Yes, Carter turned 16 yesterday! No, I don't have a great--or just plain regular--blog post to put up. I just haven't felt it kick in yet. Blogs, smogs, hogs, just not feeling it.
It is coming though, along with many others swirling in this 90 to nothin' mind of mine. Many words and thoughts are coming....
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Show Hope | Empowered to Connect Conference
GREAT adoption resource coming soon to Iriving, Texas Feb. 17-18. This conference will be super beneficial and will feature Dr. Purvis, author of The Connected Child. I've heard her speak twice and read her book twice. She's fantastic. Make plans to attend---AND see the amazing ministry that Show Hope does for orphans all over the world.
Show Hope Empowered to Connect Conference
Show Hope Empowered to Connect Conference
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Heavy Prayers
I just submitted my homework project for the week...with 1 hour to spare until the deadline! I've been wanting to send this post out so since I finished early(wink wink..pushing it down to the wire), I'll post now.
There are so many burdens right now. I'm feeling such a burden to pray. Several of my friends and family members are struggling with big stuff: flooded house, job not going well, marital strife, need for Jesus in their lives, infertility, babies and families separated and waiting for government offices to get off their butts and grant travel clearance, need for a word from the Lord telling them what step to take next, need for healing. Such big stuff! I can't fix any of it. I can only pray. Ironically, the Gateway Devo app(on iTunes store for free download this month) is a month long daily devotional about prayer. Perfect timing, cause I need to learn more about prayer. Here is my favorite memory verse.
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer--it does not rise from deceitful lips. Psalm 17:1
And of course, one of my all time favorite passages in Habakkuk. I love the last part of this passage because it describes how the Lord will help us climb that rocky mountain by making our feet firm! It doesn't promise an easy and unencumbered climb. Some climbs are flat out HARD! But, He makes our feet like deer....swift..agile...sure footed...and able to climb those big rocks.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19
There are so many burdens right now. I'm feeling such a burden to pray. Several of my friends and family members are struggling with big stuff: flooded house, job not going well, marital strife, need for Jesus in their lives, infertility, babies and families separated and waiting for government offices to get off their butts and grant travel clearance, need for a word from the Lord telling them what step to take next, need for healing. Such big stuff! I can't fix any of it. I can only pray. Ironically, the Gateway Devo app(on iTunes store for free download this month) is a month long daily devotional about prayer. Perfect timing, cause I need to learn more about prayer. Here is my favorite memory verse.
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer--it does not rise from deceitful lips. Psalm 17:1
And of course, one of my all time favorite passages in Habakkuk. I love the last part of this passage because it describes how the Lord will help us climb that rocky mountain by making our feet firm! It doesn't promise an easy and unencumbered climb. Some climbs are flat out HARD! But, He makes our feet like deer....swift..agile...sure footed...and able to climb those big rocks.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
it works for little ones too
Back to the Love and Logic. Yesterday morning I had to do something and I'd told Hudson to play in his room. He cannot be alone for 2 seconds and must be near me Always!! I heard his door slam and I went to investigate. He was sitting on his floor surrounded by Dillon's DS games and he was holding Dillon's wallet. BUSTED! I reigned in my usual response, which is anger, and went for shock and awe folks. Just as I learned in Love and Logic, I mustered up the saddest and full of empathy voice I could. I said "Oh Hudson, I am sooooo sad that you chose to disobey mommy by getting down Dillon's DS games. And what are you doing with his wallet. As soon as the word sad left my lips, his eyes squinched up, his mouth opened and he wailed!!!! He wailed and wailed and wailed--heartbroken sadness. I didn't even have to do anything. So, I held him calmly while he was a basketcase(once he begins down the slope of tears it lasts a long time--this is a common issue for children who've experienced trauma and disruption of attachements in their lives). Just as Love and Logic states, I got to be the good guy and we were so sad about his choice of disobedience. Amazing. I'm hopeful that I can stop reverting to my flash of anger and use sadness instead. Try it.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
How Mike and I had a lunch date...at home
So, Mike and I have been listening to Jim Fay's Love and Logic cds. We listened to it many years ago and thought it sounded like good stuff. However, it wasn't relevant back then. The kids were young and, sadly, Mike and I thought we had this parenting gig licked.
Now, what has changed? Oh, yeah, we have a teen and a tween! Those cd's and the stories in them are cracking us up. We are living those cds.
Perfect example today:
We get in from church, late and hungry. Mike and I begin scrambling to make a decent spagetti lunch. Funny, the kids are scattered. Nowhere to be found. Lunch was on the table, all the work done by Mike and I, and no children. So, we implemented Love and Logic. We planned what we, the adults, were going to do to with our lives. We sat down and ate a nice lunch, alone! We had great conversation, uninterrupted. No sight of the kids. You see, it is our fault. We've trained them to be L..A..Z...Y. They fully expect lunch to be made and then us call them to the table. No more. They are plenty old enough and capable to assemble lunch. As of this writing, 2:04pm, Carter hasn't come out of his room. I guess he's sucked into the vortex of some engaging electronic. Too bad, he's gonna be awfully hungry this evening. I'm so sad for his hunger!! HAHA, no more hand holding here. I highly recommend you guys check into this parenting system.
Click HERE for the Love and Logic website.
Now, what has changed? Oh, yeah, we have a teen and a tween! Those cd's and the stories in them are cracking us up. We are living those cds.
Perfect example today:
We get in from church, late and hungry. Mike and I begin scrambling to make a decent spagetti lunch. Funny, the kids are scattered. Nowhere to be found. Lunch was on the table, all the work done by Mike and I, and no children. So, we implemented Love and Logic. We planned what we, the adults, were going to do to with our lives. We sat down and ate a nice lunch, alone! We had great conversation, uninterrupted. No sight of the kids. You see, it is our fault. We've trained them to be L..A..Z...Y. They fully expect lunch to be made and then us call them to the table. No more. They are plenty old enough and capable to assemble lunch. As of this writing, 2:04pm, Carter hasn't come out of his room. I guess he's sucked into the vortex of some engaging electronic. Too bad, he's gonna be awfully hungry this evening. I'm so sad for his hunger!! HAHA, no more hand holding here. I highly recommend you guys check into this parenting system.
Click HERE for the Love and Logic website.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
too many changes coming
When Mike and I were newlyweds, he served as a full-time youth and music pastor in west Texas. There was a certain teen boy who had some special needs. God was preparing us for our future way back then. One of the "Davidisms" that Mike and I quoted for years and years was "Too many changes." You see, David was becoming a man and not a kid in the youth group anymore. Mike and I were moving on to a new adventure and poor David felt lost in this new world without his beloved Mike(Mike taught him to shave and wear deoderant). Now, I'm using the phrase "Too many changes." I dont....like....this!!
Carter turns 16 in 2 weeks and we are preparing to get his driver's license. He is going to look for a job. The day he drives away from this house, without Mike or I, I'll hit my knees in prayer! We are planning our summer family vacay to the beach and I realize that he may not get to come with us.
Abigail JooMee is talking about how in 7 months, she'll be 12 and gets a cell phone(6th grade seemed like a long way away when we made that agreement!).
Dillon, well, God knew I needed Dillon. When I wake him up in the morning for school he asks me "How was your sleep momma?" He is growing and changing and becoming more mature too, but there is still that sweet child.
Hudson, the 4 year old going on 20! He corrects me, spells things, sings constantly, and begs to go to school. I filled out his preK enrollment papers last week. Next year he will go to TCA 5 mornings a week.
I'm being left in the dust. All I've ever wanted was to be a mommy and have people need me. My youngest sister started kindergarten when I moved off to college. I couldn't wait to move back home after the first semester. I'd pick her up from school and we'd hold hands and sing Sandy Patti's Friendship Company. When Mike and I got married, I couldn't wait to have a baby and would stare at people with babies.
Now, nearing age 40, it is over. Closing a door on a 20 something year fixation. Too many changes...
And, just to clear something up...no...I don't want another one :)
Carter turns 16 in 2 weeks and we are preparing to get his driver's license. He is going to look for a job. The day he drives away from this house, without Mike or I, I'll hit my knees in prayer! We are planning our summer family vacay to the beach and I realize that he may not get to come with us.
Abigail JooMee is talking about how in 7 months, she'll be 12 and gets a cell phone(6th grade seemed like a long way away when we made that agreement!).
Dillon, well, God knew I needed Dillon. When I wake him up in the morning for school he asks me "How was your sleep momma?" He is growing and changing and becoming more mature too, but there is still that sweet child.
Hudson, the 4 year old going on 20! He corrects me, spells things, sings constantly, and begs to go to school. I filled out his preK enrollment papers last week. Next year he will go to TCA 5 mornings a week.
I'm being left in the dust. All I've ever wanted was to be a mommy and have people need me. My youngest sister started kindergarten when I moved off to college. I couldn't wait to move back home after the first semester. I'd pick her up from school and we'd hold hands and sing Sandy Patti's Friendship Company. When Mike and I got married, I couldn't wait to have a baby and would stare at people with babies.
Now, nearing age 40, it is over. Closing a door on a 20 something year fixation. Too many changes...
And, just to clear something up...no...I don't want another one :)
Monday, January 16, 2012
No fat trimmed yet
Not exactly doing fabulously with trimming the fat. 17 days into the new year and we've burned up the roads, which means a lot of gas money. We've also stuffed our faces twice, which means the eating out envelope is bust already. Not making my goals proud. I have, however, been much better about menu planning and cooking(except for the couple of restaurant stops). Hopefully we can improve slowly and see a real dent. You see it isn't because we don't have good jobs or are bad with our finances. We just really want to be good stewards. Of what good is it if followers of Jesus consume every dime they make on themselves and their desires? In Radical, Platt talks about how much is enough? When do we decide to stop increasing our spending and intead, increase our giving? Tough questions, my friends, tough.
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