My Wonderful Son!

This is my baby boy performing with his band, the Toasters, here in Atlanta last winter. He's the white kid, 3rd from the left. :D
I am so proud of him and his talent! He is living his dream and seeing the world (from the back of a van) :-)
He is an incredible musician and learning to be a good business man too. - His singing isn't too bad either. :) Guess he takes after me in that department. lol
Plus he still loves his Mommy! Now that's the good stuff.

Awesome Song in my heart today

We delight ourselves, in You, Lord
Rejoicing in You always..
We've lost all trust in the flesh
And we're completely
Dependant on You.

We sing "You alone are good
You alone are worthy
To the glory and the honor
and the praises of our God...

We Live! We Live! We now live."

My Beautiful Princess!

We did it! We ordered Bekah's wedding gown!
Oh my goodness, she was so beautiful in it! She has searched extensively, (she's one of those who has to look at all her options then go back to her first choice :) ) and decided upon this gorgeous creation by designer Maggie Sotterro (sp?) Of course that was the dress she "knew" was "the one" the first day. And Oh Baby, is it ever! So lovely and so flattering...so expensive! Diamond White and Frost are the correct terms, I believe. Her figure is outstanding anyway so she could wear anything but this one is killer. And she's old-fashioned enough to not want her groom to see her in it until the moment she comes down the aisle. He's gonna be blown away...as should be. :) and her father will be blown away when he gets the bill! LOL
she says its the dress version of her ring. :) and you know, they really do look alike...well enough...I'll post a pic after the blessed day so fiance won't have a prayer of seeing her in it early. haha

From the mouth of babes...

Love this quote from one of our Albanian brothers....

"Bread of Life is Ecclessia, like Lord Jesus Christ Himself"

She is a beautiful thing to behold...and possibly more like Her Lord than we suspect. :-)

Cheers! Its Friday!

Appreciation

I've been thinking about how to enjoy more of life...Someone whose blog I read had asked the question of how to seize and enjoy a moment in time when all kinds of other distractions are going on around you. You're having breakfast with your mom but you just graduated school and don't know where you will be working or living and the big situation totally eclipses the moment of breakfast with your mom. Or the day is lovely but there are so many bills to think of that you don't notice. The question came up again last night at the weekly sisters meeting of our house church...how to hear the voice of the Lord in the bustle of your life...or see a saint in need when your own needs are overwhelming....is life just one big rush to the finish?

It has been a habit of mine, I don't know when it really began but it seems to work for me....I stop...just for a minute sometimes and take notice. And somehow the moment seems to be saved in my mind, heart, spirit...like a photograph. I've often wondered what makes photography such a striking and powerful element as compared to film or video. My husband said recently to me that photography captures a moment and forces you to look at it rather than rushing onward visually and mentally. I think that is what I try to do with the moments I want to keep....
Our lives are so forward moving, so fast.... our senses are so bombarded by life and the world and all we see and hear.....
if I can only stop time for one moment and really look at something...the blue sky, 15 minutes chasing my granddaughter around on all fours, a breezy car ride with my husband - windows down-radio up, a quick turn to the Lord in the middle of a busy day...life has more meaning.
Here is what I do...
I say to myself...I want to enjoy this thing, person, event, moment in time....I look at it with knowledge that I am doing so.
Remarkably they become as a photograph in my mind or spirit and I appreciate them. I think it is something to do with the act of appreciation.
I know that the world will keep turning and my life will continue to move forward. Situations will arise, bills will come, trouble will come, things wil be super busy...
But by the simple act of knowingly and intentionally stopping to appreciate the moment...I experience and enjoy more of life, more of love, more of the Lord.

Generations

>I was talking the other day with my brother about the path the children of those of us in the non traditional church have to travel... we agreed that the next generation will have a strange and difficult road. As if our generation was and is not strange and difficult enough. :)
He commented on an interesting conversation he had with a 20 something yr old brother who has visited several of our churches and been around a bit. > He said that he wants church life and has seen a lot of the churches in our circles, but they don't seem to really work.
I think that is an interesting observation or thought. This young brother said that we( my generation)have taken a lot of ground and that he hopes that they (the next generation) will take a lot more. He said that they (the next generation) needs us. Our experience was and is of great value and he hopes that we could find the next mountain peak together. My brother (of the older generation) was encouraged to see the interest and conviction, the desire that some young believers have to press on into the heights and depths of Jesus Christ, as am I.

Yes, our generation, and I'm not really talking about age here but about life experience in the church, has definitley taken some ground but the taking isn't over for us. Some of us are still pressing onward. Funny that that younger brother (or anyone we know in our circles for that matter) is looking for something that "works". I guess I did too at his age. I wonder what "success" he is thinking of? Probably a visible one...which is not really a very good measuring stick since everything we "see" with our natural eyes is temporary anyway. Even the "mountain" image and the "taking ground" implies "getting somewhere" or success. But I think it depends on whether or not you have eyes to see - spiritual eyes...Every day I see saints who are finding Him, knowing HIm, and breathing Him into their daily lives. They are being built together into a House for God Himself to live in, they actually make a difference in unseen realms and sometimes in visible ones.
When you see with natural eyes it seems that God is always starting over and never accomplishing very much but maybe that is just how things appear in the visible realm, eh? Could it be that His building and purpose are unseen by human eyes?.....
So I'm not really sure that attaining something or finding something that "works" is truly the goal for Him or for us in this life. I think of the words of a song written in the heart of the church during a time of deep discovery of the Lord.... "success means nothing, failure the same".

Perhaps it has nothing to do with visible attainment, success or failure...perhaps it is the pursuit of Him.

May the generations that come to follow after us in the pursuit of our Lord be less focused on accomplishment and actually "see" more of the invisible building and purpose of God.

Independence

I love that my kids are so independant and I hate that they are so independant!

My little girl is getting married! I can hardly believe it. Seems like only yesterday she was worrying about toe shoes and playing softball. (yes she did both) Or acting in the school play or going to the prom...now she's out of college and engaged! My how time flies,... whether you're having fun or not. lol
Her fiance, a future Navy pilot cutie, is visiting this weekend and there is much work to be done. Registrys to be filled and photographers to discuss and guests lists to compile. I think he will be glad to get back to his day job. :) Seriously though...he's a great guy and she's a lucky girl. I expect they will have a great life together. They will be off and running after the wedding with the Navy dictating the next several years of their lives but they are well equipped to handle it.
All 3 of my kiddos are making their own ways and doing just fine.
They are very independant, which is good, I raised them to soar!.......but like puppydogs..(see earlier post) they love their mommy and daddy. For this I am eternally grateful!

In Response

In response to Sarah's post- http://sarahhero.blogspot.com
...more musings on the subject of growing kids.

Someone once said that kids are like dogs and cats....
when they are young they need everything, to be trained, walked, fed, bathed, cuddled and in return you have their absolute devotion and adoraton. They are delighted when you come in and sad when you leave and under foot in between. They love to be petted and come to the table when called. Just like a puppy dog. haha
But when they become teenagers...well things change...
and like so many kittycats..they become "their own personalities" coming and going as they please - forget training! Appearing to eat when they choose then disappearing again into their rooms or out with friends, withholding their affection until they desire to be touched, holding themselves cool and aloof.
Don't worry though...those days pass and if handled with care...when they turn 20 or so,(I know, its a long time to wait) they miraculously return to being the wonderful puppydogs we once knew. Loving and affectionate and actually desiring the company of their families.

Miracles do happen.. :) This one I have actually seen with mine own eyes.

Surviving

Well, we are surviving.
How lame is that to think that what we personally are going through has any resemblance to the survival that is going on in this nation!
Gasoline has stablized at $2.99 per gal. for regular gas and we aren't seeing too many closed gas stations. That's pretty much it for Georgia, thank goodness, but the drama of the past week has been overwhelming as we have watched it unfold. Of course our little survival is nothing compared to that of hundreds and thousands across the southeast. The shelters in Atlanta are overflowing with evacuees and I personally do not see hope of them returning to LA for a very long time if ever. Its a strange thing to hear disagreement on what to even call these poor survivors...refugees, evacuees, displaced...how silly to waste time on such things at a time like this. As for the finger pointing...I think there will be enough blame to go around...

"Lord! Our neighbors and fellow Americans are suffering, please have mercy. Only You know why and we will probably never understand but please have mercy, Lord. Perhaps the masses will turn their hearts to you in this time of distress. May it be so."

Onward we go... He is blue skies!

Not a good day

I'm not doing very well today folks...
is it PMS? or the hurricane disaster?
or the fact that it took me 1 hour to get home from work, normally a 25 minute trip but the gas lines around the gas stations were ridiculous and the prices were even more so...$3.98 for reg. as of 5:30pm in good old Hotlana, well the burbs at least.
Was it the fact that I'm missing my beautiful Jada and my beautiful Kate, her mommy?
Was it the fact that I definitley took some negative vibes at our sisters meeting last nite ( some of you know exactly what I mean)?
I just can't pin it down to one thing..oh yeah, and there's more...we have to cancel our Labor Day weekend trip (yeah, gas prices)
I have just felt like crying all day. I know...when you put it down in black and white...its all pretty minor, after all I don't have waterflooding my house or worse yet, no house at all, and all of my family is alive and well and we do know where we will get our next meal ( a roast my mom is cooking downstairs). we can still get to our jobs and we even have gas in our cars although at these prices we won't be buying much more, we'll be car pooling!
Over all things are fine..weird and overwhelming, but fine. I look at the news and I am overwhelmed but then I look around myself and I am reminded to be very thankful.

"Thank you Lord for this day that you have made. I can rejoice in You even when I am stressed and overwhelmed. You are bigger than the wind and the waves and my hormones and my sadness and the gas prices in Georgia! You are bigger than anything!"

I've been tagged!

I've been hit by the "5 Random Facts" fairy! It seems that its my turn to tell all...well, not allllll. :)

Virginia has tagged me in a little "Sarah game" so here goes...

1) I absolutely adore shoes...as Sarah may attest...flats, heels, stilletos, sneakers, boots, you name it, I love em! and my closet is full...
on the other hand .....I absolutely detest wearing shoes...I am a firm believer that if God had intended us to wear shoes we would have been born with them...now you figure that one out....lol

2) I love to eat a salad made of lettuce & green onions with hot bacon grease drizzled over them....yum!
I first tried it at my grandmothers table as a child and I know it sounds bad- but my, my, my, is it good!

3) I never think to take an umbrella with me unless it is actually raining on my head when I get out of the car.

4) Washing feet or kissing toes has never bothered me.

5) Sometimes I forget that we have a moderate income and live like we are in poverty.....
and sometimes I forget that we have a moderate income ...and live like a queen!
(do you think the one pays for the other?? I hope so!)


Goody ....you're it!

The Weekend

Well we have several guests and new people around the hood this weekend. Three families visiting from around the community and 2 sisters from Florida coming up to see the church plus the 3 new families we have who have recently moved into the church. The brothers are having an overnight retreat thing sort of, anyway they will be out of the neighborhood so the sisters are entertaining the guests except for the local brothers who will be going over to the retreat at least for Sat nite's meeting.
We have lots of plans including eating, eating and eating. Can anyone relate??? fortunatley we do have a little bit of spiritual content planned on the sisters side of things :) and the brothers will get plenty of spiritual content in their retreat....As usual we will trust the Lord to reveal Himself in the daily events of our lives and for our visiting sisters and brothers to see Him in new ways - He is always gracious to reveal Himself. Plus we will have the awesome opportunity to partake of Him together and share Him among ourselves. One thing for sure...we will have loads of fun and enjoy being together as always and hopefully Christ will be seen by all!
Have a great weekend!!

Beautiful

Lyrics from the new Bethany Dillon song -Beautiful

"You make me beautiful

You make me stand in awe

You step inside my heart, and I am amazed

I love to hear You say

'Who I am is quite enough'

You make me worthy of love and beautiful"

And He does!

Sisters

I have some very special people in my life. They are my sisters..well I have lots of sisters, in the Lord, but these two I am thinking of are my flesh and blood. There is nothing like a sister who is also a sister! :)
They are both unique and wonderful in their own ways.
T is caring and honest and generous to a fault. She is funny and can really make you laugh with her stories. She is beautiful and always looks good no matter how much weight she gains or loses or what kind of a hair day she is having. :) I can count on her to be beside me through thick and thin and in all the highs and lows of her life she continues to hold tightly to her Lord. She knows that He will never leave her or forsake her even when the world throws her curves.
J is very beautiful(we're jealous, shes the youngest too) and fun and caring and a very good listener...:) As a matter of fact sometimes she listens til her head is spinning. :) She is incredibly patient and hospitable and full of wisdom...especially for a youngun. She also has stood with me through some of life's toughest moments and with a touch or word encourages me and reminds me that knowing the Lord is worth all.
I have a deep love for my sibs but I also have a high respect for them and their walks with the Lord. There just arent' any more like them! I love you 2! and I miss you lots!
My Sisters-My Friends

Today's the day

Today is the day my baby moves out. Well, the big moving truck day will come in a few weeks after she has secured an apartment and funds to rent a truck, but today is the last day she will call my house her home. I'm very sad, although I know she must grow up, it just seems very quiet in my house already. Its not just her departure either...she is taking my wonderful granddaughter with her. Not just across town either but all the way back to Jax. Happily Jada is staying one more night with her Gigi. Her other grandmom is coming tomorrow to pick her up. We have a great bond, my Jada and I. She loves me and knows she is treasured in return although when asked she always says..."Poppy love you", referring to what her Poppy always says to her. :)
Not that I won't enjoy having time to pursue other things but you know what they say, "I'm rocking my baby and babies can't wait". I will be sorry to miss all her little everyday cutsie exploits and they are plentiful and I'm sure when I see her again, in even a few weeks, she will have grown and be doing new things.
I'm having a teary day but I'm also very proud of my babygirl. She's been bumped around by life already at 20 and she just keeps on moving forward - making me proud. She's really getting very grown up. All my kiddos are and it won't be long until Poppy and I are completely on our own once again after all this time. I guess we'll see what comes next. :)

Visions of Sound

Lately I'm having thoughts, impressions, visions...whatever... of sound.
Of waves and swelling and bursting and explosions. I know that sounds strange, but how to explain the voice of the spirit inside of one? the impressions and pictures of seeing with His eyes from inside your spirit. Of sensing what is going on inside the Godhead......

He is the visible expression of the Father, the outraying of His glory, the word of His power...
When the Father speaks, Christ is what we hear, what we see

He is the sound of the Father's voice,
He is the Words the Father speaks
His is the image formed inside of us at the sound of the Father's voice
His is the face we see at the words of the Father
He makes His Father hearable and seeable

And upon the hearing & the seeing...
Christ, formed in us, grows. Ever expanding and reverberating in power and visibility.

Chains fall away!

Seasons

Well, summer is almost over...or is it? We have had the weirdest weather this summer with lots and lots of rain and cool weather and now that school has started back, yes, our poor kids :), the sun has decide to shine and its a regular 90 every day. Just like summer is supposed to be...whats up with that??? I have only been to the pool 5 times this summer...3 this past week...it just weird I tell you. In a couple of weeks it will be Labor day and all you can buy in the mall will be sweaters. Yuck!

Happy days! Both of my daughters have become gainfully employed in one day! Yes, yesterday they both received the news that they are being offered the positions of their dreams. Well not exactly...Bek...she will be managing the labs for private school until she gets married next spring and they didn't even seem to mind that she won't be around for the whole school year. Her dream job involves CSI type gooky stuff...yuck! She'll have to wait til she and hubby are settled somewhere to get into that.

Kate on the other hand is very excited, she is returning to Jax and has landed a very nice position with a good company with bennies and bonuses and such. We are very sad to lose her but you have to follow your heart you know...She's doing alright for a 20 year old kid. We're very proud of her, but we wll miss her and little Jadabear dreadfully!

T and I are reeling from all the changes and I suppose will look back on this season and only remember a blur of events and this season (in our lives but probably not in the weather) looks to last til at least next April when the wedding is planned. Its even weirder than the weather has been.

For now I will try to adjust to the sound of silence in my house.

Mountains for relaxing

Hubby and I went to the mountains over the weekend. Yes, we have mountains in Georgia...well big hills at least...It always relaxs me. something about drinking in the views. the beauty of it all takes my breath away. Some day I'm gonna have me a cabin in "gloryland" and I ain't talkin heaven baby! For now I'll content myself with shopping all those cute little mountain stores and dreaming of the day I'll have my own stone fireplace and rocker on a porch facing some incredible view. In reality, I still have to have a dining table for my regular everyday house and a chair or two for the living room I already have. We have barely settled into our new house here. But its nice to dream and relax. This current life is far too busy and overwhelming for relaxing.
The girls came home from Jax on Sunday and Mom came home from SC so the house is full again. Busy and noisy but I wouldn't want it any other way. When I start getting too overwhelmed and tired with all the activity of my normal life I try to stop and think of the scripture that says "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean" and remember that I am blessed to have the mess and the stress. :) Some day all will be quiet as everyone goes on about their lives and I can relax....but I'm in no hurry...really - I love for my crib to be filled. :)

My Song

I love to sing.. as many will attest, and my song changes from day to day, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, cheerful or silly or forlorn, but these are usually just the songs of my soul. My true song is hidden deep in my spirit and sings all the time. Sometimes quietly, somtimes loudly but always there. Sometimes I can't seem to hear my song or remember the words and I need to be reminded or have my hearing fine tuned or something.......

I found this wonderful quote online today while researching wedding stuff.

"To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten. "

That is incredible and so true to me! I find that my brothers and sisters in the church know my song, it is theirs as well, and they are faithful to remind me when I am forgetful or distracted or my song is drowned out by the cares of my life. They sing to me!
Thank you, all you beautiful saints out there!

Ahhh, its another Monday morning.

Oops, I didn't get this posted on Monday. I'm slacking already on this blogging thing!
What a weekend we had! Very busy with sister's sleepover, cleaning and Jada's birthday. Jada is turning 2 this week. Can hardly believe it. She has grown so much this past year and is so cute. I have to get a photo of her online to share. Today or rather last night was a veggie nite. By that I mean that I vegetated! No cooking or cleaning or anything. I delegated dinner preparations to my daughter and retired to the great outdoors to read a magazine and relax. It was finally sunny and positively gorgeous weather after days of rain and thunderstorms and I needed to enjoy some of it. Later I soaked in my beautiful new garden tub for an hour or so and almost fell asleep. A good nights sleep completed the prescription for relaxation. I feel much better today...which is actually Tuesday. :)