Christmas Cookies!

Remembering My Daddy

I have been thinking about my Dad alot lately. I'm not sure why, maybe its the holidays. I go through periods where I really don't think about him much, but then its like this. I sometimes wonder how my life would have turned out if he had survived and how he much he'd love Cullen and Ansley. He died when I was 7 yrs old and I have only a handful of memories of him. I wish I knew and remembered the silly side that everyone talks about. But, I'd like to share with you what I do know.

• His name was Timothy Lee Barrett, youngest child of George and Ruth.


• At 19, he owned his own business, Barrett's Electric, an appliance store and he was an electrician.


• My mom first saw him in Tennessee Magazine, where they did an article on him. He had won some award and they talked about how young he was to own a business. She said he was so cute and she had to meet him.
  
  
• He loved Dayona beach and he owned a sailboat.



• He was 21 when I was born.



• He called me "Ginny-Root"



• He was a smoker,had the bluest eyes you have ever seen, stood about 5'6'' and had auburn hair, like me.



• He built the only house he'd ever own at age 21



• I remember one fun night at home when my Mom made chili and Daddy came home. He and I sat at the bar and ate, then watched Greatest American Hero on TV.



• His hands were very rough and callused, but I loved holding them anyway.
  
  
• He was a fun-loving guy, and was a friend to everyone.



• He liked Lynard Skynard and Hewey Lewis and the News



• At his funeral, it was standing room only. They opened the doors in the back of the chapel so people could listen from outside.




• I don't know if he was a Christian. He didn't go to church, but one man says he prayed with my dad to be saved at his home. I don't know if that's accurate.



• He had a full set of dentures when he was 26.



• One memory I have is riding in his new car, which was copper colored, and telling him we were riding in a penny. Before that, he drove a yellow Datsun truck.



• I remember our last Christmas together, at my Grandparent's house and it snowed.



• I was with him the weekend before he died (my parent's were divorced). He had what seemed like a cold, and his cough medicine was between the seats in his car. I remember telling him to take his medicine so he'll get well.



• That same weekend I had so much anxiety. I remember standing in the bathroom while he took a shower, just staring at the shower curtain and foggy mirror. The thought "what would I do if my Daddy was gone?" went through my mind. I had butterflies in my stomach and I couldn't eat my Fruity Pebbles. It's wierd I experienced that because I was only 7. I just can hear him say "What's wrong, Ginny Root? Why don't you go eat your cereal?" I'm sure it bugged him that I was in there, and I never told him what I was thinking.



• That same day, we went to the barber shop. I remember watching him get his hair cut, and thinking the same thing. Later, he got so sick he couldn't take me home. It was about an hour drive, so he had his cousin drive me to my mom's house.



• He died at age 28 from pnuemonia on a Monday morning at 5:30am, January 6, 1986.
  

Scary Poinsettias!

Ok, I have this cute, funky little ornament that I got in Fairhope a few years ago that I like. Its an elf with a poinsettia around her face. Well, as we are decorating the tree, my precious boy tells me that he's scared of the "scary flower girl". Well, I laugh because its obviously a poinsettia with legs and arms- what's to be scared of? Well, he's scared and he won't walk by the tree even to go in the kitchen while she's up. So, I take her down and he asked me to sell her in our yard sale. She off she goes to the yard sale pile. Then, because I'm clearly a horrible mother, as he's walking into the kitchen, cautiously by the yard sale pile, I say "Watch out for Crazy Poinsettia Girl!" (Ok, remember the Saturday Night Live skit-in an Adam Sandler voice-"I'm Crazy Stapler Man! Gimme some candy!") Well, he melts into a puddle in the floor, crying over Crazy Poinsettia Girl. He gets over it, so a couple of days later..... I make a centerpiece for my dining room table that's a basket with a poinsettia on it. He comes up to me and says "Why did you put that scary flower on the basket? You know I don't like that." So, we have to go through the whole "Poinsettias are a REAL flower, that God made, and they bloom at Christmas time. Its the elf with it around her head that is unnatural and might have scared you" talk. Well, he's getting better, but when Ansley comes across CPG and plays with her he still gets a little freaked. Here's a picture of Crazy Poinsettia Girl- sorry its blurry, but I wanted you to get the full effect.

Comfy, Cozy Day

Cold, winter-feeling day. I've been cold all day and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love the holidays and I know that for the holidays to come, so must cold weather. So, I can endure it I guess. I've been in warm comfy clothes drinking coffee throughout the day. I even watched a girl movie -Father of the Bride 2. Today I have been really comfy-cozy, relaxed, low-key. My house has been clean the last few days, we rearranged our furniture and that makes me keep it clean for a few days, plus its helped that we've had several visitors over the past few days. I'm able to relax when the house is tidy. The Christmas tree is lit up and beautiful, I decorated the mantle earlier and I like it. My kids have been very fun to be around which is awesome considering the long hours we've put in lately. Like last night the kids and I went to Crissy's and it was so much fun sitting around laughing and talking with my friends. We didn't leave until 11:00! I can't explain how it fills my soul to go there and spend time with those people. I don't know why I don't go more.
Trace and I had a big to-do list for this weekend since he was off for so long and we weren't travelling, but have we done it? Nope. But, I'm not stressing, not tonight. Tonight is me and babies night, Trace went to a friend's to watch the Iron Bowl and although we are watching it here too, we are able to do our own thing-sit in front of the TV and be silly and loud and nobody is stressed about it. Fun times. I think I'm gonna scrapbook for awhile tonight. I need to catch up because I'm starting to forget before I can document things! Now I must go and have more fun with my babies. What a pleasant day of sweet contentment.

Donahoos go to the North Pole

Hey, I just made a total elf of myself. Check it out by clicking the linkbelow.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9559709887

This is too funny! I saw it first on Page's blog...

Celebrity Reader Day

Today was a fun day! It was Celebrity Reader Day at Cully's school and the humorous thing is that I was considered a "celebrity reader". I got to ride on the coat tail of our Celebrity Pastor Burt Boykin. I was a little nervous being in front of people, but it turned out really great! I read to a 1st grade class then to Cully's class. It was cute to see him so proud to have his Mommy there as a special guest. I better enjoy that while it lasts because it won't be too long before he begs me not to even come to his school! They did a lot to make it special, including a huge spread of food and gave us all a t-shirt.

Then, after a bit of work at the church, Ansy and I came home for lunch. We took a two hour nap! That was lovely! This would be why I'm up blogging at 10:30pm- I can't sleep! Once Cully came home, I took them to the new Leeds park and library. The new park is awesome!! You must go and take your children if you haven't already. Anyway, my spontaneous friends (Steve and Laura- that is one of the reasons I love them so) asked us to come and hang out after dinner. We stayed a long time and the kids were almost asleep by the time we got home. I love when they are worn out from playing and go right to sleep!

These are the days I really enjoy my life; getting to do cool things with my job and being able to spend time with my children during the day. I love the community I'm in and the people He has put in my life!

Mission to the World

These past two days were wonderful! Trace and I went to the MTW home office in Atlanta for missions training. It was a big family reunion! We got to be around some of the most godly, grace-oriented people on the planet (although very human)and really came away feeling encouraged and having more direction.

No matter the weather outside, when you walk through the doors of Mission to the World its like a ray of sunshine. Really its a refuge in a dark world and I love being there. We were around people who are like us, who experienced the same unusual experiences of foreign missions(what little we've experienced), understanding everything that we say or ask, everything we are going through emotionally and personally. And I know they feel the same, everyone excited and content, ready to see their brothers and sisters in Christ and catch up. This weekend is the Global Missions Conference where most MTW missionaries are getting together. I wish we could go, but circumstances are not permitting this time. Although Trace and I have had limited interaction with these folks, what we've had has bonded us together. Through evaluations, interviews, prayers and couseling we've had to open ourselves up completely, lay ourselves out on the table for all of these people to examine and by the grace of God, they accept us anyway. Nothing brings you closer to folks than that.


One of the highlights of our trip was seeing Tom Courtney, the director of MTW Europe. He was our final approval to go to England and begin raising support. If that sounds intimidating, its because it is! We didn't know he'd be there and vice versa. We got off the elevator and recognized him at the same time he recognized us. He just came and approached us with a big hug and invited us to his table for breakfast. We had such a fun time. We got to see a different side of him, the silly side, not the intense, down to business interviewer side. It was encouraging to be embraced in that way, introduced to others working in Europe and feeling like a "part of the team".


One of the best parts was when it really hit me that these people will be our family, our support, our mentors and our friends while we are in a foreign place. Some will be with us, or on the same continent and the rest will be here in the US, doing behind the scenes work to keeps us afloat.


We really saw a different prospective on raising support to go on the mission field. We learned the biblical basis of it and how caring for our supporters was a big part of our ministry. Also, about speaking and writing prayer letters. We got a rough draft of our budget and learned about each line item. Man, great stuff. It was such a wise thing for our coach to suggest we come and get some of this training now!


Here's a tiny bit of interesting facts I learned about the biblical basis of support raising. Go on a mini bible study with me... (I linked the verses, just click 'em)

God's Way-Teamwork


• Priests were supported by offerings Num 18:8



• Matt 10:10 Jesus told them to take nothing



• Luke 8:1-3 Jesus and the 12 were supported by women of means



• Phil 4:16 Churches sent Paul what he needed to live and minister



• 2 Tim 4:9-13 Paul asking for help

Donors


• Giving is a gift Rom 12:1-8



• Work of Sanctification 2Cor. 8:7



• Reflects relationship w/ Christ 2 Cor. 9:7



• People have a need to give 2 Cor. 8:1-8

I'm very thankful for the things I am learning and the people I am meeting while on this journey!

More later...

Sorry, guys! I really didn't intend to have NKOTB on my blog for a week! I'll update soon!

Awww, Memories

Who was your favorite?

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord

Funny story about my little "missionary in training"-

Cullen, Corin & Silas were playing outside yesterday for a long time, very busy and hard at work. On the way home I asked Cully what they played outside. Here's how the conversation went:

"Momma, we played with roaches!"
"Ooh, yuck! Roaches? Were they alive?"
"Well, one was. The other ran off. Then, one was dead."
"What did you do with these roaches?"
"We built them a little house out of some wood and leaves and stuff."
"Well, that's nice. Is that it?"
"We also built them a little cross out of wood, so they'd know about God."

I tried hard not laugh hysterically, because it was very sweet.
Do roaches have breath? I guess so if they are alive, right?

I've Been Lied To

For the last couple of days, I've been feeling very defeated. All of the day-to-day crap, stuff that makes your otherwise happy life not-so-perfect, was really getting to me. We've had a lot of that lately, and I call them either "character building exercises" or attacks from Satan. But the last couple of days they've gotten me down, and I started getting angry, overwhelmed and frustrated. I won't bore you with details, but will just touch on the surface of the issues. First of all, my little girl is a 24 pound monster 75% of the time these days. She gives a whole new meaning to the term "Terrible Twos". She hits, screams, kicks, bites, pinches and does the opposite of what you say while saying "NO!!!!", that's if she pays any attention at all to what you are saying. This is new for me, Cully wasn't this way, and that's good because if he was, Ansley wouldn't be here today. Anyway, that behavior has been constant at home and in public for a couple of weeks now, and we have yet to find a punishment that works on such a strong willed child. I'm at the end of my rope!

Secondly, we've had some unexpected money spending issues which has all but cleared out our savings right here before Christmas-lovely. This along with the everyday stress that goes on in my head about the missions thing and when to sell our home, Trace's new job, and a perpetual dirty house that DRIVES ME CRAZY, I'm spinning in circles! So, not surprisingly, last night I broke down. I completely tuned Ansley out, sat in a trance and pouted. I put the kids to bed and went and sat on my bathroom rug to think and pity myself.

As I sat there, I thought "What lies are you believing today, Ginger?" (That was a brilliant thing I heard Laura Morgan say) I began to realize that thinking I'm a horrible mother was a lie that was feeding off the guilt I already feel everyday as a young mother. The feelings of how God won't prevail through our financial struggles, our family decisions, our vehicles and how Christmas will suck again this year are all lies. And I believed them, hook, line and sinker.

I love putting all my "dirty laundry" out there for everyone to read, but blogging about this makes me feel better somehow. It makes it more true to me and besides I have to share my little AHA! moment because I believe lies alot and am just now starting to recognize them. As we try to preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday, that should include who we are because of Christ. When has He not come through, providing for us in incredible ways?

Tell this to the Liar:

I am a daugher of the King
Nothing can seperate me from Him
He gives me all I need
He has plans to give me hope and a future
I am precious to God
He knew me when I was in my mother's womb
I am a coheir to the throne of grace
He will never leave me or forsake me
He has called by my name and I am His

Halloweening it all day!