He is Amazing Enough

Did you know there are actually people who ENJOY changing the dressings on a wound? I found this out today when I took Paul in to the wound clinic to let the doctor look him over and change his dressings.

Normally, a home health care nurse comes to our house to change his dressings (since his wound is very large and infections could be life threatening). But today, the nurses were actually fighting over who would get to change Paul's dressings. Now, I know Paul would like to think it is because he is so hot, all the nurses couldn't stay away (and I'm sure that's what he'd tell you if you asked him)......so I'll just let him think that if it makes him feel better! But the truth is, the nurses all thought this huge opening in Paul's stomach was really cool and they all wanted to be the one to take care of it.

I don't know about ya'll, but I think that is so weird!!!

However, I thank God that he created women just like them who "enjoy" taking care of such things. After all, that is what is keeping Paul alive. I have to think that God created certain people with a special ability to care for those in need......to care for things that other people would just be too terrified to even look at, much less put on some gloves and touch!!!

It boggles my mind if I think too deeply about it. If I think that God created Paul's nurses and doctors at the time He did because He knew Paul was going to need them one day. It is mind boggling to think of all of the details God is able to keep up with and handle with ease and grace.

And I am feeling overwhelmed by just the things I am having to deal with! Thankfully I have a Father who cares enough to handle all of the overwhelming things for me. I just have to cast my anxiety on Him. After all, He's proven that He is amazing enough to handle it all for me.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Pray for the Stephen Curtis Chapman Family

I was watching the news tonight enjoying the overview of American Idol when the newscaster broke in with "breaking news". She announced that Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter was struck by a car and killed.

I did some research and found this article that talks about the accident. Evidently five year old Maria's teenage brother did not see her when he was pulling into the family's driveway tonight. My heart is aching for this poor teenage boy and for the rest of the Chapman family.

How will Steven Curtis Chapman ever be able to sing "Cinderella" again with out it breaking his heart apart? I am crying for this family tonight and praying for God's peace, that passes all understanding, to reign down on them all!

So much sadness around lately!

My Deepest Sympathy

Many of my church family has spent the past few weeks in turmoil over our pastor being called to another church. Yesterday, I gained a little more perspective about this as I was reading the blog of my sister's pastor. He wrote about the pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Forrest Polluck, and his son who lost their lives on May 13th in a small aircraft accident in North Carolina. The death of this pastor (and his son) has left his wife and five other children (and a huge church family in Florida) devastated. If you would like to read about this pastor and his son (and be in prayer for his family and church family), please click here for more information or click here to see pictures of the pastor and his son.

As I read about this beloved pastor and considered how his family and the congregation of Bell Shoals Baptist Church must be feeling, I had to thank God that our pastor is just moving to another church. The mourning we are doing is nothing in comparison to what this other church is going through.

The death of this beloved pastor (and one of his children) really put things in perspective for me. Just this small glimpse into the suffering of another church made me realize that what my church is going through is really not so bad after all.

My prayers are with the family and church family of Pastor Polluck. May God hold them in His capable hands and bless them beyond measure! They have my deepest sympathy!

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

American Idol Review

(WARNING.....I've been in a bit of a mood today....hence this post)....

I just finished watching American Idol and I must say, "I am shooting daggers out of my eyes right now....and those daggers are aimed at SIMON!!!!" It was so obvious to me that Simon had decided before he came tonight that he wanted David A. to win. It did not matter what David C. sang, Simon was just determined to make sure everyone thought poorly of his performances!!! I normally don't vote for the contestants, but I found myself picking up my phone and voting for David C. tonight, just to spite Simon.

Regarding tonight's performances (and actually previous ones as well):

David C: Put almost any of the songs you have sung on a CD and I would buy it, hands down. You have so much talent and originality....YOU are the true star. When you walk out on the stage, I get excited because I know you will be putting on a true performance, not just picking up the mic and singing a song!

David A: Put almost any of the songs you have sung on a CD and I most likely would not buy it. Yes, you have a beautiful voice, but so do many other people I know. A beautiful voice will not take you far....you need a presence......you need to find a style.....I have a hard time listening to love songs and ballads from someone who probably has no clue what love is yet. What you lack is the originality that David C. has. Sorry, you are an adorable little boy with a beautiful voice but, until you learn to be yourself and not someone else's puppet (and that will probably never happen until you get away from your controlling father....I do feel for you), I will never be interested in your songs!!!

Simon: I had to strike the remarks I had about you because they weren't very nice!

And that would be my opinion for the night! To check out more reviews of tonight's AI, check out BooMama's site.....

Through the Eyes of My Children

Yes, I know, it's been FOREVER since I posted a blog....I'm sure you have all been wringing your hands in anticipation of my next entry (or praising God that the annoying lady has not been able to post for a while).....either way, at least you were thinking of me!

Except for this headache that won't completely go away and a mild fever, I am feeling MUCH better than I was. But today, as I was bringing Jarod home from school, I just wasn't in the mood to be stopped by a train. What I really wanted was to get home and rest my throbbing head!

So, as I saw the guardrails begin to come down, I floored it....just kidding. I sat patiently (really, in my head I sat IMPATIENTLY) and waited for the train to come. And wouldn't you know, it was one of those trains that is longer than the state of Texas is wide!!! As I tried to squish my mounting frustration and reassured myself that the train would be over soon and the nice bottle of Advil would be waiting for me as soon as I got home, I began to hear sounds from the back of my car.

First it was Jarod, "Oh wow, a train. I just love it when we get stopped at a train!!! Look Samantha, look at the train. Do you see it? Mom, look, a train, a BIG train."

And it WAS big...four engines and all!

Then it was Samantha saying, "Ohhhh, a train, look Mommy, a train. Ooooo COOL!!!! Look Mommy, look Bubba, COOOOOOL!!!!!!"

You would have thought the girl had never seen a train before!!

As I sat and watched that train through the eyes of my children, it was no longer a thing of frustration. Instead I began to feel their joy as the cars tinkered along the track. I enjoyed talking to them about all of the graffiti and trying to figure out how someone was able to reach up so high to paint the graffiti on the car. I enjoyed listening to them try to guess what was in the cars. I enjoyed watching in wonder and amazement as each car sped by and I enjoyed waiting in anxious anticipation for the caboose.

As the end of the train approached, it was almost a let down when such a long train did not have a caboose!! We, all three of us, had our hands in the air, ready to signal to the caboose guy (what's he called anyway?) to blow his horn, "After all," I had told my children, "the caboose is the BEST part of the train.".........and then there was no caboose! On a train that long, how could there be NO caboose!!! It was as if someone had written us a story and left off the ending!

So, rather than let the kids miss out on the excitement, we made our own ending. As we rode off across the railroad tracks and headed for home, we blew our own horn! Honk! Honk!...we blew it twice for good measure. (I'm sure it just THRILLED all of those around us!)... We didn't need a stinking caboose to enjoy that train....we only needed the experience of enjoying that time together!

Things always seem so much brighter when I look at them through the eyes of my children!

God Bless Us All

I finally went to the doctor because I felt even worse when I woke up yesterday morning. Strangely enough, I have the flu...in May....how weird is that?! Even the doctor said that was weird. Leave it to me to be weird!

Today I had to take Paul in for a minor surgery to have his wound re-opened so the doc could put in a vacuum pack to try and help prevent any further infections. Needless to say, this was "great fun".....there's nothing quite like responding to a few symptoms of the flu while you are in a hospital bathroom, with your almost three year old daughter acting like a loud speaker describing to the world what you are doing (in the form of a question) such as, "Mommy, you throw up?"

Yeah, great times.....I think I begged the good Lord to just go ahead and take me home or, at the very least, send me my mommy! Neither of those two things happened so I guess He has other plans for me.

I'm off to lay on the couch now and "take care of" all of the other people in my house who've had surgery. May God bless us all!

Beautiful Christian Sister

(I still have a fever today so I am posting a poem my Aunt Pat sent me and calling it a post):


Beautiful Christian Sister by Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'
'I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.
'When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!'

Updates

Samantha had her surgery today and, aside from being extremely irritated by the anaesthesia, she did very well. She can now straighten her thumb!

While I was at the hospital with Samantha, Paul called and said the doctor decided to release him today... they believe they have the infection under control...praise God!! He will have a vacuum pack inserted on Thursday to try and eliminate any further infections.

I'm going to bed because I came home with a 101.4 fever and am feeling rotten! Hopefully I will be able to get back to my daily postings within the next couple days. I'm sure you all are just yawning with excitement over my future posting!

Thank you all for praying for my family this week. God is faithful and is caring for our needs!

Happy Mother's Day Mom, I Love You!

In honor of my mother today, I wanted to post a long, elaborate, beautifully written masterpiece that would bring her to tears (of joy) and let her know just how much I love her. But, since my husband's in the hospital and I am short for time and completely worn out (and any deep thinking right now might cause my brain to explode), I thought I would post something else that might bring her to tears....tears of laughter that is!

I'm sure most of you have heard "The Mom Song" but, since I'm not sure if my mom has heard it, I thought I would post a link to the song in honor of my Mom. I've listed the words below because it is sometimes hard to hear.......to see the video of the song, click here.


Words by Anita Renfroe Copyright 2007 Bluebonnet Hills Music/BMI
Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepy head
Here's your clothes
And your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now
Get up and make your bed
Are you hot?Are you cold?Are you wearing that?
Where's your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don't forget you got to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast
The experts tell us it's the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today.
Don't forget your piano lesson is this afternoon

So you must play
Don't shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside
Don't play rough
Would you just play fair?
Be polite
Make a friend
Don't forget to share
Work it out
Wait your turn
Never take a dare
Get along
Don't make me come down there
Clean your room
Fold your clothes
Put your stuff away
Make your bed

Do it now
Do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone
Get Off the phone
Don't sit so close
Turn it down
No texting at the table
No more computer time tonight
Your iPod's my iPod if you don't listen up

Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you're coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You'll appreciate my wisdom
Someday when you're older and you're grown
Can't wait 'til you have a couple little children of your own
You'll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now

I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew
Would appreciate
Take a bite
Maybe two
Of the stuff you hate
Use your fork
Do not you burp
Or I'll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A,
Get the door
Don't get smart with me
Get a Grip
Get in here I'll count to 3
Get a job
Get a life
Get a PhD
Get a dose of...
I don't care who started it
You're grounded until your 36
Get your story straight
And tell the truth for once for heaven's sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff
Would you jump too?

If I've said it once, I've said at least a thousand times before that
You're too old to act this way
It must be your father's DNA
Look at me when I am talking

Stand up straight when you walk
A place for everything
And everything must be in place
Stop crying or I'll give you something real to cry about
Oh!Brush your teeth
Wash your face
Get your PJs on
Get in bed
Get a hug
Say a prayer with Mom
Don't forget
I love you**KISS**
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom's work never ends
You don't need the reason why
BecauseBecauseBecauseBecause
I said so I said so I said so I said so
I'm the Mom
The mom The mom The mom The mom
Ta-da


And all the moms said, "Amen!"

Quick Prayer Requests

Please be in prayer for my husband, Paul. He was admitted to the hospital yesterday because the doctors believe the mesh from his hernia surgeries has become infected. This could be a life threatening problem that requires the docs to go in and remove all of the mesh and start over again. Paul's spirits are very low at this point...so please keep him in your prayers (mentally and physically).

Also, our almost three year old daughter will be having surgery on Tuesday to repair some damage done to her thumb (most likely during the accident). She can no longer straighten her thumb and the doctors are trying to correct it for her. Please be in prayer for her safety on Tuesday and for a speedy recovery.

I'm off to the hospital......I'm beginning to think I live there!

Something You'll Never See Me Doing

That's right folks, you'll never see ME jogging two miles WITH MY KIDS first thing in the morning. And, if I'm totally honest, you'll never see me jogging two miles, EVER. If you ever saw me attempt such a feat, there would be paramedics and care flight helicopters on the scene because I would be in desperate need of resuscitation!

Not to mention all of the people who would need medical treatment because they almost died laughing at the site of me running......but really, that's beside the point.

I saw one of my friends jogging with her children this morning but I refrained from stopping and asking her if she had lost her mind (somehow I didn't think she would appreciate that). This particular friend lives about two miles from her son's school and decided it would be FUN to jog with her son to school every morning. Now some of you may be saying, "Big deal, I jog all of the time," but do you jog while pushing a stroller with your one year old twins in it and while chasing your kindergartner?! ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.....WHEN THERE ARE TIME RESTRAINTS SO, IF YOU DON'T JOG FAST ENOUGH, YOUR KID WILL BE LATE!!

Whew, I'm feeling the pressure and the stress just thinking about it!

Now, I have had to jog while I had all of my kids with me before but, believe me when I say, "It wasn't on purpose!" It was more a matter of necessity to keep one of my kids from, you know, Getting Run Over while we are out for our evening stroll!

I do hope my friend does not decide to ask me to join her on her morning commute to school but, if she does, I already have my excuse ready: "Well, I'm afraid Jarod couldn't handle it and I don't want him to be too tired when he gets to school," as I quietly think to myself, "ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY?"

Don't you think that's a good excuse?......Blame it on the kid, that's my motto.....oh, I'm kidding.

In all honesty, my friend is in excellent shape. As I mentioned, she has one year old twins and she looks as good or better than I did when I was twenty. So, maybe I should take her up on this jogging thing if she asks............let me think on it while and I'll get back to you............

Really, I'll get back to you................

(Ohhh, just thinking about it makes me want a bag of Oreo cookies...real bad)!

I Am Cherished and Loved!

This morning, while I was taking Jarod to school, I saw a little old man out for a walk. It appeared as if every step he took brought pain to every joint in his body, and yet he carried on, as if he was not going to let the pain get the best of him.

On my way back home, I again passed by the little old man. As I approached, he suddenly bent over. I paused for a minute, scared that he was having a heart attack or a severe back cramp and would need my help. Amazingly enough, this little old man, who appeared to be having such a difficult time walking, was able to touch his toes. That's right folks, HE TOUCHED HIS TOES! Here I am, a 38 year old woman, and I can't touch MY toes....boy, was I impressed.

As I glanced back at him in my rear view mirror, I saw that he was upright and continuing on his painful journey again. It brought a smile to my face to see how persistent he was.....it was as if this little old man taught me a lesson today: I can do just about anything when I care enough to push through the pain.

I couldn't help but compare this thought to my Jesus. As he suffered beatings and a crown of thorns being jammed into his precious head, as he carried (my) heavy cross up that hill to Calvary, as each nail was nailed into his hands and into his feet, as he shed his precious blood for my sins, he carried on as if he was not going to let the pain get the best of him. He could have called his holy Father to take him away, to take him from that cross, to take away his pain. But he didn't.....

Instead, he remained.....he stayed and died the most painful death. He is the most AMAZING example of caring enough to push through the pain.....and he did it all because He loves me...........How could I EVER doubt that I am cherished and loved!

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

American Idol

Was it just me or did Jason Castro seem as if he was rejoicing about being voted off tonight? I mean, he even sang his exit song better than he had sung any song in weeks. I wonder if he was too scared to compete with the top three or if he was just too tired to continue on!

I'm Left Holding an Empty Plate!!

Have you ever had a plate full of delicious brownies in the fridge that you have been trying to abstain from all week? And then, you finally decide you are going to break down and just have one.....one itty bitty brownie. You go to the fridge and pull out the plate only to find that someone has already eaten ALL OF THEM and left you an empty plate?!!!!

This is what just happened to me!

I'm left holding an empty plate that should have been brought to the sink when emptied, not left in the fridge. I'd have to say that is one of my biggest pet peeves right now.......empty containers and plates left in the fridge because someone was too lazy to take them to the sink or the trash.

When I find the culprit, and I will, he'll be coughing up brownies by the time I'm done with him! I MUST have me some "brownie justice"!!!!

The Walgreen's Bathroom "Adventure"

Tonight, as I waited for Walgreens to finish filling Jarod and Samantha's prescriptions (they have strep and Samantha has an ear infection), I had to use the restroom. In Walgreens, you can't just go to the restroom like you can in say, Walmart. No, you have to ask someone in the store to let you in with his/her code.

As I stepped into the bathroom, I was taken back to a few years ago. It was just a few weeks since I had had my gallbladder removed and I hadn't yet learned what I could and could not eat. Paul took the kids and I to Pizza Inn and I ate a delicious few pieces of pizza with jalapenos on them. Because this was what I would normally enjoy while at Pizza Inn, it never dawned on me that my choice might not have been a good one.

Just a couple of minutes into the twenty minute ride home, I became acutely aware of the mistake I had made in eating jalapenos. I struggled to "hold it all in" and realized that I was not going to make it if we didn't stop RIGHT NOW and find a restroom.

The only thing around the immediate vicinity was a Walgreens. As Paul pulled the car into the parking lot, I made a mad exit before the wheels had come to a complete stop. I ran into the store and searched for the restroom, only to find that the restroom door was locked. I ran down a few aisles, all the while thinking I was going to have a VERY unfortunate disaster right in the middle of Walgreens, and finally found an attendant to help me. As I tried to hide the desperation in my voice (to no avail), I practically begged the attendant to LET ME IN THE RESTROOM!!!! Thankfully, she opened the door and went on her way.

I was so relieved that I was the only one in the restroom as I sat in the stall and very noisily relieved myself.....I think I actually said a prayer of thanks to God for helping me not "lose it all" in the middle of Walgreens. So, as I hurriedly tried to finish my "business", another worker walks in to the bathroom. As soon as she walks in, she very noisily says, "Oh disgusting! Oh my gosh, it STINKS in here...oh gross!!!" And then she began spraying room deodorizer in the bathroom.

I stayed in my stall, shrinking in my shame and embarrassment and praying that the woman would just LEAVE ALREADY so I could tuck my tail and run out the door to the safety of my car. Finally, she left the restroom, with the can of room deodorizer spraying the whole way out the door.

I hastily "cleaned myself up", washed my hands, and bolted out the door. As I exited, I was mortified to see no less than five store employees standing there staring at me, one of whom was holding a can of room deodorizer.

So, I tucked my head and ran (and I mean RAN) to the door. As I jumped into the car, I screamed, "Go, go, go, now go, hurry, before they come outside!!!"

Paul hastily threw the car into gear with an extremely puzzled look on his face, all the while yelling back to me, "What did you do?!!!" (I think he must have thought I stole a roll of toilet paper or something)...

As I explained the shameful events that had just taken place, I thought my husband was going to wreck the car because he was laughing so hard.....I wasn't laughing with him.....actually, I think I was beginning to cry.

Thankfully, I can now laugh at the situation and see that it really was kind of funny. But, there is now one particular Walgreens that I will NEVER set foot in again.....and that's a shame because they have some really good sales. I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I was when a Walgreens was built close to our house. I just pray the room deodorizer yielding woman never decides to put in for a transfer........I shudder at the thought!

Look to the Light

1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!............

Sometimes, in the "hum drum" of life, we tend to forget that fact. We become overly stressed, and sometimes depressed, and begin to feel as if we are here on earth struggling to find our way, all alone. We live in darkness and fear as we stumble around trying to find the light. And all the while, God is patiently waiting for us to stop grasping in the dark and realize that HE is light.

1 John 1:5

.......God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

I have been stumbling in darkness today, worrying about one of my children who has become very stressed and depressed due to all of the things our family has gone through in the last three years. Somehow, church has also become a big stress for him. As a child who is one of the young leaders, he has been feeling the stress and not wanting anyone to know how he is feeling......isn't that what most of us leaders do?

As I tried to explain things to our youth leaders (without giving away too many of the personal things my son has told me), I became very discouraged. It is so easy for others on the outside to be upset at a child's actions and forget to see that a child is truly suffering and in need of care, especially when the child is one of the better ones in the group (I guess they hold him to a hirer standard).

Anyway, God rescued me from this darkness by stepping in and spreading His light on the situation. Our youth minister understood what my son is going through and took action. He talked to my son and worked things out to try and relieve some of his stress and really just to reassure him how much he is loved. And, he made sure the other youth workers realized how much my child is hurting and how much love and understanding he needs right now.

Not only am I a child of God, but my son is also a child of God and God lavishes His love on him every day.......sometimes, in the midst of our darkness, we just need to be reminded to turn around and look to the Light.

Too Tired Again

Yet again, it has been a busy Saturday and I am just too tired to write. Hopefully, I'll be back on tomorrow evening. Night night everyone!

The "Joys" of Owning a Dog

Do you have a dog? No? Well, you just don't know what you are missing out on. Besides the joy of a nice, soft, cuddly thing that wants your attention all of the time, is excited when you come home, and will love you no matter what you do, there's just so much more you are missing.

Take today, for instance. My dog decided it would be nice to sit on the floor in a sitting position and rub her butt across the carpet, while I screamed, "STOP THAT, EWWW, DISGUSTING, YOU ARE GETTING POOP ALL OVER MY CARPET, STOP THAT YOU STUPID DOG!"

I really think she took great joys in my screams and probably was off in the corner, smirking, as I tried to clean the huge streak line of poop off of my carpet.

Oh, the "joys" of owning a dog!

Fun Questionnaire

Melissa told me I just Had to do this questionnaire that she had posted on her blog so, "Melissa, this one's for you"...haha:

1. Four places I go over and over: To bed (but never as early as I want to), to church, to the grocery store, and to the, well you know, the potty.
2. Four jobs I have had in my life: Owner/Manager of Sonic in Rockwall, Payroll Administrator, Executive Assistant, and Church Secretary.
3. Four people who e-mail me regularly: I don't guess I email with anyone consistently.
4. Four of my favorite foods: Cucumbers, black olives, chicken, steak
5. Four Places you would rather be right now: I'm in bed right now, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be at the moment.
6. Four Places I have lived: Lewisville TX, Odessa TX, Longview TX, Garland TX....notice the TX theme?
7. Four TV shows I watch: NCIS, Bones, LOST, CSI
8. Four movies I have watched more than once: Pillow Talk (Doris Day), Overboard, The first Aliens movie (not because I wanted to but because Paul watched it umpteen billion times and I just happened to be in the same room....I personally hated the movie), The Parent Trap (the old one and the new one).
9. Four places I have been: Bangkok Thailand, Phuket Island Thailand, Korea (but only for a layover when going to Thailand), San Antonio.......okay, so I'm not a well traveled girl.....but I really don't have the desire to be.
10. Four things I am looking forward to in 2008: The end of the school year, finishing my book, watching my children grow, whatever God has in store for me.
11. Four Pet Peeves: Tinkle on the toilet seat, parents who don't blink an eye before bringing their contagiously ill child around mine (you know, like at the play place at McDonald's), someone besides a family member drinking out of my drink or taking a bite of my food with my fork (I don't really know why this bothers me now because it didn't used to), people who break the rules and expect me to as well (such as people who ride up real close to your car because they want you to speed so they can speed, and really all speeders bother me since our accident, don't they know they could kill someone?!).
12. Four people I think will respond: God....oh wait, you meant to this questionnaire.....well then, beats me!

Hope and a Future

Lately, I have been feeling as if I should be writing a book about our accident and how God has worked through my family. Of course, in true form, I have procrastinated and given God all of these excuses about why I shouldn't write a book. After all, I'm not an author, I don't have a fancy literary degree.......I'm just an ordinary girl (with lots of gray hair and extra flubber, but who's keeping track?)!

Oddly enough, there have been several things over the past few weeks that have made me realize, "I have to get up off of my duff and write the book." Here are just a few things that have happened to "encourage" me on:

1. My husband, out of the blue one day, told me he feels like God wants us to write a book about our accident. Then he told me he thinks he would really just be telling me his perspective but that I would really need to write the book because I was the only one that stayed, you know, AWAKE, through the whole thing!!
2. My oldest son was talking to me about the accident a couple of weeks ago and how it affected him. We were talking about how great God is and, that's right, you guessed it, the conversation came back around to needing to write a book to tell people about it.
3. My dad called me out of the blue a couple of weeks ago to tell me a story about something that happened when I was a little girl that he had been thinking about (I'll have to tell you all about that another time). Not too far into our conversation, my dad started telling me that he feels God uses my writing and that I could do more than just this blog. So, I told him I felt I was supposed to write a book about what God has done in my family and he pretty much said, "It's about time."
4. And that's just a couple of things that have happened (after I felt God was urging me to write this book) to make me think I should be writing this book......you think maybe God has to "bonk" me on the head a few times before I will do what he asks, or what?! Just call me Moses because I tend to say things to God like, "Not me Lord, I'm not a great writer. Why don't you have my friend Cari write the book, she's a much better writer? Why don't you have my son Adam write the book, he is so much smarter than me?" To which God replies, "Yes, YOU Jennifer."....and then He has to bonk me on the head!!....'cause, you know, that's what it takes to get me to do anything anymore!

So, to make a long story short (or, did I just make a short story long?), I have begun writing the book. I am only part of the way through the first chapter because it is hard to write with a two year old running around, laundry to do, floors to clean, tinkle to clean off the walls and the floors (that's for another post), food to cook and serve, etc., etc., etc..... I will be trying to get things caught up as much as I can this week so I can really start focusing on writing. I pray God will basically write this book because I know I, alone, am not capable.

By the way, the title for the book is "Hope and a Future"....based on the verse that played over and over in my head while I was in the car after the accident...

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isn't That Just Amazing?

This morning, as I stared at Samantha's beautiful face while she slept, I could not help but see the resemblance to me and the resemblance to Paul that she has. As I stared and thought about her likeness to us both, I could not help but marvel at the awesomeness of my God.

You see, as I sat and thought about things, about how God forms each and every one of us, how what we look like is His design, I could not help but marvel at how many times I have seen children who resemble their earthly parents (more often than not they do). Which means, not only does God form us, He remembers how He formed our earthly family and makes us to resemble them.

If you think about the millions of people He has created, that is an amazing feat. A mind boggling feat. Something no one of this earth could even fathom being able to do. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made by God, whose works are wonderful.....and He remembers how He created each and every one of us! Isn't that just amazing?

Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Prayer Request

Please see the following prayer request my friend Tanya posted on her blog today. Please be in prayer for this family. Also, please be in prayer for Tanya and her husband Paul as they seek God's direction as they try to help this family. May God guide their words and actions and give them peace. Thanks!

Look BEFORE You Drink

Paul had his drink sitting on the table between the two couches today while I was in the shower. He walked into the kitchen for just a few minutes and then he came back to the couch and proceeded to watch TV. He was just about to put his drink to his lips when he noticed something in it! It looked like a very long skinny worm so, of course, he decided to investigate it.

The investigation showed that our little girl had somehow gotten her conditioner and squirted it into his cup. Maybe she thought he could use something to soften up his bowels and decided, "Hey, it works on my hair.." So, my warning to all of you with two year olds is this:

Look BEFORE you drink! You just never know what sort of present your little one will leave for you!

Pick Apart A Passage

1Peter 5:1-11
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

As I read the above passage during my quiet time last week, I was struck by the great importance of just these few verses in the Bible. I've met so many leaders who have forgotten that the Bible tells us to be humble, not proud. So many have become judgemental and fallen into thoughts such as: "I do more than he/she does, I do a better job, why isn't anyone willing to serve as much as me?" And these thoughts, which are actually prideful, become stumbling blocks!

During my quiet time, I usually look at the passage in small sections and reflect on what really stands out to me (you know, I kind of "pick apart a passage"). Here are some of my thoughts while "picking apart" this passage:

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." What amazing words! We don't have to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, we just have to do the job God has asked us to do (and even sometimes do what we consider are other people's jobs). We are to serve without looking at what another has done, we are to serve in humility and joy because we are serving our Father. And HE sees our service and our reward is with HIM!!

"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I think these are some of the wisest words I have heard used while referring to satan. He has NO sympathy for us, he only cares that his own desires are met.......his desire to rule over us, to be powerful........his desire to feed his own greed!

Which now brings us back to "God opposes the proud". God opposes satan! It is satan's pride, his desire to be better than God (which will NEVER happen) that has caused him to be evil. Yet, when we judge the performance of our brothers and sisters in Christ, when we forget to serve God humbly, are we really much better than satan?!

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I love this! Sometimes we suffer when we are serving Christ. Whether it be because we are overworked and exhausted, tormented for our beliefs, unappreciated by those around us, or any number of other things, God will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast. He sees us and He knows when we suffer and humbly serve in His name........and in HIS grace, he restores us. HE RESTORES US!

To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Here's An Oldy For Ya!

It's been such a busy weekend, I have not had time to even think the word blog, much less write one. So, I thought I would just post one of my older posts that I think is kind of "special". Here we go:

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Thursday, September 6, 2007

My Diaper Has Been Lovingly Changed!
Here I go with more than one post in a day again. But, I just had to sit down and write a quick note to you all about what just happened.

I was at the grocery store getting a basket. I turned around and saw a man staring at my backside. I could tell he was trying to say something to me but could not find the words. I thought, "Certainly this man is not about to start flirting with me!"

I used to get flirted with all of the time, but those days are long gone and I must say I don't miss them. Some men can be so gross and perverted and make a woman feel very uncomfortable. It always amazed me that a man could say something so nasty and think that I was just going to fall over, excited that he gave me such a rude and demeaning "complement".

Anyway, back to the story. So, this man is standing there trying to say something to me. He very quietly says something, but I could not hear him. I say, "I'm sorry, what was that?" fully thinking, mind you, (from past experiences) that I am going to have to tell this man that my God is listening to the filth coming out of his mouth. Anyway, the man finds a little courage and speaks a little louder this time and with a very embarrassed look on his face says, "You have a sticker on your (pause to find words) backside." He then giggles, not to make fun of me but because he is obviously very embarrassed to tell me about my unfortunate demise.

Maybe you are thinking, "What was he doing looking at your backside?"....I know that's what you're thinking Dad, but wait. Everyone, I have to tell you, I pulled this sticker off of the back of my shorts. It was one of the stickers we use in the church nursery when we have changed a child's diaper. It was fluorescent green and said (this is probably not word for word but it was something like this), "My diaper was lovingly changed by a staff member at Murphy Road Baptist Church."

This man was probably reading that sticker on my backside (because the fluorescent green stood out so brightly against my tan shorts he couldn't help notice it) and wondering if I was some sort of senior citizen who needed assistance when I wet my depends and had to rely on Murphy Road Baptist Church to change my diapers!!!

I told this man thank you as he went walking off (hastily). Of course, I looked at the sticker and said out loud, "How in the world did that get there?" as another man came walking out of the store. He looked at me and said, "I'm sorry, what was that?" I said, "Oh, I'm sorry, I was just talking to myself."

As I walked away, I couldn't help but wonder, as that man heard my mumblings, did he think, "Certainly this lady is not about to start flirting with me!"


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And that would be one of my most embarrassing moments!!

Short and Sweet

Today was extremely busy and tomorrow Jarod has an 8:30am soccer game so I'm going to make this short and sweet:

Yawn, I'm tired...Goodnight!

I Stand Embarrassed

Yesterday, I had a bunch of errands to run and I was worried I would not be able to get everything done before I needed to pick Jarod up from school. So I hurriedly got dressed, quickly dressed Samantha, and ran out the door.

First, I went to the house we are trying to sale to let the cleaning lady in, then I went to the post office, grabbed a burrito at Chipotle, and went to Sam's to buy a few things we needed. I thought it was strange when a couple of boys at Chipotle said something to each other in Spanish (as they glanced at me) and then started laughing. I thought it was even stranger when a little old lady at Sam's stopped and looked at me as if she was contemplating saying something to me, but walked away. I quickly did a check of my nose, you know, thinking possibly I had some embarrassing something hanging out of it, but it was all clear. I decided I was just being paranoid and didn't think about it any further.

When I got home from running all of my errands, I made a mad dash to the restroom because the tea I had for lunch was trying to escape. As I quickly tried to unbutton and unzip my pants, I discovered the reason for the strangeness of the people I came across while running my errands:

My pants were already unzipped and hanging wide open!!

I guess it would be a slight understatement to say, "I stand embarrassed!

Make Him Shudder!

Yesterday was not an emotionally good day for me. I had a grumbling spirit all day long and I felt like griping and complaining about everything and so I did (this is where you should all feel sorry for everyone who had any sort of contact with me yesterday).

I felt so discouraged and so disheartened at one point, I wanted to just quit. I wanted to just tell everyone, "Forget it, I'm not helping in the children's ministry anymore." I wanted to say, "I can't please everyone and I'm tired of trying so hard only to have the negative pointed out to me!"

And I felt this way until I finally talked to God about it around 6:00pm yesterday. I don't know why I waited so long to bring these negative feelings to Him, but once I did, He used my husband to calm my thoughts, my fears, and my doubts.

You know, what Paul said to me really hit home. It hadn't dawned on me that others were acting in uncharacteristic ways because they are scared. They are scared of the unknown, scared of what will happen now that our pastor is leaving. And they are, in a way, mourning the loss of someone they love! They aren't truly upset at me, they are just in crisis mode!

I'm ashamed to say that Satan had a good run at me yesterday and I was failing the test miserably!!! But after God and I had our little talk, a passage from Romans kept playing over and over in my head and bringing a smile to my face:

Romans 16:19-20

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

And God will be crushing satan underneath our feet. God will be bringing our church up in a BIG way and He isn't going to let a little thing like satan bring it down!! So nani nani boo boo to you devil. You lose!

After yesterday's fiasco, it brought me great joy to read the following email from my Aunt Rose today:

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, satan shudders & says... "Oh no....she's awake!!"

That is my challenge to all of my friends today. Let's make satan shudder!!!

My Little Princess

A few weeks ago, Jarod's soccer team was getting their team picture made. Since it was right before one of their games, all of the families were present for the pictures (which means I had my two year old, Samantha with me). The photographer kept trying to get a good picture of the boys but none of them seemed to want to smile. So, being the mother of a few boys, I walked up before the last picture and when the photographer said, "Say cheese", I said, "No, say boogers." Of course, being all boys, they all said boogers with huge smiles on their faces and the photographer had his picture!

So, a couple of days before Paul's surgery, Paul was trying to show me how to work the camera on my laptop. When Jarod and Samantha realized what he was doing, they crawled up on our bed with Paul to try and get in on the "picture action". Just before Paul took the picture, he said, "Okay, get ready, say cheeeeese."

To which Samantha very innocently (and with a huge smile on her face) replied, "BOOGERS!"



And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my little princess....such a girly girl, don't you think?!

His Capable Hands

I am finally able to tell you more about my friends who are moving away (you know, the ones I wrote about here).... My pastor has accepted a position at another church and his last day at our church will be May 11th (Mother's Day). Of course, I had to tell him I was angry at him for ruining my Mother's Day.....the nerve of him!...haha. I am so happy for my pastor because God is moving him on to a church that is about five times the size of ours and I know he is going to be completely blessed by this experience. God is going to use his whole family in big ways and I am so excited about the positive affects this is going to have on them.

But, in my own selfishness, I just don't want them to go. I don't want our church to be in transition. I don't want to watch my church family suffer......and we are all suffering. I know when we all step back and look at the whole picture, we will see that God can and will do miraculous things during this transition time for our church, but it is just going to be a very difficult and very labor intensive time for us all. I'm already exhausted just thinking about it!

Tonight, as I cried out to my Father about my church family, as I shared with Him how much it hurt me yesterday to see some of them cry, to see others scared and confused, and others who were so angry they couldn't see straight, God brought Moses' mother to my mind:

Exodus 2:1-10
Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said. Then his sister asked Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" "Yes, go," she answered. And the girl went and got the baby's mother. Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water."

God is reminding me that Moses' mother had no way of knowing before hand what would happen to him when she sent him floating down the river, she just had to trust that God would take care of him. Of course, Moses was better than fine....he was adopted into the royal family and even better, his real mother was able to be his nursemaid, she was able to watch him grow. When she took that leap of faith and placed him in the basket, God placed His hands in the midst of her deepest fears and took care of everything, He made everything better than she could have hoped for in that moment.

How significant this story is when I think about what is going on in my church. Our church is being placed in a basket and sent floating down the river......and I have to consider that this is God's way of saving our church. Obviously, all we have to do is trust that God's hands are capable of swooping down in the midst of our deepest fears, in the midst of our tears, in the midst of our anger, in the midst of our mourning and take care of everything. He will make everything better than we could ever hope for in this moment.

I am excited about what God is going to do. It is hard to watch my church family suffer, but I know my God is much bigger than this. I know HE will bless us beyond measure, all we have to do is trust Him to carry our basket down this river and, in His perfect time, He will draw us out of the water.

We are in His capable hands!

Until Tomorrow...

I'm still here.......

The events of this weekend have been absolutely exhausting and I am so tired right now, I can't even find the energy to write about it. For now, I just ask for you all to be in prayer for my church. I'm going to bed now but I will tell you all about it sometime tomorrow.

Take the Poll

The other day, while reading BooMama's blog, I read some of the answers her readers wrote in response to the following question:

What draws you to the blogs you read regularly? What elevates a blog to “daily read” status?

The majority of her readers stated that they like blogs that are mostly funny. I also read several responses from readers who said they like Christian mom blogs but that most of them were devotionals and they could only read so many devotionals a day without going into overload.

So, this got me to thinking (I know, dangerous, right?). What do you all want to see when you come to the Chameleon blog site? Do you enjoy the devotionals when I post them or do you roll your eyes and think, "There she goes again, off on one of her little tangents!"....of course I'm kidding....

Considering that I will never be as interesting or funny as BooMama with her thousands of daily readers, I thought I would ask the ten of you who read my blog: would you prefer my blog to be less deep and more fun and crazy?... or, would you prefer a mixture of the two? Or, do you prefer it the way it is: me just writing about whatever I write about?

Because I want you all to find it interesting and/or fun to come to my blog (no yawning please). I ask you all to complete the poll about this on the right side of my blog.....don't worry, the poll does not show me who responded so you will have confidentiality and don't have to worry about hurting my feelings.

Thanks for helping me "spark things up" by responding to my poll.

Laugh WITH Me!!

"When was the last time you roller skated?" was the question I asked myself as I laced up my skates at the roller skating rink tonight. The children's ministry at our church was hosting a skating party so I felt it would be fun to see how much of my skating skills I have kept over the years.

Little did I know it would be more of a comedy routine than actual, you know, FUN!!

I used to be an excellent skater. As a matter of fact, I skated almost every day of my life when I was a little girl (and should I admit that the wheels on the skates were metal back then?). However, what I don't remember from my younger years of skating was the feeling that I was going to fall and break every bone in my body.

And that was the initial feeling as I stood up for the first time with skates on tonight.

I decided it would be helpful to try and skate a lap around the rink to try and calm the wobbly feeling that had begun to creep its way up my legs. Halfway through the lap, my feet started to hurt. That was another feeling I don't remember from childhood!

As I rounded t