Operation Christmas Child

Here we are at Lifeway dropping off our shoe box. They are one of the drop-off locations.

This was our first year to do Operation Christmas Child. Every year my intentions have been to do it, but this, that, or a baby would come along. But this year we made it happen. My love language is giving gifts (and getting them honestly) so this was lots of fun for me!!! We bought for a 10-14 year old boy which to me was the toughest age range to know what to buy. We got a football, some hot wheels, a harmonica, hack-a-sack balls, lots of candy, and some other stuff. The hardest part of course was keeping our kids focused. I know as they get older it will get easier and more exciting for them as they grow to understand what we are actually doing. Maggie's response to me telling her we were going to buy some gifts for kids who don't have much at all was, "well whose gonna do that for us?" I don't sweat it though. We just have to keep on taking opportunities to teach them about giving which is hard to do living in America. Don't get me wrong. I love America. Its just that we are so very blessed to live as we do. Operation Christmas Child is neat because we get to track our box and hopefully see who gets our box. Wil calls him "Tyler". So "Tyler" where ever you are, "May the LORD bless you and Merry Christmas". Go to http://www.youtube.com/ and search for Operation Christmas Child and you will be able to see some videos. They are very touching. Or go to http://www.samaritanpurse.org/ to learn more about taking part in OCC.

Our Hearts

Tom and I just finished a Precept course on I Kings 15 - II Kings 1 along with II Chronicles 14-20. It was entitled "God Searches For A Heart That Is Fully His". Precept is an inductive study method that takes you book by book and verse by verse. It is the best Bible study method for studying your Bible in my opinion. You simply use the text (Bible) and let the Holy Spirit be your guide. Precept study has changed my life and my relationship with God. Oh and this method is not knowledge that "puffs" one up, but on the contrary it humbles one to understand the mighty God we serve. It stirs a passion for Him and a hunger to follow after Him. To check it out to go to www.precept.org .
Like I said we studied Kings and Chronicles. It begs the question throughout: "How strong is God's Kingdom in my heart?" Does my life reflect a heart that is fully His?"

II Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..."

Why would I want to give him my whole heart?
What does a heart that is completely God's look like?
How can I give my heart completely to God?
What will this produce in my life?

These were the challenging questions answered for me during the course of this study. I was reminded that my life is not my own. I have a Creator who put me here to honor Him and not to pursue my own personal agenda. We are His!
Ephesians 1:14 ...and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.
I have so many plans, so many thoughts on what I want in life. It is easy for me to go on in pursuit of those things. I don't get too far before I remember my life is not my own. Thank goodness because record shows I make a mess when I try to be in control.

Jehoshaphat was a man who sought God. Over and over in our study we saw him seeking God for direction, seeking God when he was afraid, and seeking God for deliverance. My favorite verse in this study was II Chronicles 20:12 when Jehoshaphat says, "O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."
His heart showed where his dependence lied. He acknowledged his weakness before the LORD. In his humility, he sought God for answers. I don't know what your "multitude" may be. Maybe it is sickness, loss of a loved one, marriage problems, parenting issues. Fear is my latest multitude and God has been doing a marvelous work in me, but there are still times when it comes a knockin'. I am powerless. But when my eyes get fixed on Him and His Word, I am loosed from it. I find peace.
The book of Proverbs says to "guard your heart because it is the wellspring of life...". Guarding my heart has been the greatest weapon against the enemy. For me guarding my heart is about knowing God and His ways and following after them. The pull of this world is strong...very strong. I have watched myself so easily get sucked into the pressures of it. Before I was saved and surrendered to the LORD, my life was messy. It was full of shame and disobedience. I did what Misty wanted to do, when Misty wanted to do it, and how Misty wanted it done. I am forgiven even though there is still whispers of consequence from living life my way. I still stand amazed at what He has done in my life and thank goodness He keeps on working. I have never known joy and peace as I do today. Do problems and struggles still come? You bet! But now I find hope in the midst of them.

Here is what I can know as I strive to have a heart that is fully God's:
"But you be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work."
Even without the reward, I owe Him my life!!

Because His Word is the greatest way the LORD carries me I am thinking about leading a Precept course. I want to be obedient and act in His timing. My heart desires to introduce others to His Word through a Precept study. It really is life changing. Please keep this in prayer.

Just Like Brother

Tommy tells me that his love for basketball was kindled because of his older brother's love for the sport. 90% of their days (and nights) for that matter were spent with a basketball. Even to this day they both shared that common interest. I want Wil and Trey to be close brothers with a relationship that is strong. I want them to be confident that their brother always has their back, but a relationship healthy enough to hold each other accountable.
Wilson has always loved basketball and is very serious about it. Wilson is serious about everything though. Trey on the other hand is proving himself as one that doesn't take himself seriously at all!! His favorite thing to do is make you laugh so when he began to pick up a ball I didn't think he was going to have a lot of interest in it except to bounce it off his head so we'd laugh. WRONG! These days all he wants to do is play basketball.
I'm so excited just because I was thinking we were going to have two kids going in different directions with their interest which would have been perfectly fine. God created each of us different. I am just thrilled to see they have at least one common interest in which to relate with one another. Regardless of their differences I want them to know and Maggie to know that we love them and the LORD loves them for who they are not what their interests are. We watched Michael Jordan being inducted into the basketball hall of fame and I was saddened by his attitude. It was just one night so I will make no further judgement than to say he apparently had not eaten his humble pie that day. Honestly it can be a struggle when your kids show mega interest in a certain thing, but I want to make sure my kids are never led to believe by Tom and me that their significance and importance is found in their abilities or accomplishments.

A Great Song

Typically I'm not wowed by a song the first time I hear it. It takes me a while to listen to the words and the music to say, "I like that song". However a few weeks ago I heard a song on Klove that caught my attention from the very first line and I wanted to share it with you. I love this song because it causes me to think on the LORD in a deeper way. To me that is what makes a great song!! It just came available to download off itunes. Last night Tom and I just sat and listened to it praising God for giving us a Savior. Oh how I need a Savior. We are wondering around useless (even if we don't realize it) without our Savior. Because of this I am literally desperately eager to serve Him and live for Him NOT because I have to but because I want to. Thank you heavenly Father for sending me a Savior and for not leaving me in my sin. You truly are a marvelous God! Just click on the link to listen to it from tangle.com. and tell me what you think.

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=185f00edd818b654032b

This week our home school group had their annual basketball camp. It was our first year to participate and we have been enjoying it. The first day I failed my son and had to ask for his forgiveness. Most of us that have children have at least one who is just like us. For me, that is my oldest Wilson. I understand him so well because I'm just like him. I know why he has to have a plan to survive, why he won't break tradition even if it kills him, why he will erase his work 300 times until it is just right, why he can't tell a funny story to save his life, and why he despises chaos. My Wil is just like his momma, but sometimes it frustrates me because I want him to be distinctly different from me in the ways I don't like about myself. I hope that makes sense. Anyway we arrive at camp on the first day to utter chaos...kids shooting the basketballs, running around, and because it hadn't actually started yet there was no one to give instructions or any kind of plan. That will send Wilson running in the other direction or at least hiding behind my leg. Now I know how much fun he is going to have once he gets out there. I mean c'mon the child breathes sports. However he isn't budging and refuses to get himself a ball and play. I get so mad that I tell him in a not so nice voice that he is being ridiculous all the while knowing exactly why he is behaving this way. My frustration only made it worse. My very wonderful friend who can be honest with me was sitting right there. Rachel said "don't push it. you'll only regret it". That was not actually her words but what she meant was it isn't a battle you should fight. The LORD showed me that I must learn to discern when I should step in ....and make sure my motive is not because I want him to look a certain way. I should step in when his behavior or character is unacceptable (this was not the case). I do not want to be a parent that cares only what others think of my children , but sometimes I do care and most of the time I am wrong in that. God says train Wil, Maggie, and Trey in the way they should go by God's standards not people's standards or even my standards! I want to shoot for a 10 with them even if I only hit an 8 (and sometimes I won't even hit the board) BUT I want to do it for God's glory not my own.

Here they are doing little dribblers drills. Wil is behind the little blond girl who says she is going to marry Wil.
This is the K and 1st, and second graders at the camp waiting patiently for their instructions.

Once the coach called them in the circle to give them the plan, Wil was in 100% and never let the ball go. I have to say Wil gives his all to most things and most especially sports.

Look at that fine form!

Thanks for the fun camp CHE.

Wilson turned 6 yesterday. My first born and beloved son is growing too fast for me. He had a great birthday yet simple. His pick was grandma and papa's house! He'd live out there if he could... until papa put him to work on the tractor that is. He was very pleased with his gifts from Tommy and I. He got a new ball glove and a Razor scooter. Now he doesn't have to borrow the neighbor's. I am blessed beyond measure and so is Wil to have a mommy and daddy who love him more than he will ever know. The note you can barely see which I tried to delete off this post but couldn't is the note Tommy left for Wil on the fridge before he went to work. Wil thought it was pretty cool!! Tom signed it "buddies forever" which has always been their saying.

Trey Time

We are well into our second week of school and I've learned two things. One is that I give hats-off to teachers who can run an entire classroom. And two Trey has hit the terrible and wonderful twos all at the same time. He is, as much as I love him, the hardest part of school for us. So because of this, I want to try to set aside some constructive Trey time (a.k.a Tot School). Here is a taste of it in photograph language.

First here is Mags sporting her massive boo boo. She collided with the concrete falling off her bike. She takes those turns like a wild woman.

This is what I like to call "Bead Transfer". He did this forever as I stuck close by waiting and watching for him to stick one in his ear, nose, or mouth. He did good though. He took the spoon and scooped up beads from one container and put them in the other. He used some great variations in transferring. It works his fine motor skills and I think it helps their concentration and ability to focus on something for longer than 2 minutes. Maggie and Wil enjoyed this as well but they used tweezers to make their transfers.

Here it is hard to tell what his activity is. Really he is just taking paint bottle out and putting paint bottles in a tin can. It is an easy way to familiarize him with his colors. Hammer time. Here we are pounding spiral pasta into a box with pre-made holes. Sound pointless? It isn't really! Its good practice for him the next time Maggie tries to pick him up.

We are loving being back in the swing of things.