Him

He has a tender heart.

He laughs and cries at the drop of a hat.  His laughs are the deep kind, and his tears come because he's sensitive.

You will never see him standing in the center of a stage with a microphone in his hand.  But when he sings in the car, he hits every note dead-on. 

He's had a deep, raspy voice since he turned 18 months old.

He's always been a bit of a risk-taker.  Like the time when he was just one year old.  I couldn't find him anywhere...and finally I saw him standing in the middle of my kitchen table with his arm reached up to touch the chain that was hanging down from the fan.

He's been known to shake his booty.  At the end of every movie, while the credits are rolling.

He loves to roll his r's, and his favorite word to say while doing that is "rampanada".  I don't even know if that's a real word, or one he made up.

He's the kid that little kids gravitate towards.  He is very loving and patient with them.

Animals love him.

He's been given an award for the characteristic trait of joy.

Kids love to sit by him in class and at the lunchroom table.

He is fiercely protective.

He wakes up grumpy at least 2 or 3 mornings every week.

He hates to read fiction (unless it's by Rick Riordan or Mike Lupica), but loves to read anything about the war or Alcatraz.

He loves music.

He loves to draw.

He loves to make animals and other cool things out of folded sheets of paper.

He loves to sleep in my bed when Todd isn't here. 

He really loves when I sing him the song I would sing him to sleep with when he was a baby.

He's the one who can't stand the thought of me being by myself. 

He loves coffee. 

He loves food in general. 

He's a movie buff. 

He's also the only one at home with us right now, on this beautiful Saturday morning.

Who?

Drew. 

My Inheritance

Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.  You guard all that is mine.  

The land You have given me is a pleasant land.  What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.  

I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.  My body rests in safety.

 For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave,

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.  

Amen. 

Psalm 16:5~11

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I need some sunshine!  My friend Kim made a drawing-like picture of a sun her facebook profile picture, and she has made it known how much she LOVES the sunshine.  Not that I didn't feel like that before, but I sure do now!!!  I am ready to hear birds again...instead of thundering, or worse, the dreaded tornado siren. 

God is good, though, and we have been safe.  He's good anyway...but He helped calm my fears last night through a friend's verse she put as her facebook status. 

Matthew 8:26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

I said it before: I don't know why I let the weather bother me.  This verse breathed comfort into me last night when I read it.  Apparently, when I copied it as my status, it had the same effect on others.  I am so thankful we have God's word to look to!!  It is just that...comforting.  I view it as God's letter to me.  

I actually slept really well last night.  Todd ended up getting called out like I figured he would, so I put Drew in bed with me.  The other 3 boys were sleeping soundly when I went up to bed, but Drew was wide awake and looked pretty scared.  He ended up sleeping with me all night...and after he laid down with me, he was out in less that 10 minutes.  Poor baby.  I was shocked nobody woke up, but as far as I know, we all slept very soundly.  Praise God for that...that is not the case for a lot of my friends this morning!


Speaking of sleeping...Todd is passed out on the couch.  Poor thing.  He came home at about 8:30 this morning and is snoozing away.  Not even Andy barking is bothering him.  Who, by the way, speaking of the poor horror-stricken dog, is just about beside himself.  He didn't even eat his dinner last night.  He ate it this morning.  And now he's pacing.  And going from the upstairs to the down and back...again and again and again.  I'm thinking we need to have an emergency supply of valium for him.  God love his little pitiful heart.  


This morning was an experience, dropping the kids off at school.  It was thundering and lightning, so we weren't allowed to let the kids out of our cars.  I am so blessed that our school cares so much about our kids!  I know it's the norm...but I am feeling very thankful this morning.  Anyway, I did finally get all the kids dropped off, so now, here I sit.  I guess I need to jump up and get a move on things.  Lunches need to be made and the kitchen could stand to be neater.  


Hope you all have a dry day.  Love to all!

Just Some Things

We made it through a school day with no tornado sirens!  But...the sky is looking a little too ominous for my taste.  :(  I do not know what it is about bad weather...just the unpredictability of it, I guess.  It scares me to death!  I know that God didn't give us a spirit of timidity, but one of a sound mind...but dognabbit!  I get scared!  My stomach ties up in knots on the inside.  Outwardly I appear calm, cool and collected.  But on the inside?

Good heavens.  And if Todd's not home, I'm tttttttterrified.  I don't know why.  I think the actual sound of the sirens scare me.

Anyway.  Moving on, now.  I'm thinking this might need to be a movie night.  I'm thinking Todd can keep up with the weather with headphones and this here laptop while the kids and I chill and eat dinner in front of a movie.  For the second night in a row.

Last night I let us all eat in the living room, because that is just what you do when you have to tell your kids you had to have their beloved Sambo the FatCat put to sleep.  :(  I almost can't even say those words without crying.  It's pitiful.  Even Todd cried.  Don't tell him I told you...he'll probably put a mean comment if he knows I told on him.  The poor cat had major urinary tract issues and he was very sick.  Instead of letting him suffer, we had him put to sleep.

All the kids took it surprisingly well...except for Drew.  His little heart was breaking and the tears just wouldn't stop.  I just sat and held him.  Poor baby...he is my sensitive boy.  He wears his heart on his sleeve, and he is full of compassion.  I love that trait about him.  He was better by seven last night, though.  We watched Megamind and just chilled.  And today he's been fine.  Hopefully he will remain that way.

So, here we are, another night at home because of either a canceled game or practice or both.  Not that I'm complaining.  I'm going to put on my pj's in a few minutes and wash my face.  Then I'm thinking we'll pick another movie to watch.  I dvr'd Toy Story 3 the other night...I'm thinking we need to watch that one.  Even if it makes me cry at the end.

Ugh.  It sucks being an easy cryer.  The older I get, the worse I get.  I'm usually a mess on Sundays.  And saying goodbye to siblings?  FORGET IT.

Well.  I'm going to get started on dinner.  I was hoping Todd would tell the maid to forget about cooking tonight.  Apparently he didn't and now she's mad.  And dinner is up to me.  :/

Don't blow/float away.  Love to all.

I Know...Another One?

I'm glad I have a Savior.  I am so glad that I don't have to depend on myself to get over something difficult.  I love the song that Among The Thirsty sings...I'd Need a Savior.  In fact, I love it so much that I will post a video from YouTube.  Before you watch it, go down to the very bottom of my actual blog and pause the playlist you see at the bottom. 



If you are looking at this from facebook, click here to watch.  

I am so glad I don't have to depend on myself.  I have a wonderful Counselor, a Friend who takes the best possible care of me.  I'm so glad that even when (seemingly) trivial things happen, like when a beloved cat has to be put to sleep, that I can lean on a Savior to give me the words I need.

I love that when something goes wrong, my kids immediately ask me to pray.  I love those words: "Mom?  Will you pray?"

I love that He comforts me, He protects my loved ones, He is the shield around me, the Foundation I stand on.  He is amazing...and the more I know Him, the more I love Him.

It's an honor to be able to pray.  It's an honor to be able to freely worship Him.  I cannot hold back my love for Him, and I won't hold back my highest praise.  I am not embarrassed to lift my hands in worship...we were made to do just that...worship.

I love what Luke 19:40 says in The Message translation:  'But He said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."'

He knew that we would need a Savior.

Definition of SAVIOR

1

: one that saves from danger or destruction

2

: one who brings salvation; specifically capitalized : jesus 1

See savior defined for English-language learners »

Variants of SAVIOR

sav·ior or sav·iour

Examples of SAVIOR

1. We all felt that she was our savior.
2. savior, arriving on the scene just as we were about to be mugged>

Origin of SAVIOR

Middle English saveour, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin salvator, from salvare to save

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SAVIOR

Synonyms: deliverer, redeemer, rescuer, saver

Isn't He something?  To know Him is to love Him.  Give Him a try.  

Seeing God in the Middle of Thunderstorms

I mean that literally and figuratively.  Literally, because today a tornado was spotted in The Ville.  I spent an entire hour praying and quoting Scripture in my head while consoling and fanning off kindergarten babies.  It was pitiful.  But our God is a protector and a shield...and all was well.  (I was quoting Psalm 91:2, 4)

Figuratively, because I can see God's hand in the decision I wrote about yesterday.  I keep getting confirmation after confirmation that we have made the right decision.  I often get overwhelmed at God's goodness...and how He cares for every little detail of our lives. 

So...other than the crazy weather, it's been a great day.  I'm so much better today than I was last night.  I am also very excited about Wednesday night...as are my kids.  We can't wait to give the new church its first try.  If you're looking for something to pray for, just pray that we will have a very easy (and welcoming) transition.  I would so appreciate it!

Well...I suppose my maid is running late again.  I guess that means I'd better to prepare whatever it was she was going to make for dinner.  :)  Love to all. 

#799

Yup.  You read it right.  This has been a great weekend.  Today was a wonderful day...a little bittersweet, but a wonderful day.  This day, the celebrated day of Jesus' rising from the dead, dawned bright and beautiful.  We had an amazing day at church, with incredible worship. 

It was bittersweet because it was our last day at my beloved church.  I know...I know...if it's so awesome, why are we leaving? 

Two words: my kids.  :(  It's not about us being happy in church...it's about the kids, and they have not been happy for a very long time.  I know this is what we have to do...but it hurts really bad.  We've been there for 12 years now, ever since Graham was born.  I love the people...I love the music...but my kids just need more.  More of what...I'm not sure, but we've already got a church in mind that we're going to on Wednesday night of this week. 

I made it through the whole weekend without crying.  I also didn't tell people because I didn't want to break down in front of them.  Then this morning happened...I cried on my sweet photographer friend, and I cried during the last song.  And I pretty much ran out the minute church let out.  Then cried more in my car...and I could not even look at my friend Marcia.  :( 

I know it's necessary, but I do feel peace about the whole situation, and I'm only writing it about it on here because I've already emailed our pastors.  The head pastor, my music pastor, and our friend Eddie.  Now that they all know I feel free to write about it on here.  But it stinks...the whole change thing.  I am very comfortable at Memphis First Assembly of God.  I love the music we sing, and I love helping lead worship there.  I am praying I'll find a spot at the new church.  I'm praying I'll even be able to eventually join a choir again. 

Anyway, that's what's been going on.  It was a really nice day.  The whole fam came over to my house after church.  I was glad to have everyone over here for once.  The boys had a great time, and hopefully everyone else did, too.  We watched Astro Boy late this afternoon, then ended our day by having a late, lazy dinner while we watched tonight's recorded Amazing Race. 

Good times were had by all.  Forgive me if I'm a little sad...kinda feelin' a little blah right this minute.  I'm about to go upstairs to read my new Karen Kingsbury book.  Love to all.