Goodbye 09

Well it's been a LONG year to say the least. A lot has happened in the past year. Many big perspective moments to reflect on. Here is what I can piece together:

January - Chris retained job at A-B under much stress as others were let go, begins first term as an elder at our church
February - Couples weekend at the lake with friends, fun getaway
March - Gall bladder surgery
March - Sadly, we lost Fran. Her pain was finally ended and she joined Her Savior for eternity.
April - Busy month, NO growth hormones for Peanut, ended April with much needed family vacation to the cabin
May - Peanut got her echocardiogram with no sedation, go Peanut! Everything check out and no more meds
June - Gymnastics for both kids :-) Start work on backyard...bye bye pool
July - V.B.S.....need I say more?
August - Toby starts soccer, what fun! Hubby begins application process for the sem, woah
September - T-man starts preschool and Peanut starts CDO, wow they are SO big; Backyard is done, and beautiful!
October - Family and friends weekend at the cabin! Chris goes on men's retreat
November - Chris decides to wait to go to the seminary; Abby starts taking dance classes
December - Can we possibly squeeze in one more activity? All fun stuff to celebrate our Savior's birth....next up - start planning a family vacation to the beach!

It was a good year, every day we have is a gift....but definitely one of the harder ones. Thank God for our family, our health, and the prospect of another year!

Am I crazy?

I committed a couple of months ago to starting an exercise class (dance aerobics) at my church. One quality God gave me was enthusiasm, which is great, and it does produce fruit.....right now though, it's producing panic. I guess with Christmas and activities well I just didn't buckle down and get ready, plus I thought, I can do it, it will be a snap. Well that balloon just popped.

Several women, of all ages, are starting to let me know they'll be coming to the class and I am starting to freak. Will they like the music? will the moves be too hard? should I rethink this whole thing? What do I do for a devotional? Help, God, Help! I thought this was going to be a snap?

It will be fine, I know. I am choreographing and praying, and it will be what it will be. I am hoping the women make it about them and what God wants to do with them so hopefully it will evolve into whatever they need it to be. I just have to be open to that.

If you are interested in taking the class, send me an email. It will be Tuesday at 8:45am and Thursday at 6:15pm at my church.

Otherwise, please say a little prayer that it goes well and I keep an open mind.

Fun Stuff

Ok, we are nerds, I know......but it is "our thing" ;-). Chris and I exchanged presents already and one of mine was the new Weezer CD Raditude. I love it. They are just fun, not explicit or offensive, just fun. Here is the video from the single on the CD. It's just goofy fun in Weezerville:

Drummer Boy

I just saw the most amazing FREE concert last night called Drummer Boy at Grace church in Maryland Heights (www.gracestl.org). To say it was spectacular would be an understatement. The write up in the paper said it had hints of Transiberian Orchestra, Blue Man Group, and others. You just can't imagine the dynamics of it unless you see it. It was awesome. This pic is a part of the show where they lowered drums from the ceiling and they played them from the audience. Too cool! The kids loved it, and as the pastor said "It's amazing what happens when people give God their best". Word to the wise, get there when the doors open an hour prior or you could end up in the overflow room and this is just something you have to see live. There are a few shows left Tues and Wed. Thanks to our friends for inviting us!

Serious Business

I was listening to Chip Ingram (Living On The Edge Ministries http://www.lote.org) give a talk called "Why I Believe in Life After Death" yesterday. I thought it was intriguing for a variety of reasons. Here are the ones I can remember:

• It spoke to a broad audience including non-Christians about what proves there is life after death (cycle of new life, near-death experiences, majority of religions believe this, etc.)
• It told how Jesus was the only prophet to have made the claim to have risen from the dead
• It told about how Jesus talked about hell more than any other figure in the Bible
• It talked about that the reason there is a hell, because God is a loving God who demands justice for evildoers, but also loved all of us so much He sent Jesus to pay the penalties of sin for us so we could be with Him in eternity
• It said hell is not a "good ole boys" club with beer, it is more like solitary confinement, and that the gnashing of teeth is the regret those have for not choosing to be with God
• It said that upon death, there is a judgement before God, in which, we get the chance to extend the deepest desires of our heart
• It said after the judgement, with a tear in God's eye, He lets those go that have been ignoring His nudges for a lifetime

Someone said to me recently, "you take your religion very seriously", to which I would have to respond.....life after death is serious business.

Land's End

Dang you Land's End for tempting me with your classy cardigans and your stylin' shoes, not to mention the many sales, coupons, and free shipping for Christmas.

I will resist!

My baby sis

Today I am thankful for such a loving and giving baby sister! Thanks for all you do Maynerd, you are the best!

Love it

I love everything about this dance........the dancers, the music, the costumes, the scene, it's all just so lovely!

Thank you Jesus!

The kids have been along great lately! They really

have fun playing together. I am so thankful :-)

A Mom's Version of 1 Corinthians 13

A Mom's Version of 1 Corinthians 13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Though I lecture and harp at my children and have not love, I will be background noise to rebellious thoughts.

And though I wisely warn them not to use the street as a playground, or they'll be killed; and though I patiently explain why snails live in mobile homes, and I give endless answers to life's other mysteries; and though I have faith that can remove mountains of ignorance—yet never hug my children—I have taught nothing.

And though I slave over a steaming stove with balanced diets and complicated recipes and even burn my fingers—yet never smiles as I serve—I have not really fed them.

A truly loving mother suffers through unfinished sentences, clutter, nicks on furniture, sleepless nights and adolescent insults, and is kind enough to think her kids are the greatest. A loving mother tries not to resent her children for being free like she used to be, and she doesn't brag about how she never talked to her mom that way.

Real love considers a childish nightmare more urgent than her need for sleep; is not shattered by the title "Meanest Mom"; doesn't shame a toddler who breaks training or a teen who still spills milk; steadfastly refuses to entertain visions of escape; and does not smirk as her child trips over the toy she refused to put away (but with silent wisdom rejoices in the effective lessons of the experience).

Mother-love has arms strong from lifting, a heart large with believing, a mind stretched with hoping, shoulders soft with enduring, and knees bent with committing.

True mother-love never fails to point her child to the Author of Love

When the Handwriting on the Wall Is in….Brown Crayon

Susan L. Lenzkes

Love The Sinner

Quote from a murder mystery I just read that I liked:

Life is like that, even when we aren't giving birth. It is messy and glorious and awful all at the same time and God is always there to walk with us if we let Him. And sometimes, when we're the most fortunate, He sends people like this to walk alongside us and remind us that we're not alone.

From Love the Sinner by Lynn Bulock