Trick or Trunking 2010

Tonight was so much fun. After church we all shared finger foods together and then the children trick or trunked. There were jumping blowups, a dunking booth, hayrides,etc. I thought the boys would decide they were too old this year, but they really enjoyed themselves. They helped me gather up items to decorate our trunk--and that was about the last I saw of them:) Terry and I handed out treats and enjoyed visiting with some of the members we had not met before. I did miss not seeing my sweet grandchildren, but they enjoy playing dress up year round so I'll see their outfits eventually! We don't have a lot of experience with Halloween. We did many years of Carnevale (in February), and once we returned to America we were at a congregation for several years that chose not to celebrate. Our little boys have gotten to trick or treat alot more than their brothers and sisters. Tonight when we returned home, Jordan had never gotten any candy, and Christian only had about 5 pieces in his bag. They were having too much fun. We're making some great memories!

Things Pondered

This past week was a time of contentment. I was blessed with words of encouragement, good conversations with friends and loved ones, and quiet times of reflection. I had a doctor's visit for bloodwork and have made good strides with exercising and eating wiser. This morning was my first weigh-in. #-5.2. VERY excited. Thank you to those who are cheering me on.
I picked up a wonderful little book from the library this week. Titled "Things Pondered- From the Heart of a Lesser Woman" by Beth Moore. It's a small but powerful book. There was a poem that really spoke to me.

Hope

 I've grown old enough to know
that fairies don't have tails
That good men often suffer
While evil men prevail.
I've tried to find that white frame house
With matching picket fences
But found instead black picket signs
And hatred's thorny fences.
I've lived enough of life to see
The innocent maligned
And I've concluded fairness is
A rarity to find.
I've seen the noble dreams of man
Be in an instant shattered
I sigh to see another woman
Used and bruised and battered.
I've seen shots of tiny orphans
As rulers rise and fall
I've stood by stricken parents
And caskets way too small.
I've abandoned childish notions
That life is like pretend
I've tossed paper to the ground and sobbed,
"When will this madness end?"
But I've never grown up quite enough
To leave my hope behind
I'll think I've turned my back on hope
Then bump into the kind
Of Gentle Traveler sent to bind
My wounded faith with love
Who sets my feet upon a Rock
And mind on things above.
Then I find myself still hoping
Old folks won't be left alone
And can't seem to quit believing
Daddies still might move back home.
And that an orphan might just find
A reason to survive
And parents of the missing
Might just find their son alive.
No, I've never grown up quite enough
To scorn sweet signs of Spring
Nor can I help but think a tree
Is happy with a swing.
And you must pardon if I hope
The Pearl of Heaven's Gate
Is the treasure I've adored
And longed to celebrate.
I hope to hug the ones I've loved
And jump on cotton clouds
Where angels sing His holiness
And saints can laugh out loud.
Some bedtime tales are worth the tell-
May one be quickly due
Let Gabriel groom that great white horse
And board Faithful and True.
So let this world's prince mock and scorn
My hope is not ashamed
For in the King of kingdom's grand
My Hope has found a Name.

Beth Moore

As we  meet together tomorrow to celebrate Him, may our hope be restored and renewed. This afternoon I am going to enjoy feasting on His Word, and marvel at the beautiful day He has given me. This evening we will be sharing a meal with one of God's "gentle travellers". My children and their families will all be here for Thanksgiving. If the Lord wills it, we will all worship together. Hopes and dreams will be shared, prayed over, cried over, rejoiced over. Let us all encourage one another.

A Fresh Start on Weight Loss

New beginnings. I've had a lot of them this year. This year has held many changes. We are now living in a new state, worshipping with new brothers and sisters in Christ, and living in a new home in the country. Terry is teaching at a new university. In December I will have both a new grandson and a new daughter-in-law! These have all been wonderful changes and good beginnings. But one change I have not been good with:( Last year was a turning point for me as far as taking better care of myself, walking every day and losing 35 pounds on Weight Watchers. The weight has been slowly creeping back, and the treadmill mostly gathers dust. It is time for another new beginning. Just as God has been with me and shown Himself in even the smallest details of our move, I am asking Him for His help once again. I'm too old to do anything radical:) Weight Watchers works for me. This morning I found the meeting place in Montgomery and joined. And just as a bonus, God threw in a special gift just for me to remind me He cares. Next door to the meeting place is the Kudzu Blossom Quilt Shop that I had found online back in Tennessee. I LOVE this shop!! I couldn't remember the name..and VOILA there it was! He cares about every detail of our lives. I'm now off to sew nightgowns and matching doll nightgowns for my granddaughters for Christmas. I finished 45 little bears for our congregations bear mnistry last night (not the stuffing and hand work- there are many dear women who do that each month). Now it's time for the fun little projects that make you want to feed the family mac 'n' cheese for dinner so your sewing doesn't get interrupted!

Psalm 103

103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,


and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.



6 The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13 As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

14 For he knows our frame; [1]

he remembers that we are dust.



15 As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children's children,

18 to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over all.



20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word!

21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,

his ministers, who do his will!

22 Bless the Lord, all his works,

in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

For the past several weeks the boys and I have been working on memorizing this passage from the Old Testament. We have listened to"Sing the Word: The Heavens Declare" scripture songs from the Harrow family which we purchased from Sonlight Curriculum. I have found all of the Sing the Word CD's so helpful. Today both boys were able to complete our school week in a beautiful way. This is such a comforting passage, and to hear it come with conviction from the mouths of two young boys was powerful. God's word is powerful beyond anything else we may read or hear. I don't like to even consider the possibility that any of my children may ever find themselves in a situation where they have no access to God's word. But in the event that they do, I am comforted to know that they will be carrying it with them in their hearts. No, we never got to the studying of adverbs this week as I intended. But we did accomplish what mattered the most to me. It was a great school day.

The Ramblings of a Mom

These last several weeks have been a roller coaster ride. With one son soon to be married, I have spent time praying for his future life as he forms a new family. I will miss our talks, but I am ready to pass the torch on to the love of his life. She is a jewel. I could never in a million years have chosen a wife for my son that was such a compliment to him in every way. So all the little details which now consume my brain as I lay down at night...what should I serve at the rehearsal dinner, where should it be, how many, will Katie have had her baby, etc...are all rather unimportant in the big scheme of things. Yesterday was his three hour presentation at work after 12 weeks of training. As his fiance' says "He rocked it!" He has had a long year. Being owed tens of thousands of dollars for work, a subsequent lawsuit, and really no way to go up against a huge machine,,,he has shown himself to be a man of integrity. He has done the right thing even when it has cost him. It is hard for a Mom to watch her child struggle, but it is so rewarding when you see for yourself what kind of man you have raised to adulthood.

My list of  "to do" projects grows ever longer. I have nightgowns to make for Maria and Julia, and a stack of dresses and pajamas cut out for Charlotte. I also have 30+ bears to finish cutting out and sewing for our local hospital ministry.I did finally get my back porch painted and our new swing hung. Our chairs arrived a few days ago. It will be so nice for entertaining during these cooler Fall days. We have families coming three times over the next week for dinner which I am looking forward to. We ate at a dear family from churchs home on Sunday night. Sharing a meal is the best way to really feel like a part of the church family and to get to know one another. For the past three weekends we have had company. Kathi, Katie and I went to see "The Dixie Swim Club" at the Wetumpka Depot on Friday night. It was a wonderful play done by the local theater group. It was nice to get out, just us girls (well, Luke was there:).
 The following morning the family all went to see the boys play soccer. Their season last year was horrible, and this year they have had one loss and two ties. They were behind 1-0 when in the LAST minute Christian took the ball down the field, crossed it to Jordan and Jordan scored!! It was a perfect moment. The game ended in a tie. Thank goodness there are no tie breakers.
On Tuesday the boys and I drove to Birmingham to watch the grandchildren while Katie had a morning of blood tests. I hate driving through the traffic there, and of course it rained:) but after the storm had passed there was this beautiful rainbow in the sky. What a wonderful reminder not only that our world would never again be destroyed by flooding, but that He is there. I enjoyed my visit there so much. Playing dollhouse with the girls, reading Dr. Seuss with Gabriel,walking to the park to play on the swings. I enjoy hearing the children mimic the words of their wonderful Mama as they play. Maria walked with Julia out the back door and said, "Oh, Julia, what a lovely day!" and at one point corrected her in play and said "Did I hear you say Yes Ma'am?". At which Julia responded "Yes, Ma'am". Just precious. Katie and Tim are such wonderful parents. They make it look easy to have three, almost four, four years and younger.

 During my time there I received a heartbreaking phone call from Chelsea. The little boy we had been praying for was going to another family. My heart rejoiced for the new parents, but broke for Chelsea and Justin. They are ready to be parents to a little one. They want God's will. They had stepped out past their comfort zone, to pray for this little guy who was born at 26 weeks. They knew there were hard days ahead, but they were ready. They were willing. Because good parents are. I am so proud of them. This child was not to be theirs. Only God knows who their child will be, but HE KNOWS. So now we remove proudpreemies.com from the favorites list. Though he is not to be my grandson, he will be someone elses's, and I will continue to pray for this little boy that he will continue to grow strong. This year has been a year full of changes-a new town, a new home, a new church family-- and soon to be new daughter-in-law and new grandson. We have been so blessed. We love Wetumpka. I love the library downtown by the river, the park with its little bridges, the arched bridge over the Coosa River, the Victorian homes. I love the wonderful Winn-Dixie, the flea market, the Oakview Granary and berry farm right by my house. I love the church elder who plays the guitar, was a politician, and who brings us honey from his bees. I love the preacher who brings my boys posters of the Alabama National Champions and an Alabama football mint tin from Cracker Barrel:) I love it that even though they both are sick with colds they BEGGED to get to go to church last night. I love working with the children in the inner city. The children that had never heard about Noah or an ark. And only one who had seen a rainbow. I love coming home and seeing my home nestled in the clearing, and my boys up in the tree. I love it that at this very moment I can count 11 balls in various sizes in my backyard, along with the tent they have slept in for two nights this week. I love it that I get to visit with my sweet daughter-in-law, Kristin and little Charlotte, and share laughs over homemaking blogs late in the night. I loved getting to spend a few minutes with Brandon while in Birmingham. He was at the church building leading a group of boys, and took time out to help me check on the facilities for the upcoming wedding. He works so hard and at times grows discouraged, but he continues to do what is good and right. Though I know his heart longs to be overseas, he is faithful to allow God to lead him and his family. So with all of these blessings, how could I possibly dream of asking God for any more? Well, because I think I'm one of His favorites:) I am willing , Lord, to accept Your will. I will believe even if Your answer is not what I want. I ask just one more thing. Would you please send Justin and Chelsea a little boy or girl to be their own precious child? I know they will raise this child to be Yours. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus, who gave His life for each of us. Amen.