Movies continued...

I realized after talking to Ashley last week that I left off several of my favorite movies. So I decided to just continue that this week and get it out of my system. Ha Ha. So here goes...

1. Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood
2. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
3. Kate & Leopold
4. Sweet Home Alabama
5. The X-Men Movies
6. The Lion King
7. Armageddon
8. Mean Girls
9. Secret Window
10. All Elvis Movies
11. Ms. Congeniality
12. Two Weeks Notice
13. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

Ok, I'm done!! Have a great weekend!! It's almost here!!!!

Way to Go 24!!!

I don't usually blog twice in one day, but I couldn't let the night go by without giving a big nod to Keifer Sutherland for winning best actor in a drama series for 24... as well as 24 winning for best drama series!! :) It is my absolute favorite show and of course the best show on television!! :) Now I'm ready for January... a new season of 24 and a new season of American Idol! Whew Hoo!! Sorry... I'm back to normal now.... :)

A Parent's Prayer

I received this through an email and thought it was worth sharing for those of us who have children.
__________________________________

OH, GOD, MAKE ME A BETTER PARENT

Oh, God, make me a better parent.
Help me to understand my children,
to listen patiently to what they have to say
and to answer all their questions kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them,
talking back to them and contradicting them.
Make me as courteous to them
as I would have them be to me.

Give me the courage to confess my sins
against my children and to ask of them forgiveness,
when I know that I have done them wrong.

May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children.
Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or
resort to shame and ridicule as punishment.

Let me not tempt a child to lie and steal.
So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate
by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me.
May I cease to nag:
and when I am out of sorts,
help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.

Blind me to the little errors of my children
and help me to see the good things that they do.
Give me a ready word for honest praise.

Help me to treat my children as those of their own age,
but let me not exact on them the judgments
and conventions of adults.

Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity
to wait upon themselves,
to think, to choose, and to make decisions.

Forbid that I should ever punish them
for my self satisfaction.
May I grant them all of their wishes

that are reasonable
and have the courage always to withhold
a privilege that I know will do them harm.

Amen

-- Author Unknown

__________________________________

I know that know matter how hard I try, there are days when my children probably don't like me much. I pray that I will show the compassion & love of Christ to my children first and foremost. And for the days when I do mess up, and there will be those days, I am so grateful for a God who covers over all of our mistakes.

My Favorite Movies (at least of few of them :)

I love to watch movies!! I haven't really seen anything too terribly recent since Ashley went back to Abilene :( She is my movie buddy :) But anyway, here are some of my favorites... without a list of all movies in front of me, I know I'll forget something I really like, but here goes...

1. Gone With the Wind
2. The Notebook
3. RV
4. Pirates of the Caribbean
5. A Knight's Tale
6. Finding Neverland
7. You've Got Mail
8. What Lies Beneath
9. Grease
10. Shrek
11. Freaky Friday (new version)
12. The Santa Clause
13. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

These are in no particular order and I know I'm missing something. I may just have to do another movie 13 later :)

That Sinking Feeling

You know that feeling you get when your plate is soooo full you just feel like your drowning.... I think I have officially arrived there!! Dayschool is starting in a couple weeks. I was asked about 2 weeks ago to move up to the four year old department. Both 4 year old teachers are moving. I have been in the three's for about 4 years now and thought ok, this will be exciting. Well, the excitement has started to wear off and desperation has begun setting in! Really, the excitement has not worn off, that sinking feeling has just set in... school now starts in 2 weeks and I feel like I am no where near being ready. I feel like I'm drowning...like my life as I knew it is over :) Obviously that is a bit exaggerated :) I know it will all eventually come into place, right now it's all just overwhelming.

The first big thing was I had to change class rooms, mine was not big enough for the fours. That in and of itself was a huge undertaking. I am finally settled in after spending practically every day at school and now begins the enormous task of curriculum. There is obviously a good curriculum already in place, but every teacher is different. Their organizations skills are not the same as mine, not that they were not organized, we just all have our own preferred way. And of course there are always things you want to change or add to fit your style of teaching. I have been on the web getting new material almost every day and have finally begun to at least get the months organized. I figure if I can go ahead and at least put every month together, I can then go back and get each months activities together and organized. But I'm also to the point now where sleep is fleeting. I go to sleep fine...exhausted. But if I wake up before the alarm goes off to go the ladies room etc.... forget it, my mind is going a mile a minute with all the things I still need to get done.

Please be praying for me that I will be able to get everything together, get some sleep and keep my sanity in the process. I want God to use me through my teaching these children to not only teach them and prepare them for kindergarten, but to show them Him. To show them love, compassion and understanding. To show them Jesus with skin on. I pray that God's hand will guide me as I teach and love these children.

And now.... I'm off to school... again!! :)

My Favorite Desserts

I couldn't decide what to do this week and then I saw this graphic. It made me thing about desserts so I thought I would give that a try. I like desserts, but 13 may be hard to come with... we'll see. These are just in random order.

1. Homemade Chocolate Pie
2. Homemade Brownies
3. Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory
4. Peach Cobbler
5. Marble Slab Peppermint Ice Cream
6. Homemade Coconut Pie
7. Homemade Caramel Corn (thanks Tiersa!!)
8. Homemade Fudge
9. Hot Fudge Sundaes
10. Chick-fil-a chocolate Shakes
11. Italian chocolate Cake from Johnny Carino's
12. Watermelon
13. Peach Dump Cake

Well, I guess I could think of thirteen :) Just looking at the list makes me gain about 30 pounds!! As much as I love desserts, fortunately I don't eat them too often...I don't need any extra pounds. But it's at least fun to think about them all!! At least you don't gain weight just thinking about them :) Have a good one!

Chain Link Fences

A couple of days ago I was riding in the car and passed a big back yard with a chain link fence and a little boy playing in the back yard. It reminded me of my childhood. The days when everyone had chain link fences. You only had a wooden fence if you had a swimming pool in your backyard and there certainly weren't many of those. I know I'm dating myself... Oh well.

It really got me to thinking how sad our lives have become all surrounded by our wooden fences. When I was growing up you used to talk to your neighbor through the chain link fence, just visit with them for a while and sometimes even the neighbor a few doors down. You could practically see all the way to the end of street through the backyard! I miss those days!

Now pretty much everyone has wooden fences or privacy fences as they are sometimes called. I admit, I feel safer with my wooden fence, they aren't nearly as easy to climb as those chain link fences are. And admittedly, things aren't quite as safe as they were when I was a child. But I think not only are we keeping unwanted things out of yard, we are closing ourselves in from the outside world. We don't talk as much to our neighbors as we used to, you hardly ever see them. We pull up into our driveways, go in and close the garage door, we keep our front doors closed, we sometimes even drive by and pick up our mail before we pull into the drive way. It's like we have become so private that we don't even share simple hellos and common courtesy's anymore.

And how about just dropping in to visit a friend... we don't dare do that these days. When I was growing up it used to be so much fun when someone just dropped by to visit. Now we are so worried about how the house looks and if everything is put away, that we are literally scared to death that someone WILL stop by unannounced.

We are so closed up in our own little worlds, that unless it's scheduled for someone to come over, we don't just visit much. I miss the days of chain link fences and friends just dropping by to say hello. So what if the house isn't perfectly cleaned. Real friends don't care. How are we suppose to shine the light of Jesus to the world, if we are closed up in our own little worlds. I fear we have become so private that no one gets to see the real us and we are missing out on so much that life and friends have to offer. As well as possible opportunities that God is trying to lay before us.......I say, bring on the chain link fences!!

My Favorite TV Shows

I have some friends who have been doing the Thursday Thirteen. It's looks like fun so I thought I would give it a try. With all the new commercials for the new fall tv shows, it got me to thinking about my current favorite shows. And then I saw this image so I couldn't resist :) . So here are my favorite 13 in no particular order except for the 1st two :)

1. 24
2. American Idol (Here is a link to pictures from mine and Ashley's visit season before last in case you haven't seen them yet :)
3. Lost
4. House
5. CSI
6. CSI New York
7. CSI Miami
8. The 4400
9. Gilmore Girls
10. Gray's Anatomy
11. Criminal Minds
12. The Unit
13. Medium

I know it looks like we watch way too much TV, but most of them we spend Saturday watching. Except for 24, American Idol and The 4400 :) Is it January yet... I can't wait for 24 and American Idol!!

Back to Reality, But Hopefully Changed

We got back from our vacation last night. It was awesome! We spent 7 days on the beach of Galveston. It's beaches are not the blue and green of Destin or some of the other beaches, but it was great just the same. One of the best parts was the fact that the weather there was about 88 degrees every day with cool air blowing up off the beach. We pulled our trailer and our campsite was literally 50 feet from the beach. It was great. We are now back to 100+ hot, miserable weather here. I know I never want to be in hell. I couldn't take it!

The time away was great family time. We spent the first night having dinner with some very dear friends in the Houston area who are like family to us. It was great being able to catch up with them and see their new little one! We spent days on the beach reading, fishing or Jeremy searching for crabs or shells, nights watching movies or playing games. Jeremy actually caught 17 crabs and cooked them! They looked wonderful, but not quite our taste. Ashley wanted nothing to do with them at all. She reminded me of Kelly Pickler with Wolfgang Puck on American Idol! She didn't like looking at something that was looking back up at her! :) The people camping right next to us were from Louisiana so Jeremy took them over to them to see if they wanted them. They chowed down on them! And showed us how you are suppose to really crack and eat a crab! They told him he did a great job of preparing them. Jeremy and Zatterain's know how to cook!

I love the family time that vacation brings. Even though we are pretty much together the rest of the year too, it's just different on vacation. Everyone gets a long better and actually enjoys each other more. That part of vacation I wish I could hold on to every day!

It was great being at the beach and just watching the wonderment of God through the ocean and sea life. It's amazing to watch the ocean and the waves crashing in day after day. "Even the wind and the waves obey His commands." And to watch the birds who sit on the shore just waiting for the waves to bring in the seaweed so they can devourer whatever is in it. It really puts into perspective how God cares and provides for us.

We are now home and back to the realities of the real world. It's good to be home and good to sleep in your own bed. But I am hoping to keep some of that vacation magic alive this year. I'm hoping we can all love each other a little more, appreciate the beauty of God a little more and just keep that relaxed vacation feeling going. To try and remember that God will handle everything and not live the year so stressed out we are just longing for that one or two weeks. I want the year to have the feeling of vacation all year with just a joyous extra bonus of that feeling during the actual vacation. Man, how much better would everyday life be if we could all live like that every day... :)

Shielding Yourself

Saturday evening Chris & I went out for a ride on our bikes. When we started out it was early evening and the sun was just starting to go down. By the time we got to the Rowlett, Rockwall area it was dark. We rode over the lake on the bridge that crosses Hwy 66. As we got about half way across, I realized it was beginning to rain pretty hard, the face mask on my helmet was being pelted pretty good. As we got to the end of bridge, Chris motioned for us to pull over at a gas station. It was then that I realized, it wasn't raining at all... Yes, you guessed it, it was bugs!! You know, just like when you're driving a car at night and bugs it the windshield. Only this is much grosser and nastier, because it's hitting in front of your face. We went into the bathroom and laughed as we washed off our face masks! I guess it was so bad because we were driving over the lake, it wasn't like that anywhere else.

Needless to say, I can't imagine what it must be like for all of those people you see out there who don't wear helmets, let alone face shields. I will never be without mine!! Yuck!! As I have thought about that today, it has reminded me of another shield we sometimes go without and don't really think about it. How often to we go out into the world without the armor of God surrounding us, without being covered in His word to protect us? I know I probably do it more than I would care to admit. I try to always cover my day in prayer and study, but how often do we really go out into the world and not consciously think about protecting ourselves from Satan? If I were to ride at night without a shield over my face, it would only take a second of bug splatter (oooh groooss!!) hitting my face to remind me to put my shield down. But Satan isn't quite as obvious as those bugs. He hits us just a little bit at a time; quietly and discretely, little by little, until suddenly we are covered, disgusting and gross. How long do we let Satan pelt away at us before we remember to put our shield around us?

I know in my life, I sometimes take to many things for granted in my day to day life. I rely to much on myself sometimes and forget to put on my armor and put up my shield around me. I have been reminded of the Zoe song, A Shield About Me. "Thou oh Lord, are a shield about me. You're my Glory, you're the lifter of my head. Alleluia, you're the lifter of my head."

I want to be more aware in my life of calling on the Lord to be a shield about me every second of every day. He IS my glory and my head will stay lifted if I remember to cover myself with His shield for protection.

24 Years and Counting!!!....well, almost!

Two weeks from today, July 31st, Chris and I will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary! I am writing this a little early because we will be on vacation on our actual anniversary. As I think back, I can't really remember much of a time when we weren't together. Probably because we got married when we were 19 and we dated 4 years before that! And no, just in case you're wondering, it was NOT a shotgun wedding! :) We had Ashley almost 4 years later. We started dating at the beginning of high school and got married after we both graduated from High School. I am a year older than Chris, actually only 11 months, but a school year older :) . His birthday is early in July and mine is late in August so we decided to get married July 31st because we would both be 19 when we got married.

I know it was very young, but it didn't seem so young at the time. Ashley just turned 20 last month and I can not even imagine her already being married for a year. It just seems so young. Although I would not recommend it, it did work great for us. I know that God placed us together for a reason. And I would not trade my walk thus far for anything in the world. We have grown and matured tremendously over the years. (We had to... we certainly couldn't get much more immature!! :) God has taught us both a lot. We have seen some really hard times and some simply magical times and we have grown and learned a lot through all of it.

Chris has had to take several business trips lately. His company is based in L.A. And I have realized through him being gone several different weeks over the last couple of months, that I can't imagine my life without him. Not that I could before, but it's just more real to think about when they're gone. When you are by yourself, you realize how much you actually communicate with each other. You will think about the smallest little thing you almost start to say and then remember that no one is there. It really makes you realize how when one spouse dies after 50+ years of marriage, the one who is left is not usually far behind. He is a part of me and I can't imagine life without Him. I could get all sappy right about now, but I'll spare you that. :) But I will say that our marriage is stronger than it's ever been and I am more in love with him than I've ever been.

I know that all of that comes from the relationship with God with have both realized over the past 10 or so years. We have gone through some great struggles and deep pains spiritually over the last several years, but through all of that we are not only stronger and closer to God, but closer to each other. I wouldn't trade anything we've been through because it makes us who we are now...... Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4. I can't wait for the next 24 years!!

On a little bit different note, we both did something new and exciting in November this past year. We both took a motorcycle training class and both got our motorcycle licenses!! In January we bought a Honda Rebel. A small motorcycle to basically learn on and get used to driving. It has been a lot of fun! But the problem is, we only have one. So we can never ride together which isn't much fun. We are best friends and we like to do things together. And amazingly enough, we like all of the same things for the most part. We both love camping, reading, hanging out together and with the family. We like the same TV shows, we love all sports and love to watch sports together and scream and cheer on our favorite teams. (Mavs and Stars right at the top of the list!) We just have always like the same types of things. Some of that probably comes from basically growing up together! :)

So in order to continue doing things together, we got sort of a unique anniversary present for each other this year. Last week we traded in our Rebel and got 2 new Honda VT750 Shadow Aero's!! We went riding Saturday for about 4 hours! It was a blast!! And since we get about 75 miles to the gallon, it's a lot better than driving around our 3/4 ton truck that gets 12 miles to the gallon!!

Anyway, it's been a great 24 years! I can't wait for the next 24! I love the fact that we like the same things, I love the way we start laughing ourselves silly at things other people would just say is retarded, I like our conversations sitting on top of the kitchen counter and I can't wait to go riding again!! Seeing the number 24 up there made me realize that 24 is also our favorite TV show!! Maybe that's why this year is so special....hmmmm... probably not!! Anyway, Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!! I love you more than words can say!

Who Am I?

I love Casting Crowns. I have been listening to them a lot lately and I love their song "Who Am I". The following are the words from the song...

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star would choose to light the way for my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are,
I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling, Lord, You catch me when I'm falling and You've told me who I am. I am Yours.

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin, would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea would call out through the rain and calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are,
I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling, Lord, You catch me when I'm falling and You've told me who I am. I am Yours.

______________________________

Who are we? We are His!! We are children of the King!! And through being His children we are blessed beyond measure, we have an inheritance that know one else can claim unless we help them to figure out who they are. God's promises are incredible and everlasting. I am so grateful that through all my mistakes God still claims me as His. Because nothing I am or that I do or have done, is because of anything in me. It is all by the grace of God, because of who He is and what He's done! Praise God!!

One Woman's Thoughts

I have decided to change the name of this blog to "One Woman's Thoughts". Not that I by any means think that what I have to say is in any way any more profound that it was when I started this 7 months ago, but my spiritual life is in a different place than it was at that time. My blog started from basically some deep hurts within my heart. God has replaced those hurts with abundant Joy and some of my perspectives have changed a bit. Hopefully always for the better and for the Glory of God. My life is no way perfect. But God has guided me through some very difficult times and I know He continues to carry me even though things are much more blessed in my life right now. And I know that the next time something big comes, I will be even stronger and will still have God right there to walk beside me.

"One Woman's Thoughts", is simply that, one woman's thoughts. One woman who wants to be a blessed child of God more than anything else in this world. And as I said, I do not think my thoughts are any more profound than they were a year ago, but I hope and pray that maybe the thoughts of one woman, will maybe help someone else who might be in the same place or situation I sometimes find myself in.

I want nothing more than to praise, honor and glorify God in all that I do and say. Any maybe in some small way I can be a blessing to others.

Am I Being a Blessing??

Last night at church, Christopher Green, one of our ministers, did the Wednesday night talk. His talk was on how we can bless others and he posed the question, "Am I a blessing to those I come in contact with?".

That statement has really stayed with me. Am I being a blessing to those around me? I have always thought about how we may be the only bible that other people see, but I hadn't really thought about being a blessing to others. Sure, I always try to be nice and polite to others and help them out when I can, but that question of being a blessing has somehow troubled me.

Am I being a blessing to those around me? Am I blessing those around me with a little glimpse of Jesus by something I say or do? I hope the answer is yes, but I'm afraid it is sometimes no. How many times do we go through our life not really seeing things through the eyes of Jesus? How many opportunities have I missed to bless others by being so zoned in into what I'm doing, that I don't see things right in front of me? I think we get so caught up in our day to day life (at least I sometimes do) that we miss numerous chances to be a blessing. By missing out on being a blessing, I believe that we are missing out on some of the blessings that God has waiting for us. Because only in blessing others are we truly blessed.

I pray that as I begin this day, and every day from here forward, that I will be more aware of the circumstances around me. That I will see more things through the eyes of Jesus and be aware of His work that is already going on around me. For those who may not see a bible anywhere else, that I will truly be that piece of the bible or Jesus that people see and truly be a blessing to those around me.

May God bless each of you today.

Independence Day

I have been thinking a lot today about Independence Day. I think it started yesterday during our bible class when independence Day came up there. And while I am very thankful and grateful for the independence and luxuries we have as a country, it has caused me to think a lot today about my independence or dependence upon God.

It seems like we (or at least I) sometimes have a great deal of trouble truly being dependent upon God for the things in my life. We have this mentality of always thinking we need or even can "fix things". Why is that? As I have thought all day about tomorrow being Independence Day for our country, it has made me think about how everything really in this life calls for independence.

When our children are small they are dependent upon us for everything. But as they grow up, we encourage them to become more independent. To begin to dress and feed themselves, to begin making choices on their own, to eventually be out of the house, on their own, and independent. It's no wonder, that as we get older, we sometimes find it hard to be dependent upon God.

Everything in this world screams independence. And the older you get, the more you seem to hear it. Everything encourages you do be independent. While we of course need to have good jobs and be able to take care of ourselves and our families so we don't depend upon others our entire life, I think we forget during all this independence how to be dependent upon God. Somehow, where God is concerned, we need to get back to the mind set of a child, to where we rely on Him for everything.

I think the only way to do that is through constant prayer and study. We all know that we should take everything before God in prayer before making decisions. Even the simplest of things we should take to God. But how many times do we get caught up in the here and now and thinking we can take care of this one by ourselves. (We've been studying Joshua in bible class and I feel sometimes like the Israelites who got a little cocky and decided they didn't need to ask God before allowing the Gibeonites to deceive them.) And before you know it, you are out there being more independent than being dependent upon God. And more times than not, things really not going so well.

My prayer for this Independence Day, is while I am thanking for the independence of this country that God has blessed us with, that I will make a new commitment in my life to be more dependent upon God. Because I believe when we have more dependence upon God, we will actually be more free than we ever have been before.

Looks Can Be Deceiving...Are Our Looks Deceiving??

While Jeremy is gone to camp, I have been watering his garden. He has been gone almost 2 weeks (he comes back on Thursday!! Yah!!) so I have noticed a lot of changes, particularly in the tomato plants.

He has two rows of tomato plants and not one of them looks the same. The interesting thing is, one plant has grown to 2 or 3 times the size of the other plants. It is green beyond belief, looks wonderful and healthy, has blooms that come up everywhere, but there is not one tomato growing on that plant. There is another plant that is about one fourth of the size of that plant, it is green, but only a light green, in fact about half the plant is really a tan color. But this tomato plant has 3 tomatoes on it! And the tomatoes are all growing bigger and bigger every day!

As I have watched those plants, it has gotten me to thinking, are "our looks" deceiving? How do we look when people from the world look at us. Do we look like that tomato plant that appears to be flourishing and growing beyond belief? When really on the inside nothing is happening. There is no fruit actually being produced. We aren't really living the life God called us to live. Or are we like the tomato plant who at first glance, looks pretty rough around the edges. But if you take a closer look, you can see the beautiful fruit growing under the rough and worn edges.

Even though plants may not all produce fruit, we as God's children produce some type of fruit. Is the fruit we produce something beautiful and sweet that draws others toward Christ or is the fruit we produce something bitter and sour that turns people away from God.

What do people see when they look at us? Do they see someone who looks really great and beautiful on the outside, but at closer look really has no substance or nothing to offer. Or do they maybe see someone who looks a little rough around the edges and a little worn, but upon closer examination, they see something beautiful and wonderful growing. Something that looks like Christ and something that causes people to take that extra look at us.

I know that no one is perfect. Only God is perfect. So why are we so worried about what we physically look like. No matter how rough and worn we look, as long as we look and smell like Jesus, nothing else really matters. Because if we look and smell like Jesus we will produce fruit, the fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And there is no sweeter fruit than that!

In the Blink of an Eye...

Tomorrow, on June 24th, Ashley will turn 20 years old!! No more teenager. It's so hard to believe she is all grown up. It’s weird, even though there are a lot of things throughout 20 years you might forget, I don't think you ever forget anything about the day they were born.

Even though 20 years has past I still remember in great detail the day she decided to arrive. It started at 4:00 a.m. I won't go into all the details, but she was very stubborn, she finally arrived into the world a very long 18 and a half hours later. About 30 minutes longer and they were going to take her. It's funny how at least in my children, their delivery seems to parallel their life. She is still quite stubborn in everything she does! :)

Ashley has grown into a wonderful woman who is not only beautiful on the outside, but more importantly beautiful on the inside. I am so amazed at how God works in my children, even through all of the mistakes I make. She learned at a young age, 7th grade, that you sometimes have to stand up for faith. Even if someone who is an adult is telling you that you are wrong because of how you worship and that you and your parents are going to hell. She learned a lot and learned what it meant to study scripture and begin to own your own faith.

I was so proud of the way she handled that situation at an early age and she has continued to make me proud. Even when the mom in me wanted to sometimes throttle some people, (through school, sports, etc.) she continued to so God's love and taught me a lot in the process. She still does. She has a heart for always seeing the good in people. And continues to teach me a lot in that area as well as others.

She is a junior at ACU now, a long way from those 1st cries 20 years ago, and she still amazes me. And her amazing smile still melts my heart. So Happy Birthday Ashley! I can't wait to see what the Lord is going to use you for and accomplish through you as you become a young adult. Always keep your eyes focused on God and remember whose you are. I love you!

A New Psalm

About 15 years ago while we were at the Mesquite church, God sent 2 incredible people into my life. I learned a lot over the years from Rick & Beverly, but one specific thing that has always stayed with me is the first series of lessons I ever remember Beverly doing. They were on the book "The Blessing" by Trent and Smalley. Those lessons and that book have been some of the greatest blessings in my life.

Through that study I learned what it meant give your children the blessing and pray blessings over them. If you have never read that book, I encourage you to do so. It will change your life, but more importantly it can change the lives of your children through the blessings you learn to pray over them.

Among many other blessings, I have always told Jeremy what a heart for the Lord I see in him. And that the Lord is going to use him in incredible and amazing ways in His kingdom. It has been amazing over the last few months to watch the way the Lord is using Jeremy among the youth at Highland Oaks. It has caused him to really show his love for the Lord even more. I Praise God for that. He went to Encounter at LCU a coupe of weeks ago and he said that it was amazing. I know it was because he has started something incredible that can only come from the Lord.

It fills my heart with such joy and love for the Lord when I see God bringing those blessings I have prayed over my children into realization. Jeremy is gone this week and next week to another camp, Camp Wyldewood in Searcy. They have an amazing camp there as well. Before he left, I asked him if I could share what the Lord has put on his heart. He said that I could.

One of the other things I have always prayed for over my children is that God will do whatever it takes in them to draw them continually into a more intimate relationship with Him. As a mom, that is sometimes a hard prayer to pray. Because you don't know where it is leading. But it is so amazing when you can see the blessings you have asked for children come into fruition. When Jeremy got back from Encounter, he decided he was going to try and start writing his own Psalms. The following is the first one he wrote...

"Hear my cry oh, Lord. I cry out to the heavens when I feel the war inside of me. Your consuming fire takes hold of my body and burns away all my impurities, it cleanses me fully. I thank you, my God, for cleansing me. Showing me my wrongs and allowing me to bring them to you, for you to take them. My heart cries out for the ones who are suffering. It pains me like a needle to my nail. Lord take us now! So the new born ones wont have time to fall and we wont disappoint you anymore. Hear my cry, oh Lord. Hear my cry...."

"by the power of Christ in me..." -- Jeremy Moore

Wow! God is so amazing when we let Him work through and in our lives. I praise God for the gift and the heart he has given Jeremy. My prayer is that God will continue to use Jeremy even more and that He will continue to fill him with His Spirit.

To God be All the Glory and Praise!!

Father's Day Thoughts

Father's Day is one of those holidays that I have struggled with over the years. My father passed away with cancer when I was 12 years old. I have lots of great memories with my father for which I am very thankful. But there have also been struggles along the way. One thing I struggled with for years was the fact that the last time I saw my dad at home was the day after his 36 birthday. I knew my father had cancer, but back then you didn't really hear as much as you do now about people dying with cancer. So I don't think I thought it would every really happen. (I know that no one every thinks or wants that to happen and I don't mean for that to sound belittling to anyone going through that struggle right now. I’m just remembering thoughts from a 12 year mind.) My father was taken to the hospital for the last time the day after his birthday. That was at a time when children were not allowed to visit patients in the hospital under any circumstances. It was just not permitted. So my dad left that day with me not really realizing that was the last time I would see him alive. I still remember vividly a few days later when my aunt came to pick me up at school. I knew what had happened without anyone saying a word. I didn't realize until many years later how I had struggled with not being able to say goodbye. Of course I told him goodbye as he was leaving that night, but in my 12 year old heart I didn't know it was "goodbye".

When I was in my 30's I had my first small group experience with a group of wonderful women. We studied "Experiencing God" by Blackaby. As we began that study I had such a hard time understanding how to have a relationship with my heavenly Father. But through that study, with the help of those women and most of all the help of God, I began to realize why I had such a hard time with that relationship. Besides the fact that when we were all growing up a relationship with God was never talked about, I realized I felt cheated by not still having a relationship with my earthly father. I hadn't been able to let go of those feelings because I realized I was still troubled by never being able to say goodbye. Through that study and through many personal bible studies since, I have learned to trust in God and the relationship that he wants with me. I have learned that he is always there and He will never leave. The foundation of my relationship with God to this day is based largely on that 1st small group with those women. I praise God for allowing me that opportunity with them and for showing me that He is truly seeking a relationship with ME!

As I have had my own children, there are still times I greatly miss my earthly father and still struggle some on occasion with father's day. Times like when your children are born, when the play their first ball game, when they're in the school musical and you think about him not being there to share in those special moments personally. And as my son gets older I am sometimes reminded of father even more. People who knew my father think Jeremy looks a lot like him. I think so too. Jeremy loves a lot of the same things that my father did. Jeremy has always loved to be outside, he likes to garden, he loves animals, I could go on and on. It's things like that I remember about my father and see in Jeremy that make father's day or any other day sometimes a little harder. Jeremy has the most Godly heart you could ever imagine and at the same time he can also be the most mischievous thing you have ever seen. I know from stories I have been told all my life about my father when he was Jeremy's age, that he was the exact same way. So even the mischievousness of Jeremy makes me think of my father and how I miss him. I know they would be best friends, two peas in a pod and probably driving us all nuts!

Even as those things sometimes make me sad, I also take great comfort in them. My father was a wonderful husband, father and son, but most of all he was a child of God. So I know there will come a time when we are all together again, when he will see what a beautiful Godly woman Ashley has become and when he and Jeremy are hi-fiving at all the things Jeremy did to make this mom crazy! It makes me smile just to think about it.

I have learned to experience father's day through my own husband and my children. I am very thankful for my husband and the godly leader and example he is in our home. I know that he was sent to me by God. I love and cherish him and I praise God for sending him into my life. God is allowing us to help guide His children that he has so graciously loaned to us for a time. I am so very grateful for that.

So through it all I have learned to call on God by two of favorite names Jehovah Shammah “the Lord is there” and Jehovah Nissi “the Lord is my banner”. I have learned to adjust my father's day thoughts to those with my children's father and the blessing he is in all of our lives, to always look to my heavenly father in and for all things, and to know that because my father was a child of God we will all be together again one day.

Groanings too Deep for Words

I seem to be thinking a lot about the power of prayer lately. Not that I don't always pray and I know its power, there are just times when everything seems to be more focused through my prayers. Now seems to be one of those times. There are several things that are heavy on my heart that I have been in constant prayer about over the last couple of weeks.

I find myself praying several times a day for these things and it feels like I sometimes say the same things over and over. It sometimes makes me wonder if God gets tired of hearing the same things over and over from us. Like we sometimes do when someone keeps pestering us about the same thing constantly. Even though I know He doesn't feel that way, the human side of me sometimes still wonders about it.

I am so thankful for a God who has given us His word so that when we feel those types of things, we can go to His word and know that He never grows tired of hearing from us. As I was doing my bible studying the other day I started looking through my bible for something I had marked. I ran across the verse Romans 8:26 (which wasn't what I was looking for at the time, or was it?) "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Wow! It's not that I haven't seen that verse before, I have it marked it my bible, but I love the way that God brings us things through His word just when we need it! The way His word is new every day! Because even if we've read something a million times, God's word has a way of hitting us with freshness and newness every time we read it. I know that I didn’t just happen to run across that verse at that time. God knew that I needed to be reminded that He still wants to hear from me even if I’m coming to Him with the same ole’ things. He wanted to remind me, He understands my pain and my groanings and He longs to hear from me.

I am so thankful that as God hears my prayers, which I sometimes feel must be like reruns to Him, that the Spirit intercedes for me in ways I cannot imagine. The phrase "groanings too deep for words" is so powerful. Because sometimes I don't even know what to pray, but to know that God knows my heart so well, that the Spirit is groaning before the Father, just for ME (and for you) is one of the most amazing comforts I know.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

I know that God hears my prayers and that whatever way they are answered, He will work it all out for good. I praise God for the sending of His son, so that we can have that connection to the Father while we are here on this earth. How much more incredible is that connection going to be when we see Him face to face! I can't wait!