I blogged a few days ago, but kept it as a draft because I thought, after reading it, it was just whining. So, I read it again today, and yup...I was feeling sorry for myself...

But I'll tell you what it was about without the whining part.

I blogged about the many things I miss about having my kids home and young and within my control. I love the baby stage, I love the toddler stage, I love the elementary stage, I even love the teen-age stage (even though folks tried to tell me it was horrible! I disagree.) And, I love this independent stage. But, I miss those other stages. Particularly the babies and toddler age.

So, those of you who have had kids, tell me what you loved the most...or what you miss the most. Maybe it will help me to see that I'm not the only one who has a broken heart from time to time.

And kids, in case you're reading this...
Your 'ole mom is just fine. Really. I'm great.
No...really...doing terrific! No worries here...Fantastic.
Totally cool with this new life stage...

Blessings.

Teachers...

There is a profession that is, I believe, misunderstood unless you are in that profession yourself. I believe some people think teachers have it easy. You know, all that vacation time, finishing at 3:00 every day, watching movies when you don't feel like teaching, etc...

Although there are those who give teaching a bad rap, I believe there are many more who go the extra mile and realize what a ministry it really is. What an amazing influence these teachers have on our children.

So, for my post today, this is an acknowledgement of the hard work and endless hours some teachers put into the kids.

Avery had a teacher as a Freshman by the name of Mr. Hieger.

This is the teacher that drew Avery into the Rocket Project with NASA...this is the man who lets kids come in and eat their lunch in his room just to hang out...this is the teacher who spent thousands of his own dollars to keep the Rocket Project going when the red tape would have hindered the project...this is the guy who has worked with Avery on his (Avery's) truck...this is the man who came home from a full day of teaching just to find a group of kids at his home wanting/needing to use the tools in his garage for building...he not only let them stay, but fed them dinner...this is the guy who, when Lex and I arrived home from church last night about 9:00 pm, was standing in my drive way helping Avery unload some HUGE, HEAVY truck parts Avery had just purchased.

He is patient, good, smart, and caring. The kids love him. This is a teacher who will be "the one" Avery remembers all of his life. Last night, after Avery finally came in the house and Mr. Hieger had left, I said, "Mr. Hieger sure is a nice man..."

Avery smiled big and replied..."Yes, he's pretty cool." (for a teenage young man, that speaks volumes)

So, for those of you out there who are teachers by profession, thanks. You make a difference. May you feel an extra dose of blessing today!

ACU Homecoming Weekend...

Ashley called a couple of times to update us on the fun she was having. They had parades, a carnival, facepainting, (that's a purple paw print on her face)purple cotton candy, a homecoming queen from Bakersfield, CA, and a great football game!

ACU Football is 6-0. I guess this is something new for them in recent years. Ashley is enjoying all the fun of being a football fan supporting her school...it's especially fun to support a winning team.

We miss her...duh! But what a blessing to see so much goodness, learning, and enjoyment come her way. Thank you, God.

The HandOff

What an amazing Spirit-filled weekend it was!

The ZOE Conference has come to a close and I am back home in California at my desk that I love, in the church that I love, working with the people I love.

It is so good to be together for that time. The relationships God has blessed us with through his work are priceless...

I had to take Ashley to the folks who were also from Abilene...she had flown in with them and would return to ACU with them. They are a sweet, wonderful family by the name of the Maxwells. Jack and Jill are the artists for the ZOE group. Some of you have had the pleasure of seeing one of their creations come alive during a message time with Mike Cope. It really is a gift...

Their son, Matt, is a Mac-graphic-creative -film GENIUS. His creativity, coupled with his Godly character is an unstoppable force in our fellowship. We are so blessed to have such young creative thinking.

The Maxwells have taken Ashley in as their own. Jill is the one who has told her (and I) that if she is ever sick, call her. She'll drop everything to come get her and take her to a Dr or just to their home so she can get well. (Do you know what a relief that is to this mother as I am 1400 miles away from my baby girl?)

So, Sunday morning, on my way to church in Nashville, I took Ash to the Maxwells so they could return "home".

In the old days, when I was still the one "in charge" of Ashley's care, I would have walked in and been the first communication between Ashley and the Maxwell's. But now, I watched as I was the "side" one and my daughter and this precious family took up their relationship where it had left off in Abilene.

Matt quickly got up and took Ashley's suitcase to the car. They all exchanged conversation and just waited for me to tell her good-bye.

They took care of her meals, her comfort, her care.

I hugged her quickly, and she physically turned my body around and gave me a sweet, but determined little push out the door.

My little girl has come into her own life...Gracefully, beautifully, and in a Godly fashion.

Am I sad? No. Did I cry...of course.

So, as I mentioned at the top of this post, what a tremendous blessing it is to have relationship with each other through the covenant and blood of Jesus Christ.

Each one of you reading this, I'm guessing, can think of people that you know because of your commitment to the work of the Kingdom.

I hope this week, at some point, you will take the time to thank God for those people, and maybe even go so far as to tell them personally what they mean to you as we travel this road together.

Blessings!

Miss, Sandra, I Have a Surprise For You...

Walked in from a very long day with the ZOE Conference in Nashville. I am fortunate enough to have good friends here that I stay with, so, as Avery and I walked in to their beautiful home, ready for a quick, good sleep, their little girl said to me...

"Miss Sandra, I have a surprise for you...it's over here...in your room..."

I figured she had decorated my room or made me a picture or something.

I followed her as she opened my bedroom door...

I saw nothing different at first, and then, from behind the bed popped my daughter. (the daughter who should be at ACU going to classes and taking tests!)

I gasped, cried, grabbed her and held her until she laughed and said, "sorry, brother, I'll have to hug you later, I guess!"

She smelled so sweet. Anybody else out there very sensitive (and I mean VERY sensitive) to the different sweet smells of life?

My friend, Eric, thought she may need to come see her Momma. Actually, I think her Momma may have needed to see her...

Needless to say, it's wonderful being here in Nashville, but to have BOTH my kids with me is a tremendous blessing!

Somber Days...

Our time together yesterday morning was beautiful, somber, and full of God's grace.

We had three deaths to announce to the church. One, a 6 month baby died in her sleep. One a young man with a wife and four children, and finally, an older lady who had just recently decided to give her life to Christ through baptism.

It's never "easy" to release one of us to the heavenly realms...even though we believe and long to be there ourselves. There is always sadness, sometimes regret in what wasn't said, (or maybe what was said), and sympathy for the immediate family who remain here on earth.

I decided a long time ago that I would handle death in a professional way. I had many funerals and visitations ahead of me and if I broke down every time, I'd be a mess. So, me, a fairly emotional person, decided in my head that I would be very strong during these times.

Sometimes you can tell yourself something and have it happen. Right? Power of positive thinking etc...

Here's when it doesn't work for me...

It's those left behind that break my heart. Not those who have gone.

It's the mommy and daddy that wonder how they are ever going to live normal again without their child.

It's the young wife, who wonders how she is going to be both mother and father to her children who now face life without a daddy.

It's the sweet older man who has loved his bride for 50+ years and now wonders how to survive the days he has left without her.

Yesterday, our blessing song was one of those golden oldies...Blest Be the Tie

I love verse 3 of that song:
We share our mutual woes;
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear

So today, as we bear our mutual burdens, please pray for the Ramirez family, the Wilkin family, and the Gonzalez family.

I'm headed to Nashville tomorrow. Blessings to all of you.