It's been a long time since I wrote on this blog, wasn't even sure if I would be able to remember where it was located to put anything up at all to be honest. It's Christmas Day 2014. The Most Wonderful Day of the Year! The day we celebrate our Lord and Savior's birth! The most important birth in all of history or all the future that is to come. A birth I wish everyone in the world understood the importance of, no the absolute necessity of! Without the birth of Jesus, we are all doomed to live a life without hope, without love, without true Joy. The birth of Jesus really is what this season is all about. This Christmas I have made greater effort to teach my kids this. Yes, we still "do Santa Claus" every Christmas morning and will do so later this morning when they wake up (more like I wake them up lol!). But this year my girls and I have been on a journey. It's been a journey we have taken through an advent book I heard about from a friend on Facebook called Jotham's Journey. We have had to catch up several nights when I couldn't read to them because talking made me cough my head off, but we have read each night's chapter and thought about the questions asked. You see, in this book, Jotham is a Jewish boy that runs away from his family. They think he has been killed by an animal and go on their journey without him, when he comes back looking for them, they are gone, so Jotham goes on a journey by himself, a young boy, to find his family. Throughout this journey he meets many obstacles and makes several friends. He loses one or two of those friends along the way, but it's the understanding he gains of the Messiah from these friends that makes the story all worth the reading. My girls have loved it. Some nights they have hung on every word we've read together, every night they have reminded me we had to read. Tonight the journey followed Jotham in Bethlehem thousands of years ago helping a friend in a dirty stable. Jotham was asked to clean out the dirty hay and go to the field to get new hay for the visitors that would be sleeping there that night. My girls heard this story they have heard year after year about baby Jesus born in stable in a different way and they were intrigued.
I have to admit, earlier today I was bummed. I was thinking about Christmas Eve's gone by, all the joy and excitement of going to my mamaw's house and eating a huge meal, opening gifts, playing with new toys, watching my mamaw and papaw open their gifts and be tickled to death with everything they got. Them watching us open gifts and the joy they got from giving us things we wanted. I remembered decorating my mamaw with Christmas lights to look like a Christmas tree one year and her laughing along with us. I remembered my papaw opening every gift carefully, making sure not to rip the paper, cutting the tape open and driving us all crazy because he took forever. Such happy memories, then I began to think of what I wanted my girls to remember growing up for Christmas Eve. It's different each year, one year we go to my mom/dad's, the next we are at home, the next back to my mom/dad's. One thing that we have begun each year though is our Christmas Eve service at our church. Growing up we never attended, we were always at my mamaw and papaw's house and that was time for family. We have now gone the last 3 years in a row with just our immediate family and it's something I don't want my kids to miss out on. One hour set aside on the night of Jesus birth to focus on Him, I can't think of a better way to celebrate!
Tonight we came home and had a grand meal of spaghetti (it had to be a quick fix meal since we weren't starting to cook until after 6:00 lol!). However, this is a special night, so our typical spaghetti supper was served on our good China dishes. We sat around the table and talked about our favorite parts of the Christmas Eve Communion Service. Each person had a favorite part to share, my youngest however said her favorite was taking the juice and the bread and sitting on daddy's lap while he explained to her why we do it and how to do it. I sat beside of them in that service and heard their conversation, my heart was so full! What better opportunity to teach our kids what Christmas is about?!? After supper tonight we decorated our Christmas cookies, then it was time to start getting ready for bed (Santa was in the US after all according to NORAD lol). My girls begged to hear the advent reading for the night, so to the couch we piled and read about Jotham's Journey.
The excitement of Christmas kept my girls from sleep for a while, even after they went to bed, but the eventually fell asleep. Santa has now come and it's time for me to get some sleep, today is a big day after all. However, I sit here in my living room with my Christmas Tree lit and the lights out surrounded by gifts for my girls and wonder, if I want to give so much to my girls, How much more does God want to give me by giving His only Son for the sole purpose of coming to earth as a human to die a horrid death that I can live forever? I just can't begin to wrap my mind around it. We celebrate his birth so that we can have life eternally! There is NO better gift EVER!
My Christmas Wish is that all my friends and family could/would understand this amazing gift and realize it's value. The most valuable gift in all of history or all the future, yet it is free, Thank you God for this gift that NO ONE can ever take away and ANY ONE can freely have!
Happy Birthday Jesus!!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Summer is over...
The summer has gone and now fall is just around the corner. School is back in session, but this year it's different. This year, all 3 of my girls are in school. I'm home with no little ones on my heels, no one to feed lunch to, no one to pick up immediately after, no one to snuggle on the couch with in the morning when the older kids are in school. It's a completely different world. A world I'm adjusting to. A world that is different in a sense that I never imagined. I thought I'd love having the "whole day" to myself. You see, I've been a stay at home mom for 11 years now. I've not known having day after day just taking care of myself. I think I like this, but there are parts I miss. I mean, I am able to go and run daily to get my exercise done before everyone is home in the evening, I'm able to fix myself something to eat and have an actual lunch break, I'm able to get work done in a more timely manner, but I kind of find myself missing that little voice following me around asking questions. I miss the sound of Sesame Street playing on the t.v. while I pay bills in the mornings. I miss the imagination of my kids playing together. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the quiet mornings when I can do my bible study uninterrupted, I love the cool, crisp mornings going for a run without having to push a stroller or take entertainment for a 4 year old, I love going to the grocery store by myself and being able to shop in under an hour because I can concentrate on what I'm buying. My kitchen sink actually stays empty for a few hours a day too now, but it's all an adjustment. Then, about the time I get used to and really get to enjoy the peace and quiet, it's time to start the afternoon duties of picking the kids up from school, getting homework done, getting my child to practice her piano, and make dinner. The evenings fly by in a whirlwind.
I've also started a new era in my own life. I've taken on a job outside our home. I'm working as a music teacher at a local Christian school in town. It's one day a week for 4 hours. I've only taught one day so far, but I really love it. The kids have fun, they are actually learning a little something about music, but they are having fun singing, dancing, playing instruments as we go. I get to do the same type of thing on Wednesday nights and a couple of Sunday mornings a month at our church too. We do a fun song or two and end it usually with a slower more meaningful worship song. The looks on many of the children's faces are priceless as you see them really listen to the words of the songs they are singing. Some close their eyes and sway to the music, I've even seen a hand or two raise in the air as they sing. It brings tears to my eyes as I watch. God is truly so good!
Below is a photobook I created of our summer vacation. So thankful for the memories we were able to create together...
Until next time...
I've also started a new era in my own life. I've taken on a job outside our home. I'm working as a music teacher at a local Christian school in town. It's one day a week for 4 hours. I've only taught one day so far, but I really love it. The kids have fun, they are actually learning a little something about music, but they are having fun singing, dancing, playing instruments as we go. I get to do the same type of thing on Wednesday nights and a couple of Sunday mornings a month at our church too. We do a fun song or two and end it usually with a slower more meaningful worship song. The looks on many of the children's faces are priceless as you see them really listen to the words of the songs they are singing. Some close their eyes and sway to the music, I've even seen a hand or two raise in the air as they sing. It brings tears to my eyes as I watch. God is truly so good!
Below is a photobook I created of our summer vacation. So thankful for the memories we were able to create together...
Until next time...
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Sunday, April 1, 2012
Best Palm Sunday EVER!!!
The past couple of weeks of my life have literally been a whirlwind for me. Between co-leading my middle daughter's Girl Scout Troop and getting ready for the dance we had for them, running my oldest daughter to piano lessons, working on music for our Wednesday night program for our church kids, meetings at our church, and watching my number 1 ranked basketball team (Kentucky Wildcats of course) continue their winning streak to the final four (now Championship game) I've been a really busy momma of late. However, 2 weeks ago today, I got some of the best news I'd heard in a while from my extended family that live an hour and a half east of us. My uncle gave his heart and life to The Lord! This is a man that has had many prayers go up on his behalf for years! God had gotten ahold of him and wasn't letting go! The following Sunday (a week ago today) he was baptized at his church and my dad went to support him. He is a NEW man in Christ and my dad said the change in his heart and life were VERY real. To sweeten the deal, my aunt gave her heart and life to Jesus the same day as my uncle's (they are brother/sister-in laws) baptism! My dad called to tell my mom and when she told me, my eyes were instantly filled with tears of joy! God had welcomed two new people into his family of children! This whole past week has again been a week full of activity and life in our household. It has flown by with activities with my kids, Easter Egg hunts at churches, meetings, dr appointments, etc. I literally couldn't wait for Sunday morning to roll around!
Spring Break started in our household Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. We began our celebrations with pizza for supper and family movie night in which we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked. My kids LOVED it. My youngest girls proclaimed it was the BEST DAY EVER! In my heart, I was saying to myself, "no, Sunday will be the BEST DAY EVER!" We continued our celebration with a Community Egg Hunt/Family activities at my parents' church in which both my sisters and my brother and their kids and spouses came to enjoy the festivities, then we enjoyed just hanging out with each other at my parents' house and watched our beloved Wildcats make their way to the Championship Game. It was truly a GREAT game, but again, (although I was loving watching my team win) I knew the best was yet to come.
Sunday morning (today) I got up to my alarm without groaning (this is truly a magnificent feat in and of itself for those that know I'm not a morning person) and began getting ready to go to my grandparents' church. I got my girls up and ready and we managed to make it out the door on time, despite a wardrobe malfunction when my middle daughter tried to untie the ribbons on her pillowcase dress and one got pulled through and had to be re-strung. We picked up my parents and made our way to the church. My papaw is a baptist preacher. The church he is one of the pastor's of is a country church in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. The music is non-instrumental and the preaching is totally led by the Spirit of God himself. We began to sing the hymns of the church. Some were outlined, others, we all sang together. The harmonies of the voices singing blended together beautifully. If you've never been to a service such as the one I'm describing and you ever have the opportunity to go, I would HIGHLY encourage you to do so. There is no written order of worship, the people hug and ask blessings on each other, the music is simple, but I honestly thought to myself as we were singing today, "This is what we will sound like in heaven!" No instruments to cover the beautiful praises being sung to our God, beautiful harmonies blending together tuned just right. The preacher brought the message. No typed sermon, no sermon outline, much shouting Amen, much pounding the pulpit or the floor. The very words God laid on the preacher's heart were spoken and received by our ears. My aunt went to the front of the church for everyone to take a turn hugging her and welcoming her to the family of God/Church family. Tears were ready to pour from my cheeks as I thanked God for saving her soul. My mamaw and papaw were beaming with joy and eyes full of tears. Another lost child had been found. At the end of the service, we all walked across the road to the creek across from the church. My girls were very confused as they'd only ever seen an indoor baptistery. We walked over to the creek and watched as my papaw and uncle walked down into the creek with my aunt, prayed over her thanking God for what he's already done in her life and what he's going to do, and baptized her into the family of God. I turned around and there stood my uncle that was baptized just a week ago. Tears in his eyes and I could see the change in his heart and life all over his face. His whole countenance was completely different. We spent the rest of the day with my extended family and I can't remember a better Palm Sunday EVER!
The creek where the baptism took place.
Today begins the first day of Holy Week here in our community. I soooo look forward to Easter Sunday. Not for the new dresses my girls will be wearing (actually hand-me-downs but they are new to them and they look fabulous!), not for the Easter baskets my girls will be getting from the Easter Bunny, not for the wonderful Easter Dinner my mamaw will prepare for us and we'll pitch-in to help with (there are more than 50 of us when we get together after all). I can hardly wait to stand and sing praises to my God for raising Jesus from the dead 3 days after he was crucified in a horrific death! I am soooo thankful for the one, true God I serve and the amazing way he loves us and wants only the best for us! I'm thankful to be part of an amazing church in which I'm privileged to raise my children in to know the love of Jesus and to live it out for them the best I can each day. The past 2 weeks in my family have been amazingly blessed! I truly can't wait to see what God has in store for us this week and see how He's going to move in my heart and through my family and friends... I don't think there could possibly be a better Palm Sunday EVER! :)
Spring Break started in our household Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. We began our celebrations with pizza for supper and family movie night in which we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked. My kids LOVED it. My youngest girls proclaimed it was the BEST DAY EVER! In my heart, I was saying to myself, "no, Sunday will be the BEST DAY EVER!" We continued our celebration with a Community Egg Hunt/Family activities at my parents' church in which both my sisters and my brother and their kids and spouses came to enjoy the festivities, then we enjoyed just hanging out with each other at my parents' house and watched our beloved Wildcats make their way to the Championship Game. It was truly a GREAT game, but again, (although I was loving watching my team win) I knew the best was yet to come.
Sunday morning (today) I got up to my alarm without groaning (this is truly a magnificent feat in and of itself for those that know I'm not a morning person) and began getting ready to go to my grandparents' church. I got my girls up and ready and we managed to make it out the door on time, despite a wardrobe malfunction when my middle daughter tried to untie the ribbons on her pillowcase dress and one got pulled through and had to be re-strung. We picked up my parents and made our way to the church. My papaw is a baptist preacher. The church he is one of the pastor's of is a country church in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. The music is non-instrumental and the preaching is totally led by the Spirit of God himself. We began to sing the hymns of the church. Some were outlined, others, we all sang together. The harmonies of the voices singing blended together beautifully. If you've never been to a service such as the one I'm describing and you ever have the opportunity to go, I would HIGHLY encourage you to do so. There is no written order of worship, the people hug and ask blessings on each other, the music is simple, but I honestly thought to myself as we were singing today, "This is what we will sound like in heaven!" No instruments to cover the beautiful praises being sung to our God, beautiful harmonies blending together tuned just right. The preacher brought the message. No typed sermon, no sermon outline, much shouting Amen, much pounding the pulpit or the floor. The very words God laid on the preacher's heart were spoken and received by our ears. My aunt went to the front of the church for everyone to take a turn hugging her and welcoming her to the family of God/Church family. Tears were ready to pour from my cheeks as I thanked God for saving her soul. My mamaw and papaw were beaming with joy and eyes full of tears. Another lost child had been found. At the end of the service, we all walked across the road to the creek across from the church. My girls were very confused as they'd only ever seen an indoor baptistery. We walked over to the creek and watched as my papaw and uncle walked down into the creek with my aunt, prayed over her thanking God for what he's already done in her life and what he's going to do, and baptized her into the family of God. I turned around and there stood my uncle that was baptized just a week ago. Tears in his eyes and I could see the change in his heart and life all over his face. His whole countenance was completely different. We spent the rest of the day with my extended family and I can't remember a better Palm Sunday EVER!
Today begins the first day of Holy Week here in our community. I soooo look forward to Easter Sunday. Not for the new dresses my girls will be wearing (actually hand-me-downs but they are new to them and they look fabulous!), not for the Easter baskets my girls will be getting from the Easter Bunny, not for the wonderful Easter Dinner my mamaw will prepare for us and we'll pitch-in to help with (there are more than 50 of us when we get together after all). I can hardly wait to stand and sing praises to my God for raising Jesus from the dead 3 days after he was crucified in a horrific death! I am soooo thankful for the one, true God I serve and the amazing way he loves us and wants only the best for us! I'm thankful to be part of an amazing church in which I'm privileged to raise my children in to know the love of Jesus and to live it out for them the best I can each day. The past 2 weeks in my family have been amazingly blessed! I truly can't wait to see what God has in store for us this week and see how He's going to move in my heart and through my family and friends... I don't think there could possibly be a better Palm Sunday EVER! :)
Saturday, December 24, 2011
It's all about perspective...
I'm sitting on my couch in my livingroom surrounded by gifts for my kids. Some are gifts they received at my parent's house tonight for our family Christmas, others are gifts they bought for each other at our elementary school's Santa Store, most are the gifts Santa has delivered and carefully purchased, sorted, stacked awaiting the girls entrance on Christmas morning. While I sit here, I am hoping I have enough for the girls to feel like they have truly had a good Christmas. You see, being a stay at home mom, we have a tight budget at Christmas time. Especially with 3 girls to buy for. I've seen posts tonight of gifts other kids that are the same age as my girls have received and it makes me worry. I mean, my kids will think they've done really well on Christmas morning when they are tearing through their stack of gifts and pulling out the stocking stuffers. However, a week from Monday, they will go back to school. While there, they will compare what they received with their friends. Typing it out it all sounds petty and stupid, but I have to admit, it almost brings me to tears some moments. How does a doll house, strawberry shortcake playsets, Lala Loopsy Doll, etc. compare to a new cell phone, an ipad 2, a laptop. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these gifts, it just really raises the bar for me and I can't compete. But it's not a competition right? UGH!
Anyway, then my eyes were drawn to a post I made on facebook yesterday while baking for my neighbors gifts. I was listening to a Christmas CD (Mercy Me The Christmas Sessions) and the song Gloria came on. There is a line in this song that really struck me, and as I read it again just a bit ago, it stirred my heart again. "How could heaven's heart no break, on the day, the day that you came? Salvation's reason to celebrate, on the day that you came. Gloria, in excelsis deo."..How quickly our attitudes change from thankfulness for the birth of a Savior, to the worldliness of my kids having enough things. God gave THE GREATEST gift, knowing Jesus would have to die an excruciating death so we could all live eternally yet I sit on my couch worrying if I've given my kids enough...
I know there will be questions, I know some jealousy will arise from all of the comparisons that will be made, but these are teaching moments. Moments to help my children realize this celebration of Christmas is not about receiving physical gifts, but the gifts God blesses us with daily and the most precious gift of His SON! How ashamed I am for allowing myself to be drawn in to the drama. I am thankful for the gifts we are giving. I now welcome the opportunity to teach my children what God wants them to know, his gift of love that is EVERLASTING!
That said, I wish anyone that may read these words a VERY Merry Christmas and may 2012 be a remarkable year in which to glorify God in every aspect of our lives! :)
Anyway, then my eyes were drawn to a post I made on facebook yesterday while baking for my neighbors gifts. I was listening to a Christmas CD (Mercy Me The Christmas Sessions) and the song Gloria came on. There is a line in this song that really struck me, and as I read it again just a bit ago, it stirred my heart again. "How could heaven's heart no break, on the day, the day that you came? Salvation's reason to celebrate, on the day that you came. Gloria, in excelsis deo."..How quickly our attitudes change from thankfulness for the birth of a Savior, to the worldliness of my kids having enough things. God gave THE GREATEST gift, knowing Jesus would have to die an excruciating death so we could all live eternally yet I sit on my couch worrying if I've given my kids enough...
I know there will be questions, I know some jealousy will arise from all of the comparisons that will be made, but these are teaching moments. Moments to help my children realize this celebration of Christmas is not about receiving physical gifts, but the gifts God blesses us with daily and the most precious gift of His SON! How ashamed I am for allowing myself to be drawn in to the drama. I am thankful for the gifts we are giving. I now welcome the opportunity to teach my children what God wants them to know, his gift of love that is EVERLASTING!
That said, I wish anyone that may read these words a VERY Merry Christmas and may 2012 be a remarkable year in which to glorify God in every aspect of our lives! :)
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Small Town Christmas' is the BEST
It's been a while since I've written anything, could be because I've been so busy with life in general I haven't had time for a thought or moment to even sit and think. I spent the last week working in our Elementary School Christmas Store that our PTO puts on every year. We buy a wide variety of items at a low price and sell them to the kids in our school to take home to their families for Christmas gifts. Prices range from $.50-$4.00 although there were a couple higher priced items such as Christmas UK wreaths for $25 I believe. Anyway, the kids at our school bring in their money and make their purchases, then we wrap them for them for free. I must say it is an exhausting week, but what better way to get into the spirit of Christmas with Goodwill to everyone and joy to the world than seeing the faces of these kids as they carefully select the perfect gift for their families? Our PTO didn't make any money off of this event (actually, we lost money) but this isn't a fundraiser. It's an opportunity for kids to give to their friends and family. I see it as a teaching event. Kids get to learn the joy of giving instead of constantly receiving. Most of these kids do buy a little something for themselves, but they spend most of their money on others. Over the course of the week, I lost my voice, have developed a funky lovely cough, and my car battery died, but I'd honestly give this time to these kids all over again. I must follow this with the fact that I AM thankful this week is over though. It truly is a lot of work.
Tonight I get to go to my sister's church and enjoy a Christmas Dinner Theater. My Brother In Law is very talented and writes a play every year for their church to perform during the Christmas Season. In years past, I haven't been able to attend because it's generally set to take place the same night as our church's Christmas program and I'm usually a part of it. I totally miss being involved in a Christmas Program, but am very much looking forward to getting to take in this performance tonight. I get to sit with my family and watch the story unfold before my eyes. What a way to get into the spirit of the season.
This next week is the final week of school before my kids' Christmas Break. It's also my husband's last week for 2011. My house is decorated for Christmas, I just finished up some Christmas cards that I need to mail out, and I'm pretty much finished with my Christmas shopping (as a stay at home mom with limited funds I start shopping in August once the kids go back to school lol). I'm hoping to finish up some gifts I'm making for a few family members this week and enjoy the Christmas movies I grew up watching every year (A Christmas Carol with George C Scott as Scrooge, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) as well as a personal favorite as an adult (Elf) or two. My kids are begging to make Christmas Cookies, so I'm working on a list of things to do while they are home for the Holiday (baking cookies, making a gingerbread house, although I'm considering making a nativity instead of a house this year, going Christmas Caroling with our small group to our widows and shut ins in our church, wrapping gifts, to name a few).
I truly love this time of year and am thankful I am able to relax a little and enjoy it with my family. In the blink of an eye, my kids will be grown and moving out on their own. I truly want to enjoy these times in my kids lives and give them an amazing childhood that they will want to pass on to their children as I have.
Tonight I get to go to my sister's church and enjoy a Christmas Dinner Theater. My Brother In Law is very talented and writes a play every year for their church to perform during the Christmas Season. In years past, I haven't been able to attend because it's generally set to take place the same night as our church's Christmas program and I'm usually a part of it. I totally miss being involved in a Christmas Program, but am very much looking forward to getting to take in this performance tonight. I get to sit with my family and watch the story unfold before my eyes. What a way to get into the spirit of the season.
This next week is the final week of school before my kids' Christmas Break. It's also my husband's last week for 2011. My house is decorated for Christmas, I just finished up some Christmas cards that I need to mail out, and I'm pretty much finished with my Christmas shopping (as a stay at home mom with limited funds I start shopping in August once the kids go back to school lol). I'm hoping to finish up some gifts I'm making for a few family members this week and enjoy the Christmas movies I grew up watching every year (A Christmas Carol with George C Scott as Scrooge, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) as well as a personal favorite as an adult (Elf) or two. My kids are begging to make Christmas Cookies, so I'm working on a list of things to do while they are home for the Holiday (baking cookies, making a gingerbread house, although I'm considering making a nativity instead of a house this year, going Christmas Caroling with our small group to our widows and shut ins in our church, wrapping gifts, to name a few).
I truly love this time of year and am thankful I am able to relax a little and enjoy it with my family. In the blink of an eye, my kids will be grown and moving out on their own. I truly want to enjoy these times in my kids lives and give them an amazing childhood that they will want to pass on to their children as I have.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Running Over, running over, my cup is full and running over...
Such a simple song that I learned as a child growing up in Sunday School and Children's Church, but tonight the words have such strong meaning. As a child, I grew up singing in church. My first experience I remember singing in church was as a toddler or Kindergartener singing Away in a Manger in our annual church Christmas program. This was only the beginning. Several years later I sang with 2 friends a song called "He's Still Workin' on Me", wow, do I ever get the words to that song now. "He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon, and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and Patient He must be. He's still workin' on me". I still remember every word to that song, accompanied by Larry Mullins, my childhood pastor on the guitar. A few years later there was another song, "Jesus Built This Church on Love" that I was privileged to be allowed to sing with the same two childhood friends accompanied again by Larry Mullins. "Do ya ever just get to wonderin', about the way things are today? So many on board this gospel ship trying to row it a different way. But if we all pull together, like a family me and you. We'll come a lot closer to doin' what The Lord called us to do." I still remember every word to this song as well. Life lessons were learned while learning these songs.
Fast forward many years later, in the 1990's. I'm still attending Camargo Church of God and have been since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Our worship leaders have a vision of a youth ensemble singing in our church, teaching us a love for music. We begin small, just 10 or so of us coming together to learn a few songs. Some of us know how to read music, others learn from those of us that have learned in the past and we begin blending our voices to praise THE God who created us. As we sing, friendships deepen, our lives intermingle and weave into one another. We are all being raised in church to understand the love of God and are receiving a desire to sing of this love to those willing to listen. Our love for God becomes deeper, more solid, our love for each other becomes stronger. We become life long friends that love to come together and blend our voices in praise to God. We are invited to come to youth rallies and youth revivals at other churches and sing. We are supported by a church that loves us and sees a future in what we are doing. Money is pledged and we professionally record a cassette tape (remember, this is the 1990's, CD's aren't super popular just yet ha ha ha). We learn to work together as a single unit. If one hurts, we all hurt. If one is joyful, we rejoice with them. We learn lessons that can never be taught in a Sunday School classroom because we are living life together.
Several years go by and we graduate from high school, move on to college, our ties begin to thin somewhat as we become interested in boyfriends and girlfriends. Life continues to go on, some of us remain, others move on. We grow up and marry and move away from each other. Many of us go to different churches and begin families of our own. We keep in touch, but are spread out not only over the state of KY, but in other states as well. It's harder to keep in touch as well.
Several more years go by, we have a few friend get togethers, our kids now outnumber the original group of ensemble members and our get togethers are loud as WE are the parents to more than 15 kids ranging in age from 6 months to 10 years. A revival service is put together at our home church with our pastor we grew up under through our high school years and he and his wife have a vision of a reunion of our ensemble. Phone calls are made, arrangements for a practice are put together. After 15 years of singing in other churches, we all come together under the direction of our fearless leader to sing our adoration and praises to God again in one setting. We come together, tears of joy are shed for this opportunity to be reunited for one cause. God has brought us together once again and for this I praise Him forever! Our kids are all together under the same church roof, we are with our families and join together on the stage of the church. It literally feels like old times, we are able to sit under the instruction of our pastor again. We. are. home...
I cannot express the joy in my heart today as I've been able to spend time with these life long friends again. The joy to see so many familiar faces looking back at us as we stood on that stage once again. The joy that I have felt as we joined together to sing the same songs we sang 15 years ago, with voices that have matured and now more fully understand the meaning behind the words we sing. I pray that my children will someday be able to have some experience as I've had today. To really know and understand the love of God and the love of friends that love Him with all their hearts and want nothing more than to teach our children the way they should go.
Thank you God for today and I pray this isn't the last time I get to re-live these childhood memories...
Fast forward many years later, in the 1990's. I'm still attending Camargo Church of God and have been since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Our worship leaders have a vision of a youth ensemble singing in our church, teaching us a love for music. We begin small, just 10 or so of us coming together to learn a few songs. Some of us know how to read music, others learn from those of us that have learned in the past and we begin blending our voices to praise THE God who created us. As we sing, friendships deepen, our lives intermingle and weave into one another. We are all being raised in church to understand the love of God and are receiving a desire to sing of this love to those willing to listen. Our love for God becomes deeper, more solid, our love for each other becomes stronger. We become life long friends that love to come together and blend our voices in praise to God. We are invited to come to youth rallies and youth revivals at other churches and sing. We are supported by a church that loves us and sees a future in what we are doing. Money is pledged and we professionally record a cassette tape (remember, this is the 1990's, CD's aren't super popular just yet ha ha ha). We learn to work together as a single unit. If one hurts, we all hurt. If one is joyful, we rejoice with them. We learn lessons that can never be taught in a Sunday School classroom because we are living life together.
Several years go by and we graduate from high school, move on to college, our ties begin to thin somewhat as we become interested in boyfriends and girlfriends. Life continues to go on, some of us remain, others move on. We grow up and marry and move away from each other. Many of us go to different churches and begin families of our own. We keep in touch, but are spread out not only over the state of KY, but in other states as well. It's harder to keep in touch as well.
Several more years go by, we have a few friend get togethers, our kids now outnumber the original group of ensemble members and our get togethers are loud as WE are the parents to more than 15 kids ranging in age from 6 months to 10 years. A revival service is put together at our home church with our pastor we grew up under through our high school years and he and his wife have a vision of a reunion of our ensemble. Phone calls are made, arrangements for a practice are put together. After 15 years of singing in other churches, we all come together under the direction of our fearless leader to sing our adoration and praises to God again in one setting. We come together, tears of joy are shed for this opportunity to be reunited for one cause. God has brought us together once again and for this I praise Him forever! Our kids are all together under the same church roof, we are with our families and join together on the stage of the church. It literally feels like old times, we are able to sit under the instruction of our pastor again. We. are. home...
I cannot express the joy in my heart today as I've been able to spend time with these life long friends again. The joy to see so many familiar faces looking back at us as we stood on that stage once again. The joy that I have felt as we joined together to sing the same songs we sang 15 years ago, with voices that have matured and now more fully understand the meaning behind the words we sing. I pray that my children will someday be able to have some experience as I've had today. To really know and understand the love of God and the love of friends that love Him with all their hearts and want nothing more than to teach our children the way they should go.
Thank you God for today and I pray this isn't the last time I get to re-live these childhood memories...
Then...
And Now...
Future Members??? :)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Loving the weather change...
My life has been so busy the past few weeks. I have been running my kids here, there, and yonder as we commonly say around here. These kids are keeping me on my toes for sure, plus I have my responsibilities at church and with friends and family. I'm enjoying all the activity, but I must admit, it is really tiring. Add in a child that wakes you in the middle of the night to tell you they have to go to the bathroom, or the one that has a stomachache in which you go sit with them in the bathroom waiting for vomit for 45 minutes, they they prance back off to bed because they suddenly feel better. Then there's the fact that I then lay in my bed waiting to fall asleep for 30 more minutes while my husband snores away, all this adds up to one tired momma.
I love the spring and summer. The warm temps and the new life that each bring, but honestly, fall brings a peace and quiet that I find myself longing for when it rolls around. Temps turn cooler, activity outside of my house slows down, my blankets and throws feel warmer/softer. I love being able to know that the yard work is dwindling for the season, the fall flowers are blooming in their darker, richer colors. I love the fact that as a stay at home mom, I have the perk of being able to go back to bed after my husband and oldest 2 daughters leave for school to catch up on the sleep that I lost getting up in the middle of the night. It makes me a better mom/wife when everyone comes home in the afternoon/evening. What other job out there provides this benefit? I haven't seen one yet.
With the cooler temps my youngest daughter is more willing to work on learning to write her alphabet and numbers as well. She calls it her "homework" when her older sisters are doing theirs. In the fall and winter, life outside my family slows down. I get a chance to catch my breath and relax a bit. I get the opportunity to spend more time with my kids, collectively and one on one as well. I get to teach them life lessons even after school is over for the day or while they are home with me on a break from school. Lessons in cooking/baking. We get to snuggle up on the couch under our blankets and watch movies while we munch on popcorn and make hot chocolate. We get to spend time with each other since we aren't running around as much.
I love this time in my life. I am looking forward to it as the weather has turned cooler today and I have beef stew simmering in my crockpot filling my house with deliciousness. I love being able to make hearty/warm/comfort food for my family and the smells that fill my house from doing so. The smells of banana bread baking in the oven, pumpkin bars cooling on the counter, cakes and cookies being enjoyed with a glass of milk after a day at school. It's the times around the table for supper at night that I get to hear about the best and worst parts of their school days and about my husbands highlights to his day which usually include "coming home to his girls". These days it almost seems as if I can shut out the outside world and the influences it wants to impose on my family and we can just "be us".
Now, if only I could figure out a way to magically snap my fingers and all the spring/summer clothes in the drawers of my house would be switched out with the fall/winter clothes, this season of life would be almost perfect. Guess I'd better get back to work. I am thankful that we at least have the clothes to switch out, right? God is so good to us!
I love the spring and summer. The warm temps and the new life that each bring, but honestly, fall brings a peace and quiet that I find myself longing for when it rolls around. Temps turn cooler, activity outside of my house slows down, my blankets and throws feel warmer/softer. I love being able to know that the yard work is dwindling for the season, the fall flowers are blooming in their darker, richer colors. I love the fact that as a stay at home mom, I have the perk of being able to go back to bed after my husband and oldest 2 daughters leave for school to catch up on the sleep that I lost getting up in the middle of the night. It makes me a better mom/wife when everyone comes home in the afternoon/evening. What other job out there provides this benefit? I haven't seen one yet.
With the cooler temps my youngest daughter is more willing to work on learning to write her alphabet and numbers as well. She calls it her "homework" when her older sisters are doing theirs. In the fall and winter, life outside my family slows down. I get a chance to catch my breath and relax a bit. I get the opportunity to spend more time with my kids, collectively and one on one as well. I get to teach them life lessons even after school is over for the day or while they are home with me on a break from school. Lessons in cooking/baking. We get to snuggle up on the couch under our blankets and watch movies while we munch on popcorn and make hot chocolate. We get to spend time with each other since we aren't running around as much.
I love this time in my life. I am looking forward to it as the weather has turned cooler today and I have beef stew simmering in my crockpot filling my house with deliciousness. I love being able to make hearty/warm/comfort food for my family and the smells that fill my house from doing so. The smells of banana bread baking in the oven, pumpkin bars cooling on the counter, cakes and cookies being enjoyed with a glass of milk after a day at school. It's the times around the table for supper at night that I get to hear about the best and worst parts of their school days and about my husbands highlights to his day which usually include "coming home to his girls". These days it almost seems as if I can shut out the outside world and the influences it wants to impose on my family and we can just "be us".
Now, if only I could figure out a way to magically snap my fingers and all the spring/summer clothes in the drawers of my house would be switched out with the fall/winter clothes, this season of life would be almost perfect. Guess I'd better get back to work. I am thankful that we at least have the clothes to switch out, right? God is so good to us!
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