The One Where I Try to Make Up for Lost Time

So, it's been over a month since I've visited my own blog.  Since Phil's out of town and the kids are in bed, and since I've had so much coffee I can't sleep, I think I'll take some time for a cell phone dump.  (That sounds atrocious, doesn't it?)  A writer whose blog I follow will periodically feature her own cell phone dumps--a post made up of the pictures that happen to be on her cell phone at the moment.  So, I thought I'd give it a try.  Some of you may choose to sign off at this point, but I know at least ONE of you will enjoy these pics (Hi, Aunt Becky!).  Drum roll please........ and here we go:

She loves accessories.

February 2012

My sweet class threw a surprise birthday party for me, and as another surprise, these two OLD  :) guys showed up for the fun.  They both graduated YEARS ago.  (in 2010, I think? The years in the classroom are beginning to blur...)

My phone was taken hostage by these crazy girls

My friend Hannah told us about a ministry that she and her family are involved in. They provide a Sunday lunch for the homeless in downtown Memphis.  My husband loves to serve.  Joining with the GO Memphis crew has been such a blessing and a great teaching opportunity for our kids.

Lunch

Distributing coats and blankets.  Chaos.

This is a (terrible) shot of Aubrey with weatherman Ron Childers.  He visited our school on career day and chose Aubrey as one of his helpers.

Isn't he cute?

A picture of a picture of Daddy, me, and Momma in the Grove at Ole Miss--May of 1999.  I started playing with my Facebook timeline and added a few old pics.  I was too lazy to hook up the scanner, hence the picture of a picture.

Phil had the privilege of traveling to Juarez, Mexico, with a group from New Prospect in Olive Branch. 

They built two homes for two families in two-and-a-half days.  In many instances, families of up to 10 or 11 people will live in these houses that are slightly smaller than our living room.  What blessings we take for granted...

What can I say?  He's a baby magnet.

While Phil was in Juarez, I got to visit with this sweet thing for a few minutes.  In the picture, he's doing that backwards goodbye wave that babies do.  He's one of my "grand-students;" I taught his precious mother for two years.

This sweet thing is that little guy's mommy.  She introduced me to her little man when he was only a few weeks old.  A few weeks after that, she went to be with Jesus.  We miss her so much.

Just another reminder that God's ways are higher than our ways.  Even when I don't understand His ways, I choose to trust.

My crazy children at the post office--applying for passports

He caught that nasty thing in the pond in front of our house.  Wanna come over and catch one, too?

Another picture of a picture--Drew and our nephew Joey.  (I may take a moment and cry.... it seems like they were babies only yesterday....)

My little sister (-in-law) Sarah got us free tickets (box seats, actually) to see Cinderella at the Orpheum.  It was Aubrey's first ballet and first trip to the Orpheum.

Aubrey enjoying her new (old) bedroom furniture:)  My aunt Julie recently moved and decided to give Aubrey this dresser and some other pieces that belonged to my great-grandmother.  She also gave her a comfy bed that belonged to my grandparents (can you see it in the mirror?).   

Ok, I know this is a silly picture, but it makes me laugh so hard.  I took this while Drew and I were at the pediatrician's office waiting to see a doctor (Drew had an awful sinus infection).  He was so sick, but he couldn't stop laughing at this sign that was posted on the door.  He said, "Momma, if you can read that sign, then you REALLY shouldn't have a dirty diaper."  (Yes, I know what

the sign means, but he had me laughing so hard I cried... the doctor thought we were crazy...)

I'm almost finished with this post......pretty much....

Actually, I still can't sleep (although YOU probably can after being bombarded with all of this nonsense), so I'll continue....

Yet another picture of a picture. I miss the old Far Side comics SO much.  My college roommates and I would get a 365-day Far Side calendar and read all of the comics before the end of January. 

Vintage Far Side. Put a girl in the picture instead of the guy and you have a portrait of my life.  Really.  Ask my mother.

I deal with teenagers all day, so yes, my sense of humor can often be immature and unsophisticated.  Still.  That's funny.

So this is a picture from tonight.  Our old grill is no longer with us, so the kids and I purchased an inexpensive table-top grill.  I (stupidly) thought the grill was already assembled but soon discovered otherwise...

Drew and I were hungry for steak, so we decided to put the thing together ourselves.  The task seemed a bit daunting, so Drew suggested we pray and ask God to help us figure it out without getting frustrated and yelling (he meant me not getting frustrated and yelling).  So, we prayed (he led), and we did it.  With God, nothing is impossible.

They weren't as good as Phil's steaks, but they were edible.

This is the last one--I promise.  Above are (say it with me) more pictures of pictures -- these are of Phil and me at ages 19 and 20.  The bottom picture was taken two weeks ago while we were on a carriage ride in downtown Memphis.  Of course we love each other, but what a gift it is to still like each other after all this time.

Bless your heart for persevering to the end.  'Nite, y'all.

The One about Wildflowers and Ointment

Gifts stress me out.  Actually, GIVING gifts stresses me out.

I hope I’m not the only person on the planet who agonizes (translation:  gripes and whines) about thinking of the perfect (and affordable) gift to give to someone who already has everything. 

I’m sure most of you have the strength of character to say (and mean it), “It’s the thought that counts.”

You’re right, of course.  It IS the thought behind the gift that counts.  It’s the love, good intentions, and sometimes even sacrifice involved in the giving of a gift that make the gift itself a treasure to its recipient.

Probably, it’s my pride that causes me such agony (and leads to griping and whining).

Yes, that’s it.  It’s my pride.

When my daughter brings me a handful of wildflowers (or weeds), I don’t look at her and say, “That’s so stupid.  I can get those anytime I want.  Can’t you bring me something better?” 

That would be a horrible thing to say to an eight-year-old! Instead, I thank her for thinking of me.  She could’ve been doing countless other things and could’ve been more focused on having great adventures in the great outdoors, but she noticed some pretty purple flowers and thought of me.  She wanted to share a thing of beauty and a thing of value with me.  So, I take the flowers, kiss her, and cherish the fact that she hasn’t grown too old to think about picking flowers for her momma.

I should learn a lesson from my daughter:  when I give a gift to someone who already has everything, I’m going to tell myself (and believe), “It really IS the thought that counts,” and I’m not going to let my pride rob me of the joy sharing a thing of beauty or value with someone I care about.  Hopefully, they’ll value my love and regard for them more than they value the gift itself.

Mark 14:3-9 tells about a woman who didn’t let her pride prevent her from giving a gift to Jesus.  When I read this today, I was blown away by His response to her.

While Jesus was reclining at the dinner table in Simon’s home, a woman (Mary the sister of Lazarus) entered—uninvited, I’m assuming—broke open a valuable flask of ointment and poured it on Jesus’ head.  According to the passage, this costly ointment was worth 300 denarii (300 days’ wages).  Some of the disciples were indignant and scolded her for wasting the ointment; they argued that she could have and SHOULD have sold it and given the money to the poor.

Jesus’ response is so precious.  He scolded them and said, “Leave her alone.  Why do you trouble her?  She has done a beautiful thing to me….She has done what she could.”

Isn’t He wonderful?

According to human standards, Mary gave an expensive gift; it was worth nearly a year’s salary. 

But what is that to the One through Whom all things were made? 

Mary didn’t let her pride keep her from bringing a gift to Jesus.  If she had thought about it for too long, she may have talked herself out of it.  After all, what could she give Him that He couldn’t get for Himself anyway?  One Word from Him can create an entire universe, give sight to blind eyes, and raise the dead to life.  Her costly gift couldn’t compare to that.

Her gratitude and love for Christ compelled her to present Him with her best.  Never mind that her best could in no way match all that He was capable of giving to her; it was Mary’s thoughts toward Him that mattered to Jesus.

Isn’t that amazing?  We can’t form a solar system for Him.  We can’t “lasso the moon” and lay it at His feet.  On our own, we can’t even measure up to His standards of holiness.  But when we offer Him what we have—our love, our attention, our devotion, our best—He thinks it’s beautiful.  He treasures it.  Our thoughts toward Him—HIM—the perfect, matchless SON of GOD— our thoughts toward HIM count…. 

Is that not AMAZING?

“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:4)

Of everything He created, He values US.  He thinks we’re wonderful—worth dying for.  Our small offerings are, to Him, BEAUTIFUL.

That is amazing.

The One about What I Found in the Mail Box

I found all of that in my mail box last week.

The letter in the package says this:

 "Congratulations, you have been CHOSEN for the team going to Keszthely, Hungary [Speak Out] (June 28- August 1).  It is so exciting that God has called you to this project!  You have made yourself available for God to send you to Hungary.  Will you be faithful to Him and trust Him to prepare your heart, mind, and the details of this project?"

I don't have much to say about this right now.  Some of you have been asking if we'd heard if our applications were approved, so, yes, they have.  Will you be praying for us?  This is a little  LOT overwhelming.  Thanks.