Church

I love Sundays.  I love church. 

Before we started regularly attending five years ago, it was just another weekend day to us.  It was a day we'd spend together, but sometimes we would go, and sometimes we would not.

I found out that we are MUCH nicer people when we go. 

We were attending another church at that time~another denomination even~and I remember feeling like we were being called back to our home church.  We went back that next week and I will never forget what my husband said.  "Now when we go back, I don't want to just jump back into something.  Let's wait and see if this is where we'll stay before we make any big decisions." 

Hmmmph. 

That Sunday he met our old children's pastor, Tim Land.  And found his niche in the kids department working sound and video.  And that began a tight knit friendship that is still going strong today, five years later.  I need to add here that we haven't even seen Tim and Jenny and their kids in two years.  I have a feeling that's going to change soon, though.  They're moving closer to us again.  Not here, but not too far away.

Back to church~that next Sunday we went back to our home church, I joined the choir.  The weekend after that I went on a music department retreat, and thus began the change in me, in Todd and in our lives. 

I love church.  Not just the place, but the family of believers that we belong to.  Even in a period where we struggle to find out spot, I still love the people that walk alongside us. 

I think the Lord wants us to attend church~even if He doesn't say that in the Bible, I think that He desires that we have this fellowship.  I never want to "do" life without Him in it. 

I have before, and I don't care to ever again.

I am flawed and He is the one that rescues me.  My dad once compared church to filling up your gas tank.  You go and you go and you just run out of gas.  Well, in life, you go and you go and you run out of energy, hope, fill in the blank here.  When you go, that's your time to fill back up.  On weeks that I miss, my days don't seem to go just quite right. 

I love church. 

a PrOmIsE & a QuIcK cAtCh Up

After last night's American Idol post, I am promising you, my bloggy peeps, to NOT post American Idol this week again.  I think.  I guess I better not promise anything like that.  Because you just never know what will happen on that show and if it excites me, well...I might.  I just might.

Anyway.  

If you're my facebook friend, you saw my weird status update last night.  I posted that we went to the chiropractor yesterday, and all the kids {plus me and the dad} got adjusted.  This was a first for them.

They were xrayed before Thanksgiving, but I'm just now getting around to taking them.  Have I mentioned our fanTABulous chiropractor?  His name is Jason Coleman.  If you're in Memphis, he is in the Cordova area.  And no, I am NOT being paid to advertise, although...that just might be a great idea.  Hmmm.

Anyway.

The boys were so funny.  They were so excited about getting adjusted.  Their xrays were pretty bad, I must admit.  Noah is already showing signs of scoliosis, and so is Drew.  Drew's neck is also out of line, which is why he gets headaches.  For which he can thank his dad for.  Who just might had one so atrocious last week, that he eventually got "sick".  {I prefer quotes over the word "vomit", don't you?}

So, thank you, Dear Hubby.  

Graham and Jonah were not quite as bad, but they had some curvature of the spine as well.  All of this can be fixed by Jason, which is why we're taking this measure with them.  Scoliosis runs in my family~my sister and my nephew both had to have surgeries to repair it, but hopefully my kids won't get to that point.

I'm thankful for a friend who just happens to also be a chiro. and who encouraged us to take this step with them.  I know my parents and my sister probably would have loved to have been told that if caught soon enough, all the issues can be fixed without surgery.  And maybe they couldn't have, but it can't hurt to try, right?

Regardless, I am thankful.

What was so funny, though, was that after they get adjusted, Jason wants them to all lay for 10 minutes on a roller table.  Which Drew said "feels just like a massage".  And then proceeded to fall asleep right after he said that.  Seriously, when the table stopped, I thought he was gonna fall off it.  It startled him that bad.  

What I wasn't prepared for were all the crazy looks we got.  I know that not everyone believes in chiropractors, but my philosophy is, why not?  I mean if there is a even just a slight chance that all these problems can be fixed now without them being in pain, why not try it?  Right?

But you should have seen all the looks we got today.  There was this one woman waiting on one of the 5 tables that we were occupying, and I swear that if looks could have killed~that I would be dead.  She had this horrid look on her face that said, "You mean I am having to wait on a bunch of kids to get onto a roller table?!".  You know the kind.  The kind that is lovely to witness.  And that just makes you want to haul off and smack someone.  Yup.  I said it.  She had A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E. written all over her face.

Oh well.  I realize that she was probably in pain.  Hopefully that's why she had that look.  

But the boys love going.  The adjustments were quick and painless.  Noah laughed hysterically the entire time.  Even Jason laughed at them.  It's hilarious to watch.  

It has been a GREAT day.  For all of us.  I hope yours was too.  I pray that tomorrow is the same~you know me and Thursdays.  :)  

Well, goodnight all.   

American Idol

Did y'all watch last night?  It's funny because Todd and I agreed on who we liked, but the boys have totally different opinions.  Good for them! 

Here's who I liked last night:

Paige Miles
Lilly Scott
Katelyn Epperly
Michelle Delamor
Crystal Bowersox

Who were your likes and dislikes? 

I thought the girls didn't do as good last night as they did on that last Hollywood performance, but overall I thought they did pretty good.  The first week's always tough~it has to be with all the nerves.  I'm sure as the weeks go by they'll loosen up some and come out of their shells. 

Bottom line~there are some VERY different people on here this year.  In the girls, especially, several of them have really distinctive voices and I love it. 

I can't wait for tonight's episode!!!

Oh, and the boys all loved Crystal Bowersox and Katie Stevens.  I think they liked Katie because of her looks! 

Love is on My Brain

This is what my Pastor spoke on, on Valentine's day this past Sunday.  I loved what he said and thought I would share with my bloggy peeps.  Hope you enjoy it.  

How to Have a Satisfying Marriage

as given by Pastor Tom Lindberg

1.  Communication~Ephesians 4:15 "Instead we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church."

2.  Compromise~1 Corinthians 13:5 "...it {love} does not demand its own way."

3.  Courtship~Proverbs 5:18 "Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.  Rejoice in the wife of your youth."

*If there was more courting in marriage, there be less marriages in court.*

4.  Contentment~Exodus 20:17 "You must not covet your neighbor's house.  You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."

5.  Christ~Matthew 6:33 "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."

Just a Little Word

"May the LORD bless you and protect you.  May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace."

Numbers 6:24~26

I'm writing this and listening to my Travis cd.  Seriously, if you have not bought the Jesus Saves cd yet, RUN DO NOT WALK to the nearest Christian bookstore and snatch it up.  You can not have a bad day when listening to songs that have words like, "Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Jesus!" in them.  These are the words that go through my head everyday.

I'm also trying not to cry anymore, because my sweet friend Marian lost her Pearl this weekend.  Pearl was a 7 year old black lab.  

Hello?  That sounds just like Andy the WonderDog.  

Seriously, tears were pouring out of my eyes as I looked at the picture and read the caption underneath.  It was a quote from Billy Graham about dogs being in Heaven.  

This girl is crazy in love with Jesus, her family and her dogs.  Pearl was one of 4 labs.  

And Todd, if you're reading this, WE ARE NOT GETTING ANOTHER DOG.  

I don't know why I'm still crying.  I can't stop. 

Hormones, maybe?

I hate being so sensitive.  I really do.  I wear my heart right on my sleeve and it's there for anyone to knock into. 

And animals are right up there with kids and old people in my book.  I can't imagine my life without our pets and I literally thank God for them.  They bring such joy to our home and I feel sorry for people that can't have them because of allergies.  

Lord, give Marian strength for this day. My heart aches for my friend.  Bring her peace and joy as she remembers the good times she had with Pearl.  In the sweet name of Jesus.  

Love to all.  If you have pets in your home, love on them today. 

Marriage Monday

I put this on my blog two years ago.  And since today is Marriage Monday, I thought I would repost it.  

Happy reading!

Ten Secrets To A Happy Marriage (as written by Karen Kingsbury)

1. God has us here to serve one another. Love acted out is serving.

2. Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you'd lay your life down for her. Continue to date and admire her. Share a hobby~find something you can do to have fun together.

3. Laugh often.

4. Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.

5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.

6. Keep short accounts. The Bible says, "Do not let the sun go down while you are angry." Make it a habit to forgive.

7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.

8. Learn about love languages. Not all people show love or receive it the same way. You want a back rub and your wife wants a clean kitchen. The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time, physical touch, gifts and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is better received when it's in the language the person speaks. (The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman)

9. Words of affirmation are a love language for all men. Use them often!!

10. Men are born to be leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him the confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up. Confident men do not seek love outside the home.

******************

One thing our Pastor said last Sunday {Valentine's day} was that God needs to be kept at the center of the marriage.  Without Him at the core, all else falls short.  No one can make us happy all the time, and if we're expecting our mates to do that~then it's not fair to them or to you.  Only God can complete you, contrary to what Tom Cruise said in the movie Jerry McGuire.

Another thing Pastor said was that if more married couples spent time in courtship, then less marriages would spend time in court. 

I encourage you to read the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman if you haven't ever.  Find out what ways your mate needs to be loved and then get to work!  

I also encourage you to say one encouraging thing to your mate every single day.  Even if you have to work at doing this, find something to be thankful for.  The more you do this, the more of a habit it becomes, making it easier each time.

Love to all.  I hope this is in some way helpful. 

Lessons On Parenting

Tonight we had a family service at our church.  I have to admit~I was hesitant to go, because it is a Friday night.  I should always figure that when I'm like that, God just shows up.  And He did in a big way.  My kids and I were blessed because of it tonight, and I got to reconnect with my high school best friend.  How good is God?

It was a fun time of worshiping with our families, watching a live gameshow, then the kids went on a treasure hunt throughout the church.  The parents stayed where put for a short message from Jason Noble, the director of Children's Ministry Agency.  I was immediately hooked, because like us, he has 4 kids.  Get their ages~11, 9, and 6 year old twins.  Hello?  Sound familiar?  The only difference is that ours are all boys and 3 of his are girls, with his son being 9.

He spoke on Deuteronomy tonight.  On parenting.  Because, let's face it: life is full of ups, downs, obstacles and challenges.  I thought I would share what he spoke on tonight~it's eleven principles taken out of Deuteronomy chapter 6.

Parenting:
1:  Get the commandments inside of YOU.  Deuteronomy 6:6 {in the Message translation} says this: "Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts.  Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children."  *Kids are followers~they mimic what they see.  When they SEE YOU living a life that is full of God, they tend to follow your lead.*

2:  Love God.  Deuteronomy 6:5 {still in the Message} says this: "Love God, your God, with your whole heart.  Love Him with all that is in you, love Him with all you've got!" 

3:  Teach and model God's commandments.  Deuteronomy 6:6 {NIV this time} says this: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts."  *Again, this is acting, doing, living out our faith.  And teaching it to our kids.*

4:  Talk about the things of God.  Deuteronomy 6:8,&9 say this:  "Tie them {the commandments} as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

5:  Instill a thankful heart towards God.  Deuteronomy 6:12 says this: "Be careful that you not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."  *Let's face it here, folks: we are a sinful people and without God in our lives, our lives end on this earth.  If we know God and He lives and dwells within us, our real life begins with our last breath on earth.  That is all there is to it.*

6:  Teach children to respect God.  Deuteronomy 6:13 {back to the Message again} says this: "Deeply respect God, your God.  Serve and worship Him exclusively.  *Respecting God starts with church.*

7:  Help them to see how much God loves them.  *God wants us to know how much He loves us, and He assures us that our lives will increase greatly after this life on earth ends.  We think our lives are good now, just wait until we get to Heaven!*

8:  Teach them to worship only God.  Deuteronomy 6:13,14 say this: "Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name.  Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you."  *A god can be a sport, an addiction, a tv show, basically anything that takes our time away from God.  We must set our priorities in life now while our kids are young.  Children have developed their personalities by age 3, and by the age of 9, they've established their world views.  Think about that~and if necessary, re~prioritize our lives!*

9:  Encourage them to always do the right thing.  Deuteronomy 6:17 {The Message} says this: "Do what is right; do what is good in God's sight so you'll live a good life and be able to march in and take this pleasant land that God so solemnly promised through your ancestors, throwing out your enemies left and right~exactly as God said." 

10:  Be willing to answer their questions.  *Life is hard and kids are full of questions.  When they ask difficult questions if you don't know how to answer them, be honest with them.  Take a moment and pray about it, and ask God for guidance and wisdom.  He will direct our words, and He'll give us enough to answer.* 

11:  Help them see how important God's blessings are.  Deuteronomy 6:24 says this: "The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we may always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today."  *Can we live without God?  Of course.  But I don't want to.  He never promises that life with Him will be easy~but it will be eternal and with His hand on us, it will be a fulfilling life.  I know that God has richly blessed my family, and I give all the praise to Him for that.*

I hope you gain as much from this as I did.  I am always on the lookout for parental advice, and as believers we should all stick together.  Times today are different and more difficult than ever before.  I pray that you find this useful~I'm definitely keeping it handy around my house.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Love to all.