A Quote and a Thought

So...the girls spent the night with Gran and Pop Friday night. Saturday morning, Gran and Maddie had a conversation about chores...seems to be a topic of a lot of conversations around here. Anyway, Gran was telling her that she had some chores to do Saturday morning. Then they talked about Maddie and Ella's chores. The girls just can't quite understand yet why they have chores to do everyday. Gran explained that as a family, we all have things we need to do to help out. She said your mom has chores to do too, like laundry and cleaning and whatever else she listed. To that Maddie replied and I quote,

"Those are not Mommy's chores, that is her life."

Most days that is exactly how I feel. My life seems to revolve around the mounds of laundry around my house, and trying ever so desperately to stay one step ahead of needing to be the next show of "Clean House". Many days I wonder if I am doing anything for the kingdom. But God reminds me ever so gently, this time through Eric, that I am doing exactly what I was called to do. And while that may not be all that glamorous, and some days not all that fun, it is for a purpose. Maddie and Ella are watching and learning by my example...scary ain't it! If I ask them to do their chores with a happy heart, then I need to do the same. They are two precious souls that God created. If they learn to tune their hearts to Him and follow His calling, then I have done something for His kingdom.

Lord, only by your grace can we be an example of you. Fill us right now with your Holy Spirit so that we may accomplish what you have called us to.
Amen

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Well, here I am again. I am hoping this is like riding a bicycle, and it will all come back to me very quickly! Anyway, MB, I will try and be a little less lazy in the days to come. :)

Back at the beginning of summer as my anniversary was approaching, I was having a hard time coming up with a gift for Eric. I can't express how much giving the "perfect" gift means to me. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen very often for whatever reason, but when it does, It makes my heart happy. I always have a hard time with gifts for Eric. If he needs something, he just goes and buys it, leaving nothing left to the want list. I finally resorted to Google...I mean what can't you figure out with Google at your fingertips?? I came across an idea that sparked my interest and tailored it to fit us. The drum roll please.....I gave him a box with 13 envelopes...yeah he looked at me that way too. But he was allowed to open the 1st one and read it. It was all mushy and sappy and stuff, but explained that each of the other 12 envelopes would be opened on the 5th of each month (our anniversary is the 5th). They would each explain a date that we would be taking. So, if you do the math, that is one date each month until our 10th anniversary. But, what I thought was the cool thing is that most of our dates are recreating things that we did back before we were married.

Last night, we went on our 3rd date. I know what you are thinking...no it wasn't the on the 5th, but that is the only one that isn't. Back when we were dating, Eric lived in Dalton, and I lived in Bremen. We would meet in Atlanta a lot, because that was sort of half way. One of our rendezvous was a trip to a Braves game, so that is what we did yesterday, hence the reason we went on the 2nd instead of the 5th. They do not schedule their games around me. Anyway, we had a great time, even though it was 150 degrees outside! We were very blessed however because our seats were shaded by the upper deck.

Awwwww, aren't we cute?

I used to be a big Braves fan. I went to games before they ever started winning and Fulton County Stadium was empty. But, now the games seem longer, and the seats seem harder. Maybe that is showing my age. But, yesterday was a treat because Steven Curtis Chapman was in concert after the game, which made the long game and the hard seats worth it!

Now, I mentioned that it was 150 degrees all day, and there hadn't been a cloud in the sky until the band began to set up. Then out of nowhere, the sky turned ugly and the wind started blowing. We could see lighting flashing in the not too distant sky. John Smoltz spoke before the bottom dropped out of the sky. It was rather fitting that he talked about the clouds and storms that God places in our lives.

It absolutely poured for 20 or 30 minutes, while everyone ran for cover. Then we were able to go back to our seats. Because of safety reasons, the band wasn't able to play, but Steven came out with his guitar, his Bible and a microphone. The sky cleared and turned the most beautiful shade of orange and purple. My picture just doesn't do it justice. God is so big and so amazing. The very fact that SCC can even stand on stage is evidence that God is real. He talked about little Maria and the storm that they have been in. He said he has never been more certain that God is real and has a plan for each of us. Does he understand everything, no. Is he still full of questions, absolutely. But, God does have a plan for each one of us. We all walk through storms. This life is a series of them. If we aren't in one now, we will be soon. We just have to trust. So, I pray that wherever you are, whatever you are going through, you can give your life to Him, because He loves you more than anything and He's got it figured out...even if you don't exactly understand it.

Happy Birthday Maddie!

Wow! I can't believe it, my sweet Maddie is 6 years old today! I'm not sure where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her little tiny self home from the hospital. I remember it like it was yesterday. We had no idea how our lives were going to change! When I think that this is just a glimpse of the love that God has for us, I am just overwhelmed.

On Sunday, we had a few of Maddie's friends over for a tea party with their American Girl Dolls.

Is this good tea party etiquette or what???

After the tea party, we headed to the movie theater to see the new Kit

Kittredge movie. It really was a cute

movie. I highly recommend it!

Happy birthday Maddie Belle! We love you a whole stinkin bunch!!

An Easy DIY Project

Every once in awhile I come up with a good idea. Now, I will be the first to say, I am no Nate Burkus, nor am I anywhere close to Billy Graham, but I came up with a quick easy project that combines a little spirituality and some home decor to boot. Many people have "life" verses. I really don't. My mind doesn't tend to work that way. I compartmentalize in my brain. If I had to sum my whole life into one verse, I would be in trouble. When Maddie and Ella were born, several wonderful people told us that they had picked a life verse for their children. I tried that...didn't get very far. So, I backed up and punted. I began to pray and asked God to show me what HE wanted me to pray for them. A mere four years later, He gave me one for Maddie. I don't call it her life verse. It is just one of many that I am praying for her until God shows me another. I didn't really have a specific verse for Ella, but God has shown me very recently that I need to pray for her to understand and accept authority. I want my girls not only to know that I pray for them daily, but I want them to know some specifics. I have painted "verbage" on several walls in my house, but I didn't want this to be so permanent. When God gives me a new verse, I want to be able to change it.

So, all that to say here's what I came up with: I bought two 10x20 frames, which I found for only $8.00 a piece. Then cut white paper to fit in each. I wrote the particular scripture for each girl on each paper. Then put it in the frame. I used cute ribbon to hang them with, which I found on clearance for a couple of dollars, but you certainly wouldn't have to. I just happen to be able to write in cute fonts, but those of you who are much more computer savvy than I, could easily print it out instead. Now, how easy is that...and all for around $18.00!

Here is the finished project

The Thoughts in My Head

Yes, I am still here. I had big plans of resting and relaxing this summer and somehow that has totally gotten away from me. We have soooo much going on right now, that if I stop and think about it too much, I just may resign myself from adulthood. :) Our church is going through a transition time right now. That is both exciting and scary at the same time. I am working an upcoming Tres Dias weekend. I won't say what I am doing, but let me just say that God is finding great joy in stretching me on this one! We have birthdays and birthday parties, bible school, piano, swim days, music camp.....and on and on. All of these things are really good things, but if my focus is taken off my savior, then they can be detrimental. Some days my focus is where it needs to be and others...not so much.

Somewhere in all of this, God is trying to shave away some of my ugliness. Pride is a part of me that is a hindrance. I don't mean for it to be. It just is. Several times lately, my heart has been questioned. For me...that just hits hard. When it comes to most things, I could care less what others think, but when my heart is questioned, it "eats my lunch". (a quote from my friend Shana) :) So, why do I let that bother me??? It really shouldn't matter. All I should care about is how God sees my heart. So, how do we get there? How do we have close relationships and not think about how they see us? How do we do what we believe God wants us to and when others question our faith, not let that bother us? How do we go through this life and not believe the lies that Satan tries to feed us?

I really am not fishing for encouragements of any kind. And, although it may sound like it, I'm really not complaining. :) I love my life. I am blessed beyond measure. I am just thinking out loud...or in print. As others have said - I'm just keepin it real.

Quote for the Day

So....the other night Ella was saying her prayers. This is how it went:

She closes her eyes.
"Dear God,
Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Gran and Pop, Jenny, Nanna and Paw Paw. And thank you for letting me stay up late tomorrow night.
Amen"

She opens her eyes.
"Mommy, can I stay up late tomorrow night?"

All I could do is walk out of the room laughing. On one hand, she IS praying expectantly. One the other hand, if she can think to connive her way into things this well at 4, what are we going to do when she is 14 I ask????

Happy Aniversary Eric!

Today, Eric and I have been married for nine years. I've seen several people do lists about loved ones on other blogs, so I thought I would do one for Eric. Here are 9 reasons that I love him.

1. He makes me laugh. daily. I'm not exaggerating. Even in my darkest hours of depression, he could always squeeze a laugh out of me. I LOVE that!

2. He is absolutely head over heels in love with his girls - all 3 of us. Maddie and Ella just don't realize yet how blessed they are. Satan will have to work over time to get them to question their self worth. Eric lavishes them with more love than any humanly father could.

3. He is a hard worker. He is not afraid of breaking a sweat or getting his hands dirty. For a little over a month now, he has been working on our pool. Every night, he is flat exhausted. Yesterday, the guys that he hired to do the tile left early because it was so hot, but he just kept right on working in the 90 degree heat.

4. He is a good provider. Because Eric owns his own business, this recession that we are in could be very scary. But, I'm not scared at all. He is constantly "re-calulating" ways for us to save money. I know he will do what it takes for us to make it.

5. He is a finisher. We laugh because Eric almost always has some kind of project going on. But, He ALWAYS finishes what he starts. No mater what.

6. He loves to cook. Now, I love being a stay at home mom (most days), and I really enjoy cooking, but sometimes I get in a rut. I feel like I am cooking the same things over and over. Eric really loves to try new things. I absolutely love it when he is in the kitchen with me. It is just fun to cook together.

7. He has strong arms. Now, that may sound like a strange one, but to me it's important. Y'all know, this is a hard life. Don't get me wrong, we are blessed beyond measure, so don't think I'm complaining. But the enemy knows just where to creep in. I have 2 sets of arms to keep me safe. God's and Eric's. The world around me can be crazy and chaotic, but there is just something about Eric's arms being around me. I feel safe.

8. He is the voice of reason. Now, I am not always quick to say this one. And, this could very easily go on a totally different kind of list. :) Like a few days ago when we got our cell phone bill with lots of "roaming" charges on it. The person responsible for those charges will remain nameless. LOL! But, today I am seeing things pretty clearly. I like to jump into things head first. That is just who I am. I just think things will work out. I am not a planner or a thinker. Eric is. Guess that's why God put us together.

9. And most importantly, Eric loves God. Before we had children, I used to wonder if he would really be our spiritual leader. Cause I am such a spiritual giant and all. :) But, he is. He has allowed God to stretch him and change him in some pretty incredible ways. He is a high-spirited, strong man, but he doesn't hesitate to hand it all over to the one who gave him his strength.

So, Eric - Happy Aniversary! I love you more now than I did nine years ago. I stand in awe of what God has brought us through, and look forward to where He is going to take us.
Tammy