The Top....

I will tell you, this guy so deserved to be king of the mountain that day!!

We all decided to climb to the top of dune.  A hand full of kids ran up and down the dune as I, attempted at a very slow pace to make it up just one time.  I was exhausted, I was huffing, I was puffing, I sat down, I agonized over the concept of trying to make it to the top, I made myself count to 100 to see how far I would get in that time and eventually when I did get to the top, I had to catch my breath.  That was it!  I was not going any further!!  In my mind, I had made it.

As I think back on that day; I remember sitting there in the sand thinking I would never breath right again.  Then as I looked around, I saw all the footsteps around me and wondered who else had climbed this mountain?  Who else did not make it to the top?  Who else ran up and down like the kids did that day?

For me, I was just thankful to make it as far as I did and thankful to have a son who made sure I could go as far as I wanted to go.

Now come back to today, Feb. 3, 2012.  Today we are celebrating the life of a friend who is now home with the Lord!  A friend who climbed his own mountain and a family that had to rely on so many others to love them during this time.  For me, I visualize the Lord waiting for us at heaven's gates...cheering, smiling, and just celebrating as we come into His fold.  So while it hurts here on earth, there is a warmth in knowing we will see each other again and will celebrate again at that time!!

Oops!

This was our gift to my mom the last time we visited her.  The boys were outside playing catch and then OOPS and the game continued!  This morning as I was sorting through curriculum, writing out lesson plans and realizing that last week was not the week I wanted, I was reminded that Lord gives us do-overs.  Sometime an OOPS happens, even though you did not mean for it to.  The word OOPS in the Webster dictionary means:  —used typically to express mild apology, surprise, or disma.  So this was a picture of a oops that happened in a game of catch, my oops happened last week as I allowed myself to get off course and now to get things fixed and back on track.  God is Good!!

2011 Ends..........

The Holliday girls and boys are so looking forward to what 2012 will bring and to invest ourselves in THOSE moments that matter and for the rest to slide off!

..almost done

This picture represents the week we are in.......it is so much nicer to have a family/friend (or in the case above, a brother) that will come alongside you and help do whatever you need!  Today, I am relying on my kids to help me finish up the last few projects before Christmas.

Long ago...

This picture is a reminder to me of how fast things can change!  The two boys in the back are preaching to an array of stuffed animals (which are not in the picture).  They would spend hours going through their Bibles, finding scripture and reading it aloud.  The cutey in the middle was firing marshmallows at them as they preached!  I would love to go back to those days, and this time I would sit down and listen to them as they shared God's word!!

DNA

This beautiful creation has been hanging in our kitchen for many months.  It is my daughter's DNA example from her science class.  I loved it and even being her junior year, I have kept as many items as I can for her school box.  I know she thinks I am strange, but I love any creation she makes. 

This particular day, I was on day two of a migraine and could not imagine it would ever go away.  As I was in the kitchen, quietly looking for more medicine, I opened the cupboard and the DNA example crumbled and fell apart. My eyes watered as the sound of the licorice hitting the counter made my head pound harder and my body so desperately wanted to be back in bed, under the covers and the pillow over my head.

What I missed in this moment was my two daughters had cleaned up the house, started school on their own and had the medicine and water bottle on the counter for me.  I think they were waiting for me to ask for help, and they would come running to the rescue.  As I reflected back on this, it reminded me that this is what Jesus is waiting on me for..............to talk, to ask, to reflect, to share, to engage.  I do not have to do it on my own, nor does He want us to do it on our own.  He is always there........waiting, listening and anticipating!  The same as my daughters were doing, waiting to help me, I just had to ask!!

Notes

I love Monday mornings and finding little treasures from the weekend.............

What was a treasure you found?

Transparency....

In the midst of life, we have to make some hard decisions.  The latest for me is realizing I do not have to be transparent with everyone.  I just need 2 or 3 friends that I can be vulnerable and accountable to.  The verse:  Job 29:4  When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.  This verse rings true in my heart as I need to be giving the Lord my best!  Because of Him, He will be present in my heart, my actions, my words and will be visible for all to see.  As today comes to a close, I have learned my lesson and will from this point be better for it.

Homeschool Shelby

This is a funny picture for Shelby and me:

1.  She could care less if her clothes match.....drives me nuts!

2.  She loves looking for dead fish at Walmart or Meijers and it has become part of our shopping routine.  If the store would let her, she would clean the tanks out for them.

Enjoy the moments....they don't last!!

A Sign of A Wonderful Dad....

Even though this picture is old, it reminds me of the wonderful dad Amber (and Shelby) have in their lives.   I have been asked by Mike not to post pictures of him in curlers, or having his hair in pony tails, or even having barrettes sticking out of his hair....so I thought this one was perfect.  Whenever the girls have asked to do Mike's hair (and believe me, this is when they were younger and also might have contributed to Mike going gray and shaving his head today) he would always oblige.  We have wonderful scrapbook pages of Mike being part of a beauty shop moment and never thinking twice about it  (unless I came into the room with a camera).  For the girls they have wonderful memories and I might say, for one daughter, Amber, it perfected her hair skills!!  So cheers to Mike and cheers to the dad he has been to the girls!

Shoes to fill....

I am really enjoying reading the book "Grace for the Good Girl" and have loved the conversations that are sparked.  As I was listening today to my heart and realizing that I may not be in the healthiest of places, I thought about the times that our youngest (Shelby) can hardly wait for her big brother to make an appearance.  Then, when he does, she soaks up all she can; basketball, scaring one another, begging to play a video game, asking him many questions and most of all she just wants to be around him.

The blessing is, he is 10 years older and really has his own commitments and life.  He has always made time for her and all she had to do was ask.  That is how it is with our Lord, he is waiting for us to come and talk with him. I have realized when I do that regularly, when I do it without thinking, when I make time for that relationship to grow and be nourished, I find my heart being at peace.  What a wonderful and warm feeling that is.  Just like the picture.......you know someone had a good day!

So when I come home and see this in our hallway, it reminds me of my shoes being next to the heavenly fathers shoes and we have spent time with one another.

Grace for the Good Girl!

Grace for the Good Girl.............I love this book.  I found an on-line small group for the book:  http://amybayliss.com/2011/09/grace-for-the-good-girl-online-small-group/ and I look forward to reading through it and learning with other women, women I have never met.  At the same time, I sent out the invitation for my own group of friends.  Friends that have spoken into my life and friends that I want to know on a more intimate level.  There will be another invitation going out tomorrow as I allow the Lord to lead me in that direction.  (hence why I am reading the book, we all want to be accepted and what happens if the first group of friends want nothing to do with me or the book??  What does that say??)


So as I prepare my home and all the little "touches" I want to do to honor the hearts of my girl-friends, here is to hoping all who enter find peace and see the Lord and grow with me!

See the child in the background?  Feet up on kayak and listening to music and heading off to the brush?  She is enjoying the moment.....that is what I pray for.

Do Over!!

What a blessing it is to be saved by Grace and that our Lord is one of Mercy!  I needed it all today and will this week and month.  I felt just like this toad and looking forward to being refreshed in our Lord!  So tomorrow is a new day and things will be brighter and a do-over can take place!! 

First Day Over

First Day of Bible Camp is over........whew, and I feel like we missed the mark by 1 hour. If we had 1 more hour to finish up the areas I was in charge of .......... it would have been so much better! Now to prepare for day two and allow the Lord to work! To treat myself to something good.........I am off to watch "Gone With the Wind" and drink coffee for the morning! Yeah :)

Be Accountable!

Gosh, some days life just is not fun and others, you want to soak every moment up. Bible Camp (VBS) for our church is huge; with over 500 children attending, 300 plus workers, plus all the specialty things that happen before and after, we have close to 1100 people experiencing BC in some fashion. I have poured so much into this year. I have been able to direct areas I have not directed before and have been able to be on the front lines of answering questions. I love it - I can tell this is what nourishes me and I enjoy being able to partner with others and create an experience that children can experience Jesus in. YET - it only takes one person, one phone call, one rough conversation to damper my heart. That phone call came last night........and I am still processing it. But as I do, the glasses I need to wear have Romans 12:12 stamped in them "Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying."

So on I tread, and as a final remark....7 more days to go!