Champions!

Malakhi's baseball team won the "Top Gun" Spring tournament this weekend! It was a great start for his "travel" baseball team.

Disappointments

There are disappointments around every corner for me. It seems like there are just somethings we can't outrun. Certain things follow us forever. Will I ever beat the demons which haunt me?

Perseverance

James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life,which God has promised to those who love him.

Okay, I get it.... I am blessed because I will remain steadfast. I will receive a crown of life. It is God's promise! I know quitting is not an option. I must remain strong in the Lord, not in myself.


1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (Contemporary English Version)

26If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.

27Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body.

I appreciate all of my fellow christians who are praying for me. I know I will get to the other side.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (Contemporary English Version)

Hebrews 12

1Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. 2We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side [a] of God's throne!

I will continue to run the race!

These are all scriptures and thoughts from last nights sermon. I know it was for me. :o)

Spring Break

I am on Spring Break. I have worked at home and at work. It seems like I could work non-stop and still have "stuff" to do!

Seasons of Life

I love this picture.... Of course it is compliments of "google images"... but I love it nonetheless.

I am in a new season of life. I don't know how to explain it. I feel like life hasn't quit hitting me. I have officially been knocked to my knees and they are raw as I crawl along the road of life.

It all started with my surgery to have my gallbladder removed. It continued with my diagnoses of high blood pressure at the tender age of 37. Then moved to the fast and furious pace of my dad's illness and death. Next we went to the move and not selling our house... still haven't.... after two failed contracts. This list hasn't even included my precious niece who was scalded with 150 degree water.... deemed abuse with removal and destruction of families ( my family).... hearing still in progress and finally the illness of my father in law. All of this in just 15 months. My question... How can a body, mind and spirit take this kind of battering?

I have stepped down from my position in the middle school girls. I feel like an empty vessel and decided to "sit at the Father's feet for awhile". I need to bask in his love. The list above hasn't killed me, so it has made me stronger. I can't feel the strength yet, but know I will see it eventually. I will miss the girls, but I can not continue to pour out of an empty spirit. I pray this is the move of a christian who is mature enough to realize her own spiritual needs. A week or so ago I realized I couldn't find Jesus because it seems so dark. I know he is holding me in the palm of his hand but....... Thank God I have a solid level of faith or I would be lost. We all would be with the Lords saving Grace.

Why does God continue to fool with me when I feel like such a failure is completely beyond me! I know it his never ending love. Oh I haven't committed any major sin... I have just fallen to my knees. I have thought about the song " The warrior is a child" a lot over the past week. We all need to drop our swords and cry for awhile and then get back up and continue to battle. God is good and he will see me through this season. I will be stronger in the end. God has good plans and he will work all things together for good.

The Cotillion Ball

Last night was Elisabeth's first "Ball". The kids were "mostly" fifth graders. I say mostly because there are never enough boys for all the girls to have a dance partner. This is an old tradition that has been refined. It started in the 1700's in France. It then moved on to Germany and eventually to New York. I thought it was great for Elisabeth because it teaches social manners, etiquette and ball room dancing. Albeit, the girls (or ladies) and the boys (gentlemen) won't even look at each other as they dance. They are such an awkward age it is funny. In one aspect I felt badly for Elisabeth. She was taller than all the boys her age and when she twirled she had to duck down. It was bad for the gentlemen as well.... how humiliating to be shorter than your dance partner. One boy stood on his tip toes! How funny! However, Elisabeth did get to dance with some of the "helper" boys who are older. It was good for her because these boys have been "paid dancers" for the girls for many years and she danced gracefully. It is always better if the man leads well. Notice the picture of her foot. I know it isn't visible on the picture, but she got stepped on and her foot was all skinned! hehehehehe! Isn't adolescent wonderful. Those "icky" boys!

On a more serious note. It was a reminder that our little girl is growing up too fast. She was so beautiful (thanks Julie for the dress it was perfect). She really looked like such the lady. (Minus the purple cast she received a few weeks ago, however she only had to manage one glove) It won't be too many years and she will be graduating high school and starting college. I am going to enjoy the years we have left with her at home! It seems that she was just a baby yesterday!

The Letter of the Day

Rules: IT'S HARDER THAN IT LOOKS! USE THE 1ST LETTER OF YOUR FIRST NAME TO ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. THEY HAVE TO BE REAL PLACES, NAMES, THINGS. NOTHING MADE UP! YOU CAN'T USE YOUR NAME FOR THE BOY/GIRL NAME QUESTION.

1. What is your last name? Susan
2. A 4 Letter Word: Sand
3. A Boy's Name: Sam
4. A Girl's name: Sabrina
5. An Occupation: Spy
6. A Color: Sage
7.. Something you wear: Shoes
8. A Beverage: Soda
9. A Food: Soup
10. Something found in the bathroom: Soap
11. A place: San Diego
12. A Reason for being late: Slept in
13. things you shout: ? Stop


Just for fun on a snow day!

March "Roars" in like a Lion

School and work have both been canceled! We don't have much snow. Just a few inches. But I can guarantee we will enjoy the day off. Making up classes won't be any fun.

The sell fell through!

Because of the every changing mortgage rules the buyers can not secure a loan.

We will continue to rest in the Lord. He knows what we need and he continues to pay the bills.

Seems like there is always someone with their hand out, something to pay for, or another bill. Some how God continues to provide.

Twilight

I have read the entire series that goes along with this book. I am not going to review the series but give you an opinion. My daughter is almost 11 years old. Her friends are reading this book. As a parent I am completely appalled! It is not the material a young person should read. WHY? It glorifies the image of vampires. The vampires in this book are "good" because they are vegetarian. How? They feed on animal blood instead of human blood. I must say it was creative on the authors part. There is one scene in the book that a bad vampire wants to kill Bella and drink her blood. That is a scary scene and does depict vampires in their stereotype. Anyway I got sidetracked... how does it glorify? It glorifies because they live forever and do not age. Bella and her beloved Edward will live together forever IF Bella is changed into a vampire. The series centers around Bella becoming a vampire. Who wouldn't want that (to age and never die)? I would love to think I could live without aging and never face death. After the last year I have started to wonder about the circle of life anyway. After watching my dad die I wonder about alternatives. There are none.... unless I become a vampire! Okay for those of you who know me that sentence doesn't concern you, because you know I am not in the least bit serious. But a young person reading the book could be. A young person searching. We live in a society that is searching but not looking for God. We also live in a society that allows children to raise themselves and do whatever they want without boundaries! In the front of the book the author even has a scripture. That was my daughters argument for reading the book... How bad can it be mom it has scripture in it?

Just my opinion!