of my zeal lost.

I understand now.

I think that McManus lays it out there in his book talking about how "domesticated" Christianity has become.

"Yet Christianity over the past two thousand years has moved from a tribe of renegades to a religion of conformists" (p. 5)

"Jesus is being lost in a religion bearing His name. People are being lost because they cannot reconcile Jesus' association with Christianity. Christianity has become docile, domesticated, civilized" (p. 17)

My first year as a Christian I was around more non-Christians than Christians. I was constantly aware that Christ in me may be the only introduction to Jesus that they got. I got to college and, of course, everyone was a "believer" so I let down my guard, I relaxed, I got domesticated in my faith and I lost my zeal. Oh, it came back in bursts but never lasted long as I would start to "relax" again. As ridiculous as this sounds, it was easier to be excited about my faith around non-believers. Even in the "Christian" world, believers excited about their faith are often viewed as crazy, fanatical - probably something you are thinking about me right now. For many years what ever people thought of me trumped what God wanted for me.

"If you are a follower of Christ and you have allowed yourself to be domesticated, you have lost the power of who you are and who God intends for you to be. You were not created to be normal. God's desire for you is not compliance and conformity. You have been baptized by Spirit and fire" (p. 82).

"One of the tragedies of a civilized society is that no one wants to get involved. What becomes appropriate is to mind our own business. When we join a community that lacks a passionate heart for the world, we soon find ourselves acquiescing to apathy. It is a painful tragedy to see a brand-new follower of Christ alive with a barbarian spirit soon conformed to the status quo" (p. 123).

While I am not perfect and I don't have it all together, I strive to be and do ALL that God wants me to be and do. That is my heart. HE is my heart. He saved me from the hell that I so deserve and He redeemed my life. He is an AMAZING God. He blows my mind. Here is the God that created EVERYTHING and EVERYONE around - from generation to generation, from here to the farthest point of the universe, HE made it, and yet He knows me, He loves me and He died FOR ME (and you).


Now that is something to be excited about.

Thank you Jesus for helping me to see that following you is a great adventure and is not meant to be a "civilized" experience. Help me to walk in Your ways without compromise and with an excitement about who You are.

Behind the scenes.

A couple of days ago I posted THIS and I quoted a good friend of mine, Todd Nettleton, who wrote the April 2007 Voice of the Martyrs newsletter feature article. He posted the original opening to this article on the persecution blog and I thought I'd post a link to it here. Please check it out!

VOM Newsletter: Behind the Scenes (original opening to April 2007 feature article)

Child-like

Lots of thoughts running around in this over-active mind of mine but I think I'll just focus on one.

I've been reading in the Gospel of Mark this week and this verse jumped off the page at me.


Mark 10:14-16 (New International Version)

14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

I've heard this verse numerous times since becoming a Christian but it has never had quite the meaning to me as it does now that I have my own children. Things are so simple, so black & white for them. You either believe in Jesus or you don't. They don't get caught up in the debates that many "enlightened" adults get into - they just believe.

Morgan asked Jesus into her heart last year, the Wednesday night before Easter. It was during her preschool time. We talked about how Jesus came and died for our sins. We talked about what a sin was, what Jesus did specifically and how we can get to heaven (we had been talking about this for a while at home too). When we got done talking about what Easter was about and what Jesus did for them, we asked the children if they would like to pray and ask Jesus to forgive them of their sins and ask Him to come into their heart. Morgan and 5 other kids raised their hands. We talked to each one to make sure they understood what they were doing and I remember Morgan looking at me like - "Duh - Mom, I know what I'm doing - I get it." It was SO SIMPLE.

It should be that simple for all of us - young & old. Jesus did all the hard work for us to have a place in heaven - HE DIED FOR US - all we have to do is ACCEPT IT. Isn't that easy?


I could go on & on with examples and I'm sure that those of you who are parents can probably add a few yourself.

God tells us that we need to receive the Kingdom like a child. It's so simple yet we make it seem so complex.

Thank you Jesus for my children and all the new things that you teach me about YOU through them.

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt!

What a GREAT day. Today was our FIRST annual neighborhood Easter Egg hunt. It went AWESOME. I think we had around 40-50 kids and many, many adults - even some without kids who came just to meet their neighbors.

We divided the yards by age groups so that all the kids would have a good experience. We didn't want the little kids to get over-run by the big kids. We had 11 yards and over 600 eggs! WOW!

As people began to arrive we had them register to win several prizes (see slideshow below). It was a great way to find out how many people came and from what part of the neighborhood in a very easy & fun manner.

We scheduled the hunt to last 2 hours but in reality the "hunt" was over in 15-minutes. Those kids were EFFICIENT. After that we gave some time for everyone to talk and get to know each other before doing the raffle. It was SO nice to meet so many new people. We have a very diverse and interesting neighborhood.

Even after the raffle was over many stayed around talking. Several families came late and I was so happy to see that the other kids were quick to give up some of their eggs so those children could also parttake. WOW. :)

After everyone went back to their homes, about 5 households in our culdesac got together and continued the fun with a BBQ. The kids had a blast as did the adults.

This is what it is about - connecting with our neighbors. Connect - relate. Connect - relate. Share Jesus.

At any rate, it was a fun day.

THANK YOU to Chris & Susan's small group who came out to help us!!! You guys ROCK! Chris, you did a fabulous job leading this effort!!

Enjoy the slideshow!