Reflections and Resolve

With the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 coming up I was reminded of that fateful day and all its emotional ramifications. The horror, the fear, the uncertainty of what was next and the outright feeling of helplessness in the form of terrorism. That morning I immediatly touched base with my husband, my mother, my children and my sister. Just reaching out to "touch someone" was necessary.

A revival rallied in our land that day and the days after. People were drawn to churches and to prayer. Families loved each other a little more. Friends and acquaintances spoke in kinder and gentler tones. Our world had literally been rocked and for a while we knew that we were part of something much bigger than ourselves. It must not have taken long to sink back into our complacency as a nation, but also as Christians. Ten years later we are headed down a road that I'm afraid our children and grandchildren will pay the price. Christians, believers must take a stand. Eternity is at stake and we cannot afford to be silent any longer. It's been too long now.

I found this statement on a particular website and it struck my heart:

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded, or delayed. I wll not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me---my banner will be clear!"

Father, pierce our hearts to look like You. When that great day comes, I want to be recognizable.

Teach me...

This is the week we go back to school. While I love being at home with no schedule, I secretly love the "going back to school" process. I love school supplies. Some of my favorite memories as a child are going shopping for "back to school" stuff! I adore them. Which probably explains my fettish for pens and notebooks, and I won't get started on my addiction to Post-It notes. I love the smell of sharpened pencils and the feel of a new notebook before all the wrinkles and dog-eared pages occur.  The newness and anticipation of a new year puts a new spring in my step. Every year at this time we get a "do-over". The places where we failed or didn't do our best gets a chance to do it over again. So we make new promises and adjustments praying that we will have the stamina to bring them to pass. It's a new start.

This year I am asking the Lord to "teach me". I did a word search for the phrase and found a plethora of new inspiration.  Maybe not new, it just stood out to me more. Psalm 119 says:

12 LORD, may You be praised;teach me Your statutes.

33 Teach me, LORD, the meaning of Your statutes,and I will always keep them.

64 LORD, the earth is filled with Your faithful love; teach me Your statutes.

66 Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on Your commands.

68 You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.

108 LORD, please accept my willing offerings of praise, and teach me Your judgments.


>124 Deal with Your servant based on Your faithful love; teach me Your statutes.

171 My lips pour out praise, for You teach me Your statutes.


I'm asking God to teach me this year. Teach me what I need to see, what I need to hear and specifically what He wants me to do about it. I am the student in a classroom that is never-ending. My Teacher is God Almighty Himself and I am sitting with pen poised in hand waiting to take notes and put into action what I learn. It has been said that "School is a building that has four walls---- with tomorrow inside." Those "tomorrows" that sit in the classroom with me have an eternity. So I need to be a teachable teacher that has learned to trust God--the Master Teacher.


This year when my one of mine asked if we could go "back to school" shopping, I said "Yes!" So with a gleam in my eye, feet to the floor and a spring in my step, we headed out. And I loved every minute

God Speaks---Did We Hear?

The month of July in this household has flown by in a blur! We spent the first part of the month in Virginia on a youth mission trip. We made the plans, and God changed them all. In the end, it was fruitful. Perhaps we were there for this specific time period for God to show us that when it comes down to it, He is still in control and we are to simply follow. Sometimes that is easier said than done. God requires that we listen to Him, immerse ourselves in His Word and do what we read. Wouldn't we all be in a better place if we simply followed directions? I know I would.  So in this trip I have learned, or been reminded that there are many people in this civilized country that still know very little about our Father. Even living within 30 minutes of the most powerful government in the world, they still struggle with Who God is. I learned that it is uncomfortable to stay in a building without any air-conditioning.....but it IS possible.  I learned that listening is still a powerful drug. People want to be heard and you can't listen if you are talking all the time.  I was reminded that little things mean a lot....just a smile or a kind word makes all the difference. Most of all, I was reminded of the power of the Gospel, in my own life as a believer and in the lives of those who don't know the awesomeness of our God.

Maybe the purpose of this trip was not only for the unbelieving, but for those believers who want to make a difference and God had to remove them from their normalcy to speak in a loud voice. I hope we heard.

The Organizer, the Coach and the Sgt.

There are three people in this world that complete us as a family. They, unlike any others can cause us to laugh, cry and lose control at any given moment. We cheer for their accomplishments and cry with them when necessary. Since they have all flown the proverbial coop, the times we are together are guarded from intrusions. We stay up late, we get up early...we eat when its not time and we find ourselves spent from the exertion of loving each other. But we wouldn't have it any other way.

Each of these three bring their own personality to the nest:

The Organizer is a list maker. She makes sure we have a plan (not unlike her father) and that we stick to it. Some of us would rather fly by the seat of our pants, but not her. She makes it easy for us to move as a group and get things done. We can always count on her to make our path easy. She's the planner. She has a giving heart. That's why she is such a good wife and mother. She's my favorite.

The Coach, more than any of us, likes things in order and everything done well. He is a perfectionist and extremely neat. He always thinks ahead and knows where he is going and where he wants to land. He has a tremendous sense of integrity and honor. He is the kind that will succeed in what he does, because he allows God to take control. And he's funny! He's my favorite.

The Sgt. is and always has been his own person. In many ways, he is like the others. He likes to have fun. He likes to spend time with certain people. He is a thinker and sometimes a brooder. He thinks logically most of the time. But there are times he thinks only with his heart. He's very low key and slow moving, doens't really like to have a plan and loves every minute of it. That's probably why he is successful in what he does (not that we really know what he does). He's my favorite.

As of today they have all left us. And they took the grandchildren,too!! I knew when we gave these people back to the Lord that this day would eventually come. I just didn't think it would come so soon. Thirty years wasn't that long ago was it? But when I look at their accomplishments, their goals and dreams I am thrilled that they have the courage and drive to pursue what God has for them and to go after it with no regrets. After all, don't we raise them to leave at some point? Don't we want them to be passionately involved in something that drives them?

The answer is yes. This isn't the first time we have come back to just two in this house. It just never gets easy seeing them go. In reality, it's not so hard to be sad and happy at the same time. We love them so!

PS:  Don't forget: "Home is where your mother is"

Games, Ice Cream and 4 New Moons...

When the first Treasure arrived in late 2001, who knew what a stirring it would cause in our lives. Our hearts took another plunge and we were forever bonded with this new little bundle. Since then, the other three arrived with such pulling of the heart-strings that no one could ever predict.

Spending these last three weeks with them have been very special. They live so far away from us---thank you very much---that any time we get with them becomes all encompassing. They are always growing and changing and everything they do makes me laugh....maybe not everything, but most things. They say the funniest things in their simple explanations of ideas. They make funny faces and their body language when they are aggravated tells its own story.

They make me thankful. They remind me how to have fun. They aren't perfect, but they are correctable. I like looking at them. When I see them, they are such extensions of their parents that sometimes it's scary. They are very excited about things happening in their family and their hearts are happy. 

For the last three weeks we have been swimming, traveled on the bus home, eaten snacks late at night, stayed up till way past the bed time, walked the National Mall, rode trolleys, had pedicures and manicures (some of us), played with guns bought by the soldier, won swords at the Fun Factory, played multiple rounds of Go Fish, and had lots of ice cream and milkshakes. It's been a great time with them. Most of all, the good night hugs and kisses---priceless.

I hope we are always able to enjoy the simple things like seeing a grasshopper and looking at it in awe. As much as I love these treasures and look at them in wonder, I think when God looks at us He sees the potential He created us with and laughs with the wonder of His design. He's the perfect Father....I just want to be an obedient daughter.

And one more thing...teaching them the value of "the moon"---another treasured memory.

All night on a sidewalk and #15

As a mother, when your child/and or children ask you to do something, generally you try to make it happen. So when my youngest asked if I could get a book signed by Tim Tebow, I said, "Yes!". That turned into the little boys getting one, too. I was happy to do it. After all, when your son, who is in the desert asks for one "small" thing, you will do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Plans were made, times were set and we were off. My man decided at the last minute to go with me in this midnight adventure, so we left home at 12:00am and set off for O Town. When we arrived, the line had wrapped around the building and down the sidewalk. So I took up my position as #250 waiting for the arrival and the most coveted signing. The man stayed in the car while I layed myself out on the sidewalk. He had made the trip to Walgreens and brought me back a small beach chair, Diet Coke and general snacking items. I was happy and thankful he had come.

Sometime in the quiet of the dawn, I began to second guess my decision when my legs weren't working too well. But, onward I went, all for the sake of the boys. It was a quiet line. I learned that people who follow Tebow are generally nice people. I made friends with most of the ones around me and we had grand conversation.

At 9am they began to move the line so people could go into the store, get a wristband and COME BACK! After my wristband was securely attached and my position to come back was solidified, I needed coffee. We went to IHOP and drank lots of the stuff.  Making this the shortened version, I got back in line at 10:30am. The signing was supposed to start at 2. So, I waited. The desert boy had messaged several times checking my line status. He was in this as much as I was.

Finally, the time came, we moved to the door and the line began to move. It took almost two hours for me to get in the door only to find out there was another line. It was ok..I was in, and #15 was in sight. We were given very specific instructions as far as picture taking was concerned. By this time, the energy was building in the room and the closer my cohorts and I got, the more excited we were. 

When my time came, I was ready. The Sgt. was on the phone so he could listen to everything that was said. I had my speech planned out. I had already snapped all the pictures they were going to let me take. Then, there I was, in front of this player we had watched from high school, to UF and now the NFL. Now, need you think otherwise, I'm not really concerned with watching football. I don't care....but when my children and Treasures do, then it's a different story. So I came to the table with the two books.  He shook my hand and while he was signing the first one, I explained, in lightening speed about my two little "Tebow fans" who play football because of his influence. He said to tell them, "Play hard and always play for God". I was immediatly trying to commit that to memory when he moved on to the second book. I quickly began the story of my son in the desert and that he had asked specifically for this. I then mentioned that he was listening on the phone and to my amazement he picked up the phone, asked his name and began a conversation. In that moment, I was stunned at the "realness" of this player. He took the time to speak to a soldier and it was amazing.

That one act of kindness, that one small conversation, that one indication of what Tim Tebow's heart is like made me thankful. Thankful that I spent the night on the sidewalk, went without coffee for several hours, scraped my finger with blood dripping down it, stood for the last four hours without much sleep and was able to make one much loved Sgt and two little boys happy.

There is no end to a Mother's or a Nan's love.

Faith It

My Mom taught me many things. She taught me to ride a bike. She taught me how to wash dishes and clean up the kitchen. She tried to teach me how to act like a lady and have some manners. That was a lesson that is sometime questionable in its learning.  She taught me to study and to always be learning. She taught me how to have fun and do things on the spur of the moment.

Those things are needful and helpful, but she taught me more in what she didn't say. She taught me to love God more than anything or anyone else. She taught me that helping people should be second nature. I learned going on visitation with her...not necessarily because I wanted to, but she made me....that people will never know about Jesus if someone doesn't tell them. She lived out the fact that family is valuable and needful. I learned from first-hand experience that discipline really does work. 

The last things I learned from my mom came in the time of great struggle and sickness in her life. 

"The journey" she called it. She would often sing "My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow." She was in her own wilderness suffering the last few years of  her life. Pain and anguish gripped her most of the time. But never did I hear her cry out against God. She clung to Him like a swimmer in the middle of the ocean with nothing else around. She cried out TO Him for guidance and comfort. She praised Him to other people for His goodness to her. I saw her comfort other people when they came to visit her. People were drawn to her....mostly they were drawn to the Spirit of God in her. She lived her life in such a way that others would know Him. She wasn't perfect. But she knew where her hope was. 

Mom had this written in her Bible.  

1. Look at the trial

2. Look at what the Word says

3. Faith it

Under that she had these words written---"Accept God's control. Accept God's care."

She looked at the trial she was enduring. She looked at it in light of what the Word said. And she lived her life to the final moment "faithing it".  

May I be so faithful.