things for Thursday

I am so glad that today we will be DONE with packing for our trip.  Once everything is loaded and we are on the way, I think I'll feel better.  And if I forget something, I know the world will not come crashing to a halt.

So today is going to be spent packing!  Have I said lately that there is so much we have to take?!  And remember?!  There is.  I'm really praying I don't forget anything major.  The boys and I all have a full day.  There is yard work to be done, dog food for Callie to be bought, containers to be packed with clothes, snacks and supplies that we will need for the nine days we'll be gone.  I also have to pack up things for our dogs to be taken to their grandparents house while we're away, and there is a list for them as well.  (I'm not kidding.)

Last night while all the boys were at church, then swimming afterward, Todd and I finished up our list of things to buy.

I thought my fortune was appropriate.  We ate dinner first, then went to Walmart, Academy in Collierville, then to the Olive Branch Academy.  We had to buy sleeping bags there and the one in The Ville only had one.

I hated missing church and a fun youth thing, but necessity took precedence.

I am so thankful to my husband and for all the help he has been in helping me shop for things.  He and the boys made a huge Costco trip on Tuesday night so I could go to my book club and then bible study.  I think he realizes I needed those things to stay calm, cool and collected.

And because the front of my house makes my heart happy, I'll show you this picture I took yesterday.

I love all the color I see in the flowers and in the giant flower pots.  We use pots because there isn't room in the flower beds for flowers.

Also, in trying to coax Crash inside this morning, I took this picture of him frozen in place for twenty minutes.

Crazy dog.  He catches a whiff of some critter, and he freezes.  It's the pointer that is in him.  I finally got him in ten minutes after I took this.  He thought he was in trouble and came sneaking inside.

He wasn't in trouble...I loved on him some, because I'm going to miss him (and Callie) while we're gone.

Well.  My lists are calling my name and I have four teenagers to wake up to get started on their chores.  Love to all.

(I won't write again until the Monday after we get home...I can't wait to give an account of what all took place and how amazingly God worked.)

a list of random things (because it's been so long)

It is starting to hit me that we are leaving town in forty-eight hours.  As that time draws closer, my list of thing to do before leaving seems to be growing!  Yesterday I spent several hours at our church with a sweet girl going with us (Eryn), getting resources and making examples of crafts for our preschool kids and then making copies.  I was so hugely overwhelmed with it all when I got back home that I just laid down and took a nap.

Seriously.

Because apparently, all the other things I had to do didn't matter.

The things rolling around in my brain would make a sane person crazy.  I'm trying to keep up with my lists, but I have several lists.  I have a "to-do list", a "to buy" list, and a reminder list of things to pay before I leave (bills) and a list of things to tell my sister Trish, who is staying at our house the whole time we are gone.

Because of all these things listed above, this morning, I needed an extra large cup of coffee.  Or two.

I may regret it later if my heart starts racing, but I needed the extra dosage of caffeine this morning.  Thankfully, I had a really great quiet time with the Lord.  I spent a long time praying, then I read from Psalms.  I wrote it down in my journal, but for the life of me, I can't remember which Psalm I read.  I also wrote out my scripture and I did day one of a bible study I started last night.  (On the fruits of the Holy Spirit!)

I came away from quiet time feeling very refreshed, and thanking God for His timing in this study.  In it, we are being challenged to live life fully by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.  We are not capable of anything on our own, but with His Holy Spirit, He makes us capable.

It's perfect for my upcoming trip to the Navajo reservation!  I don't know why I'm surprised...because how like God is that?  To give me exactly what I need, right when I need it?

It's all happenstance, too, which is another story in itself, but basically, I ran into a sweet friend at Lifeway last Friday and she told me about this study she was going to do this summer on her own.  I invited myself to join her, and she said yes.  I'm so thankful for God's gift of friends to me.

Something else that made my heart so thankful last night was the fact that one of my dreams came true.  I have ALWAYS wanted to be in a book club, and last night we met for the first time, for our summer book club.  Honestly, I hope it continues each month long after the summer passes, because I LOVE meeting and discussing books.  We are reading together (me for the second time) the book Nobody's Cuter Than You, by Melanie Shankle, author of the Big Mama blog.

And speaking of books, look at what was waiting on me when I got home yesterday!

I pre-ordered this book a month or so ago, and yesterday was the release date.  I love me a book by Sophie Hudson or Melanie Shankle.  They're the perfect summer reads~lighthearted, witty and so good you won't put them down.

I'll let you know my thoughts on this book when I'm done, but I already know I'm going to love it.

Her other books are just as great.

As are Melanie Shankle's.

Well.  I need to run.  I have laundry and such calling my name.  Please keep praying for all of us going on this trip!  Thanks in advance.

Love to all.

upcoming trip

I haven't talked much about our upcoming trip to a Navajo reservation in Arizona, so I thought I'd share with you about that today.  We load everything up on Thursday night, and at the crack of dawn Friday morning, we will leave our church and start driving west.  We will stop and sleep somewhere in Texas that night and have dinner and hopefully let people swim, should they want to do that.

The next morning we will continue our drive to Arizona and arrive in Cornfields, Arizona around dinner time.  I'm not sure what we'll do that night or the next day, but we will have some free time and I'm sure we'll have a worship service of some sort.  I think we will also go and canvas nearby areas to invite people to our bible clubs each day.

Beginning on Monday, we will have free time until it's time to leave for our sites that we've been assigned to.  Though we are all sleeping (IN TENTS!) at Cornfields, there are different sites that we've been given to remain at for bible club throughout the week.  Todd, the younger boys, Alex and I are all staying at Cornfields for bible club, but Graham and Drew will be at a site called Nazlini.  Each site is 30-45 minutes away from Cornfields.

On Monday through Friday afternoons, we will be giving bible club for ages preschool up through adults.  We will have an assembly to start each day off, then there will be dinner, recreation, the teaching and a closing assembly.  My jobs are assembly leader and preschool teacher.  Todd is a driver (the drivers go pick up the bible school attendees) and will also take them back home afterward.  Graham is helping teach second and third grade at Nazlini and Drew is the head of recreation for his site.  Todd will also head up recreation at Cornfields.

So, it's a LOT of work and preparation to go on a trip of this magnitude.  We have to take everything with us that we will need for bible club, assemblies, crafts, recreation and games.  The lists I have going are growing, and I am always a second away from being totally overwhelmed, but God is good and He is keeping me calm.

The closer we get, the more excited I grow, and I know that God is going to do something HUGE throughout this week.  I am totally trusting in Him, because it is NOT in my personality to be up on stage in front of people engaging them and welcoming them with an awesome assembly.  I am the polar opposite of that, in fact, but I trust God and I trust our leaders, Keith and Kim, who prayed over each assignment they gave.  I am desperate for God to give me everything I need for this trip, and I know He will come through.

Will you please join me in praying for all of this?  We leave Friday the tenth and return on Sunday the nineteenth.  Here are pictures of the team members from our church going and specific requests.

I have several dear friends who've set reminders on their phones to pray for us, and a few are specifically praying for ME during the time we're gone.  Will you do the same?

Thank you so much!  I can't wait to update you when we get home.  I've been on one other mission trip, and one thing I quickly learned was to not say no, but to live each moment without regret.  I don't want to come home and be sad that I didn't take an opportunity to do something I felt God calling me to do.  I pray that I live each moment in the moment and that I obey what I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to do.

Words cannot express how much I appreciate your prayers.  Do whatever you need to save these pictures above.

Also, I am looking forward to spending time with some fun teenagers going!

This was a couple of them who came over last night to help me make posters with lyrics for our assembly time each day.  I am so thankful that they came to help!

Thanks so much, my friends.  Love to all.

the weekend

This was a great (kinda crazy) weekend.  I am so thankful for family, friends and our faith family.  I love my church family so much and am so thankful to be a part of our Collierville First Baptist Church.  More about this in a second, though.

On Friday, and in the rain, the boys and I went to pick up Todd, Jonah and Noah from church.  I was so glad to see them!  They helped unload the bus, then we came straight home.  And man alive, they came home with a ton of dirty laundry.

This was load number one.  It took forever to fold, and for once, the boys had the bigger pile to fold than me.  I do all the shirts, and mine and Todd's stuff.  They do shorts, socks, and boxers.  I HATE folding socks, so this method works well for us.

And Jonah's face.  All of a sudden, he wants to be in every picture I take.

On Saturday we all slept late.  I did more laundry, went to run some errands, then came home and finished the book I've been reading.  

Todd worked with the sheriff's department that night and the boys and I headed to my mom's for dinner.

LOOK at how amazing the sky was!  We actually pulled over to take this picture.  

I love clouds, and the contrast of the dark clouds with the sun setting gave me chills.  

We came home and I watched a movie while the boys went to the park to play football.  Graham and Drew brought Jonah, Noah and Alex home, then went to a friend's house to spend the night.

All day yesterday, we celebrated Missy's birthday.  I love this lady so much!  I made her a birthday cake and we showered her with love all the day long.  It was so much fun!

Last night we had a night of praise and worship at our church, and it was so amazing!  I was surprised at how big the crowd was for a summer Sunday night.  We are planning on doing another one after school starts back.  

And THIS girl (Emma) led us in the song Holy Spirit.  

I may have cried several times throughout the song.  In this picture, you see Emma, her mom and her grandmother.  Talk about a legacy!  I am so proud of this sweet girl, and her heart for Jesus. 

And just for fun and because I am in love with these trees outside our church, I took this picture on the way home from lunch yesterday.

Is this not gorgeous?  I found out (thanks to my friends) that this a golden rain tree.  The blossoms remind me of firecrackers.  I think it's beautiful.  

I love nature and see God throughout all of His glorious creation.  

Well, I have a busy day (week) and need to get started.  Thanks for reading!  Love to all.

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday to ME!  I get to see my whole family today!  Can you tell I've missed them and that I'm DONE with the quietness that has been this entire week?  I am.

I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals for this blog post.

Here are some of my top moments from the past week.

One.

Camp pictures have been my favorite pictures to look at all week on social media.  These guys are having a blast and I am so thankful they were able to go and have a great time and that God did something huge in all of their hearts.  More tears have been shed this week, I hear, than any other camps in a very long time.  I can't wait to hear all about it!

Two.

I've enjoyed spending time with these girls this week.  I'm going to miss them all when we leave next week for our mission trip!  I've been soaking up all the moments that lead up to the day we leave.  Except for Emma.  She's going on the trip as well, so woohoo!  Also going on the trip are two sweet girls from our bible fellowship class, Eryn and Katie.  I am so thankful that I get to spend a lot of time with them in the next couple of weeks.

Three.

Favorite picture I took all week: these three teenagers playing Candy Land at Mimi's house Tuesday night.  They crack me up!

Four.

Yesterday, I went to my mom's house around three and stayed until about seven.  Graham and Drew had plans that night and I really didn't feel like being alone all night, so I ate dinner with them.  I took this picture as I was waiting on cars to pass at the end of Mom's driveway.  That house you see is my favorite home to look at through the rear view mirror.  I love going out there and the night was really nice.  I'm so glad it didn't rain, like it was predicted to do.

Five.

In doing my favorite past time this week, I've been reading and writing in 1 John.  I love this book of the bible!  God highlighted some verses for me to share with one of "my" girls that just graduated from high school this morning, and in doing that, I was prompted to text her and to continue to pray for her.  Sometimes this life is hard and I don't always have words to say to them when they make really stupid decisions.  I've spent a LOT of time in prayer for them this week.

And I saved the best for last.

Six.

These people come home today!  I can't wait to get hugs.  I spent forever on the phone with my hubby last night, after their church at camp.  He was telling me all that has gone on and we talked until his phone died.  It made me miss him even more.

Thanks for reading my blog!  Love to all.

goings on this week

It's been the WEIRDEST week ever.  With half of my family gone, it's been oddly quiet.  Did I mention on here that my tv has been out since Sunday night?  It has.  It's made for some quiet evenings and some good reading.

And the older boys have been gone a lot.  A LOT.  And they're gone again tonight, this time, spending the night with a friend.

Odd, I tell you.

I've filled my time, though, with good things.

I spent some good time with the Lord here at my kitchen table yesterday.  I do love a quiet morning, and I love good lighting and all these things you see above.

I love Jesus most, though, and I love the way He shows me truths in His word.  I'm still scribbling away, making my way through First Peter.

I'm almost at the point that I need to go shopping for a new journal.

I've had some fun moments with some pretty amazing girls.

I love this girl so much.  She's fun to be around, and I can always count on her to do something that will give me a great laugh.  Yesterday it was the fact that she is running her poor Grammy ragged.  Not really...but her sweet mom has been at middle school camp with the other half of my family all week, so really, she's been staying with her Grammy.

She opened up this bottle (for the first time), telling us she was practicing for our upcoming mission trip to the Navajo reservation in Arizona.

That practicing isn't doing her much good, if yesterday was the first time she had opened it.

This crazy girl lives on chicken nuggets and macaroni and food that's similar.  I'm trying to talk her into trying more, but she gags.

I'm not even kidding.

I hung out with more than just her yesterday.

Here are some of the other ones.  We had great intentions, but it was so hot that we called it quits and went to Missy's house for grilled cheese sandwiches and dinosaur chicken nuggets.  We also started watching Father of the Bride, but never finished.

I foresee that changing in the near future.

It was a fun afternoon and then I had choir practice last night.

 I LOVE choir practice, but I missed my sweet Abbey.  We have so much more fun when we're together.

I see my family tomorrow!  I can't wait.

Love to all!

summery traditions

Today's pictures are brought to you by the counselors at The Crossings camp in Kentucky.  They are also completely unrelated to this blog post.

Look at those two cuties in the blue and red Nike shirts.  I don't know what they were doing in this, but they used a lot of foil and they're all having an amazing time.

Also, on Monday night, Abbey sent me this picture of her and my hubby.

I miss them.

Now, onto the rest of this blog post.

My in-love's have a great neighborhood pool near them.  We don't really have a ton of places to swim, a place that I can invite ourselves, but we always have Mimi's pool.

This was around a year ago.  It's nice as long as there aren't too many people in it and as long as it doesn't feel like bathwater.  The only unfortunate thing is that by July, it does feel like bathwater.  We like our water nice and cool.  But yesterday, it was only her and me swimming.  With the younger two gone, and since Graham and Drew are driving nowadays, they decided to not come with me.

So we had a lovely two hours to ourselves in the pool, and then another hour poolside in the shade.

It's funny how we NEVER seem to run out of things to talk about, and it was nice being able to give each other our undivided attention.  Phyllis and I have a really great relationship, and I am so thankful for her.

And then afterward, we went to her house and I took a nap.  Because teenage girls the night before.  And little sleep.  Graham and Drew met us at her house with their friend Andrew, and we made plans to eat at CiCi's Pizza.  But before dinner...

...they had to play a quick game of Candy Land.  Because you are NEVER too old to play this game.

It was a fun day!

We came home after this and they went to hang out with friends until close to eleven.  I read and listened to Elevation Worship on YouTube for three hours.  (Our television isn't working right now, in case I forgot to mention that.)

I finally went to bed when they got home and slept peacefully all night.

Today?  I'm staying home and working to prepare for our upcoming mission trip to the Navajo reservation in Arizona, then I have choir practice tonight at church.

Love to all!