Month: July 2011

We were just playing with some play-doh, and you wouldn’t believe how creative Molly can be!  I would have taken pictures, but my camera battery is dead.  The kids were all enjoying making interesting things.  Mack worked hard on a horse/cow thing.  It was hard to identify, but he was having fun with it.  Molly made a neat little face on this ball, and said, “Wow, Molly.  You are so artistic.”

Mack said, “But I’m not.”

Careful to make sure he didn’t feel left out, I said, “Oh, Mack, you are artistic, too!!!!!!”

He replied, very matter-of-fact, “That’s ok if I’m not artistic.  You can just say I am great.”

“Oh, ok….You ARE great, Mack.”

“Yeah-God made me, so that means I am great.  You can just say I am great.”

This Summer I had the privilege of leading some ladies in a Bible Study called DUTY OR DELIGHT by Tammie Head.

It’s a study based on the truths of Ephesians 1.  We were reminded that we are CHOSEN, REDEEMED, PROMISED, SUPPLIED, COMMANDED and VICTORIOUS.  We evaluated whether or not anything we do (or everything we do) in our relationship with the Lord is based on “duty” or “delight.”

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, and I learned so much.  I loved the reminder that I was chosen by God “BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”  He knew all my sin, my selfishness, my huge blunders and chose me anyway.  It was refreshing to really dwell on his redemption through His sacrifice on the cross and the covering of His blood over my life that puts me in right standing with God…by Christ’s righteousness alone.  And all the promises!!  HE is so faithful.  HE is my Counselor.  HE is my Rock, holding me together no matter what circumstances I find myself in.  He has supplied me with the Holy Spirit that fills me and leads me and teaches me.  The Holy Spirit also gives me everything I need to fulfill God’s commandment to love others.  There are many difficult people that we are called to love, and I think we all know that this can’t happen on our own.  I need the Holy Spirit, alive and active in me to have victory in this area.  Or any area, as a matter of fact!  And that we “fight from victory and not for victory” was a huge truth from the last session that has helped me so much.  I am already victorious.  Am I taken what has been given to me?  Or am I cooperating with the devil and his ugly schemes for my life?  There’s a choice to make.

This last week on victory went right along with the study of Daniel that Josh and I are doing together.  I was reminded of the subtlety of the evil one.  We don’t have to be out-right “demon possessed” to be cooperating with the devil.  He will settle for mediocrity in a believer’s life.  The kind of mediocrity that over-indulges, is excessive with material things, self-absorbed, lives a “busy” life full of good things done out of obligation or seeking to please people, immodesty, critical spirit/pride.  Oh, the many ways he uses to distract us, entice us and keep us from living victoriously and effective in this world and culture in which we live!!

Here’s some of the precious girlfriends that met here for seven weeks this Summer.  We missed the ones who couldn’t make it to our last night!  We used it as a time to review all we had learned (that’s what the bulletin board was for) and to be reminded of our victory in Christ!  Everyone got a cross as they left to remind them of this study in the days and weeks to come.  I was so proud of these girls who made the study of God’s Word a priority in their lives this summer.  I know that the Lord will continue the work He has started in each of them.  He is so faithful!

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give your the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…”  Ephesians 1:17-19

Ok, so Molly is supposed to be a sweet, calm, adorable flower girl that helps usher in the REAL focus, the bride….which will be Merrilee.  However, in our search on the internet I found that Molly is a little confused on her role.  Seems she thinks she is 30 years old and in need of high heels and jewels all over her dress.  Just to make sure you understand, here is the picture of her favorite one. She said, “Oh, can’t we just go ahead and order that one?”

A-hem.  I don’t think so.  That Molly is one crazy girl.

Molly came downstairs with 4 quarters and 4 pennies.  She wants to give this money to some kids at HP, a place we go visit on Wednesday nights.  She laid out her money and told me she wanted to give each kid a coin, so would I say each kid’s name when she picks up a coin.

“Brandon, Jordan, Casey, Ryan, Aidan, Andrew…”

It just so happened that she picked up a quarter when I said the name “Andrew.”  She stopped, looked at me and said, “Ruby said give Andrew a penny ‘cuz he ran over her with his bike last week.”

Oh, dear.  Maybe this week we need to work on mercy and forgiveness.

This morning we were sitting at the table eating breakfast, and I asked the kids if they had cleaned the upstairs like I had asked them.  Molly shook her head yes while looking at the other two.  I looked at Mack because, let’s just be honest, the boy does NOT clean up.  He loses the ability to stand up when it’s time to clean OR he reverts back to being “just the baby.”  So when I gave him the look in regards to whether the upstairs was indeed clean, he said…..

“More or less.”

What is that supposed to mean? If I had to guess, I’d say it leans more to the less part of his response than the more part.  I am about to go upstairs to see if I am right.

 

Ok, I have to start somewhere with our South GA visit….there were a ton of pictures on my camera.  I liked a lot of them, so I will try to post a few each day and keep this blog going.

First let me say that MOMS never get to be in any of the pictures…they just take the pictures and document the events of life.  As I was looking through the pictures I saw that Josh had taken a couple of me.  #1-me from the rear (and all I could see was my REAR) and #2- me on a self-created float made of water noodles.

Seriously???

Any-hoo,  moving on.  These are my favorite close ups of the munchkins:

It looks like I won’t have as much time as I thought, but I must post this important news before I get going….

Jason asked Merrilee to marry him on Saturday, July 2nd!  And she said YES.

It is a very pretty ring.  The kids thought it was so fun to listen to Jason play his guitar and sing to Merrilee.  Her parents were there and didn’t know it was coming, so they loved it!

We are so happy for them!  These are exciting times for all of us.

Congratulations, Jason and Merrilee!

Ok, it is time to get up to date on this here blog.  Since today has been the most laid-back day of our entire Summer, well, I guess I should take advantage of the time I have.

First I will post about our special visit with The Koester Family, minus John.  Mary, Ben and Katherine came down to visit from TN.  It was so nice to have them here.  We just talked and talked and talked while the kids played and played and played.  I love Mary…she has been such a great friend to me over these past four or so years.  I am so thankful that the Lord allowed our paths to cross and let us get so close before HE moved her away!

She is great with Molly and came ready with a special dessert for her to make in the kitchen.  Molly loves kitchen work!

 

She was so proud of herself.  We were proud of her because THESE THINGS WERE GOOOOOD.

Katherine had already been through VBS and brought her CD to teach the motions to the girls.  They loved that!!

Forgive the cords in the background.  We’re having some technical difficulties.  These girls were really in to the dancing!

We are so thankful for the Koesters making that long trip to see us.  We miss them so much.  It was a great, relaxing time and a highlight of our Summer break, for sure!