Whew!!

We are having a busy week at our house already, and it's only Monday; how about you? In addition, our church is in Spring Revival mode right now, so I'm not sure how much time I'll have to post anything much.

And to be quite honest with you, I kind of feel like I'm living in survival mode right now anyway...

You know what I mean...trying to finish up the last of the school work...well, at least get those 180 days checked off and turned in to the superintendent anyway! And schedule in all those ball games and practice days! And... well, the list goes on.

As far as the school work goes, is there anybody else out there who, like me, can't even finish this year's course load before beginning to pore over the homeschool catalogs, eagerly anticipating what we'll pursue for next year's curriculum?? I do love planning what we'll cover next year; it's just this last month of school that somehow gets me down. It happens every year. I don't know; maybe it's just me...

I'm looking forward to tonight's message at revival; can't wait to see what God has in store for me! (I know this post is very sporadic and changing topics too frequently, but I'm just trying to get my thoughts down before heading out the door in a few minutes.) We've had this preacher at our revival services before, and I really like his style of preaching. I think God really uses this man to speak to my heart! Maybe I'll organize my sermon notes and post about what God has taught me after we finish revival!

Sorry for the choppy post! I'll try to do better next time!

ACA Baseball

Today we watched the Appling Christian Academy (where my dh helps coach) boys suffer a heartbreaking loss for region title in Georgia Christian Athletic Association Class AA baseball...

It was a hard fought game for the boys. They rallied to come from behind 7-0, only to lose 18-15. Had they won, this would have been the first time they could claim region champs in Class AA.

Bless their hearts, it seems as if the odds were really stacked against them. They had to travel great distances for three games this week. Today's game not only determined who would claim region title, but also the seating for the state championship tournament. Since both teams had the same record, there was a draw to determine home field advantage. ACA won the draw and was declared the home team, yet had to travel to the other team's field to play... which made absolutely no sense at all! Home team means you play on your own turf.

Despite the loss (and a few bad calls from the officials), the boys displayed a humbling Christ-like attitude, which is more than I can say for one of the umpires. We may be down, but we're not out. This just means we are seated at number 2, rather than 1, going into the state tournament. We still have a good chance of obtaining the state championship. Either way, the boys have an opportunity to give God the glory on, or off, the field.

Words

"How can a mother be frustrated her child is not as she longs him to be, when she herself is not as she longs to be?" - taken from Ann Voskamp's post, "What Every Family Really Needs to Be Strong"


"When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger." Ephesians 4:29 (NCV)

Lately, my words to my children have been anything but edifying. Actually they've been downright harmful...to their souls.

Our Oldest

Another year has been added to the life of my firstborn. I can scarcely believe that he is 19 years old.

Here we are out celebrating his birthday at his favorite restaurant in our small town, Village Pizza

You can tell that he is thrilled about me taking his picture!

I know I say this EVERY time we celebrate another birthday in our family...but really, WHERE does the time go? I guess while they're little it seems as if we'll be in a certain stage of life forever, but it truly does go by faster than we think!

I'm reminded of the words in the song, Don't Blink, by Kenney Chesney. I'm not a big country music fan, but I do like a few songs, like this one, with poignant messages. The chorus goes like this:

     Don't blink

     Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you

     Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

     Don't blink

     You just might miss your babies growing like mine did

     Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your better half

     Of fifty years is there in bed

     And you're praying God takes you instead

     Trust me friend a hundred years goes by faster than you think

     So don't blink

Lately we've been having some struggles, my oldest and I. I had such a hard time when he moved out for college, and then when he moved back home at Christmas, you'd think I would have been thrilled! I guess the young man that moved back home wasn't exactly the same one who moved out a few months before.

I think it has been a series of power struggles for us...him becoming the independent young man God created him to be, yet me, trying to hold onto his youth and keep him under my wing, so to speak.

Yes, I know there comes a time when I have to really let go...and let God. I thought I had already reached that place, but apparently God is still teaching me how to let go. It hasn't been easy, but I daresay that we have grown in our relationship with each other, as well as with God.

I have two more following closely behind him...

Hopefully, God will help me have this parenting thing all sorted out by the time we reach this point with them. But, most likely, He will not. After all, if I had it all figured out, then I guess I wouldn't need Him. And that would be a sad day, indeed. May I never get to the point where I feel like I don't need God!

I am proud of the godly young man he is becoming, and I am genuinely thankful for the blessing he has been to me. I can see that God has great things in store for him; I can see that God is growing him in wisdom, and in his relationship with Him. I am thankful....

More Easter

our new rabbit, Marshmallow

the night before Easter

Easter morning

our family

Easter 2010

I love Easter...love all the little things we do to celebrate...love everything that it represents. New life. A resurrected life. I am grateful that He gave His life so that I might live!

Coloring eggs at the church-wide Easter celebration

As part of our celebration, we had a "Walk Through the Resurrection" with the deacons and pastors telling the Easter story.

The donkey reminds us of Christ's entry into Jerusalem

The coins remind us of the 30 pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus into the hands of the Jewish leaders.

The cup reminds us of Jesus' last supper with His disciples before His crucifixion.

The praying hands remind us of Jesus' visit to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.

The leather strips remind us of the whip used to give Jesus 39 lashes after His trial by Pilate.

The crown of thorns reminds us of the crown that the soldiers placed on Jesus' head while mocking Him, saying, "Hail! King of the Jews!"

The spikes remind us of the nails that were driven into the hands and feet of Jesus when He was crucified on the cross.

The die reminds us of the Roman soldiers gambling for Jesus' robe.

The spear reminds us that the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus' side while He was on the cross.

The stone reminds us of the tomb with the stone rolled away

The tomb is empty because Jesus is resurrected and He lives!

The egg hunt is on!