A TRUE DAY OFF!!

Lex has not had a day off since March...working 7 days a week, either at his regular job, or at the motorcycle shop. He does it with a smile and a happy heart. Really...he does. He works at his regular job from 5 in the morning until 1:30, then goes to "the shop" from 3:00 - 6:00 and then all day Saturday and Sunday. (they let him come in after church on Sunday)

It always amazes me that he can work non-stop and not complain or appear tired or ragged because of his schedule. He has truly mastered the art of having a joyful spirit and a happy heart in all things.

Lex is such a blessing to so many people. He is a wonderful husband, a precious father, and an amazing, animated, Godly teacher to the Kindergarten - 5th grade every Sunday morning. Not to mention one of the best sound technicians in the world! (He is also "salesman of the month" for the second month in a row!! Go baby, Go!)

So, yesterday, he dressed and left to sell motorcycles. I was sorry to see him go because the kids and I were home, but off he went. He came back about 30 minutes later because they had neglected to tell him the shop was closed! So, without actually taking a day off (which would make him feel guilty), God provided a rest for him. Finally!!

I know some of you are school teachers, or ministers or missionaries or mothers working in a job that squeezes every ounce from your spirit without giving much back...and I just want to encourage you to hang in there. God is using you and your rest will come.

And when it does...oooh it's delicious!

Psalm 91...
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Oh my goodness they were wonderful!

Absolutely, perfectly, gloriously, tear-jerking WONDERFUL!!

I was so proud of each child. They came in their best clothes wearing their prettiest smiles and twinkling eyes singing with their very best voices.

NOBODY in the pre-school group cried or left the stage for their parent. Do you understand how great that is? They marched in, stood as still as possible, worked the hand motions, sang with all their hearts, and melted the auditorium with their adorableness.

Even my nephew, who at the Christmas program cried...no I mean really SOBBED...stood there all grown up at the Spring Program doing a hand motion or two...singing a word or two. I was very proud.

He did so well, Aunt Sandra and cousins Ashley and Avery (Uncle Lex had to work selling motorcycles) took him to Carl's Jr after church on Sunday for some chicken stars (have you ever really seen a chicken shaped like a star?...it scares me) Then we headed back to our house for a cartoon marathon. He loves Uncle Lex's 4 DVD set of Warner Bros Cartoons. (Bugs Bunny etc...)

Back to the program. I was right about the Pre-school possibly stealing the show with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". The second time through, we had the audience join us with a very cool powerpoint that my Avery put together. The words were there, but also images of various ball parks, Babe Ruth, and finally a little boy sliding on his side, glove/hand extended as far as he could reach, as a ball lands perfectly in the palm of his glove. It was a wonderful minute and a half!

The big kids, though, weren't outshined by the little ones. Their solos were precious. The great thing about a Christian School is the ability to sing songs to God. My little shining star, Casey, became very nervous. He would do beautifully in the small music room, but in the auditorium, with teachers and the rest of the school watching, he would choke. I called him in to ask what we could do about that and he said..."I only like to show my emotions to God in private...I get embarrassed in front of other people."

"No problem...close your eyes." (I know this is not the normal "stage advice"...but in this case it was necessary.) "I will come over to you...you keep your eyes locked on me...don't worry about anybody else...I'll help you start your solo and then you close your eyes and just you and God can be together."

That's exactly what he did...he was precious. Just a boy singing to his God.

There are so many really sweet things...beautiful examples...but I've already kept you long enough.

I hope those kids never forget what it felt like to raise the roof with praise to God. I hope the parents watching realized (either for the first time...or just reminded) what a treasure children are to us.

And, I hope I never forget the energy, the passion, the inocence of just singing with all your heart...with no worries of timing, pitch, or perfect harmony.

I know God was honored.

Tomorrow is the program...

We've practiced, rehearsed, laughed, felt scared, and then practiced again. There's actually a point where you can rehearse them too much! I'm close to that. You have to rehearse them so that their very best moment is the one in front of people.

This is one of those times when I don't want to be noticed. (That rarely happens ;)

Those kids have worked very hard. We have 31 children with solo speaking or singing parts. That's a recipe for great success or absolute disaster! We'll see.

The truth is, it doesn't matter how many times we rehearse, that night will be different. The building is full of excited, proud parents. The kids are nervous...the teachers are feeling bittersweet because it's almost time to let go of the charges they've had all year and send them on to the next grade.

I can tell you that of all the performances I have, or worship times I'm involved in, this is the most nerve shattering thing I do all year. When you look at those kids, you know they are tender, sweet, a little unsettled, and sometimes very self-conscious.

What I want for those kids is success.

Absolute, unbelievable, best you've ever done...SUCCESS!

So, if you have time, pray for tomorrow night. Their hearts are so good...I want them to be filled with pride in the job they do.

One of my favorite parts of the program is the song "He Reigns"...you may have heard it on Christian radio...but when they sing, "All God's children singing Glory, Glory...Hallelujah, He reigns! He Reigns!" it brings chills and tears. It's beautiful...they're beautiful.

I'm afraid the hit of the night will be the Pre-School...how can you top "Take Me Out to the Ballgame?"

I really don't like going to the Dr. Any Dr.

Eye, Teeth, bones, internal, whatever...I don't like it. I think it may be my feeling of helplessness or out of control-ness that bothers me.

However, I've had this appt. for some time. So, there I sit yesterday in the waiting room. I thought about picking up a magazine and looking through it, but do you realize how many very sick people have been in this room looking, touching, coughing on those magazines? So, I decide against touching any more than I ablsolutely had to.

They called me in quickly...which always gives me false hope. Once they get me in that tiny-no-windows-no-air room, it takes an eternity for the Dr. to finally show up. By the time she does, I usually need so desperately to get out of there, I forget why I came in the first place.

Yesterday was different. The Dr. came in within about 5 minutes...a record! I usually wait almost an hour in that tiny-little-no-windows-no-air room.

I tell her about the cough that won't go away, the shoulders that hurt more than what I think is normal, the need for a stronger "water" pill, my refusal to take my potassium pills because since taking them I've gained 8 lbs, and finally, my desire to remove a couple of moles that are bugging me. (This is way more than you bargained for, isn't it? Sorry.)

And, before she can talk, I say, "How is your daughter?" I happen to know her daughter is going to the middle school that feeds into the same High School my son is at. It's for gifted, bright kids who happen to love and have apptitude for all things math/science/computer related.

She stops, pulls up a chair very close to mine, and sits down in a bit of a slump. With tears and some giggling (that's how Mom's handle stress sometimes) she tells me of an incident that happened this week. We talk...she asks me questions about how to handle certain attitudes and changes in her daughter...(like I really have any answers)...I feel my emotions get the best of me while I watch this Dr. turn Mom before my eyes. I try to assure her that most of what they are experiencing is normal and will get better. (actually, it will get worse, then it will get better but she didn't need to know that ).

Then, I decide I need to just give her my best advice...

"Listen", I said, "at the risk of offending you and your intelligence, I'm going to tell you that my very best advice to you is to hand this girl over to Jesus. Every day, pray for her, love her unconditionally, and pray for her again. I have decided that I don't know what I'm doing, except for the grace and mercy and direction of God. So, my advice is...prayer."

I didn't know exactly how she would take it. She looked at me and said, can you pray for me right now? We did.

I had X-rays, blood taken, medication given, advice about my different ailments from a very intelligent Dr.

When I left, she was standing at a counter writing in my chart. I patted her on the shoulder and said "Thank you." She turned around, gently took my wrist and hugged me and said..."No, Thank You."

And to think, I almost cancelled that appointment.

So...it's Tuesday and you know what that means, right? Worship Planning? yes. Finding people to serve in the assembly Sunday morning? yes. Music choices and prep? yes. But there's one more thing. Something that only takes 15 - 20 minutes, and yet has a great impact on my day.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC!! Aahhh, yes. The room fills with what feels like thousands of little people as excited to see me as I am to see them. The energy is almost deafening. The rumble of little feet and voices still trying to figure out how to whisper is amusing. Finally, I ask them if they can all see my eyes...this gets them at least looking at me. Then...we sing.

We sing every song we know. A couple of them twice just because they sound so good. We're ready to sing for our parents. Only 9 more days and we'll stand on the stage and share what we've been working on for weeks.

I look over at my nephew, James, while we're singing. Sometimes he has his hands over his ears. (the kids can be rather explosive during a part of a song that says "my voice can be loud!") Sometimes his arms are crossed and he doesn't feel like participating.

Today, though, he's watching me. Not taking his eyes off me. A teacher pulls him close to her and says, "James, you need to sing." James puts his little pointer finger in the air and says, "It's not time."

Finally, we sing our favorite. Take Me Out to the Ballgame! They are loud and strong and animated. I wish you all could see it. It's one of the sweetest most pure displays of excitement I've ever seen.

Now...my brother is an Angel fan. Not just sort of a fan, but a life-long-loyal-whether-they-win-or-lose fan. So he's trying to brainwash his son to say "well it's root, root, root for the Angels"
but James continues to tease his Daddy by saying "root, root, root for the Red Sox!" I personally think it's hysterical to see his sense of humor at such a young age.

So I look over at James during music class to see what his little lips were going to say during this part of the song. (Yes, now it was time for him to sing...)

He says it just like he's supposed to. "Well, it's root, root, root for the Home Team!"

I smile and wink at him as we finish the song. He smiles the cutest, naughtiest smile I've ever seen him display and gives me a big thumbs up.

I have no clue what he'll do in 9 days.

Or, for that matter, what any of them will do.

But I do know they are priceless, beautiful, funny, talented, amazing creatures.

I may have shown them ways to see and hear music during our time together, but they have shown me the sweet face of God every Tuesday at 11:30.

Mother's Day...

It was such a nice relaxing day.

Brady Smith was visiting us from his mission work in Switzerland and spoke. It seems wrong to call him a visitor because he grew up here and some of his family still serve at College. However, visitor or not, he did a wonderful job. It seems funny to hear him talk like a French man when I know he has Arkansas roots deep down.

Lex had to work right after church, so the kids and I took our usual path to Carl's Jr.

Now, you might be feeling sorry for me right about now...after all, it was Mother's Day...you may think I would want something other than, more special than, better than, Carl's Jr.

But, you would be wrong.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret of mine. I am usually exhausted after church...as I'm sure many of you who serve to bring the worship time together would understand. So, I listen very carefully to where everybody is going to eat after church, and then I go the opposite direction. My family knows this about me, so they help me out. (Unless they are feeling particularly social and then they beg me to go where everybody else is.)

Carl's Jr., Chili Cheese Fries, (light on the chili and extra cheese), and a real soda. (No diet drinks on Sunday) This is not the only time I allow myself to eat this junk, I'm sorry to say, however, it is the only time I do it without feeling guilty or irresponsible. (Sunday is, however, the only day I don't drink diet.)

So, there I sit. Me, my chili cheese fries, a full strength soda...and my two sweet children. We talked, laughed, sat quietly, teased. We did everything a normal family would do. It was wonderful.

It didn't last very long. They both had homework and I had laundry to do. So, after a precious 30 minutes or so, we headed home.

Passing by an elderly couple as we were leaving Carl's Jr., the woman smiled at me and said, "beautiful children."

"Yes", I replied, "they are. Thank you."

Of all the blessings in my life, being a mother is at the very top.

Off to Pepperdine!

My Mom, Ashley and I in one car, and Avery and Lex in another. We'll be leaving in about an hour.

I won't have a computer for a couple of days, so check in with me after Wednesday.

Lex, Avery and Mom will stay the whole week, but Ashley and I are coming home Wednesday afternoon. Ashley is going because she's a very sweet daughter who is supporting her Mom. I've been told I need to be at a specific devotional time on Wednesday morning. I don't like not knowing what is going on, but nobody will clue me in to why I need to be there. For a control freak like me, this is agony.

Ashley has a Zoology class and AP testing this week that she will need to get back for. Short trip, but worth it to see some of my favorite folks in the world. I love seeing my College roommate, Kellie (Prout) Morgan, all the ZOE people, friends from Redding...the list is endless.

I'm convinced that one of the best gifts God has given us (kind of like color and music) is relationship with each other.

I'm a blessed woman.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm exhausted!

My family ran at full speed all weekend. Many different events, everything enjoyable, but all very tiring. Didn't get one minute with the four of us together. That I don't like.

I was reading in Matthew this morning, trying to "rev up" my spiritual and physical engine, as it said in the 11th chapter, verse 28...

"Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives."

Then, I saw on the margin a commentary on the passage which said:

"The purpose of Sabbath rest is physical and emotional renewal. A delightful space on the calendar reserved for becoming better acquainted with ourselves, others, and God; it is time for good talk, holy laughter, serious ideas, and shared intimacies between Creator and creature. Our souls are replenished, quieted, nurtured, caressed. Rest without spiritual rest is incomplete."

I don't know how you all spent your weekend...what you had to do...what you wanted to do, but mine didn't include any of the above.

Just because you're at church doesn't mean you're gaining spiritual renewal. Working on church projects doesn't make you holy. On the contrary, for those who participate in worship and ministries, whether on staff or volunteering, it's often the opposite. I don't know how to fix that, exactly, but I think I'm on to something that will provide me and those around me in my home more rest for their spirit and body.

I would like to think I'm so spiritual that I would "automatically" have quiet/fun/serious time with my family and particularly with my Creator, but I'm not that good. I think it's going to come down to scheduling time that is more important than any other time...time to renew, refresh, re-focus.

You all may be in much better shape than me in this matter. I hope so. But if not, let's remind each other what the Sabbath is supposed to be. A time of physical, emotional, and spiritual renewal.