I don't often talk about my son for a couple of reasons...
First, he doesn't like the world knowing his business, and I respect that. And, second, he doesn't live his life to be in the spotlight, and I admire that, also.
But, let me say that he is an amazing young man.
He goes to homes of our church folks to fix computers, or program their cell phones, or whatever tech problem they may be having.
He takes time to talk to little ones at church, bending to their level and taking great interest in what they have to say. And, at the same time, will stand with an elderly person for a very long time talking and sharing and taking in their wisdom.
He's one of the people in the back of the church hauling in chairs when we run out of seats.
He has a work ethic that is extraordinary. And a black and white attitude to what is right and wrong.
He loves his sister without measure.
He protects his mom.
He admires his dad.
He loves and serves God.
He's extremely intelligent, but always humble about his knowledge.
He is a precious boy.
He is outside right now washing my car...just because it needed it. Not because I asked.
Thank you, God. What a treat it is to be his mother.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Beautiful Scenery
One Saturday morning recently, 
Lex offered to take me and my amateur
photography senses to the foothills.
He has a route that encompasses mainly rural areas and includes some beautiful scenery!
Here are a few pics from the morning.
Lamentations 3:25,26
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lex offered to take me and my amateur photography senses to the foothills.
He has a route that encompasses mainly rural areas and includes some beautiful scenery!
Here are a few pics from the morning.
Lamentations 3:25,26
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Back to Normal
I love vacations and normalcy breaks. Holiday's are exciting. Days off are beautiful.
But, what is it about getting back to the "normal" routine that feels so good? There is a safety and calm that accompanies "normal routine".
It's Tuesday. Ladies Bible Class is back in session. People are back from Spring Break. Our folks from the Mexico Mission trip are home. Ashley is back in Abilene. And everything feels like it should.
I appreciate a break in the action, but I love getting back to the familiar schedule.
I hope your Easter was beautiful.
Blessings!
But, what is it about getting back to the "normal" routine that feels so good? There is a safety and calm that accompanies "normal routine".
It's Tuesday. Ladies Bible Class is back in session. People are back from Spring Break. Our folks from the Mexico Mission trip are home. Ashley is back in Abilene. And everything feels like it should.
I appreciate a break in the action, but I love getting back to the familiar schedule.
I hope your Easter was beautiful.
Blessings!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Spring Break and Breakfast Burritos
I have been making Breakfast Burritos on Sunday evenings, storing them in the fridge for the boys to warm up in the mornings before they go off to work. 45 seconds in the microwave wrapped in a moist paper towel and you have a fairly healthy protein filled breakfast. Better than nothing.
This week was Spring Break for Ashley, and she has been home, which, of course makes me very happy. We have enjoyed our time together. She was part of an amazing group of people who sang this morning in our Easter Choir. As she sang "Redeemer", the singers were doing our "ooo's" and "ahh's", it was hard to stay focused. I really just wanted to stop and watch her sing. She is amazing. Beautiful, passionate, talented. But it's not just those things that make me watch her with an amazed heart. It is the joy of watching your own child sing a song that states "Well, I know my Redeemer lives..." with great passion and conviction. That is such a blessing.
So, I'm in the kitchen tonight making my usual Breakfast Burritos. Ashley, her Dad and brother, and a friend are in the front room watching a movie. I hear all the sounds...the familiar "every body's home where they belong" sounds. And then it hits me. She will fly back tomorrow morning.
It wasn't just a little tear here and there...oh no, it was the full-on Lucille Ball cry. But fairly silent...didn't want to disturb the movie...or be made fun of for being such a mush.
She left the room for a little intermission break and I told her to come see me in the kitchen when she walked back through. What I meant to do was tell her how proud I was of her. How fun it was having her home. How very special she is. And how very much I love her. But what came out was, well, nothing. She took one look at me and started laughing as she opened her arms and said..."Oh, mama..." We laughed, I cried, and never could say a word. Then she walked back in for the rest of her movie.
I am blessed.
I hope your Easter was filled with moments that brought you closer to your Savior!
This week was Spring Break for Ashley, and she has been home, which, of course makes me very happy. We have enjoyed our time together. She was part of an amazing group of people who sang this morning in our Easter Choir. As she sang "Redeemer", the singers were doing our "ooo's" and "ahh's", it was hard to stay focused. I really just wanted to stop and watch her sing. She is amazing. Beautiful, passionate, talented. But it's not just those things that make me watch her with an amazed heart. It is the joy of watching your own child sing a song that states "Well, I know my Redeemer lives..." with great passion and conviction. That is such a blessing.
So, I'm in the kitchen tonight making my usual Breakfast Burritos. Ashley, her Dad and brother, and a friend are in the front room watching a movie. I hear all the sounds...the familiar "every body's home where they belong" sounds. And then it hits me. She will fly back tomorrow morning.
It wasn't just a little tear here and there...oh no, it was the full-on Lucille Ball cry. But fairly silent...didn't want to disturb the movie...or be made fun of for being such a mush.
She left the room for a little intermission break and I told her to come see me in the kitchen when she walked back through. What I meant to do was tell her how proud I was of her. How fun it was having her home. How very special she is. And how very much I love her. But what came out was, well, nothing. She took one look at me and started laughing as she opened her arms and said..."Oh, mama..." We laughed, I cried, and never could say a word. Then she walked back in for the rest of her movie.
I am blessed.
I hope your Easter was filled with moments that brought you closer to your Savior!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
God Working...
I am looking forward to this morning...it is 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning, and so far, the person speaking and I are the only ones at the building. However, in about 15 minutes, the worship team will be rolling in.
I love some of the songs we're singing this morning. Every week, we sing something that is a favorite of mine, not because we sing the same things over and over, but because thousands of songs are my favorites!
However, it's not the song itself that is exciting to me, although it is a beauty. It is because one of the singers, singing for the very first time, will be singing a part in a trio. I found out, accidentally, that she sings beautifully. I already knew I loved her as a woman of God and sister in Christ, but when I found out she can pull out that alto part, I was giddy!
She refused flat my first prodding of singing with us, but after prayer, came back and told me that God is dealing with her in this particular area of faith. Then, I made it worse by telling her she would be singing a special trio without other altos. She was close to angry, in a loving way, that I would even suggest it. Absolutely not, she told me last Sunday. I asked her to listen to the song, pray about it, and if she said "no", I would respect it.
Early last week, she came in and said that she didn't know why, but God was calling her to this and she had no other option but to obey!
So, this morning, she will lift her voice for the first time on a worship team, and aside from probably feeling a bit emotional about it, I will be very proud that I was able to watch God work and shape an amazing woman into an even more beautiful child of his. She has taught me much through this.
She is Scared. She is Anxious. She is Faithful. She is Obedient.
I love some of the songs we're singing this morning. Every week, we sing something that is a favorite of mine, not because we sing the same things over and over, but because thousands of songs are my favorites!
However, it's not the song itself that is exciting to me, although it is a beauty. It is because one of the singers, singing for the very first time, will be singing a part in a trio. I found out, accidentally, that she sings beautifully. I already knew I loved her as a woman of God and sister in Christ, but when I found out she can pull out that alto part, I was giddy!
She refused flat my first prodding of singing with us, but after prayer, came back and told me that God is dealing with her in this particular area of faith. Then, I made it worse by telling her she would be singing a special trio without other altos. She was close to angry, in a loving way, that I would even suggest it. Absolutely not, she told me last Sunday. I asked her to listen to the song, pray about it, and if she said "no", I would respect it.
Early last week, she came in and said that she didn't know why, but God was calling her to this and she had no other option but to obey!
So, this morning, she will lift her voice for the first time on a worship team, and aside from probably feeling a bit emotional about it, I will be very proud that I was able to watch God work and shape an amazing woman into an even more beautiful child of his. She has taught me much through this.
She is Scared. She is Anxious. She is Faithful. She is Obedient.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
"Carl's Jr., a fast food chain, has announced the return of two items to its menu, chili cheese burgers and chili cheese fries.", stated a Feb 22 press release.
This, my friends, makes me very, very happy.
"Welcome to Carl's Jr. Can I take your order?"
"Yes. Can I please have an order of your Chili Cheese Fries...light on the chili, heavy on the cheese, please. Oh, and a large Diet Coke."
Mmmmm...lunch today was delightful.
Blessings!
This, my friends, makes me very, very happy.
"Welcome to Carl's Jr. Can I take your order?"
"Yes. Can I please have an order of your Chili Cheese Fries...light on the chili, heavy on the cheese, please. Oh, and a large Diet Coke."
Mmmmm...lunch today was delightful.
Blessings!
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Good Friends
I can't believe it's been a whole week since I last blogged! Time is swooshing by at high speed.
One of the sweetest experiences I had this week was a short drive to Modesto (about 1 1/2 hours from Fresno) to have lunch with a dear friend from my past life. We all have those people who are so special to us but no longer intersect with us on a daily or even yearly basis. I get a Christmas letter from her each year, so I feel I have "kept up", but to actually sit and have a long leisurely lunch with conversation was absolutely priceless!
As we sat and talked, we literally couldn't get it all in. There is so much I still want to say, or ask, or remind and laugh about, but it was a start. I remembered how precious she was to me during that time. What a good friend she was for me. How very blessed I am to have a friend like her. Because, the truth is, I have always known that although we didn't keep in close contact, I could have called if I had needed her.
She was the friend who came to be with me and help take care of my little Ashley, (7 months old at the time), while I endured my Dad's death and funeral and the days that followed. She was the friend who stood up as my very best matron of honor. We were college roommates and I don't remember much that we learned in class, but I do remember some life lessons we experienced together.
She has always been that gentle, kind, hilarious friend. I don't know if everybody is blessed with one like her, but I am so grateful that I am.
So, my advice is that if you have a great friend from the past, give him/her a call this week...
Blessings!
One of the sweetest experiences I had this week was a short drive to Modesto (about 1 1/2 hours from Fresno) to have lunch with a dear friend from my past life. We all have those people who are so special to us but no longer intersect with us on a daily or even yearly basis. I get a Christmas letter from her each year, so I feel I have "kept up", but to actually sit and have a long leisurely lunch with conversation was absolutely priceless!
As we sat and talked, we literally couldn't get it all in. There is so much I still want to say, or ask, or remind and laugh about, but it was a start. I remembered how precious she was to me during that time. What a good friend she was for me. How very blessed I am to have a friend like her. Because, the truth is, I have always known that although we didn't keep in close contact, I could have called if I had needed her.
She was the friend who came to be with me and help take care of my little Ashley, (7 months old at the time), while I endured my Dad's death and funeral and the days that followed. She was the friend who stood up as my very best matron of honor. We were college roommates and I don't remember much that we learned in class, but I do remember some life lessons we experienced together.
She has always been that gentle, kind, hilarious friend. I don't know if everybody is blessed with one like her, but I am so grateful that I am.
So, my advice is that if you have a great friend from the past, give him/her a call this week...
Blessings!
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