John Piper on the prosperity gospel

The Cosbys showed this to us last night and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind! Its tough, but GOOD!

Top Ten Things I've Loved About Spring Break

1. Going to the zoo! We walked around for two hours and was just about to leave when we found friends! So, we walked around again with them for three more hours!
2. Ansley as the "Goat Whisperer"- the petting zoo was Ansley's favorite part! She pet the goats and they loved her. She would stand on a rock and one goat would stand next to her and another would sit at her feet and she'd hug them and pet them, and she was the last to leave. It was adorable. Someone suggested it might be very good for Ansley to have a goat-very therapeutic!
3. Playing Deal or No Deal at Chuck E. Cheese! That game was addictive! But, of course, I only played it alot so I could win a ton of tickets for my children. Yes, of course...
4. "Coffee" at Kim's on Wednesday. The cake was divine and so was the fellowship. And seeing my two year old climb a tree all by herself, really high! Not so much when she wouldn't come down!
5. Going out to lunch with my favorite boy in the whole wide world! The two of us went to McDonald's yesterday and ate inside, gotta a Happy Meal toy AND a ice cream cone! Who's the best mom ever? That's right, you guessed it.
6. Having Silas spend the night. Cully went to spend the night at a friend's house Monday night for the first time and LOVED it! So, now he's all about having people spend the night! They ate lots of junk food and stayed up until after 10pm watching movies. Again, who is the coolest mom ever? I think you know...
7. Being able to spoil my kids this week! We had a blast doing whatever they've wanted to. Today Cully asked to go to Disney World. Sorry,Kiddo. If we were in Orlando, then, yes. But we're not, so he'll have to settle for the park and a picnic!
8. Sleeping late! Even when I had to get up and fix lunch for Trace, I still got to go back to sleep! LOVE IT!!!!
9. Dropping the kids off at Kim's house and going shopping ALONE. Wow! What a friend, what a friend. I went to Belk where their clearance was $1.98-4.98! I got a couple of great tops and got Trace some shirts and Perry Ellis cords. El Cheapo!
10. Having a whole day ahead of us to have more fun! Let's see what we can get into today...

Ken Lee - Bulgarian Idol (WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

Too Funny! She really thought she was singing in English! This is probably how my Spanish sounds!

Observations at WalMart

1. Don't go to Trussville WalMart during Spring Break unless you have nothing but time to kill and you want a good laugh. I didn't go in with either of those things on my mind, but if you enter the Twilight Zone you might as well have fun with it!
2. Junior High girls, whether alone or in a group, are very funny to watch.

Example One: I heard one girl tell her friends that "Vitamin water is my new favorite drink. Its like the best ever." Her friends enthusiastically agreed, even though it was so obvious they had no idea what "Vitamin Water"was!

Example Two: A girl walking behind her mom would spontaneously "bust a move" in the cereal aisle if a good song was playing. And, even better, she'd start doing cheerleading moves! Hysterical!

3. Just because people are driving over yellow stripes in a crowded parking lot, doesn't necessarily mean they will slow down.

4. Eating at the WalMart McDonald's is not for the faint of heart. Another Twilight Zone moment. I walk in and order a parfait, quick bite before I grocery shop so I don't buy EVERYTHING I see, and I've immediately realized this is a bad idea. At about noon on a Thursday, its full of hairy old men with food in their beards, old women with bad wigs, whole families who stop to eat AFTER they shop, with their full cart parked by the table and LOUD kids. I sat down, trying not to make eye contact with anyone, quickly ate my parfait and got the heck out of Dodge!

Fun Times! Not really, but definitely a good laugh!

Longing for the Day...

I have been hurt this past week. I've been struggling with for five days now and I'm confused and I don't understand it. Well, that's not entirely true, I understand where it came from. We have been warned, many times by multiple sources that we are a target for Satan. And he's teeing off! I've realized my weak spots right now are my health, my children and family. Right after we left the MTW office, we were flying high! We had survived the week of interviews and presentations and were commissioned by our denomination's missions agency to go. Ten minutes later...WHAM!... WHAM, WHAM! Knocked back down. Not just one hit, but several over a few days. What's sad is when he uses our own against us, whether its our Christian brother or the people we trust most.

And what's worse, is my struggle to forgive. My nature is not quick to forgive. I like to be angry, and sad and hurt- I like to marinate in it for awhile until it becomes a part of me. When I forgive, I usually forget why I was mad in the first place, and why would I want that to happen? Then I remember, my God forbids me to be this way. I cannot change who hurt me or take it away. This is not the first time its happened and it most definitely won't be the last. How many times have I been the person that hurts those who love and trust me?

It been amazing how my countenance has changed, I am a bitter, defensive, wounded being. In one way, Satan won. But in other ways, he has made us more anxious and determined to get to England and away from those who repeatedly hurt and frustrate us! Sound harsh? Yes, but I can be truthful about my feelings, however silly they may be. (I'm kidding, I know England will not stop hurt and frustrations from coming our way, but its nice to have something to look forward to!) I am still praying for the strength and desire to forgive. He has softened my heart a little more today. I hate this about my sin nature- that I am so quick to pray for forgiveness and thank God for Jesus, but find it so hard to forgive those who do things to me. I'm so glad He is faithful to us and has promised to be with us-no matter what-and will see His work in me to completion!

I long for Heaven, where these kind of emotions and yucky issues will not exist!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Age 3 or 13?

Ansy dressed herself in this sassy outfit. She wanted to hear Hannah Montana, so I made her a Pandora station. It played Hannah, Jonas Brothers and High School Musical music (all from Disney channel). My child could sing EVERY SONG and tell me who was singing them, which is what she's doing in this pic! Isn't that disturbing?!

CMTW, Free Meds and a Movie

Today we were back at MTW. What a great place to be! When you walk in, its like a light in a dark place, an oasis in the desert! I just love it!

First thing on the agenda was our meeting with CMTW(Committee MTW). Wow! What a room of the most gracious men I've ever seen! We met about 45 min in which they asked about our call, our past and our spiritual life. Sound intimidating enough? Just for the first five minutes, then it was really great. These men we met with are pastors and elders from all over the place- St. Louis, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Birmingham and North Carolina. Such sweet, gentle spirits. So, when it was over, we waited for a response. Finally, at lunch, we were told in passing by an MTW staff person we were approved! What a relief! We realize if we've gotten this far, its hard to be denied, but you never know. So, there, we are official- tomorrow we are signing our life away!

Then, we went to the Dr for our physical. I have been sick with a cold that turned into a sinus infection, but I've been sick ALL WINTER! I'm still paying Dr bills from all four of us being sick last month! So, I told him my symptoms and he said he'd prescribe some antibiotics. I was thankful, but a little sick because of the cost that's to follow. As we leave, he tells us to fast until 11:00 tomorrow for bloodwork and oh by the way- here's your medicine! 10 days worth of antibiotics FREE! And we didn't have to pay for the visit since it was a job physical!!! OH MY GOSH! (At least, that's what they tell me- I hope we don't get a bill later!)

The food here is marvelous! MTW hires these caterers for their events that are out of this world! We really only come for the food! Tonight was a special dinner with the Committee for our approval- very nice, candles and some special presentations. Such an incredible group of people He has blessed us to be around! I love it!

We have new-found freedom with no children and I'm afraid we're going a little overboard. Last night we went to Johnny Corinos and had dessert. Today, during our break, we went to Dunkin Donuts and came back and took a nap. Tonight we went to the movies and saw The Other Boleyn Girl- very good! So, we are tired and STILL have a presentation to work on for Friday! Yuck!!

I do miss my babies- called and talked to them and they are having fun. Of course- MiMi and Pops are a barrel of fun!

Tomorrow is a very busy day with no breaks! 8:30am-7pm.

Snowy Surprise!

Remembering the Good News

Tonight I got a surprise phone call from one of my oldest friends, someone I have dearly loved since I was a child. Looking back on our relationship, its amazing to see it was held together by God. We only lived near each other for a short time, and our lives were very different in every way- family structure, religion and economically. But somehow God chose to bind us together. Its really a beautiful thing. We were able to catch up on things happening in both our lives and were able to also talk about the goodness of the Lord.

I'm a big proponent of preaching the gospel to yourself everyday. But I think of it all in the aspect of His grace and mercy for my sinfulness I'm going to commit that day and reminding me to die to myself. (I wish I did all that daily) But I was able to get back to basics and really try to grasp the reality of it. That being how the Creator of the universe cares for His creation, became like one of us as Jesus the Son, became the perfect sacrifice He required to satisfy His wrath and take away all our transgressions, and have a vital relationship with us for eternity. All while completing the good work in which He started in us. And not only that, but also how He gives us our gifts, that when joined with other believers it is a complete body. And how the body of Christ loves and takes care of one another, meeting needs of all kinds. WOW! Is that great stuff or what?! Good news indeed!

It really blessed my soul to talk with my friend tonight, I was encouraged about the gospel, wanting to live it out, and how God calls people to Himself. I also found out ways to pray for her.

Thank you friend (blog lurker) for calling me and being so candid and open and letting me ponder on so many wonderful things!

'Foux Da Fa Fa'

Just a little Wednesday pick-me-up!

Death to Paci

It's time...the paci must go! Ansley will be three next month and she is waaayyy too attached to Paci. We've gone through the ritual of being "a big girl" and throwing them away- three times now! Everytime, she emerges with yet another pacifier. She still wakes up several times a night because she's lost the darn thing and I feel like I have a newborn in the house. We tried the brilliant idea of the "Paci Fairy"- which is sending the fairy your pacis to give to little babies who need them and she'll send you something extra special in return. That idea sounded great to Ansley at 10 am, but at naptime ain't no baby getting her paci!

Today I have had ENOUGH and was feeling a little brave. Soooooo, I cut off the end of the beloved paci and told her it was broken. The poor dear wept, sobbed as if she was in mourning. It was very sad, she just held her paci and said "It broke!" over and over. She would sniffle in between bites of lunch and ask me to go get her more. It's like a crack addict going through withdrawals.

Will she go to sleep without it? Only time will tell. She's in her room, finally stopped crying. All the brave mothers who have gone before me say it takes three days to get over it. Can I endure three days? Please pray.

Farewell Paci-friend. My little girl is not a baby anymore...