Clever Characters

When Brad and I got engaged we asked a small group of close friends to pray for several weeks about our engagement and seek God's blessing on it. We both agreed we did not want to enter into marriage without HIS blessing. I realize this sounds a bit strange to some. I think it is best explained by our total trust in God. We had both seen God work powerfully in our lives and honestly trusted His ways over our own thinking. And sure that is code for "we had each MESSED our lives up trying to do things OUR way" before we met. When the day of blessing came there were precious words to confirm our union, scriptures given to anchor our marriage, and prayers to seal these words onto our hearts. I continue to go back to my journal entry where these words and scriptures are recorded for strength on the days I know we, as a couple, are facing challenges. The next few days fall into that category. Tomorrow we will bury Brad's mom in Tennessee. I know it will be difficult but I a...

When I think of joy I think of my daughter Katie Beth. She truly lives life to the fullest and often cracks me up. In the picture she is showing me her latest bike trick. I have included some KB stories from this week. ENJOY! The other night we were in Home Depot and she was riding on my back. The game was for me to try and buck her off. All of a sudden she states loudly "Mom you are one big mother bucker." I laughed so hard I cried. And of course others laughed too. She still has no idea why that was so funny. Same day, moments later, still at Home Depot...Katie Beth climbs up on a wall and starts singing "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" while strutting her stuff. I was shocked! It was hilarious!!! So I ask the origin of the dance and coordinating moves. Alas Alvin and the Chipmunks have poisoned my daughter's mind. And she now understands why that song and dance is not a good choice. Same day on the way home "Mom I know why Madison a...

One of my very favorite things to do up until the age of five was spent the night with my Aunt Opal in Paducah, Texas. Favorite memories include playing croquet with all the neighbors, catching horny toads , talking to truckers on the CB, dashing to the storm shelter to escape a passing tornado, and making the most scrumptious strawberry cake ever. My Aunt Opal deposited in me a love for life, a spirit of adventure, and shall we say a hefty portion of spunk. (Brad you can quit nodding your head.) One weekend my parents drove from Lubbock to pick me up and noticed Opal didn't look right. They convinced her to come home with us. During the two hour trip my aunt had a heart attack in the front seat. My dad drove like a bat out of hell. By the grace of God we got a police escort to Methodist hospital. I remember pressing my face against the window and staring at the Harvest Moon on that terrifying drive. I only saw my Aunt Opal one more time before she died. Ever since then I have been...

I really like when you check the *like* button on my facebook status. And I adore your comments of affirmation on my wall. At times I wonder how I can please you. And there are moments that your opinions matter more to me than God's. Daily I battle between seeking man's affirmations and allowing God to tell me my worth. Who among us does not value affirmation, connection, affection, or position as a way to validate your worth? Maybe you have even thought "When I am married I will be complete." Daily decisions to fill our God spaced hole with affirmations from man result is pews filled with masked Christians hiding messy sinful lives all the while trying to put on a good show. The official name given to these people both by the news media and the church is hypocrite. I might suggest another name. Captive. We all need God to save us from ourselves. The following is a quote from the Pastor John at Gateway Church in Austin. He shares an amazing message that shook me to my...

I picked up the book Lies Women Believe a couple of years ago at Half Price Books. As I recall it seems like someone had recommended it to me. It sat on a shelf until 5 weeks ago when I found a group of ladies studying it and signed up. It has led me on a path I never imagined with an amazing group of ladies. My heart had lies throughout and I had no clue. Seriously HAD NO CLUE! The more I learned the more I began to see God's truth about me. Week after week I have repeatedly gone to God and asked Him to reveal truth to me. He has been faithful to send me glimpses of how He views me and how He intends to use me. It has been both humbling and healing. Yesterday it felt as if He went to great lengths to tell me His truth about me. I had three completely unexpected interactions with friends who shared affirmations of specific gifts in me. As my head hit the pillow I was overwhelmed, in a good way. God has a knack for swiftly sandwiching my spiritual experiences around a great piece of...

"May I have some paper and a pen?" asked John Dawson to the man who would be his executioner. "I want to write my son a letter." In the novel Dawn we do not learn what was written in the letter. We are left with the question; What exactly does a man write to his son for the last time? This part of the book triggered memories of a letter I wrote to Katie Beth the night before my exploratory surgery. The idea of her growing up without me unhurled pain the likes I had never known. I prayed and asked God to help me as I wrote. The words flew onto the page. I shared my hopes and dreams for her future, words of wisdom I hoped she would treasure, and my faith. My surgery went great and the letter was never delivered. I however was changed through the process. I have reread the letter a number of times. Usually I seek it when my world has gone fuzzy and I need the clarity found best in that very scary moment. What was originally intended as a road map for my daughter has tu...

I found myself completely unprepared for a conversation at my front door tonight. Twenty four hours ago a mom on our block asked me to watch her seven year old daughter. Her husband had been out of work and now they needed to move out of their home and while she packed could her daughter stay with me. This turned into spending the night, watching her today, and a very bizarre conversation tonight. In preparation to go trick-or-treating I asked both girls to shower and wash their hair. I could tell when I began to blow dry the little girl's hair she was not sure how to act. I asked if anyone had ever dried her hair before she said "No." For the last 7 years no one had ever taken time to blow her hair. This new knowledge sent a dart of sadness into my heart. We went with trick-or-treating, to a fall festival, she spent the night, went with us to church, and the girls played all day. Periodically she would come to me give me a big hug and thank me for the things I would nor...