Fun Photos

Okay. With all the "serious" stuff going on right now, I needed to post some fun pictures. These are a few of my favorites from Christmas and New Years.

This is a picture Chad took of my mom trying to get a good picture of the 5 grandchildren in their Christmas PJ's. It's very blurry, but that is okay...my little nephew's face says it all. I can just hear him saying "CRAZZZZZZY". I love that child. These 5 act more like brother/sisters than cousins. They are pretty crazy about each other and if they had it their way, we would all live at Gram's and Daddy Mack's house.




Christmas Eve before dinner. After dinner the girls put on their pj's and we drove around and looked at lights. Paddington came along too.





This was New Years Day brunch. Proof that I can function on less than 3 hours sleep. Chad was bored so he started taking pictures. This is me and Chad's step-mother in the background.





Chad's dad and brother in law. I said on Facebook they were probably discussing brother in law's twitter comments from the VA Tech/UT game the evening before. With Chad's visit to the ER on New Years Eve, his dad and step mom sent Chad's sister and her husband on and stayed behind to watch the kids. We didn't get home from the hospital until right before kick off. (And that was only because our nurse was also a UT fan and I mentioned that we needed to get home in time for kick off. She completely understood.)

Please excuse the mess that is my desk.... Thank you.




Last but not least. My man.

Do you see what I'm dealing with? :)

He had Chloe change all his Mii settings to "left hand" and has been playing Wii Sports Resort basketball. Truth be told, he's unbeatable. It's sad to hear him say, "I can beat you with one arm in a sling." I am so NOT athletic.



With all the decorations down and put away, I've been cleaning and contemplating moving some furniture around. ESPECIALLY after reading the LPM blog last night. :)

So....who knows, I may post some family room re-do pictures later today.

Happy New Year!!

steph.

Passing Out

"I think I'm going to pass out."

Six words that totally changed our New Years Eve.

I've been missing from blog world this week and here is why.

Tuesday, Chad had shoulder surgery. Just a tune-up so to say to the big surgery he had two years ago. Surgery went great, Doctor was pleased and recovery had been uneventful. While he was very uncomfortable, he was doing well. Praise you Jesus.

Since Chad's sister is married to a die hard Virginia Tech Fan and our family is DEVOTED to UT, we had house guests who would be going to the Chik-Fil-A bowl on New Years Eve. They all arrived on Wednesday evening. Chad was tired, but glad to see his sister.

Thursday morning, he got up nice and slow, felt good and was standing next to me in the kitchen asking for something to eat. After a few minutes, he said "I think I need to sit down."

He did and went on to tell us he felt like he was going to pass out. And he did. He had some sort of seizure and like to scared us to death.

After a phone call to his Doctor we headed to the ER, where we stayed until that evening.

At one point I was sitting in the room waiting on Chad to return from a test when fear started to suffocate me. Until then, I had been nervous and concerned but not afraid. All that changed I was overcome with the "what if's". I had texts coming in from some Siesta's and as I was reading their prayers something nudged me to look down into my purse. When I did I saw my Siesta Scripture Memory Index Cards.

Somehow....(well I'm thinking it was God) my cards had been moved from the bottom of my purse to the top. On TOP of Chad's wallet, and all the "stuff" we girls carry in our purses. :) I put down the Blackberry and picked up the cards. They held exactly what I needed. God's word.

So I started with Jan. 1, 2009 and worked my way through the year. When I hit the third verse, Deut 33:12 (my life verse) I felt like God had taken out a big blanket and tucked me in. I was completely at ease. But I kept reading.

Isaiah 59:1 "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it can not save or His ear dull that it cannnot hear."

Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of ALL flesh. Is anything too hard for me?"

Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name put their trusts in you, for you oh Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but IN everything by prayer and supplication WITH thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts you."

And one more that I love Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for HE who promised is faithful."

I say OFTEN to my girls that you can't pour out what you haven't poured in. New Years Eve 2009 is proof why that is true. If I had NOT poured God's truth into my soul all year, I would have been a heap of tears when Chad came back in that tiny room! But I wasn't.

I had been covered up and tucked in by the Words of the Most High God. I was safe and secure and as Deut. 33:12 says I was resting secure between the shoulders of my God.

Chad is home and resting. He was thrilled that his Doctor's orders were to "EAT more with your pain meds!". That boy has no problem having an extra snack. :)

I challenge you in 2010 to make the choice to hide God's word in your heart. Pour it in each and every day. It really is alive and active and holds EVERYTHING you need!

Blessings,
stephanie

Merry Christmas Eve Morning

Merry Christmas Eve Morning. :)

We are enjoying a lazy morning together. Chloe is playing Wii and Chad and Emma are playing with Paddington. I'm working on a cup of coffee and cleaning out e-mails from the last few days.

I'm looking forward to being with family later in the weekend and then the arrival of more family next week.

It's going to be a busy week! Chad's shoulder surgery is Tuesday and out of town family arrives Wednesday. I won't lie I'm a little nervous about so much activity in this house with this particular patient, but we'll make it. After yesterday, I'm just thankful we have family that can come visit.

Some friends in Chattanooga can't say that this morning and my heart hurts for them. Death is hard anytime, but at Christmas time it just seems to sting a little more.

I woke up extra early this morning and stared at the ceiling. Thinking of our friends and praying that God, who IS peace would comfort them in huge ways today. As I was praying, I couldn't help but think about several other families we know who are experiencing their first Christmas without a loved one. In particular, the family up the street. The girls and I got to know this couple and their children and grandchildren at the pool this summer.

The sweet wife was fighting cancer but she was LIVING every single minute. She put on her beautiful sun hat and jumped in the pool with her grandchildren. Her family constantly watching her, asking her if she was tired, did she need to go in...but she would smile and say I'm okay.

As we drove in the neighborhood a few nights ago, I saw this husband, standing in his window looking at his beautiful Christmas tree. Alone. My heart ached.

We are so blessed. Yes, we are still in a tight season financially, but God has been faithful and good. He is still in control and I believe with all my heart that I can trust Him.

It makes me so sad that so many Christians measure the "greatness" of their Christmas holiday by the number of gifts under the tree OR the amount of money spent. (Spent personally, or spent ON them.)

This year, we are having a blessed or GREAT Christmas because each person that lives in this house knows Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. What else can a parent ask for?

We are blessed this year to see each and every member of our extended family during Christmas/New Years Week. (Granted, Chad won't remember next week, but I'll take plenty of pictures!)

We are blessed to have TODAY. Today, Christmas Eve 2009 will be spent together. We will worship this afternoon with our church family and then come home to read the Christmas story, eat a non-traditional Christmas eve meal and then....

If I can talk the man into it we will take a drive to see Christmas lights. My ALL TIME FAVORITE THING TO DO ON CHRISTMAS EVE!

I pray today that you my sweet blogging friends are experiencing the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father like never before. He is good and you can trust Him, I promise.

Merry Christmas,
stephanie

Siesta Memory Challenge #24

Is it really the last verse of the year?? I should have posted this on the 15th, but life has been B.U.S.Y. I love the Christmas season, but I hate how commercial it is.

This year we have fought hard to keep things simple. We are making every effort to keep our hearts focused on the ultimate Gift Giver: Jesus Christ. His gift was His life. His life for my sin. I will never get over what He did for me.

Okay, Verse Number 24...that is what this post is about!

It's Proverbs 14:26 and it says:

"In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge." (ESV)

For a girl who fights fear and a total lack of confidence this verse is powerful. This is the way I have been meditating on it:

In the fear of the Lord, Stephanie has strong confidence and Chloe and Emma will have a refuge.

Without Him I have nothing. I am weak and scared and lack the ability to look you in the eye. With Him, I am strong, and can hold my head up. THAT is ALL Jesus my friend. And the sweetest thing about this verse is the last part. My children will have a refuge.

Oh the refuge theme continues.

I love it when God does that. :)

Okay my sweet friends, I'm not sure if I'll post again before Christmas....SOOO

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Blessings and love
stephanie

Personal

Tonight, we had to make a Target run for a few things. The girls have been working hard lately and have made the effort to "do everything without grumbling or complaining". As a little reward, Chad asked if they would like a hot chocolate from Starbucks. They are my children so they said, "oh yes please!"

Do you remember when I posted here about my Target coffee experience? You know, the one that was so much more than a good cup of coffee?

When we got to the counter tonight I recognized that pretty face. She was the same barrista that waited on me back in September. (I remember faces, conversations, outfits....I'm weird like that! Chad says I should work for the FBI or the CIA. I remember what some of you were wearing the first time we met in San Antonio,a year and half ago!)

Anyway...

She had a totally different countenance tonight. God brings her to my mind often, usually when I'm standing in the Starbucks line waiting on a peppermint mocha. (or raspberry mocha or white chocolate mocha) Tonight, I saw her name tag...and now I have a name to go with the face.

Ann. (my middle name)

I was able to call her by name. She smiled and this time, looked me in the eye with a smile.

There's something about being called by your name isn't there? I couldn't help but think of this verse...

Revelation 2:17 NIV
I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

So, God knows the name on that stone and then the receiver will know. Two people. That's what I love about our God. He is personal. He is all about knowing each and every cell of our beings.

I have been absorbed in Psalm 139 lately I encourage you to go read it slowly and realize just how precious you are to God. Here are verses 15-18 from this incredible Psalm.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

I hope that you know just how precious you are to God. He loves you so much. He sees exactly what life is throwing your way today and He cares. Verses 1-3 remind us that YES, He does see.

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

blessings!
steph.

A Little Serious and a Little Silly

So I'm doing the new Kelly Minter study on Ruth right now. I'm in week 2 and already I have been VERY challenged. Today, she talked about sowing and reaping.

It was the 4th time in 24 hours that concept was placed in front of me. I'm serious.

Obviously, I've spent some time thinking about where I'm sowing. In some places, I am seeing the first signs of harvest. In others, not so much. One particular area I have been sowing often in tears. For almost 13 years. I won't lie, lately I've had to confess my being "over" it to the Lord. Just plain over throwing out the seed with no sign of a harvest. I know that's wrong, just telling you where I've been.

A couple of weeks ago when I was talking to God about this situation, this verse kept coming back to me.

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Kelly wrapped up today's homework with that verse. Thank you God.

Oh, and then I had a devotional e-mail that I have no idea how I get, but anyway...

Guess what the verse was for the day. Yep. Galatians 6:9. Hello God.

The devotion went on to say this:

"For years William Wilberforce pushed Parliament to abolish slavery. Discouraged, he was about to give up when his elderly friend John Wesley heard of it, and from his deathbed called for a pen and paper. With trembling hand Wesley wrote: “Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and of devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them stronger than God? O be not weary in well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery shall vanish away before it.” Wesley died six days later. Wilberforce fought for forty-five more years. Three days before his death, slavery was abolished in Britain. Eventually, it was abolished in America too. Hang in there—what God has in store for you is worth any price you have to pay."

Over forty-five years. That is a long season of sowing isn't it?

I've come to accept that in that one area, I may not see the harvest for a while. But I know it's where God has called me to sow so I can't stop. So I keep doing what God says to do. Because I know He keeps His word, I can read Psalm 126:5-6 and
have a little pre-harvest celebration. :)

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

I don't know about you, but I sure needed that reminder that my time table and God's time table are not the same. :) He's moving and working and when it's harvest time, boy oh boy what a party we'll have.

On a very silly note, every time I see the word "sheaves" I think about a "Little House on the Prairie" episode where the town people are singing that old hymn in church! Makes me laugh because they look so bored.

I tried my best to find that clip, but I didn't. However I DID find this one and I'm sorry if my silliness offends you..but this just reminded me of my grandparents and their record player (that looks more like a buffet than a record player). I think this record is in there. I'll look the next time I'm there. :)

Siesta Memory Verse #23 (Finish what you started in me God)

23 verses so far! I can't believe it. What a difference scripture memory makes.

I haven't been very good about posting my verses here on the blog. Mainly because I've been pouting that I'm not going to be in Houston in January for the celebration. I'm still very disappointed about that, but moving on...

I had decided to memorize Psalm 138:7-8 this time around from NIV. But when Beth posted those verses from the message on Tuesday, I fell in love w/ the way it read so I'm memorizing them from the Message. Here you go:

When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, with your other hand save me. Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal - don't quit on me now.

Finish what you started in me, God. Don't quit on me now.

My favorite parts.

God is faithful to finish what He starts. (Phil. 1:6...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.)

And He never quits, never stops, never sleeps. Never lets go. That makes me think of this song..



He is so good. Happy Thursday!!!