IS IT REALLY MAY?

It's unbelievable how fast this year is going! I can't believe it's May already!

Sorry I've been out for several days.  Our boys are busy with golf tournaments (which, by the way, are loooonnnnggg compared to most sporting events!), so that's been fun.  They're in the Regional Tournament this week.  And last week was the annual FFA Convention, so I've got really neat things to share with you about that event.  But, I decided that can wait. Sleep seems to be the best option right now since I've got to get up in the wee hours of the night.

Yesterday and today our church family had a FAMILY SEMINAR. It was SUPER! Lots of great "stuff" from the speaker, Steven Minor.  He challenged us to spend more time together as families, to say NO to more busyness, and to eat together around the table at least four times this week.  That should be easy, but some times it's not.  Sad, huh?!

Well, have a wonderful week!  I'll write more Tuesday morning.  I can't wait to share some "stuff" with you all!

12 Steps to Self Care...with God

(Click on photo to make it larger!)

My husband gets a runner's themed feed on Instagram. Yesterday he used these 12 Steps as a devo with the boys and I.  It was the first sentence in each step. I added a spiritual thought and scripture to each step for this list.  Enjoy!

Hello, Summer!!

Well, it's officially summer now, and for children family, the summer break has been in full swing for a few weeks.  But, it hasn't been much of a break so far!  It seems it's been just as busy as during the school year, but a different kind of busy.  A fun busy. (Not that school isn't fun, but you know what I mean :).

Anyway, just wanted to let you know I would be taking a few weeks off from blogging. I'll be "out of pocket" and not able to post for those weeks.

I'll see you back after the 4th of July weekend! Doesn't that sound strange!??

Have a great week.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:1-6

GOOD STUFF!

From time to time, I hear/read/see some really good "stuff" that I want to share with you.  This is one of those times!  I hope you'll take the time to listen to or read these things.  They will inspire you!

One note about any video links:  Be sure to scroll to the bottom of my blog home page if you are on there and "click" the little circle with two lines in it like an eleven.  That will turn off the playlist music so that you can hear the videos.

1.  After my Biscuit post yesterday, this was just so sweet of him after school yesterday.  I wanted to share it with you:

Sometimes it's hard to believe Tyler is only 10 years old. He's always thought a lot deeper than most people - even adults! This afternoon he came home upset because his teacher thought he rolled his eyes at her. He said he apologized immediately, but still felt badly about it. I consoled him and told him how much I appreciated his tender heart. And, of course reminded him to make sure he didn't roll his eyes. I figure he did it, but didn't realize it (I've seen that look myself!). Sweet boy who reminds us all if the time why Jesus said we should be more like children.

2.  I've never confessed this on my blog, but I'm not a huge Duck Dynasty fan. However, my three boys and husband like it.  The boys like it A LOT.  My daughter is on my side.  We're not rednecks! :).  But, I am very, very impressed with the way they share Jesus with others, and for that reason, I will post things about them in regards to them spreading the good news on Facebook and here from time to time.  On a side note, Jace Robertson was as OC (Oklahoma Christian) on Monday. He did chapel there.  I had experienced OC chapel myself, the Friday before....then Sunday at worship the President of OC sat in front of us and my brother/sister-in-law introduced my daughter and I to him and shook his hand.  Monday he stood in a pond on the OC campus with Jase, shaking his hand.  They're just down to earth Christian people.  No different than you and I - our modes of spreading the gospel and being shining lights are just in different areas.  Isn't that great to know?! God uses ALL of His children!

Here are the links for two of Phil Robertson's (the dad.....I'm sure he looks kind of like Abraham might have! :) sermons.  They're really worth watching and sharing: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KwrmlTPI8w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DApqTMJYGMU

3.  Another sweet video of a little girl telling all about Jesus!  It's seven minutes long, but the end is so cute....you'll want to watch :).  Notice her daddy, too!

http://www.dimewars.com/Video/This-Little-Girl-Was-PAYING-ATTENTION-AT-CHURCH--She-Sounds-Like-She-Gives-Mommy-A-Sermon-Every-Night.aspx?bcmediaid=45613c24-04c0-4869-a35c-f917d15d67f2

4.  And these great thoughts from a Facebook page called "Parents Raising Godly Children":

Your family will not get heaven on accident! The wordly influence is too strong. There must be deliberate action of training, discipline and love on our part as parents. Faith in Christ must be on purpose, lived out loud in front of the ones we love! We cannot let up or turn it over someone else to 

raise our children to be Spiritual Champions! So:

If you are tired, fight one more day!
If you feel defeated, get on your knees and turn it over to HIM!
If you are distracted, stop, pray and get focused on Jesus!
If you have been lazy, get back on track!
If you need strength, get into HIS BOOK - the Holy Word of God!
Stay in the fight and FINISH STRONG today!
Leave a Legacy!

4.  Finally, a blog post about why many churches aren't growing like they should be.  This is so very true and sad!  Please take the time to read this important message.

http://mattdabbs.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/churches-are-dying-because-christians-arent/

HAVE A GREAT WEDNESDAY, EVERYONE! 

I COULDN'T DO THIS AGAIN IF I TRIED!

Tonight we had a delicious meal consisting of grilled chicken (marinade recipe is posted on our family recipe blog:  http://www.3cherrycokes.blogspot.com/), grilled fresh corn on the cob (recipe in archives), roasted potatoes (from our garden), salad (with "real" Ranch.....the kind you make, not bottled).  It was so good! 

After we had been eating for a while, my husband wanted some more potatoes, but just as I was getting ready to pass them to him, our youngest two boys started grabbing them!  I wasn't very happy with them and scolded them about already having seconds and that they shouldn't be so greedy.  Just then my husband started laughing because he had already had seconds, too!  

A fun/teasing conversation went on for a few minutes as I continued trying to insist that my husband take the few remaining potatoes.  He kept telling me no. The kids were laughing....he was laughing...I was laughing......and I broke the table manners that we (I) typically enforce at family meal times.  I decided to throw a potato chunk to my husband! 

I flung the potato across the table (which is 72 inches long....we sit on opposite ends) with my left hand.  (I'm right-handed.)  And guess what happened????? You can probably guess by this picture!  It landed in a cup of water!!!  Not my husband's cup, but our daughter's cup!  She was sitting down at the end of one side towards my husband!

Oh, it was hilarious and yes, bad, bad table manners. :)  But, it was more amazing than anything and we laughed about it for quite a while.  I was actually pretty proud of myself and thought how nice it would have been if it was a "potato throwing contest" and I had just won a large sum of money!  Me....the one who is typically not very good at throwing a ball with my dominate right hand, chunked a potato into a relatively small cup with my non-dominate left hand! SIGN ME UP FOR THE POTATO THROWING CONTEST!

And.....of course......the whole family said:  "This has to be a blog post!"  And, of course, I agreed.  Yes it does!

I couldn't do that again if I tried!

For this Gratituesday, I'm grateful for fun and memorable family meal times with all six of us together....bad table manners and all!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Packing for Camp

June and early July are filled with weeks of camps for our family.  This week our three oldest are at two different camps.  Many years ago, even the youngest and I spent a week helping at camp, so packing for five for a week in a camp setting was sometimes difficult.

Remembering to pack everything needed was difficult, but I tried to find tips for making it better.  My favorite tip of all was from Family Fun magazine.  There was a reader who suggested putting children's clothing in one gallon plastic storage bags (such as Ziplock).  This system has remained part of our camp packing every year for many, many years.

Now, I can't promise that it will ensure that your child will wear clean clothes every day, but it is more probable that he/she will when they are packed in this way! :)  I say this because one of my middle boys could and has recently worn the same clothes for a few days without bothering to change....much to our dismay!! (He was at his grandparents and they didn't realize he hadn't changed.  He forgot that he had taken more clothes. (And just how does that happen, I wonder????!!!!)

When my children were younger, I would have them tell me which days they wanted to wear each set of clothes.  I would write on the outside of the bag each day of the week they would be at camp and then put their picked clothing into that bag.  Now the oldest packs by herself (still in the bags) and the two middle boys I help.  As a special thing, I also hide a little note in each bag.  I even do this for the older ones when I have the opportunity.   

For each child, as they went to camp for the very first time, I would get an inexpensive pillow case and write on it with markers. The oldest two have kind of grown out of it, but Jacob still wanted his this year.  It would be fun to do a different one each year and have other campers sign it - as a memento from camp.

One more camp packing tip is a Japanese style of folding shirts.  Go to YouTube and search for the phrase Japanese shirt folding.  Watch one of the videos and you'll be amazed!!  I did this a few years, but then forgot and just didn't take the time to re-learn the technique.  It is really neat and efficient, though, and definitely keeps shirts from getting very wrinkled.

What ideas/tips do you have for camp or vacation packing?  Let me know!  I'll be packing all of us pretty soon!

Have a great week, everyone! 

These Aren't My Boots

Note: I was going to do a VBS post this morning, but unfortunately my computer isn't cooperating!  Sooooo, I'm sharing this cute story with you for today.  This post is written by Alan Smith and is used by permission. Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

THESE AREN'T MY BOOTS

It was the usual muddy day in the country. The first grade teacher, Miss Brown, had just finished putting the 36th boot on the 18th pair of little feet and was anxious to finish the last pair so she could go to lunch.

The last pair of boots was for little Johnny Smith, a quiet boy. Miss Brown had a very difficult time getting his boots on as they were a bit too small for his growing feet, but she finally won the battle.

To her dismay, little Johnny looked blandly up into her face and announced, "Teacher, these boots aren't mine." In a hurry, but wanting to be kind, Miss Brown groaned, but with grim gentleness removed the boots and straightened her aching back.

Whereupon Johnny continued, "They're my little brother's, but Mommy said I could wear them to school today."

I feel like little Johnny because I, too, can say, "These aren't my boots. These aren't my clothes. This isn't my house. This isn't my car." As a child of God, I recognize that everything in my possession belongs to Him, and He has merely allowed me to use them for a while.

"For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." (Psa. 50:10)

The word the Bible often uses to describe this relationship is the word "steward." In the first century, a steward was a servant who was left in charge of the household. Everything in the house was his to use, but he was also held responsible and had to give an account for what had been done with it.

It makes a tremendous difference in my perspective to realize that all I have belongs to God. He has merely given me these things to use for a while (and then I have to give an account). Listen to these words by William How which we often sing:

"We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be:
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee."

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You." (I Chron. 29:14-15)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Thoughts for Today

1. Sorry about the lack of posts last week.  Blogger was having some "issues" and no one was able to post for a few days.  It's kind of good that we realize that technology is great, but that it is also not perfect.  It makes us more appreciative of it when it is working and thankful for those who can work to make it better. (I'm not one of those people, so I'm very appreciative!)

2.  Saturday our family attended a wedding.  I put on my status on Facebook that it was a royal wedding....because it was.  The bride and groom were both children of The King and were being united in Him!  That makes it a royal wedding, for sure! The best kind of royal wedding. This was the third wedding that my mom was a part of - in a way.  Do you remember my post "Is My Mom Cupid?".  This is the relationship mentioned in that post that had yet to evolve into a marriage-type relationship.  This past Saturday all of that changed!  I really think my mom should open up a website called, "eHarmony.mom" or something....don't you???? :)  Incidentally, the bride was also the youngest person at my own wedding, almost 23 years ago!  She was one month old on June 18, 1988!

3.  Tonight we had our youth group over for pizza, singing and devotional.  My husband talked to the teens about interesting stories in the Bible....ones that we hardly read about or think about.  Stories like Jael pounding the tent peg into Sisera's head (Judges 4:21-22) and about the kings who had their big toes cut off (Judges 1:5-7).  He told them of other rather strange-sounding stories, as well.  The stories are gorey, really, but obviously appealed to the kids and sparked their interest in God's Word.  It's good to get them interested in the Bible in different ways and tonight did just that!  They enjoyed the evening playing football, basketball, laughing, and talking.  A perfect, 70-degree evening of fellowship together!

4.  School is winding down here in Tipton.  End-of-school activities fill up the calendar.  Summer schedules are filling up quickly.  When school begins next fall (Lord willing), we will have two children in high school.  That seems unbelievable.  It seems unimaginable.  But it's real.  It's flying by!  It's hard to not get so caught up in the busy-ness of life and to slow down enough to enjoy the here and now.  It's hard to not think about the future and wonder what life will be like when they're all grown.  I need to stop and pray at these times.  Pray for guidance and wisdom and strength.  Pray for my children who have lots of decisions to make in just a few short years. 

5.  Last week this is what I would have posted on Thursday night, if Blogger had been working.  It's a quote from Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa.  Read her wise words below and think about them as you go throughout this week:

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

Have a great week, everyone! 

Our Neck of the Woods

I don't know why I gave this post a title like this.  In Southwest Oklahoma there is certainly no woods any where around!  I guess I just liked the sound of it.

So, after a very long series of posts with lots and lots of Biblical thoughts, today I'm just going to share with you what's been going on in small town Tipton.

First of all, we had our annual school/town Fall Festival/Carnival.  I organize the event each year for our PTO, but have many helpers in lots of different areas.

Elementary teachers each have games in their classrooms.  Many parents volunteer to run the games, if needed. (This "clown" is one of our 2nd grade teachers!)

High school classes, with their teacher-sponsors' help, each had a game booth.  This is my daughter's Sophomore class.  They had an obstacle course.  Lots of fun!

Each elementary class also has a basket with a theme. At the end of the evening, the baskets are auctioned off.  This years' basket themes were:  Tiger Spirit, Family Game Night, Gift Cards, Christmas, Fall/Thanksgiving, Gingerbread, OU, OSU, and Texas Rangers.  There is also a silent auction with smaller items.

Many elementary students participated in a pumpkin decorating contest.  The "Top 3" winners received a $5 bill.

And, what would a carnival be without food?  The PTO concession stand offers the general concession-stand fare:  hot dogs, Frito chili pie, and nachos, but unlike most concessions stands, this booth serves homemade desserts!

There are many more booths plus craft/jewelery/clothing/purse vendors.  It's a jam-packed evening full of fun for all ages.  It also serves as the PTO's only fundraiser of the year.

This year's event brought in a record amount, as far as fund-raising goes.  These funds are going to purchase Tipton Elementary t-shirts for every elementary student and elementary faculty member, pay for part of a movie trip for the elementary students (K-5th) to see "Tangled", plus provide a "Reindeer" themed  Christmas party in a few weeks.  It will also provide food for field trips, prizes for the annual spelling bee, and many other events.

 Another event that the Tipton 4-H group has been working on is "Share-the-Fun", which is like a talent show. As the 4-H leader, this is probably the most difficult event to organize, just because it takes lots of commitment and lots of practice.

This year's skit was entitled "Green Clovers and Kids".  It was based on the Dr. Seuss book, "Green Eggs and Ham".  I'm pleased to announce that the group won Reserve Grand Champion this weekend!  Congratulations, Tipton 4-H!

 And, the final thing in "Our Neck of the Woods", was that my family ran in a race this weekend.....everyone except me, that is. First of all: I'm NOT a runner! Never have liked it and doubt I ever will! Second of all: If I did run, who would take all of the awesome pictures? Exactly! No one. I have to be the photographer!

So, what's going on in neck of the woods?????

Sentimental Journey

A few weeks ago we traded in our high mileage minivan for a low mileage, larger SUV.  I was so excited! I had wanted something bigger for a few years so that our four children would have more leg room.  My husband wasn't too sure about getting a bigger one for a while because he was concerned about the gas mileage.  But, he had the opportunity to drive a bigger vehicle with all of us in there, and eventually decided it would give us a lot more room.  We looked online at different models and finally found something we liked.  It also had a good price!

Our oldest son, Zachary, went with me down near Dallas to trade in the minivan for the SUV.  On the way down there I began to get sentimental towards the van.  With our previous van that we had traded in over six years ago there were no sentimental feelings at all.  That van had been abused with sick kids with stomach viruses, spills of food and drinks, melted crayons, and lots of other mishaps.  But the newer red minivan....well....it was a big part of our family.  It had been around almost the whole time our youngest had been alive.  There were good memories from that van and it had been a good vehicle - without many problems at all.

Zachary didn't understand my sentimental feelings about the van.  He thought it was ridiculous!  I tried to explain to him that it was the memories of he and his siblings in the van - traveling around and just being a big part of our life for so many years. Zachary didn't get it.

When we got ready to clean out the van and get into the new SUV, it was a strange feeling.  I was still excited and knew that I would be able to get used to the new vehicle, but it was just odd.  It felt like I was getting rid of something that was a big part of us!  (Strange, I know!).

As Zachary and I drove the new-to-us SUV back to Oklahoma, I didn't feel strange any more.  I got used to the SUV pretty quickly.  It would become a big part of our family.  It would quickly become part of our lives.  It would be filled with conversation, music, singing, and laughter.  It might also be filled with crying, at times.  It would become a place where lots of memories were made.

So, as I think about this sentimental journey of the minivan and the SUV, I realize that it's not about what the vehicle is and what model it is.  Not at all.  It's about the memories made together.  It's about being together and talking together.  It's about laughing together and crying together.  And, sometimes it will be about sibling quarrels.  But, it's memories of our family.  The sentimental journeys becomes the sentimental journal of our lives.

God gives us a lot of things in life.  He blesses us in many, many ways.  But those things are not what matters.  It's the people that matter and the memories and relationships with those people. 

He gave us One special person in life that should be more special to us than anything or anyone else.  He gave us His only Son who was willing to die for us.  Our sentimental journey should include those memories of Him suffering for us.  Take some time to read that sentimental journal - the Holy Bible.  Take the time to reflect on His life and what He did for You.  Take the time to thank God for all He has given you and to thank Jesus for the gift of salvation through His blood.

Take the time to go on a sentimental journey today.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4