Our baby girl....IS...26!

Happy Birthday !

Our youngest baby is 26 tomorrow! Does that make me older or her older? I'd prefer "her older" (smile) I am writing today b/c tomorrow will be a "usual" busy Saturday. I have to get all errands done before the BIG GAME! Our neighbor had invited us over to watch the game with him but then he gets an offer to WATCH THE GAME in the Georgiadome...

...so we will make some munchies and cheer on our team.

Go Bucks, Michigan stinks-Pheeehew!
(sorry, when you say Go Bucks you just naturally have to finish the stanza, and this is the grandchildrens version of the orginial stanza.)

So Buckeye fans in Georgia will be "getting on their game day face" and one birthday girl in Texas will be wearing her Ohio State shirt and an alum and his wife in Tennessee will be gearing up for a good game tomorrow.

GO BUCKS BEAT GEORGETOWN!

Roadtrip to Friendship '07

It’s been 1 week since I made some new friends. Ones, I know will be friends for life. It all started about 9 months ago in an online forum full of minister’s wives. Out of all the ladies in this group, 4 of us really connected so we decided to meet. Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee merged onto the state of Alabama at a lake house. Beautiful creation! After all Alabama state tags do say: “Alabama the Beautiful and they’re not bragging.

Within minutes of meeting, we became instant friends. Let me introduce you, we are 2 older ladies who claim grandmotherhood and 2 younger mothers. Different stages of life but yet so much in common. Two loved to fish and seemed to finish each others sentences. Two are married to Youth ministers. Two wives loved the same body spray at Bath-n-Body and had to have a Starbuck coffee while 2 wives were passionate about their ministries. One friend loves trips to Israel, one friend loves quilting, one friend loves NASCAR, and one friend loves to read.

Devotion times were well blended and every devotion seemed to have a message of “focusing on Christ.” All ladies were encouraging at different times…there was never a negative word spoken about our husbands professions. Venting was allowed, but always ended up with someone being uplifted by the other 3. We all agreed that we are content living the lives that we lead in the professions our dear husbands are in. Shopping took up a lot of our time on Saturday in Birmingham and the night ended with dinner at The Cheesecake Factory…yummy!
Our prayer is that many, many women around the nation will take time to have a ROADTRIP to FRIENDSHIP. We are all going to work in this forum to encourage others to do the same. The cost is small for the blessings you receive. God was praised; I made good friends and caught a 5# catfish to boot!!!!

Go Bucks ~enough said!

Men's basketball: Ohio State rallies from 20 points down to beat Tennessee
Men's basketball: Ohio State point guard Conley Jr. emerges from Oden's shadow

Finally, Final Four Ohio State reaches preseason goal, wants title next

The Buckeyes seek their second national championship, last earned in 1960.

``You dream of it; you think about it all the time. But when it's here it's just a loss for words,'' said Ohio State senior guard Ron Lewis, who pitched in a team-high 22 points and was 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. ``But we're not done yet. We can't relax now.''

I was shocked when they came from behind to win the TN game...oh my! The Vols were doing so well...unstoppable. Lofton was amazing, couldn't miss! Then the Buckeyes came out after half time a totally different team! Imagine my shock when I was away this weekend w/o T.V. and found out we are in the running for #1.....Go Bucks!

And do you want to know the really neat part of all of this?? The day after, we will wake up breathing and thankful to be alive if they win or if they loose. ...Go Bucks!

May the best Man....

...Win .....Lose .......Come out even

.........Be the first to shake hands

...........Sing his alma mater louder

..............Be indifferent .................Be humble

....................Smile, be proud of his/her team and CONGRATULATE the other man for a game well played.

.........................WAJW....Walk as Jesus Walked! That's what the "men" and women in our family will do no matter who wins the BIG GAME tonight between Ohio State and Tennessee in the Sweet 16! As the mother of these two team support leagues, I am proud!

In this household, we absolutely love sport competitions BUT we do not love it above FAMILY!

Guaranteed that tonight 3 households are going to be rooting for their team to win. There will be cheering, jumping up and down (that's me of course) and the periodical phones calls across country to one another. WHY? B/C we love family and love sports!

Have fun tonight family and MAY THE BEST MAN...(awe, you know the rest!)

An experience with God last night

Last night Steve and I was privledged to be in the video of "Experiencing God" -revised (otherwise known as "bring it up to the year 2007) Some people in the audience were those who attended the very first video production of this Bible study (1973) that has gone around the world. Below I have recorded some of the thoughts Henry Blackaby shared from 2 chapters in the study. (Crisis of Belief and Adjustments to God) Of course this leaves alot to be desired, you really have to do the study or see this in person. But I hope it ministers to you at some point.

When you are “born again” you are at that minute radically oriented to God. Your relationship to God is so HE can carry out His purpose.

When God speaks to you-whatever you do NEXT tells you what you believe about God.

When God speaks it will always be a CRISIS OF BELIEF and your response will cause an eternal effect. (Peter and Jesus in the storm)

When God confronts you, He will always show you what’s impossible in your own strength so God will be praised in the end.

When we are in the middle of a Crisis of Belief we sometimes have unbelief. This Unbelief shuts down God. (Mark 9:14-29…story of demon spirit in a father’s son.
V24 “I do believe, help my unbelief.”) The father had the right attitude. He did believe but knew he also was struggling w/unbelief. We are no different at times.

When God gives us a Crisis of Belief, the key to walking thru it is OBEDIENCE.
When we as believers are obedient then God can use us to do His will.

When God calls, God provides. (Heb 11 the Heroes of Faith) …w/o faith it is impossible to please God.
When God calls, we must trust His timing and His ways.

When things, in the middle of a Crisis of Belief, get difficult do we stop and give up or do we fast and pray and trust God more? (Matt 17: 14-21…same father, same demon possessed son.) The questioning of the disciples over why they could not cast out these demons….Jesus answered in V20-21 “Because of your little faith.” Jesus had already given them power to cast out demons. But when it did not happen like they expected, they gave up…Jesus said to never give up (adjust) pray, fast, trust.

Note: they all started with "when" meaning, there is no question that God is not a work around us. So WHEN we see Him at work we are to take action and JOIN HIM.

For the little things in life, I am blessed!

CONVERSATION W/A 5 YR OLD:
DD: “JennahKay did you have fun at your soccer game tonight?”
KKay: “Yes, Griffin and I had this really purplee juice.”
DD: “Did you run after the ball?”
KKay: “I did. And Griffin and I really sweated too. I kicked the ball 2 times too! DD, we played the green team last week but tonight we played the yellow team. We are going to play A LOT of teams before we are done.”
DD: “I am sure you are. I was just looking at a picture of you and your sisters. I miss you so much. I miss you so much that all I want to do is kiss and hug on you, lay on the floor and read books and tickle. Can we do that when I see you at Uncle Allen’s wedding?”
KKay: “Sure, and the next time I come to your house can we have a tea party?”
DD: “Of course, that will be fun. I have some raspberry tea.”
KKay: “Can we have chocolate chip cookies and some brownies too? We are going to have a tea party at MeMaw’s too.”
DD: “That sounds like fun!” I love you KKay! Have a good nights sleep and don’t let those bed bugs bite.”
KKay: “I love you too! Night!
CONVERSATION W/A 3 YR OLD:
DD: “Hi Lorahbeth, I love you!”
LB: “Hi DeeDee, I love you too!”
DD: “ I was just looking at your picture in my kitchen and I just starting missing you. Now that I put your picture in my kitchen I can look at you when I do my dishes. When I see you next time I am gonna kiss you to pieces.” And we can read books and have a tea party at Auntie Jill’s house, ok?”
LB: “OK”
DD: “What do you want to eat at our tea party?”
LB: “Brownies (long pause) and milk.”
DD: “Oh yes, we have to have milk with our brownies.”
LB: “Hi DeeDee, I can see you too!”
DD: “How can you see me Lorahbeth?”
LB: “A picture of you in my kitchen, on the frig. I love you, Night!
DD: “I love you too sweetie, Nighty-Night”

Help me Lord to always STOP and have these conversations with my “grands.” Thank you Lord, that they are safe and warm tonight. Thank you Lord that they love reading their Bible stories again and again and again! Prepare their hearts to hear and understand the free gift that you have prepared for them one day. Continue this circle of eternal hope in our family through the lives of our grandchildren.

Psalm 23:5-6 My cup runneth over, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen

....dreamin....

EVERY time I hear the song by Martina McBride titled, In My Daughter’s Eyes, I start dreamin about my girls. IF I had a voice like Martina’s or better yet, my daughters, I would love to sing it at church, in the town square, or maybe in a restaurant.
But nay nay!
I awake to find that the only place I can sing this song is in my car or in the comfort of my home. How I would love to let the whole world know of the love and respect I carry around everyday for my daughters. How I would love to shout down the street, of the courage they always give me. In my daughter’s eyes I am a hero. I am strong and wise and I know no fear. But the truth is plain to see she was (they were) sent to rescue me, I see who I want to be…in my daughter’s eyes.
HOW I want to tell other mothers who have young ones around that they need to swallow up every minute, every hug, every tear with their children. Because one day they are going to realize how that little one will encourage and strengthen her, not as a mother but a person. My girls have proven to be godly, responsible, productive adults who make me want to be a better Christian, a better person. They amaze me with their intelligence and wisdom. (please note) I give all the praise to God my Father in Heaven!!! In my daughter’s eyes everyone is equal, darkness turns to light and the world is at peace. This miracle God gave to me gives me strength when I am weak. I find reason to believe in my daughter’s eyes.
WHY? Because a long time ago I prayed for these girls to be apart of my live. Noted, I did not pray for daughters but I prayed for children to be in my life. Children who were going to make a difference. When she wraps her hand around my finger oh, it gives smile to my heart. Everything becomes a little clearer, I realize what life is all about. It’s hanging on when your heart has had enough, it’s giving more when you feel like giving up. I’ve seen the light it’s in my daughters eyes.
ALONG time ago I use to dream of being a wife and mother. I never desired a career or money or fancy things. Now I look at my grown daughters and sigh. I have attained everything I always wanted in life and then God gave me more! I now have 2 sons and 3 grandDAUGHTERS! In my daughter’s eyes I can see the future, a reflection of who I am and what will be. Though she’ll grow and someday leave, maybe raise a family. When I’m gone I hope you’ll see how happy she (they) made me…for I’ll be there, in my daughter’s eyes.