Such A Proud Moment

Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Acts 20:35

I had such a proud mommy moment today.

A week or so ago Alex gathered up a big bag of his toys, trucks, his precious animals, all sorts of stuff.

He and Michael dragged this bag into the kitchen to show me. Alex said that he wants to give his toys away to his friends.

He says he wants to do it because he loves Jesus. My heart just melted.

So the bag sat in our front entry for a few days and everytime Alex saw it he said that he wants to give it to his friends because he loves Jesus.

I talked to his teacher and told her what he wanted to do and why. She said that sounded like a great idea.

So yesterday when I dropped him off at school with the help of his teacher, he carried this big bag of toys in with him.

When I picked him up, I did not say anything and neither did he. I had a few minutes of wonder if when he realized what he was doing that he would change his mind.

I should have more faith.

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

When I dropped him off this morning his teacher said that they had so much fun. He was passing out his toys to all of his friends and putting toys in cubbies of kids that weren't there. He didn't want to leave anyone out. He also shared with another class and they still have lots of toys left that will go into the prize bucket for kids to enjoy for months to come.

The best part is is that he told them why he was doing it.

Because he loves Jesus. That really is the reason why we should do everything.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3-5

You Have Got To Try This

I love Wendy's frosty's.

I have always loved frosty's. I loved it last year when they gave us all of those free frosty coupons in AWANAs. They should do that again this year.

When I was younger I used to (and secretly still do) love to dip my french fries in my frosty.

I also put potato chips on my sandwhich, so what can I say!

Anyway, today I had something truly wonderful. I was running errands on my lunch hour and decided to drive through Wendy's. They have a vanilla frosty, and not just a vanilla frosty, but a vanilla frosty float with root beer.

Oh my goodness it was sinful.

I also love floats, any kind of float.

Root beer float

Dr. Pepper float with chocolate ice cream

Sherbert (rainbow) with Sprite...if I am on a diet.

The only kind of floats I do not like are the Big Red floats given to my boys as we are leaving the carnival that rode in the cup holders all the way home.

I have never held my breath for so long. Big Red in the back seat of the car is not a good thing.

But a good thing is driving down Hwy 6 when it is 90 degrees outside in May listening to the Newsboys drinking a Wendy's Vanilla Frosty with Root Beer.

Go try it.

It's Not Goodbye...It's I'll See You Soon

I am crying as I type this post.

I have been crying off and on for about a month.

As denial meets reality it is getting harder to pretend that graduation isn't going to happen and things aren't going to change.

Who could have ever known that two years ago God would put together a group of people that fit together so well it could only be from God.

For two years we have ate together, played together, served together, laughed and cried and worshipped together.

We have watched each other soar and struggle and grow and change. We have been there for each other in every way. We are family.

To all of my beloved HOPE group, I will be praying for you this summer as you travel home and abroad sharing Jesus and changing lives.

I will miss you so much.

On Friday Kevin and Lisa will graduate. They will go off to start their new life together.

When I tell Alex he just looks at me and says" no they're not" he inherited the denial gene, that's my child!! I tell Michael and he says "it's just Houston mom". He doesn't realize that Houston is no longer my Jeruselum, it is like Judea and the ends of the earth!

I really am so excited for them. I look forward to seeing what the Lord will do in their lives and then hopefully soon they will have their own little Michael and Alex.

It has been a honor to know them seperately and then know them together and to know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has brought them together and will bless this marriage.

Kevin, or KEVIN as Michael and Alex scream, you have made an impression on our lives and hearts and I am forever grateful as a mother for the love and care that you have showed my boys.

When I think of the times that you have been mauled by Michael's body slams and deafened by Alex's voice, I can't help but smile because you not only endured it, but you enjoyed it.

I think of the patience you had when you fixed Michael's Nerf gun and when you cut Alex's hair with him squirming the whole time and saying "are we done, can we be done now?"

And the fact that you only had to take one "break" completely blows my mind!

I could list a thousand ways you have brought us joy, but just know that you are deeply loved and that this is not goodbye...it is see you soon!!

Number 4 - Check off the List Whitney

I love happy endings.

Tonight was no exception.

Tonight was the last Monday night of the semester...school's out for summer.

Tonight we ate enchiladas and chips and dip...just for you Whitney.

Tonight Alex's thorn was yellow...he ended on a bright note.

Tonight we ate ice cream sandwhich cake...two pieces.

Tonight Alex packed a bag of toys to give away because he loves Jesus...really they are on my table if anyone needs toys.

Tonight we studied Ruth.

What a perfect way to end a semester of laughter and tears. A semester of sharing and Truth...hard Truth that bonds two people together and glorifies God.

I love the story of Ruth. Her devotion to Naomi and her love story with Boaz.

But tonight we dug in even deeper and studied the symbolism of the Gospel and how all of the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament is about Jesus.

I love that Boaz did not have to redeem Ruth, he chose to. Jesus did not have to die for us, He chose to.

None of life is by "chance" There are no "it just so happens"

Everything we do is ordained by God. He puts us in the exact places we are to be, the exact fields in which to glean.

He puts the exact people in our lives that need to be there, when they are supposed to be there.

All He asks of us is to trust and obey.

We are all Ruth, the Church and we are all looking for Boaz, Jesus, our Kinsman Reedemer.

All we have to do is come to Him in faith and ask Him to be our Redeemer and He will accept us, do all the work and in return, we get to sit at His feet.

He will bless us beyond belief and provide for us in ways we do not understand.

We do not have to be perfect...only willing.

He only wants to hear "I will do whatever you say"

So my dear sweet Whitney, my couch will miss you for the next few months. I will look forward to one or two marathon weekends.

Now, take all that we have shared, all that you have learned and all that God has shown you this semester, go out there this summer and trust and obey.

Dinosaur Marp-As told by Alex

The dinosaurs had to go home and eat their lunch, but they couldn't. Then they wanted to destroy Alex. Then they destroyed Alex. Then they destroyed the fence.

Marp means the dinosaurs are getting really mad. Then Alex punched them in the face. Then Alex poked the dinosaurs in the eye. Then Alex hugged the dinosaurs.

Then Alex picked up a frog. Then he let the dinosaurs hold it. Then the dinosaurs they tried their best that they could but they could not destroy Alex. Then one day they decided to go home and wanted to drive home. Then one day they saw hair and eyes. Then they saw a mouth. Then they saw hands. Then they saw toes and feet. Then they saw Alex.

The End

Promotions

This is a year of change for us.

A year of moving.

A year of promotions.

A year of blessings.

This is the last year of Sparks for Michael. He will be in Truth and Training in the fall.

I am praying that he goes to a whole new level with God and digs even deeper into his Word. I am praying that the wisdom and knowledge God is giving him will be used for His glory.

Alex will be a Spark. No more Cubbies...it really hit me when I got a note from Southwood Valley that tomorrow night is kindergarten roundup and I will be registering my baby for school!!!

What a time of change, no more nursery or preschool. He will be in childrens worship and public school...pray. When I pray for Alex, I keep getting that Phillips, Craig and Dean song "At the top of my lungs, I will sing Halleluiah" Alex does everything at the top of his lungs...pray for halleluiahs!!!!

It is exciting and fun and sad all at the same time.

God is growing our little family, not just physically..."and we...are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord..." II Corinthians 3:18

He is taking our faith...our obedience...our knowledge to the next level.

He is taking us out of our comfort zones...He is opening doors.

It is good.

"For He will give His angels charge concernng you, to guard you in all your ways" Psalm 91:11