Since Todd had to go into work early today, he was able to leave work early. Whenever that happens, we try to do something fun with those extra few hours. So, Grant and I met him at Alderidge Garden, a family favorite. The weather was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold.
Grant was really hoping to see "wild life" on the hike and we did. Now, it wasn't the same as the three bears and rattlesnake he saw in the Smoky Mountains, but it was "wild life" just the same.
One squirrel, three turtles, and a whole bunch of the sweetest little baby geese (being protected by two big geese).
I guess it sounds pretty ordinary, but I left the park feeling amazingly grateful for that time with my family. I love the simple moments. Life is built on them.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Yesterday's five
I'm thankful for.....
1. Express Oil Change- I love being able to finish the whole oil change errand in 10 minutes.
2. I found out at my eye doctor appointment, that for the first time in years, my vision has improved! That made me really happy.
3. Grant won fourth place on his mask sculpture at his school's art fair. His mask was of Gordon.
4. Hiking weather
5. Being able to help at the "packing party" for the CHC crew going to Russia. The group was so thrilled to be going to see the kids at the orphanages.You could feel their excitement. There were so many goodies to pack. We filled 12 suitcases full of gifts, art supplies, candy, lots of little treasures! What a wonderful week it will be for 113 precious children and the eight people who will be going to love on them.
1. Express Oil Change- I love being able to finish the whole oil change errand in 10 minutes.
2. I found out at my eye doctor appointment, that for the first time in years, my vision has improved! That made me really happy.
3. Grant won fourth place on his mask sculpture at his school's art fair. His mask was of Gordon.
4. Hiking weather
5. Being able to help at the "packing party" for the CHC crew going to Russia. The group was so thrilled to be going to see the kids at the orphanages.You could feel their excitement. There were so many goodies to pack. We filled 12 suitcases full of gifts, art supplies, candy, lots of little treasures! What a wonderful week it will be for 113 precious children and the eight people who will be going to love on them.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Today's five........
I'm thankful for......
1. The timer on my new stove. All I had to do was put everything in the oven, set it, and dinner was ready when we got home from soccer practice.
2. Todd cleaned the kitchen.
3. My new Matt Redman cd
4. Sharpies- the colorful ones
5. Grant spent the whole day determined to use good manners, without being asked or reminded. He came up with the idea all on his own. When I thanked him for using such good manners, he said, "I've tried all day to be obedient and polite." It was lovely. What a mature goal for a seven year old. I love my boy.
1. The timer on my new stove. All I had to do was put everything in the oven, set it, and dinner was ready when we got home from soccer practice.
2. Todd cleaned the kitchen.
3. My new Matt Redman cd
4. Sharpies- the colorful ones
5. Grant spent the whole day determined to use good manners, without being asked or reminded. He came up with the idea all on his own. When I thanked him for using such good manners, he said, "I've tried all day to be obedient and polite." It was lovely. What a mature goal for a seven year old. I love my boy.
Just in case your wondering....
Two Names You Go By
1. Sandi
2. Mama
Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now
1. Jeans
2. HCJ t-shirt
Two Things You Have in a Relationship:
1. Trust
2. Humor
Two of Your Favorite Things to Do
1. Walk, sit, swim, be at the beach
2. Read
Two of your favorite foods
1. Chinese food from PF Changs
2. Chocolate
Two Pets You Had
1. Dakota- beagle
2. Bandit- dog I had while I was growing up
Two Things You Did Last Night
1. Watched Grant and Todd run soccer relays in the back yard
2. Watched clips of The Office on Youtube
Two of your favorite books
1. Rebecca
2. Wuthering Heights
Two Things You Ate Today
1. Bran muffin (with chocolate chips)
2. Breakfast for dinner
Two People You Last Talked To
1. Todd
2. Kellie
Two Things You're Doing Tomorrow
1. Going to the eye doctor
2. Babysitting
Two Longest Car Rides
1. Massachusetts to Florida
2. Alabama to Massachusetts
Two of your favorite TV shows
1. The Office
2. The Office
Two Favorite Holidays
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Two happy memories
1. Our wedding day
2. The day of Grant's birth
Two Favorite Beverages
1. Chai tea, just about any hot tea
2. Coffee
Two of your favorite places
1. The beach
2. The mountains
1. Sandi
2. Mama
Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now
1. Jeans
2. HCJ t-shirt
Two Things You Have in a Relationship:
1. Trust
2. Humor
Two of Your Favorite Things to Do
1. Walk, sit, swim, be at the beach
2. Read
Two of your favorite foods
1. Chinese food from PF Changs
2. Chocolate
Two Pets You Had
1. Dakota- beagle
2. Bandit- dog I had while I was growing up
Two Things You Did Last Night
1. Watched Grant and Todd run soccer relays in the back yard
2. Watched clips of The Office on Youtube
Two of your favorite books
1. Rebecca
2. Wuthering Heights
Two Things You Ate Today
1. Bran muffin (with chocolate chips)
2. Breakfast for dinner
Two People You Last Talked To
1. Todd
2. Kellie
Two Things You're Doing Tomorrow
1. Going to the eye doctor
2. Babysitting
Two Longest Car Rides
1. Massachusetts to Florida
2. Alabama to Massachusetts
Two of your favorite TV shows
1. The Office
2. The Office
Two Favorite Holidays
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Two happy memories
1. Our wedding day
2. The day of Grant's birth
Two Favorite Beverages
1. Chai tea, just about any hot tea
2. Coffee
Two of your favorite places
1. The beach
2. The mountains
Monday, April 23, 2007
Today's five things...
I'm thankful for......
1. Our digital camera
2. Hot fudge cake
3. Being able to spend time with great friends this weekend and the privilege it is to have a close circle of friends. What a blessing.
4. Down time
5. Having a vegetable and milk co-op to take part in!
1. Our digital camera
2. Hot fudge cake
3. Being able to spend time with great friends this weekend and the privilege it is to have a close circle of friends. What a blessing.
4. Down time
5. Having a vegetable and milk co-op to take part in!
Saturday, April 14, 2007
My five things
I'm thankful for.....
1. The rain.
2. Finding out that we will be able to send some goodies to our sweet Natasha at the orphanage in Russia. In November, she was moved to a new orphanage. The move was a good one for she and her brother, so we were very happy about it. But, since she is not longer at Kostroma, Crystal and Squeaky are not going to be able to see her on their trip to Russia this month and we were not going to be able to send anything over for her. Last night we received some good news. A different group will be visiting her orphanage this month! They are allowing all sponsors to send a gallon sized bag full of fun treats that they will deliver to the children. It made all of us happy to be able to shop for her. Grant didn't even mind that we had to go to Walmart.
3. How much Grant is enjoying soccer.
4. A warm place to sleep tonight.
5. My new toothbrush.
1. The rain.
2. Finding out that we will be able to send some goodies to our sweet Natasha at the orphanage in Russia. In November, she was moved to a new orphanage. The move was a good one for she and her brother, so we were very happy about it. But, since she is not longer at Kostroma, Crystal and Squeaky are not going to be able to see her on their trip to Russia this month and we were not going to be able to send anything over for her. Last night we received some good news. A different group will be visiting her orphanage this month! They are allowing all sponsors to send a gallon sized bag full of fun treats that they will deliver to the children. It made all of us happy to be able to shop for her. Grant didn't even mind that we had to go to Walmart.
3. How much Grant is enjoying soccer.
4. A warm place to sleep tonight.
5. My new toothbrush.
Reminders
When my friend Jennifer wrote about Rich Mullins on her blog, it got me in a nostalgic frame of mind. I pulled out my Rich Cd's. It had been way too long since I had listened to them.
The other day, while still in that nostalgic mind set, I found some Rich quotes on Wikipedia and this one was so good I had to include it. Just a funny reminder.
"I had a professor one time, he said, 'Class, you will forget almost everything I teach you in here, so please remember this; God spoke to Balaam through his ass and He has been speaking through asses ever since. So, if God should choose to speak through you, you need not think too highly of yourself. And, if on meeting someone, right away you recognize what they are, listen to them anyway.' "
I have always loved God's sense of humor~ Balaam's story is a great example of it.
Here's to not taking ourselves too seriously!!
The other day, while still in that nostalgic mind set, I found some Rich quotes on Wikipedia and this one was so good I had to include it. Just a funny reminder.
"I had a professor one time, he said, 'Class, you will forget almost everything I teach you in here, so please remember this; God spoke to Balaam through his ass and He has been speaking through asses ever since. So, if God should choose to speak through you, you need not think too highly of yourself. And, if on meeting someone, right away you recognize what they are, listen to them anyway.' "
I have always loved God's sense of humor~ Balaam's story is a great example of it.
Here's to not taking ourselves too seriously!!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Book Fair
Old books, new books, fiction books or true books, doesn't really matter what type, I just love books. So when the opportunity to help out with the book fair arose, I signed up.
As one of the volunteers, I helped to pick out, sort, price, organize, and set up the books to sell. I knew when I signed up there would be responsibilities, but my passion for books is why I got involved.
But some days, all the jobs that had to be done to get the books ready to sell, prevented me from seeing the wonderful books we had.
It was when we started to put the books on display, that I really saw exactly what books we possessed. Beautiful nature books, fun picture books, chapter books, biographies, and so much more. Then I began flipping through the pages of the brightly colored books and reading poems from the poetry books. I stared to gain information about what was inside. Now I had lots of things to share with the students when they came to purchase the books. What would I have missed if I only worked on the details?
I would have missed the reason for the book fair.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted to do the work to make the book fair a success. It needed to be done. The books won't sell packed up in boxes. And I want the books to sell. Not just because the money will benefit our school, but because the books can change the lives of the kids who read them.
So....I started pondering and saw that it corresponded with some things I have been working out in my spiritual life.
When I "signed up" for the Christian life it wasn't for the busy work that often comes with it. Teaching Life Group, going to Bible studies, doing nursery, etc. all important, but not the reason I became a Christian.
It was because of God~ His love, His justice, His mercy, His grace, His faithfulness. It was because of Jesus~ His sacrifice, His love, His forgiveness.
If I'm so busy doing, doing, doing that I don't sit at His feet and enjoy Him, so busy that I don't nurture my relationship with Him, so busy that I don't take the time to love others the way He does, so busy that I don't really see who He is, so busy that I walk out of the steps He has planned for me, what am I missing? Even if the work is meaningful, what am I missing?
There is definitely work to be done. I can't say no to everything, don't even want to, but I want to be like Mary~ she chose the one thing that what was most important. I want to be like Jesus, He chose to consult the Father on everything before He set out to do the work of the day.
I want to reflect Him. I want to sit at His feet. I want to fully live the life He has purposed just for me.
As one of the volunteers, I helped to pick out, sort, price, organize, and set up the books to sell. I knew when I signed up there would be responsibilities, but my passion for books is why I got involved.
But some days, all the jobs that had to be done to get the books ready to sell, prevented me from seeing the wonderful books we had.
It was when we started to put the books on display, that I really saw exactly what books we possessed. Beautiful nature books, fun picture books, chapter books, biographies, and so much more. Then I began flipping through the pages of the brightly colored books and reading poems from the poetry books. I stared to gain information about what was inside. Now I had lots of things to share with the students when they came to purchase the books. What would I have missed if I only worked on the details?
I would have missed the reason for the book fair.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted to do the work to make the book fair a success. It needed to be done. The books won't sell packed up in boxes. And I want the books to sell. Not just because the money will benefit our school, but because the books can change the lives of the kids who read them.
So....I started pondering and saw that it corresponded with some things I have been working out in my spiritual life.
When I "signed up" for the Christian life it wasn't for the busy work that often comes with it. Teaching Life Group, going to Bible studies, doing nursery, etc. all important, but not the reason I became a Christian.
It was because of God~ His love, His justice, His mercy, His grace, His faithfulness. It was because of Jesus~ His sacrifice, His love, His forgiveness.
If I'm so busy doing, doing, doing that I don't sit at His feet and enjoy Him, so busy that I don't nurture my relationship with Him, so busy that I don't take the time to love others the way He does, so busy that I don't really see who He is, so busy that I walk out of the steps He has planned for me, what am I missing? Even if the work is meaningful, what am I missing?
There is definitely work to be done. I can't say no to everything, don't even want to, but I want to be like Mary~ she chose the one thing that what was most important. I want to be like Jesus, He chose to consult the Father on everything before He set out to do the work of the day.
I want to reflect Him. I want to sit at His feet. I want to fully live the life He has purposed just for me.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Our Father's Love
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Phillips, Craig and Dean
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure.
Phillips, Craig and Dean
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Everyday Gratitude
Several years ago, Oprah did a show on living a life of gratitude. She gave an assignment that day during the show. She suggested keeping a gratitude journal. Each day you were to write five things you were thankful for. Little or big, silly or serious, it didn't matter. The goal was to change the focus from what you wanted or what was lacking in your life, to the things you had and the good that surrounded you. According to Oprah, recognizing the good in your life was the first step to a living a life of gratitude.
She was right. I love my journals. There have been many days that just acknowledging what I had, changed my perspective and brought true gratitude to my heart.
But as much as I like Oprah, the idea for living a life of gratitude didn't originate with her. It originated with the Giver of all good things. He may not have told us to write them down in a journal, instead He took it a step further by telling us (through the words of Paul) to, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." or as the Message Bible says it "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!" Phil.4:4
I'm thinking a good way to celebrate Him is to recognize all the good in the life He has has given to me. So, here's what I'm rejoicing for today.........
1. My boy. He is a bright spot in every day. Here's what he told me tonight, "Mom, these black eyed peas are so good, you must have worked hard to make them. How did you do it? They are just so good. You are such a good cook." After I revealed my secret to him (I opened the can and dumped then in a pan), he said, "Well, you sure picked out a good can. Good Job!" That pure gratitude made my heart smile.
2. Coffee
3. Clean dishes, the rest of the house still needs work, but the dishes are clean.
4. A sweet note from my husband.
5. A God who loved me so much that He did not spare even His only Son so that I could live every day in the fullness of His love. Not just now, but for all eternity.
6. For the moment, the puppy is sleeping and not chewing a single thing.
She was right. I love my journals. There have been many days that just acknowledging what I had, changed my perspective and brought true gratitude to my heart.
But as much as I like Oprah, the idea for living a life of gratitude didn't originate with her. It originated with the Giver of all good things. He may not have told us to write them down in a journal, instead He took it a step further by telling us (through the words of Paul) to, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." or as the Message Bible says it "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!" Phil.4:4
I'm thinking a good way to celebrate Him is to recognize all the good in the life He has has given to me. So, here's what I'm rejoicing for today.........
1. My boy. He is a bright spot in every day. Here's what he told me tonight, "Mom, these black eyed peas are so good, you must have worked hard to make them. How did you do it? They are just so good. You are such a good cook." After I revealed my secret to him (I opened the can and dumped then in a pan), he said, "Well, you sure picked out a good can. Good Job!" That pure gratitude made my heart smile.
2. Coffee
3. Clean dishes, the rest of the house still needs work, but the dishes are clean.
4. A sweet note from my husband.
5. A God who loved me so much that He did not spare even His only Son so that I could live every day in the fullness of His love. Not just now, but for all eternity.
6. For the moment, the puppy is sleeping and not chewing a single thing.
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