Looking Back

So glad you are here! Welcome to the continuation of the party for my 1,000th post!

Help yourself to some cake, pour some Diet Coke, coffee, or the beverage of your choice, and we'll stroll down memory lane just a little.

First, I want to mention that I never intended this blog to be as 'public' as it has become. I only wanted a place to house my own personal writing. But soon I just needed to vent, or tell about something funny that happened at my house, and that is what people responded to.

So I continued to chat and share my life with you here and you continued to come around and visit with me.

You have been down several roads with me. You were here when I started a teaching job, and when I left it to try out this writing business.

You have grieved and remembered my Poppa Max with me, and laughed and enjoyed my kids with me.

You have celebrated big doin's with me, and been there to keep me going when I was grouchy.

And last week, you gave me great thoughts about going back to middle school (shudder).

All this week I will be saying thank you. I usually only say the words "Thank you" -- because words are the best way I know how. But I have a few little token 'thank you's' just to say,

"Really! Thank you for still stopping by!" Give-aways all this week.

Today's give-away will include two books, one a little more 'fluffy' than the other, and a magnetic list pad because I simply love those things, don't you? If not, maybe you will learn to love them?

To enter today's give-away, leave a comment telling me about a middle school experience you would rather forget. My kids asked "your most embarassing middle school moment" -- if you are ready to re-live that on the world wide web, knock yourself out. I will simply phrase it, 'a time in middle school you would rather forget' since there are SO many of those.

I will kick off but I have to confess that I have successfully blocked much of middle school out. Partly because I went to school at the same school 1st-12th grade, and we moved to the same building at 4th grade, so many of the memories have merged. I do remember being in 7th grade and having a crush on a tall, lanky senior and I'm sure I acted like a total doof around him at all times. Not that that sort of behavior is rare for a middle school girl.

So, what about you, can you be more specific than me? What do you remember as awful about middle school? Any particular bad experience? PE comes to mind for me...

Good Things Out There

I do not know this young lady's entire story. Nothing I have read leads me to believe she is actually in physical danger. However, I do know she is a baby Christian against amazing odds and could use our prayers. Add her to your prayer list.

Don't forget to scroll down and visit my 1,000th post to tell me a little about you!

These ladies say that anyone can sing standing where they are. I don't believe it, but this actually did make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. One of my favorite songs:

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Party Time!

Time for partying here at The Cleft of the Rock! Time to celebrate a landmark and I am so glad you are here to celebrate with me!

This is my 1,000th post! Can you even believe I have yakkety yakked that much on this world wide web? Gracious, but I am a talkative one, aren't I?

But you knew that! So, welcome to the party and come on in.

The party will be going on all week long, so stop in every day next week (starting Monday, not Sunday) for some memories (no slideshows, but you will have to re-live a few favorite posts) and more celebrating.

The best part??? There will be GIVE-AWAYS!! Come on by and win some stuff!!

So now more than anything I want to know who you are. Come on in to the party and introduce yourself. Let me know who you are and how you found The Cleft of the Rock. And, just out of curiosity, if you've been here a while, let me know which post still makes you think or make you laugh or let you know that I am a complete whack job!

Who are you? :-)

Winding Down the Week

I have much to say in not much time, so forgive the 'drive-by blogging'!! I am on my way out the door -- I am substitute teaching in PE today. Wow, yesterday weather was weird. Warm, humid as I left the house to walk to school, then drizzly and got cooler and cooler, then finally about 4 minutes of blessed SUNSHINE at about 3 p.m., then more clouds later. As typical, weird weather = cuckoo kids for an elementary school. Long day of subbing hopefully today will be better.

Troy has been traveling this week and will be traveling next week. His job description seems to be fairly fluid right now, and the description-for-the-moment seems to include much more travel than in the recent past. It's disappointing, as that was one of the perks of this job we enjoyed over the previous job. But, in this economy, we truly are thankful for a job, and know that God has plans for everyone here.

Along those lines, one of the greatest things someone told me recently: "Nothing is ever wasted in God's economy." Feel like you are spinning your wheels in a job that is for naught? God is preparing you for SOMETHING as long as you are surrendering all of it to Him. And... God continues to show that to me, as well.

Besides that coolio quote, I am enjoying studying Beth Moore's Esther. I hate to say it, but there is simply no way it can live up to the hype, which is one of the reasons I hesitated to start on it. When I hear for months that this is THE!! BEST!! ONE!! EV-ER!!!!!!! of pretty much anything (TV show, movie, Bible study, laundry detergent, whatever) I go the other direction. It simply cannot withstand such billing, whatever it is. So far, I won't say that, but yes, it is good. And yes, I had heard that Lesson 2 was really good (the video). Heard it last night -- Beth makes some tough calls about the way women dress, etc. and goes off on 'mean girls'. Oh, yeah. Loved it. My favorite: "Mean girls don't dress provocatively in front of your man."

Another point that really stuck with me: "Anger is power to those who think they don't have any other source of (power)." She talked about getting angry when we are perceived to be threatened. I thought of a recent "Mama Bear" rage I broke into that I didn't even know I had in me! Wow. Indeed.

I've got much more blah-dee-blah I could share with you, but I must run! Wish I could really run, but that hasn't been in the cards (or my feet) lately. Getting old stinks... :-) Busy weekend of school and soccer activities for the kids, ACU Homecoming activities here, and church fun and work.

Don't forget-- party this weekend right here! If you have a busy weekend, too, don't worry. The party will go on for quite a while. All week, probably. Much ado about nothing.

What does everyone have planned for the weekend?

'Why' Just Seems Too Logical...

Just another reason to be so proud of my home state....

Duchess Drama

Oh, gracious, have we had a week with our puppy. What a little turkey she is!

Last Friday, Ashley and I were heading out to get her to school (Riley went earlier for a meeting) and since it was raining I was herding Duchess into the laundry room while Ashley was heading out to the car. Seizing an opportunity, she took off.

Disgusted, I could see her, but decided to get Ashley to school on time as opposed to go after her. This is nothing new for this dog. I have met 50% of my neighborhood by them fetching her after she escaped then the kind neighbor will call the number on her tag. Not a perfect system, but it works.

I returned home about 20 minutes later, glancing at the machine for the blinking light that would let me know someone wanted me to come get her. Then my heart sank. Duchess' tags fell off this summer and we never put them back on. My dog was out running the neighborhood with no ID. Oh, bless, what an irresponsible pet owner I was.

Troy came home at lunch to help me drive the neighborhood for her -- to no avail. I left to go toRevolve, leaving Troy to welcome her home when she wearied of the wandering. He logged online to place an ad in the Classifieds, he went to the pound (and took Riley -- big mistake). No Duchess.

It was drizzly and cool all weekend. I just knew and hoped that she was inside someone's warm home, waiting for that ad in the paper to finally come out. Which never came out. Turns out, our paper can't do classifieds between 2 p.m. on Friday until Tuesday morning. Ugh. So I waited, hanging my hope on that ad.

Three people called or let me know they saw a dog that looked like her on the highway close to our house Monday afternoon. I looked and looked for her. Nothing. Thankfully, no smooshed puppy, either, but no dog. I called the pound. Nothing. *sigh* There will always be Tuesday's ad.

Tuesday came raining buckets. My mood was very gray, as well. My phone didn't ring at all. I waited and waited and nothing. I grew sadder and sadder, and prayed more and more -- yes, I prayed a LOT for this dog to come home. After Meals on Wheels, I drove around a little more, and called the pound one more time. "Yeah, you may need to come look at one."

There was my puppy. At the pound. Almost 5 days after she took off. They had only picked her up that morning -- from a vet's office off the highway where I think she was spotted the day before. I bailed her out, then promptly went to the vet's office and bought her a new tag. Done and whew.

I won't say it was like one of the kids being gone, but it was definitely a void in our family. So thankful to have her back, and so overwhelmed by the people who worried and prayed and fretted with me. I am blessed by pet lovers around me.

We are drama free for a while.

What Would You Say?

Having middle school children certainly throws you back into that horrible age yourself, whether you want to go or not. Recently several things have come up that have caused me to reflect on that time, and who I was then vs. who I am now.

One was the reunion where I spoke last weekend. Many pictures, many friends, many memories of days gone by. Most of them fun and funny, some of them dredging up the old feelings of 'not (tall/thin/short/developed/rich/smart/giggly/curly/whatever) enough' that we all felt in middle school.

Then I returned to some girl drama of Ashley's. Let me say -- Ashley doesn't instigate OR tolerate girl drama well, if at all. So it is rare to have any of it at this house. But something cropped up that she and I discussed and other folk were fanning into flame. I confess that I was angry enough that I wanted to go dump some gasoline on the flame and set off an explosion and Jesus won out by a hair when he took control of my actions and kept me from doing that.

Then there was Revolve, surrounded by thousands of girls, primarily of that age group. The giggles, the posing, the way the young ladies spoke to them of the struggles of that age, reminding me of that season of life.

I am so thankful it is over, yet I suppose I must be thankful for the journey if for no other reason than to empathize with all other young people at that awkward stage of life.

I wondered today -- IF I would have listened to 40-year-old me, what would I have told myself to get through that season? I still am not really sure. I think besides imploring myself to exercise to try to steady out the hormones, it may have been something along the lines of: "It just isn't that big of a deal. None of it. Ten years from now, this won't even be a blip in your memory. Stop making such a big deal about it."

What about you? If the now you could tell the middle school you something that you may actually listen to, what would it be? I may need to pass it along to someone.

Revolve and Announcement

This weekend I had the opportunity to take Ashley to Revolve. If you are familiar with Women of Faith, Revolve is put on by Women of Faith, but is geared to teen girls. Held in large arenas, bands are brought in that play fun music for that age group, but also several young women just spoke to the girls about being real (theme was "4 Real") and a few well done dramas solidified the message, as well.

Two favorites for the weekend were, of course, boys. Chad Eastham is a young man that speaks on the differences in boys and girls in a way that the girls (and, honestly, ME) can completely relate. I really wish Chad had sat me down about a week before I got married. Truly would have saved about 7 years of figuring life out. Another favorite was 14 year old Austin Gutwein, who started Hoops of Hope. Amazing young man, the girls thought he was cute, so they listened to what he had to say.

To me, and I think to Ashley as well, the value in such events is less what comes from the stage, though some valuable things were said, it's more about the relationships along the way. Ashley has talked more about the trip over and back, and some fun times overnight than the event. That's how females are wired -- relationship. Oh, 'lest you think we have that awesome mother/ daughter bond and she is that enthralled with spending time with ME, oh no. We were able to go to Revolve because someone I know bought a group set of tickets to get a discounted price, and we traveled with friends -- some we knew, some we met that day. Fun times, making memories.

However, I will say that being around that many teens and moms generally gives Ashley and me an appreciation for each other and our relationship -- and this weekend was no different. I have a beautiful woman of God in her and I am so thankful for the ways she seeks the Lord and marches to her own drum, while never marching over the heart of another.

Please come back here this weekend -- my numbers tell me that many of you miss blog reading on the weekend, as if you have fun to be had or families to attend to or something. Let me just give you a heads up that Saturday there is a party happenin' right here at The Cleft of the Rock and you aren't going to want to miss it! There will be give aways, slide shows (okay, not so much, but memories), and all manner of bloggy fun. The deal is, I realized there is a rather momentous occasion with the blog arriving this weekend, and I couldn't let it pass by unnoticed. Anyone care to venture a guess as to what it is?

Good Things Out There

I haven't known John long, and barely know him in person, but he has become one of my favorite people on the planet. A little over a year ago, he and his wife Maggie were plunged into horrific grief when their son, John Robert, died in a traffic accident at age 18 a few days before his high school graduation. John wrote this amazing article about grief and how to walk through it with someone. Thank you, John, for those great words.

Lysa is going into detail about her spiritual journey of late. It started as a journey of food, and God turned it into a lesson of sorts as he tends to do. I truly loved this post and the message behind the scripture, but there are many to dig through there.

If you are looking for fitness motivation, Ruthie has a wedding dress challenge going on over at her fitness blog. Love it! Of course, I refrained from pulling out my wedding dress when I was at my mom's last weekend. I always said I would get back into it for my 25th. Maybe I should start a few (8) years early!

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Observing Life

Ponder this:

My mood tends to absorb the gray weather. I try desperately not to unleash it on those around me, but the gray seeps into me. We have had a week of gray here, with flashes of light to taunt us that there is a sun somewhere.

Driving with Riley in oppressive humidity, under a gray sky, he said, quite honestly, "I just love this weather, don't you?" The need to drive prevented me from staring at him as long as I needed to.

"See?" he continued, "we're under a gray sky, but if we just keep going, we'll be in the light soon. I love weather with a moral to it."

Indeed, the gray was soon running out and this barren desert that I live in revealed that in the direction we were headed the sun was shining. In my gray mood, all I felt like was that the gray cloud was following me, but Riley knew we were headed into the light.

Just put one foot in front of the other, the gray eventually runs out, and there's the sun. Walking in the light, as he is in the light... 1 John 1:7

I'm crazy about that kid...

Book Review: The Edge of Winter

Last weekend I drove by myself to Louisiana, remember? You may remember that I thought the drive was SO!! BORING!!!!!!!

So I stopped at a Cracker Barrel. You may recall that I am not a particular fan of Cracker Barrel, but they do have a cool little deal: you can rent books on CD for $3.49/ week and return them to any Cracker Barrel. (you actually purchase the book first, then are credited the balance whenever you return it -- po-tay-to, po-tah-to).

Here is the book I chose:

The Edge of Winter by Luann Rice was a good book. I definitely give it a thumbs up all the way around. It deals with many 'politically correct' topics in a sensitive, non-preachy way. The characters are endearing, except for the villains, who aren't supposed to be. Unfortunately, the villains are a little too true-to-life, using the 'f-bomb' for authenticity, otherwise it would also be an excellent young adult book as any other topic is handled quite well. There are many true to life situations: an alcholic father who rarely shows up where he says he will, the memory of a young man killed in Iraq, bullies in high school, teen drinking, etc. All handled well and realistically, I think.

I encourage you to give it a read or listen!

Stepping Into the Ring

Nicole Johnson is an amazing woman of God, mostly in her dramatic interpretations. After my announcement yesterday of my inaugural mammogram, I came across this video that brought me to tears. What a battle. Enjoy, and fight on, whatever fight you may be fighting.

Think Pink!

I ordinarily don't share QUITE so much info on my blog, but in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month (NOT Breast Awareness Month, as some would lead you to believe...) I wanted to let you in on a milestone for me.

Remember that I had a little birthday a few weeks ago that went basically unnoticed by the population at large, except of course when I went for my annual check up with my doctor in August. They always notice birthdays. And, since this was 40 for me, it was time for a mammogram.

Yesterday was the day!! I admit that I was a little bummed -- I was hoping they gave out free stuff during October the way that the blood center gives out ice cream during the summer. And, why else to schedule important routine exams besides to get free stuff??? Alas, no free stuff.

First, let me say, no it didn't hurt. Having my eyebrows waxed is FAR more uncomfortable. Especially that last time when I left with the burn blister.

Also? Yeah, definitely leave your dignity at the door. I did have the absolute sweetest technician who had me sit in a chair, explained EVERYTHING clearly before starting, then 'say cheese for the camera' (or not) and... 20 minutes total, I'm DONE.

One thing my sweet technician did tell me is that many 'first-timers' get called for a return trip since there is nothing to compare the picture to. So they will take another, compare the two, and be done. She encouraged me -- nay, implored me -- not to panic if this were to happen. I surmised she had seen a panicked woman or two come through her door.

Otherwise, in about a week I will get a letter stating that all is healthy. I don't know if I get to keep the prints or not. :-)

So, please make it your priority to see about yourself if you are 'of age'! If finances are an issue, please contact your local American Cancer Society OR your local YWCA, both of which find ways to provide mammograms for women in need.

When I walked into my appointment, it was about 80* and HUMID. When I walked out, it was about 68* and starting to rain! Woot! So, we had a most yummy soup and sandwich dinner.

Baked Potato Soup

Judy's Special Sandwiches

It was a HUGE hit, with plenty of leftovers. What do you make when the weather turns cold?

Road Trip

This weekend I had the privilege of traveling to, and speaking at, a reunion honoring a choir instructor from my high school. I feel a little guilty because she could not have possibly had as much fun as I did at that reunion.

Roxanne and I were able to spend most of the day together and that was simply joy. No kids needing us, no husbands quietly sighing their boredom, no other family members needing just one more thing. Lots of talking, figuring, catching up, and reasoning.

Thing is, Roxanne and I talk enough that there wasn’t much catching up to do, so we were able to delve in. Go deeper. One thing we discussed is how glad we were that we grew up in that precious town, and how glad we are that we left it to grow our children up. We also talked about how great it was to go home and all insecurities and high school “caste systems” were done away with: it was just home. I think it took 20 years for it to be that way -- the 10 year reunion wasn’t quite so comfortable.

The travel there was easily the worst part of the whole weekend, especially considering the total travel time was exactly equal to the time that I was awake on Saturday: 17 hours. Obviously, I don’t travel by myself very often any more, so I had ample time to consider the pros and cons of solo travel.

Pros:

1. I am queen of the temperature.

2. I am queen of when to stop.

3. I am queen of when not to stop.

4. I am queen of the radio/ CD/ talk radio/ not-talk/ music/ volume.

5. No back seat drivers.

Cons:

1. It’s boring.

2. No one to blame wrong turns on.

3. So boring.

4. No one to dial/ text/ screen calls.

5. Boring really doesn’t adequately describe it.

6. No one to relieve you as a driver.

7. It is just! SO! BOOOORRRRIIINNNNNGGGG!!!!!!

So, as you can see, being queen certainly has its place, but it cannot outweigh the drawbacks of traveling alone.

Let me clarify -- this was a 500 mile (one way) trip. A shorter trip of about 150 miles would be a breeze and just about enough time to clear my head and get all my good music listened to. Mile 300 is about where I start to slide onto the floorboard and wallow.

The return trip on Sunday was brutal as it POURED rain for the first 250 miles, then drizzled for another 150. During the pouring rain there were cars all over the median and ditches, as well as a few 18-wheelers, that evidently can’t keep it at 75 in the blinding rain like they thought they could.

So, I’m thankful to be back safe. Thankful for the legacy I have and to celebrate it at a reunion.

What about you -- do you do reunions? Been to a homecoming this fall or planning to go to one? Why or why not? Talk to me people!

One Time Blind!

Had a great weekend this weekend speaking for the ladies of the Georgetown church. What a precious group of women. As usual, I'm sure I learned more than anyone there. What a blessing to be able to attend retreats on a regular basis! Besides the blessing of all of that, we saw this intriguing sight on the return trip:

If you can't fully make it out, that would be a toilet, with some sort of plant growing out of it, two beer bottles on the back of the seat, two flamingoes flanking the toilet, and I only got one of the family of wooden cut out skunks leading up to the toilet. If you look through the bushes back by the porch, you can almost make out that the house was painted black and white, like a prison uniform, almost (only on 3 sides -- for maximum curb appeal -- they didn't bother with the back wall. Do not ask how I know). You cannot see this stuff just anywhere.

I am still recovering, and working on an article due today. I returned just in time to go to a make-up soccer game for Riley postponed from last week's monsoonal rains while Ashley and I were in San Angelo for volleyball. So glad to see my boy growing and working so hard out there. He is really doing well and playing hard, and I was thankful I got to see him play since I missed a game yesterday.

While at the retreat, we saw several videos from the drama group, onetimeblind. I was VERY impressed and would love to share one of the things that really struck me:

Traveling Today

Say a prayer or six for all of us this weekend.

Coffee Group is headed to Central Texas, to share God's Amazing Freedom with the ladies of Georgetown. So, pray for our travels, pray for our talks, pray for the ladies there.

Pray for my family. I truly get weepy thinking of how grateful I am for Troy to take on all that he does for me to be able to do what I do. He knows what a blessing a weekend like this is to me, yet how labor intensive it is the week prior and how exhausted I am on my return. And he is precious and patient with it all, and is Dad-extraordinaire through it all. I'm just so thankful.

So pray for the Lord to bless them -- all is working out and Ashley will be with a friend most of the weekend. I told Riley that he and dad got to have 'man-weekend', so they could burp and scratch. He approved.

Thanks for the prayers. Mission report on Monday. Maybe. :-)

Celebrating All of It!

Today's the Day!

I turn 40!

Remember, last year I had a list of 39 things I had learned? I'm sure I've learned at least one more this year. Perhaps it's just to be reminded again of how blessed I am.

Today I will get up early, spend time with my Lord, and drive carpool.

I will go to the gym and workout with friends. We are uber-rebels because we talk in class.

I will be a PTA mom at lunch time and help out with a rewards system for the 8th graders, catching a glimpse of Ashley as she shuffles by.

This evening I am free of volleyball, but there is an athletics meeting, followed by Open House to meet all of the kids' teachers.

Somehow in there we have to fit in a soccer practice.

I think at some point today, another A Better View podcast will be posted.

Tomorrow, I leave with Coffee Group to go talk to women in central Texas about Amazing Freedom in Christ.

This may sound horrendous to you. It's pretty much all I have ever wanted to do in life: be a mom and wife, and help other women see Jesus in their every day. I simply can't believe that God picked me to live this life.

I wish someone had told me how many blessings come with 40. I think I would have gotten here sooner. The only thing that's missing from my day is a date with my man. We will have to schedule one for... 2012 looks good... :-)

If you have a little time on your hands today and want to know things about me and see pictures of me that only a lifelong friend can muster up, you've gotta check out Roxanne's post commemorating this day. Bless.

Where We Are

So, yesterday was a post I wrote 6 months ago, from the pit of fear. Palm-sweating, freak-out fear.


Where are we now? Overall, our financial statements look basically the same. But I am no longer crippled by fear.


Here's the deal (oh, stars, I hear God calling me to re-write a talk I've been working on for 4 weeks): God has set me free from that fear by reminding me of what He can do.


Long story about how it worked out, but we now have a new-to-us vehicle that runs every day, not just most days, and no car payment. God provided.


I did not get that job. Turns out someone I have come to REALLY enjoy that is new in town has that job. I'm so glad she does. Yet our family continues to eat. God has provided.


Remember that my husband was in a motorcycle accident, yet miraculously unscathed? Between the insurance money from that, some extra work I did in the spring, and a bonus for him at work, we paid cash for a frugal little vacation this summer that we desperately needed, and now have a hair more cushion in our emergency fund. God has provided.


So here we are. I have a very little freelance work coming in, and things are starting to pick up. Other things are going on to remind me that God is and has been faithful through it all. Things are still tight, yet God continues to provide.


One of the reasons I am happy to recount this is akin to Deuteronomy 11: 18,19


Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

God reminded the Israelites to recount -- again and again -- what He had done for them so that they would always remember His faithful providence. He didn't need to them to do that for HIM -- God knew all He had done for the Israelites. The Israelites needed to be reminded so that they would always be reminded. Yet they forgot again and again. And i will forget again and again. May I never forget.

I also have been reminded on so many fronts, how amazingly blessed I truly am, not only financially. Of course, there was the motorcycle accident, as mentioned, that truly should have claimed my husband's life. I have worked and been around people and children who simply don't have what I do. Lately I have almost felt suffocated with the STUFF of my home, so choked am I with clutter that this family doesn't need. I truly am considering moving into a much smaller house. That would save us two-fold: smaller mortgage, less room for clutter and junk we don't need.

God hasn't done much to change my situation, but he has delivered me from the fear, time and again. He has given us plenty, time and again. Lately I have been mindful of a Proverb so difficult to pray:

“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9

Thank you, Lord, for providing my family with just enough, and for reminding me of your unfailing providence.

Do Not Fear

It's the Sunday after spring break.

Nope, don't check your calendar (or think that AISD can't do seasons). I'm writing this the Sunday after spring break, scheduling it to post exactly six months after I wrote it. I THINK the reason will be clear why I did such a crazy thing later.

I did share this post -- about Do Not Fear verses with you, saying it was for a later project. This is that project. I also recently tried to disspell the idea that I have it all together, and this should go a long way to that end!

Here's the deal.

I'm terrified.

All the time.

I'm very frightened.

Not one hour goes by that my fear doesn't seize me -- by the throat, stomach, or heart.

I give it to God only to take it right back.

What in heaven's name could possibly create such fear in me?

Well, money of course.

About this time last year (keeping in mind I'm writing this in March) I decided to walk away from a teaching job to try my hand at this writing business. Oh, I had grand plans and have made a little headway, but financially we are a bit of a mess.

Who would have had any idea the stock market would shrivel to 1/3 while unemployment climbs? Timing has never been my strong suit, and this has certainly been no exception.

Thankfully, at this moment, other than our mortgage, we have no debt. And we had a comfortable emergency fund built up that has been bled almost dry with various and sundry expenses.

We do own our vehicles, but the one I drive has needed repair after repair after repair. Our emergency fund is currently one major repair away from being done. Then I look at what else around our house is on the verge of breaking. What if the fence finally falls all the way over the same day the car completely dies? Our hot water heater has been on borrowed time since we moved in 7 years ago and we're very proud of the 17 years of service our washing machine has given us...

These are the things that roll around my head. It's the middle of the month. I look in my wallet and cannot imagine how the piddly few dollars in there will get us through. Then I get notice: "Youth group needs $10 on Wednesday!" "Camp deposits due!" "Trip money is due!" It's EVERYWHERE and I know it's only going to get worse as the end of school gets closer. I TRY not to bark at the people responsible for collecting that money, but it's CONSTANT.

And because you're reading this wondering, "Why didn't I know this at the time?" is one of the reasons we all think each other has it all together. The main reason I don't post this on my blog right now is because I feel called to be CONFESSIONAL about my fears and how I'm allowing them to control me -- and many of you would feel called to ACT and HELP. I am not asking for help -- not because I'm that prideful. If/ when the final shoe drops and we're totally out of repair money and out of car, we will have to seek help. I don't feel like God is calling me to humble myself to seek help in this situation.

I believe that God is calling me to trust in Him.

Believe me, my first instinct is to ask everyone I know to pray for me. But how much am I praying? My first instinct is to work harder, move faster, but I believe God is calling me to listen to Him.

Oh, 'lest you think that I believe God is calling me to sit in lotus prayer pose waiting for money to fall from the sky -- I have submitted an application to a job that I think I would enjoy. It's even a 40 hour/ week/ 50 weeks/ year job. NEVER had one of those. So I'm waiting to see where that goes -- and having a very hard time trusting. Remember that unemployment rate? Yeah, evidently I'm not exactly "one in a million", but I'm at least "one in a dozen" applying for this job.

Which is another reason I wanted to have this post six months after I wrote it. SOMETHING will have happened with our finances by now. We may have hit rock bottom and be in the process of losing our home. I may have gotten that job and worked all the way through summer. Maybe I signed a book deal this summer. Maybe Troy finally pulled all of his hair out from listening to me. Whatever. My life will be different. Better or worse, it will be where God takes us.

So I am going now to claim those verses. That is my first course of action. I want to look for other jobs -- writing and otherwise -- and many other things, but first and foremost I must claim that One who loves me more than I can ever understand has it totally in control.

And... I think frequently of my friend Donna who says, "If you have problems that money can solve, then you don't really have problems." In my heart I know that -- yet I panic.

Where we are, 6 months later, tomorrow...

Good Things Out There

LOTS of Good Things Out There, and I'm finally stopping long enough to round them back up. I think I finally have a system. Kind of.

Julie set up a tutorial (of sorts -- more of a 'point us to others' tutorials') for all kinds of bloggy goodness that I want to know how to do. Now I need a bootleg copy of Photoshop for this one project. Oh, I KID, internet police!

Deana wrote this wonderful blog post about community in Christ. If you don't understand why people 'go to church' or if you can 'be a Christian and not go to church' -- you may want to read this. Very well said, Deana.

I have, in a very short amount of time, grown to love and cherish each of the other 3 individuals working on the 'A Better View' podcast. I am blessed and challenged by each of them and their way of thinking and living. One of my co-hosts, Amanda, wrote an article that explained how her perspective toward one person from the Bible changed when she found herself walking the same road. Read Amanda's heart-wrenching article here.

Many of you know that last year, Steven Curtis Chapman faced a parent's unthinkable horror when his little girl died. Like the amazing artist he is, he has poured out his grief, longings, and questions into a beautiful song.


If you would like to add your 'Good Thing' button to your blog, copy the code into an 'HTML' box on your sidebar:
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Wake the Kids, Phone the Numbers

Mark Your Calendars, Friends!

The members of A Better View have been asked to join a video chat show Monday morning, 8:30 CST. If you are around and available, PLEASE pop over and join us here, at Madre Minutes on MomTv.com, Monday morning. If nothing else, you will FINALLY get to SEE the 3 'podcast divas' (is that what we settled on?) that yak your ear off on A Better View each week.

Meet you there!

I shall henceforth simply refer to the college kids as 'enthusiastic drivers'. Love it.

And the Smileys? It seems most of us are left-to-right smilers, as well it should be. Jana, join us here in this millenium. We will all smile with you -- with our faces AND our keyboards. Nathaniel, THANK YOU for that link -- I had tried those Emojicons before, but couldn't find the current 'secret code'. How fun are those??? Too bad for you, non iPhone users... :-)

I believe I have decided that I am allergic to the ACU library. Sorry I didn't realize this while I was in college -- it would have provided me with all manner of excuses. The last two Wednesdays I have spent 1.5 to 2 hours in there working on a project, then spent the rest of Wednesday, and most of Thursday convinced I was sick with a cold. Now I'm guessing it's some form of book allergy. Seriously. What will I think of next?

I am doing many different little things that needed to be done -- lots of odds and ends that needed to be wrapped up. Coffee Group is traveling next week, so I am finishing up my talk. Helping Troy with a website for his business. Link when we get the website functional.


While you are helping with the mundane thoughts of this world, the folks over at A Better View need your help. As you may/may not know, we are doing a weekly podcast. A round-table type discussion with 3 women, kept on track (and professionally edited) by our producer, Steve. So Steve goes to introduce us, and always stumbles over... "Here are the... hosts? stars? of our show?" What are we? Talk goddesses?

What does one call the 3 women who sit and yak into their computers wondering if anyone other than the dog in the next room can hear it? Podcast divas? Give it your best shot. Would love a family-friendly name for us!

Can You Tell?

Um, I'm just now figuring out this 'back to school' business. Can you tell?

And of course, there's the school week of carpool which means go to school at 8 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. (athletics). Then there's the school week of non-carpool which means only going to school at 3:30 p.m. I drive a lot.

So, in trying not to drive TOO much, on days that I 'leave the house anyway' (gym, Meals on Wheels, other appointments) I pretty much take my laptop, stay where I am, and don't come home until I've done my 3:30 school run. So I'm still figuring out when blogging fits in there. And the grocery store. Sweeping the floors just DON'T fit in there. Laundry I'm actually getting done. It's a work in progress, as you can tell.

I spend much of my time on the ACU campus, because 2 of my 'already out' days take me there. A college campus is so interesting. Here is what I am learning:

** If I lived over here, I would not like college students nearly as much as I do, primarily because of their driving habits.

** Yes, I am remembering that I used to be one and used to drive just like that. It still annoys me.

** They all look 12.

** If you don't have a pair of gladiator-type sandals, you are SO. OUT.

** I do not have a pair of gladiator sandals. I have cute sandals with bows.

** ACU could easily freeze tuition prices for the next 10 years if they didn't strive to refrigerate the interior of buildings in August. I've seen the professors. They will really survive if they sweat off a few pounds. And those that don't have a few pounds to sweat off? Are freezing, too.

** Texting and walking is just as dangerous as texting and driving. Watch. Where. You. Are. Going. People.

So, with those deep thoughts to launch you on this abbreviated week, I leave you with one ponderous thought: which direction do you emoticon? Facebook has opened up a whole new world of emoticons to me. First I have to be tolerant of my right-wing and left-wing political friends, then I have to figure out if people are smiling or frowning when they (:

So, let's take a poll. Make a smiley for me. Do you include a nose? Just your average oh, hey, I'm smiling.

Here is mine: :-) Nose and all. And I am right-handed. Does that make a difference?

Show me a smiley!

Social Media, Sarah's Thoughts

First, let me say that because I implicitly trust my marketing twin, Donny, I reduced the size of my video yesterday. He said that it was too big for the column and driving him crazy. He's a website guy -- I trust him. However, when I pulled it up on Safari, it looked muy bueno over here. But, again, because I trust Donny, I did precisely what he said and now it is a tiny little box on my Safari, but I hope it fits on his computer... :-)

P.S. (Donny, why are you Twin #2? Did you lose an arm wrestling match with Randy? Inquiring minds...)

So, yeah. Social media. It's everywhere. And if you want to: start a ministry, sell a book, launch an idea, or simply take a poll of people, you had better get on board and be on social media, too. And I am 'cause I want to do most of these things -- usually all on the same day, then I get overwhelmed and need a nap, but you get the idea.

Granted, using these things effectively (along with your time) requires discipline, and that's where the hard part comes in. It is SOOOoooooo easy to get on facebook, start chatting or looking at pictures, and before you know it, you are looking at 76 pictures of someone's vacation -- that isn't even your facebook friend and you don't even know anybody in the pictures. Oh, yes, I've done that too many times to count.

It is after some of those time-squandering moments that I want to dismantle all accounts (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and become a monk (can women be monks?) to the technology world. I'm sure the twitching would subside in time... Throwing the baby out with the bath water, if you will.

It was in this 'going to be a technology monk' frame of mind recently that I decided to take a deep breath, step back, and evaluate social media in my life. How has it impacted my life recently and/ or have I impacted anyone else's life using social media? So... besides simply telling you how much I love watching my kids play sports or that I'm going to go workout, here are some ways social media has impacted/ affected my life recently:

** Introduced me to a group of people that I am now starting a ministry with.

** Allows me to peek into my children's lives and hear them interact with their friends.

** Given me the support of fellow writers and speakers I met at She Speaks.

** Got my husband within a hair's breadth of losing his job (long story, not blog fodder).

** Same situation, showed my husband folks who were willing to support him with or without a job.

** Let me reach out to a young lady discussing ending her life. Don't THINK she was serious, but I wasn't going to take the chance. Would you?

** Challenges me to listen to others' point of view instead of shouting my own.

** Was able to see my daughter reach out to a teammate whose facebook status was: "I think I need to be going to church." Guess who came with us to church last Sunday?

** Gave me help on an article.

** Lets me know about good businesses in town -- and bad.

... and on and on. After reading Crazy Love, I have really tried to think 'eternally minded' and wondered if facebook and Twitter fit in there. If you read through that list, you can see that they do. However, the temptation is to be the pharisee (and I certainly can see how my happy little list makes me look like one) and spend way more time updating your status about gooey Jesus love than actually getting out and living messy Jesus love.

So, in short, (don't people always say 'in short' when it's waaaaay too late to make it short?? :-) social media is like the rest of the world: there are pros and cons, good and bad, and God can use it all. I'm trying to look for the eternity opportunities on social media.

One person that has inspired me is John Dobbs. I know he seeks out ways to find local people on Twitter and Facebook so that he can connect with them and find out their needs -- prayer needs, physical needs, whatever. However they may need that messy Jesus love.

So, what about you? Do you Tweet? Are you on facebook? Do you think it's useless and time-wasting? Or a new way to minister? Or a new way to get in trouble? What do you think?

Social Media Revolution

I know many of you have already seen this video, but it is really true about the way our culture is shifting in the way we communicate. We are no longer forced to buy what Hollywood and advertisers say we MUST buy, we are able to listen to what our friends are buying based on social media. For instance, anyone in Abilene seen Junk-It mentioned on Facebook recently? I saw 4 different people RAVE about it in a week -- and each time, someone made a comment and ask for directions.

Tomorrow I have more thoughts (I KNOW! Two thoughts in the same week! Get OUT!) about social media and what it means to me, personally and my ministry and witness.

Book Talk

Notice this is not a book review. Because I am not finished with any books, though I am slap in the middle of about 4 or 5 of them. For the record? That's about 2 or 3 too many, especially considering the week I've had. Bless. I am staying awake about 4 paragraphs at a time, so reading isn't going very well. But all of the books I am reading are so amazing, I want to share with you what's going on, even though I'm not finished.

The first book, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, was a gift from the youth group for being a sponsor on the trip this summer. They gave one to all adult sponsors for trips and all sponsors who helped at camp. And, since everyone knows that any book given as a gift -- especially a gift in bulk -- was bought from Lifeway's bargain bin (not that I can't spend a dime or two at Lifeway's bargain bin) I didn't have grand expectations for the book. I threw it in my bag just because we were leaving for Colorado the next day and I didn't have a book going.

Man, oh man. It will change your life. I'm a little better than half-way through, trying to soak it all up. Very highly recommend it.

Next is a book that we will be reading together at church -- about equipping parents of 5th-12th graders, Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna. I don't know if you're familiar with any of Barna's work/ research, but he does extensive research on church, faith, religion, etc. I'm always very fascinated by his studies, and he presents his findings in very easy-to-understand ways.

I confess that this is the book that I pick up, read two paragraphs, and fall asleep. Part of it is that I'm still in the introduction, and part of it is that I either pick it up early morning or late at night and nothing would keep me awake. I think this book will have valuable lessons for all of us. I will keep you posted.

Yes, the first two books were either recommended or given by our rockin' youth dude, Ricky Pruitt. Don't go getting the big head, Ricky, but I may like your book recommendations...

Last book. Very tough to read. I never in a million years would have picked this up on my own, but I am doing a writing project that requires me to understand a little bit more about the genocide in Rwanda. Susan recommended that I read Left to Tell by Immaculee' Ilibagiza. Again, I'm about half-way through. It's awful. How can we (humans) have the capacity for so much hate? So much violence? And so much resiliency to overcome it? It is just baffling.

So... what about you? Anybody reading anything great? Got a book I need to put on my Shelfari? I'm back in (reading) action!

Got a Funny?

I could use a laugh, how 'bout you?

Besides the usual get everyone where they are supposed to be and school-supplied, and papers signed and are you aware that there are no more blue, two pocket folders WITH brads to be found in this county, we have had extra drama as background music at our house this week. The worst of it seems to have subsided and we will all move on, but God can be really funny in His timing sometimes. Faithful to carry us through, but definitely funny.

Tonight is Ashley's first volleyball game! I am SO ready to sit on some bleachers and cheer for a kid! That will really help wash some drama away, though it will include the drama of trying to figure out how to get Riley to soccer in the slap middle of the game... That's how we roll around here, right?

I would love to hear from you. What is something that has made you LAUGH OUT LOUD lately??? Not LOL -- you SAY LOL!!! But, I mean, are you REALLY??? I'm always skeptical of LOL. I confess this was funny, but no LOL or Laugh out loud for me. Give it your best shot. Youtube, joke, whatever. Got a funny?

I Would Blog....

But I'm too stinkin' HAWT. I'm annoyed. And grouchy. And HAWT. And don't hear me sayin' HOTT. Cause I'm too HAWT for that.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go cook dinner and turn on my oven to 400*. Can. Not. Wait.

A Better View

Let's just pretend that no explanation is necessary regarding why I haven't blogged for the last 12 days, 'kay? But today is the first day of school here in Texas -- I know, your kids have been in school for 3 weeks, have gotten mid-term grades, the flu, and had a teacher-parent conference, but we are just beginning. So blogging will be a little more regular now that routine is a little more routine. Hair-raising and sleep-deprived, but routine.

For those of you that are on Facebook and Twitter, this is old news, but not all of you know that I have launched into the podcasting world, of all crazy things. Because that is exactly what the world was needing -- just a little more of MY voice! HA!

Several weeks ago, Steve tossed out on Facebook: What if Amanda (who I knew via blogs) and Paula (I had no idea who Paula was) and Sarah had a talk show like "The View". What would they call it. I immediately tossed back: A better view! Oh, ha, ha...

Well, later when we really considered a podcast, and tried to find a name that wouldn't be misconstrued as p*rnographic or so over-the-top, cheesy, churchy it would never reach anyone other than the 'inner echelon', A Better View it was! We decided that those of us that see things in light of the cross of Jesus truly do have a better view of this world, glimpsing the temporal in view of the eternal.

Our website for the podcast is here. Right now only our first podcast is up, but we recorded our second one last night. It will be edited and posted soon. You can listen to it at your computer, or subscribe to it at iTunes, and download it (free) and take it with you for a road trip or for your exercise, yardwork, or to harvest the corn, like Steve does.

We are just three moms and wives keeping it real, trying to live for Jesus in a fallen world. All of our conversation doesn't center around being a wife, all of our conversation doesn't center around being a mom, but I do have to say it's fairly estrogen heavy. Jeff Foxworthy says he feels like he is drowning in the estrogen ocean. Pretty sure Steve feels that way as our producer.

Hope you will give us a listen, and may you be blessed!

Heading Home

Today's the day. We are packing up and beginning our journey home today, after one last hike here.

Good thing it's a long drive back, as I will have time to grieve the end of the vacation and gear my mind to the madness of back to school.

Since I have a long trip, I wanted to leave you with some southern hilarity. I have never heard of this lady, but her accent thrills my soul. It is home. Her humor is home. You will thoroughly enjoy this, but it is a little long. Enjoy.

I Was There, Now I'm Here, Still Don't Want to Go Home...

Remember a little over a week ago, how fab She Speaks was?? Well it was. And I'm still digesting. Kind of. Because I had to stop digesting She Speaks and move on to soaking up the mountains.

And evidently I can't digest and soak at the same time, but I am enjoying it to the fullest.

We are on a bit of a budget but, guess what? The mountains are still here and look the same -- indescribably breathtaking. The air is cool and wonderful -- it was 40* when I woke up Sunday morning. I walked to some nearby waterfalls to have 'church' all by myself, blasting my ipod to praise while thanking God for His handiwork here. We are routinely dive-bombed by hummingbirds, and I just witnessed the nightly stroll of the enormous mule deer through town.

So, I have been away from the blog for a bit. I have missed all of you and hope to be back in the saddle soon-- figuratively speaking, of course. I think I'm actually getting IN a saddle tomorrow for a trail ride, and feel certain I will be eager to get out all too soon.

If I had brought my camera cord I would share with you some of the gorgeous sights we have seen the last few days. For now, you will just have to trust me. It is breathtaking. It is lovely. It is what my soul needed.

What about you? How's your soul these days? In need of refreshing, or recently refreshed? Let me know!

Drive-by Blogging

Ugh.

What a crummy day yesterday, and went to bed with a migraine as a souvenir. So, I woke up with the room spinning in circles and still feel a little dizzy -- yes, I always ACT a little dizzy, but I'm not usually actually dizzy.

I don't really have time for dizziness, of course. I finished an article this morning, after chopping one almost to the death yesterday after an editor requested that it be 25% shorter (y'all, that is like asking if I can be 25% shorter -- it is painful!). I've got laundry strewn hither and yon, both of the clean and dirty variety, about to leave for Meals on Wheels, need to recycle first, then... you get the idea.

Much happening.

But today my daddy is 360 miles away, having a spot on his lungs biopsied. We are praying for the best and would be honored if you would, as well. All other indicators (blood work, etc.) indicate that these (there are several) are non-cancerous, but it is, of course, unsettling to face. And it certainly puts laundry and article editing in perspective.

Before I hustle off to the next thing, I want to leave you with one thing I read this morning from John 15. If you remember, that is the chapter where Jesus is talking to his disciples right before he is to be crucified. He is basically reminding them to be faithful, saying over and over, "Remain in me." verse 16 says:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

It blessed me SO much to be reminded that I was CHOSEN. Chosen and APPOINTED. And so are you. May you go and bear fruit today.

She Speaks, But She Can't...

There's too much to say. What an amazing weekend.

My first experience at She Speaks Conference, and it was quite amazing. I would love to tell you all about it, but a) it would take a full 72 hours and neither of us wants that b) I'm not sure I have it in me to put into words all that it meant to me.

Some highlights, or my own personal "Top Ten Things I Learned at She Speaks"

10. I am further along in a writing business than I realized (I've even done a few things right, too!)

9. I still have a LONG way to go...

8. Writers and speakers? Just about the most encouraging group of people I have ever encountered. Maybe that's too broad of a brush -- we were all women, and believers in Jesus Christ, so writers and speakers that are women who believe in Jesus Christ -- awesome.

7. Antique Mommy? Even more kind and wise and gracious in person than I imagined her to be. And just as cute (she couldn't have possibly been any cuter than I imagined her to be. She was just equally cute).

6. North Carolina? Or perhaps just this particular hotel... did things to a steak that my Texas-born-and-bred husband would have considered blasphemous. I considered it odd, but tasty (pineapple rings on steak, really?)

5. Cheri Keaggy? Totally rockin' worship leader. Man, oh man. And besides her sweet voice is her authenticity/ transparency. Yeah, you KNOW that's a big deal to me!

4. God didn't give me this dream to be cruel; God gave me this dream to pursue!

3. Jennifer Rothschild? Amazing keynote speaker with a heart for God and encouraging fledgling writers and speakers. One of many women I heard from this weekend that allowed me to see how a heart crazy for God cannot be camouflaged (or faked) in a speaker.

2. My writing and speaking ministry won't work unless I work it.

The number one thing I learned at She Speaks this weekend is:

1. What an amazing blessing it is to be in community with women who "get it" -- and the speakers SAID that would be one of the benefits! I am occasionally around writers, I am frequently around Christians, but to be around 600 women who understand a NEED to write and speak out of the outpouring of what God has laid on your heart. I am blown smack away at the thought of it.

And I'm now home and off and running -- our family leaves for a vacation in the mountains this week. Can. Not. WAIT!

Would you like to know what one of my fantasy/ dream prayers to God is? That He would provide a little mountain cabin for me to sneak away to do my writing, thinking, and praying. Maybe the Proverbs 31 ladies have the right idea -- they live about an hour away from the mountains. Doubt I could convince Texas-born-and-bred to pack up and move there, though.

If you're stopping by from She Speaks, leave me a comment and let me know how to find your blog. If you're just stopping by, tell me where you saw God this weekend! Would love to hear it!

Good Things Out There

Seriously, how cute is this pillow???

Darn cute, I know. I saw it over here, in the Little Bit Funky Etsy Shop that is just darlin'! Y'all, check her out! Not even kidding! So cute.

How cool is this? Coffee Group's Blog, Espresso His Love, has been named as 1 of the 100 best blogs for Christian Moms. Very cool. (Check out #68).

If you would like to add your 'Good Thing' button to your blog, copy the code into an 'HTML' box on your sidebar:

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Observation

When my friend Laura and I talk all through our yoga/ FLOW class -- especially while in downward dog, with upside down heads and talking underneath our armpits -- I feel as if we should be discussing how great our digestive health has been since starting on Live Active yogurt or what great Lean Cuisine we had last night.

We aren't.

God At Work

Today's the day!

Leaving today for She Speaks Conference.

In just a few hours, Troy will drive me to the airport, then take the kids on down the road to camp, then come home and be SOOOOOOOOO lonely! :-) Robert O. from church offered to come over for some prayer time if it just got unbearable! I think Troy will make it.

I wrote at the beginning of this month about how I didn't want to go, not ready, too far off track with my writing, blah-dee-blah... And I prayed. And, obviously, so did some of you. I am so very grateful.

God has brought me not only to a precious place of peace, but He is opening doors and moving in big, wondrous, and some of the strangest ways imaginable! Writing and speaking opportunities are opening -- many that may be MONTHS, possibly years away from completion or fruition, but I know God is at work. So, thank you to my prayer warriors, and please don't stop!

I am ready! (Well, right this moment I am either frantically running like the proverbial headless chicken or waiting in an airport, but...) I am ready to go soak up any word the Lord may have for me. I am ready to learn what He has for me. I am ready to tackle this next work in my life.

CHARGE!

Quick Hello!

Ola, blog friends!

Blogging VERY late today. So much going on, but I have my list. I love a good list, don't you?

I am getting ready. Tomorrow is the day! I fly out of here to go to She Speaks. The family will drop me at the airport, then Troy will take the kids to "camp" (in quotes because it's about 50 hours -- grown-ups would call it a retreat). I think Troy is very excited for a weekend to himself. I hope he is, anyway -- sounds GLORIOUS to me!

So today is a day of packing, laundry, itineraries, interviews (still have a few articles out!), and running to and fro! AND -- I still think I'm going to try to get to the pool for a bit. I've just started doing the math... Let's see... we paid how much for that yearly membership? I've been there how many times this year? So I'm paying about $25 every time I go there so far? Yeah, about that! Trying to beat the averages!

THEN next week is more exciting laundry, packing, whathaveyou, and finally a family vacation. Ready and SOOOOO not ready!

Anyone else still traveling this summer? What's up with you folks?

Blog Friends Rock!

Y'all are the best Internets in the whole world! I knew you would pull through. Can't wait to compile all of this music.

a) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe quote was found by Leslie Ruth and Mike (mlefan). Tammy mentioned the instance I referred to in the movie with Lucy talking to Tumnus, but, as Leslie Ruth pointed out, the movie botched it up pretty good. It's pretty lame compared to the power of the written dialog. For those wondering, it's near the beginning of Chapter 8 in the book when three of the kids are at Beaver's house.

b) According to all of the fab-o input, here is my current playlist thoughts. I will probably have to cull this down to make it fit on a CD.

Shackles by Mary Mary

Signs of Life by Steven Curtis Chapman

Made to Worship by Chris Tomlin

Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin

Forgive Me by Rebecca St. James

I Am Free by Newsboys or Desperation Band

Free to be Me by Francesca Battistelli

Set Me Free by Casting Crowns

New Law by Derek Webb

Breakdown by Jack Johnson

American Dream by Casting Crowns

I Repent by Derek Webb

Free by Steven Curtis Chapman

Glorious Day by Jeff Johnson

Mirror by Barlow Girl

Free by Ginny Owens

I Will Sing of My Redeemer by Travis Cottrell

I Am Persuaded by Travis Cottrell

Jesus Saves by Travis Cottrell

Cross the Line by SuperChick (or One Girl Revolution, my personal SuperChick fave)

And, if you didn't get Ricky's comments on that post, you missed a pretty good sermon about what freedom DOESN'T mean.

And? since he put this song, completely unrelated to the topic in my mind, here's a freebie:

Need Your Help, Blog World

You guys are always full of good information for me! I need some help with some things and would love your input!

a) Because of a writing project I'm working on, I am looking for a quote in "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" about Aslan. Someone says "He's a lion??? Is he safe?" The answer is a laughing, "Oh, no, he isn't safe, but he is very, very good." I thought it came at the end of the movie, but it isn't (Lucy has a similar response to Tumnus, but I think it is referencing an earlier conversation). Is it in the movie at all, or only the book? Is anyone a LWW scholar? Would love some help!

b) Music people! Help me out! Coffee Group has a speaking engagement coming up in a few months. Our topic that we've been given is "Amazing Freedom" -- the freedom we have in Christ. That puts FFH's song "Good to be Free" in my head. I know there are TONS of other songs out there about the freedom we have in Christ -- free FROM sin and pain, as well as free to love and trust fully. Suggestions? I would love to make us a CD to be running through our heads these next few months. Do you have a song that pops into your head that talks about 'Freedom in Christ'? Spill it!

Here's one that doesn't even use the word 'freedom'!

Starting Over -- One More Time -- and More Perspective

It is looming.

I'm still in my 30's, you know? :-) I am saying that as often as possible because in about 6 weeks I won't be able to say that.

A big birthday is looming. Last year, I wrote about some things I've learned in my 39 years on that birthday (don't expect another list this year -- I may have learned a few things this year, but not 40 more!)

A year ago when I turned 39, I was staring down 40 with my 'fight face'!! It was ON and I was going to win. I made goals for my running and set off to meet them. All went well until.... (cue dreadful music) an injury! Bummer. Recovered from the injury right around New Year's, so I was in the calendar year of the birthday, still staring it down (and from 9 months away). Big plans and goals. I was going to stomp this birthday into the ground, so fit would I be!

Well, again, if you're following along, you know that I have been laid low for weeks at a time battling migraines, then the headaches caused by treating the migraines (go figure). Started surfacing from that conundrum about the time I went on the mission trip with Ashley a few weeks ago, which I returned from with a horrific case of the creeping crud.

Here is where the perspective comes in: for my birthday, I would be so happy to go the whole day without a migraine, and to sleep through the night without a coughing fit. Forget how I look -- though one of those days would probably GREATLY improve the bags under my eyes -- and forget how much or how fast I can run -- that may upset the migraine balance. The battle with minor health problems has made me increasingly grateful for a day that I can go and do what I can when I can. For my 40th birthday, if I can still walk across the street unassisted, I'm good!

Starting over?

It's another Monday, another day that, for this precise moment in time, I feel relatively healthy. I am lacing up my running shoes and starting over. Almost from absolute square one. I wish I knew how many 'do-over' Mondays I've started over with my running this year alone, let alone in my lifetime. Here's the deal: I will not stop. God has granted me one more day, and for today, the health to try to tackle it.

Am I frustrated that the November me (before I got hurt) could run circles around this starting over me? Not really, honestly. I guess there was a moment in time when I spent more time looking back at where I had been, and why can't I still be there, blah, blah. But now that just wastes too much time/ energy. This is where I am. This is today. I do the best I can. I train and run and make the most of today's workout while I can -- I don't know when my health will allow me to do it again. But I can't spend time kicking myself for not being where I was or where I want to be or where I should be.

This is me. Starting over, and grateful for the grace that allows me the day and the health to do it.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Romans 12:1

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22,23

If you are familiar in the least with VBS, you seriously need to read this. Hilarious. Joshilyn should forever be in charge of VBS games.

I know it isn't 'xactly 'Ave Maria' season, but this is a current favorite song. It is being used for some of my exercise classes, and I am really enjoying it. This live version is more fun to watch, but leaves out some of the snappy-doo that the recorded version has. Seriously, you'll have to listen. Beyonce'. Who knew?

If you would like to add your 'Good Thing' button to your blog, copy the code into an 'HTML' box on your sidebar:

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Another Fun Video

This was all over Facebook yesterday, so you may have already seen this, but how fun is this? This is one wedding my kids wouldn't have minded sitting through...