Favorite Sister's Thoughts

Which One Are You?

2006-08-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

The North Wind and the Sun had an argument one day. They disputed which of them was the stronger. A traveler came along the road at that time, and the Sun suggested a way to resolve the argument. Whoever was able to cause the traveler to remove his coat would be the stronger. The Wind accepted the challenge and the Sun hid himself behind a cloud. The Wind began to blow. Yet the harder he blew, the more the traveler clutched his coat about himself. The Wind sent rain, even hail. The traveler clung even more desperately to his coat. Finally, in despair, the Wind gave up. The Sun came out and began to shine all his glory upon the traveler. Quite soon the man had removed his coat. "How did you do that?", asked the Wind. "It was easy," said the Sun. "I lit the day." Through gentleness I got my way."

as i raise my girls, my desire for them is to be able to keep their gentle and soft spirits, yet keep a firm foundation as they travel though their awesome journey....choosing to do right, just becos it's right, not becos it's popular or easy, listening to God even when things are going perfect, learning that they only have the power to change themselves and to never attempt to dominate or control others.

in my experience it is only thru our choices and actions in our lives, that others may be able to look through us to see God's glory.

unfortunately, there will be many times in our lives that we will never see the full effect of just exactly how much we have been been a wind of change in so many lives. for my daughters, i challange you to walk in what may be one of the most difficult, but very much needed strengths...gentleness.

memos from your child

2006-08-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

1. don't spoil me. i know quite well that i ought not to have all i ask for. i'm testing you.

2. don't be afraid to be firm with me. i prefer it; it makes me feel more secure.

3. don't let me form bad habits. i have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.

4. don't make me feel smaller than i am. it only makes me behave stupidly big.

5. don't correct me in front of people if you can help it. i'll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.

6. don't protect me from consequences. i need to learn the painful way sometimes.

7. don't nag. if you do, i shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.

8. don't make rash promises. remember that i feel badly let down when promises are broken.

9. don't be inconsistent. that completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.

10. don't tell me my fears are silly. they are terribly real and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.

11. don't put me off when i ask questions. if you do you will find that i stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.

12. don't ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. it gives me too great a shock when i discover you are neither.

13. don't ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. an honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm toward you.

14. don't forget how quickly i am growing up. it must be very difficult for you to keep pace with me, but please try.

*lists to live by; gray, stephens, diest

Good Times!

2006-08-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

the girls were invited to do their intepretive sign worship dance (praise in motion) this weekend at the "battle of the bands". the weather was beautiful, just a little on the hot side! the hosting church did a great job at providing a variety of things to do and keeping even the little kids entertained. got to meet some new and great people (hey "bill") and got to spend some much needed time with some very dear friends.

there were lots of bands there through out the day and one of them was "beggers promise" and another was called "33" something. they were very hard rock.

stacy, the girl that sings with the girls entered a contest they were having and she won the local american idol, so that was exciting, too.

then a group of us went to eat at chili's and that was great, as well.

The Baddest Boy in the Bible

2006-08-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

i've begin reading a book, sent to my by a very dear friend..."the sampson syndrome". in the last few months i've read lots of "guy" books, and just today i think it hit me as to to why. well actually, there are probably two reasons...i have been blessed with all girls and (1) thru the years we've read so many "girl" books, and (2) realizing that my girls are somewhat (ok VERY) interested in guys, i figure i better stay a step ahead of them. (grin) seriously, i do see my girls' personalities and hearts coming alive and see them looking to their future.

i'm not feeling stressed, yet i do feel it's my responsibility to have wisdom for them as they ask. not that i have all the perfect answers, but that at least they can have some options from someone they trust. i've covered everything in prayer and now i'm enjoying learning from others who are much wiser than me.

so, anyway the sampson syndrome talks about strong guys. my girls are definitley drawn to the strong type guy...i don't mean the macho, physically strong, but the inside strength that God created in them. the kind of strength that shows that God gave men everything they need to "make it happen", "succeed", "come thru". as john eldredge puts it "do guys really dream of being a nice guy, or do they dream of being dashing? and girls, are you looking for nice, or do you dream of the knight and shining armor....strong enough, brave enough to resque you from the villians." (paraphrased)

to me their are two types of guys...guys who aren't afriad to be leaders (even tho they may fail at times) and the ones that won't even consider leading (becos they already know they will fail).

of course as i study sampson, i see that he has no problem accepting the leadership role, however allows his strength to get in his way. men of strength have many great aspects...full of adventure, fun, excitment. at the same time there are many tendencies that can cause these mighty warriors to fall. some of these things may be, strong men tend to

1. break rules...sometimes they find it difficult to realize that most rules are good. take any rule you can think of and ask yourself what what happens if everybody disobeyed it. your imagination will tell you if it's a good rule.

2. disregard boundries...not that they wake up one day and suddenly decide to trash their bounderies. instead they generally slip gradually into a life of disobedience by making a series of small compromises....and all the time relying on their great strength to be the saftey net. "i can handle it" was probably sampson's motto.

3. ignore good advice...they often are bound and determined to do things their way, even at the risk of disaster. sampson is a perfect example of what can happen when strong, capable men close their ears to good advice. the book suggest that strong men tend to feel that asking for advice appears to make them seem weak. when actually, look at some of the most strong, successful men in history...they have surrounded themselves with great advisors. it's said that woodrow wilson once asked a member of his staff to identify the most intelligent, most informed, and most eloquent member of the opposing political party. "what for?" the staffer asked. "becos i want to hire him," wilson responded. "hire him , what in the world for?" "i want to keep me from going blind." wilson said. point is before you willingly blind yourself to all opposing points of view, stop and consider a simple but powerful truth that pres. wilson must have understood: the world is full of people who have achieved great success without doing things your way.

these are just 3 of the 12 negative tendancies that this study gives. and i must say that "strong" men have sooooo many great postive effects and purposes. and personally i hate focusing on negatives, but there's just wisdom in knowing some things.

The Crown of Creation

2006-07-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

God sets his own image on the earth. He creates a being like himself. He creates a son.

"The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Gen. 2:7

It is nearing the end of the sixth day, the end of the Creator's great labor, as Adam steps forth, the image of God, the triumph of his work. He alone is prounouned the son of God. Nothing in creation even comes close. Picture Michelangelo's David. He is....magnificient. Truly, the masterpiece seems complete. And yet, the Master says that something is not good, not right. Something is missing...and that something is Eve.

"The Lord God cast a deep slumber on the human, and he slept, and He took one of his ribs and closed oved the flesh where it had been, and the Lord God built the rib He had taken from the human into a woman and He brought her to the human. Gen 2:21-23

She is the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God. Woman. In one last flourish creation comes to a finish not with Adam, but with Eve. She is the Master's finishing touch. How we wish this were an illustrated book, and we could show you now some painting or sculpture that captures this, like the stunning Greek sculpture of the goddess Nike of Samothrace, the winged beauty, just alighting on the prow of a great ship, her beautiful form revealed through the thin veils that sweep around her. Eve is...breathtaking.

Given the way creation unfolds, how it builds to ever higher and higher works of art, can there be any doubt that Eve is the crown of creation? Not an afterthought. Not a nice addition like an ornament on a tree. She is God's final touch, his pie'ce de re'sistance. She fills a place in the world nothing and no one else can fill.

j. eldredge-captivating

The Story of Cinderalla Turns Upon An Invitation

2006-07-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

up until the moment that the courier from the palace arrives at her door, cinderella's life seems set in stone. she will always be a washerwoman, a cellar girl. her enemies will forever have the upper hand. she will live a life of enduring disappointments, though she will suffer them nobly. no other life seems ossible. this is her fate. then, word from the prince arrive--an invitation to a ball. it is at this point that everything breaks loose. her longings are awakened. her enemies becaome enreaged. and her life is never the same.

how gracious that it comes by invitation. as a woman, you don't need to strive or arrange; you don't need to make it happen. you only need to respond. granted, cinderalla's response took immense courage, courage that came only out of a deep desire to find the life her heart knew it was meant for. she WANTED to go. but it took courage not to abandon all hope even after she danced with the prince. (she ran back to the cellar, as we all do.) but she became the woman she was born to be, and the kingdom was never the same. it is a beautiful parable.

in much the same way, the invitations of God come to us in all sorts of ways. your heart itself, as a woman, is an invitation. an invitation delivered in the most intimate and personalized way. He has written something on your heart. a call to cultivate the beauty you hold inside, and to unveil your beauty on behalf of others. and it is a call to adventure, to become the ezer the world desperately needs you to be.

j. eldredge

Celebrate Your Differences!

2006-07-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

1. EXTROVERT OR INTROVERT: extroverts love crowds while introverts would rather spend time in solitude or with a close friend. Extroverts are energized by people and intoverts are worn out by people.

2. SPENDER OR SAVER: if spenders have extra money, they want to spen--on themselves, on others, on worthy causes, on anything. if savers have extra money, they want to put it away for a rainy day. they do not like to spend uless it's very important.

3. PLANNER OR FLEXER: planners love structure with everything organized and neatly packaged. they like schedules and deadlines. flexers ben with the flow of life and take things as they come. they tend to be spontaneous and laid back. loose ends dont bother them because they believe everything will work out.

4. THINKER OR FEELER: thinkers focus on facts and principles. they base decisions on objective data and ten to be task oriented. feelers focus on people and emotions. they base decisions on subjective data and tend to be relationship oriented.

5. DREAMER OR WORKER: dreamers are creative people who love to come up with ideas. they are optimistic and oriented toward the future. workers are practical. they like to take other people's ideas and make them happen. they tend to be realistic and focus on the present.

6. COLLECTOR OR TOSSER: collectors gather things. they hate to throw anything away because they know they just might need it sometime. tossers get rid of things. they hate clutter and they insist that if you haven't used something recently, you probably never will.

7. JUGGLER OR HOLDER: jugglers are multichannedled and can deal with many things simultaneously. holders are singlechanneled and can only deal with one, maybe two, things at a time. if they try to do more, they become stressed and overwhelmed.

8. LOOKER OR LEAPER: leapers take risks; when they see an opportunity they want to jump on it before it's too late. lookers are more cautious. they like to carefully check everything out before making a decision.

9. OUTLINER OR DETAILER: outliners have a general focus and look at the big picture. they think in terms of direction and getting things done. detailers loook at the nuts and bolts. their concern is how to get things done.

s. stephens

as i look at this list, even tho' i think my way is always the best way (grin), i'm actually thankful that God allowed us to be different. life would sure be boring if everyone was just like me. but there are definitely challanges to having relationships with people, especially if we aren't able to celebrate the differences! so, look around and find a reason to be thankful when someone you love has a different perspective.

blessed are parents who...

2006-07-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

1. blessed are the parents who listen to their children, for they in turn will be heard.

2. blessed are they who do not expect more of their chidren than is appropriate for their level of maturity, for they shall not be disappointed.

3. blessed are the parents who do not attempt to tackle the new math, for they shall not fail.

4. blessed are parents who can laugh at themselves, for their children will laugh with them and not at them.

5. blessed are the parents who may be called "old fashioned." they can be assured they are on the right track, for so have children persecuted parents for genereations, and their opinions will change by the time they are old enough to pay taxes.

6. blessed are they who teach their children to understand and love each other, for they shall not get caught in the crossfire of a sibling war.

7. blessed are the parents who let their children do for themselves what they are capable of doing, for they shall not be merely unpaid servants.

8. blessed are the parents who take their children with them often for they shall see the world with fresh eyes.

9. blessed are the parents who have found success-outlets for their own energies, for they will not need their children as status symbols or as justifications.

10. blessed are the parents sho do not pretend to be perfect, for their chidren will not be disillusioned.

*lists to live by

Blessings!

2006-07-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

... when i count all my BLESSINGS i get a smile on my face ...

Maegan's TWENTY!!!

2006-07-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance
Time is a real and constant motion always
I hope you dance
Rolling us along
I hope you dance
Tell me who
Wants to look back on their youth and wonder
I hope you dance
Where those years have gone

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

Thank you, precious girl for who you are. I am so thankful that God put you in our family and that He allowed me to have the wonderful opportunity to call you my Daughter. As you know, many times I feel inadequate to be your mom, but God has filled in the blanks. May He continue to bless you with much love, joy, peace, grace and health! Dance, sweet princess!

I love you, girl!

choose your battles!

2006-07-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

everyone has battles to fight. the differences between people and the way we all see and interpret things--as well as some of the inherent facts of life (two people who disagree can't both get their way) make this a virtual certainty, an unavoidable and unpleasant part of life.

the question isn't whether you're going to have to fight battles in your life, you will! the more important question is, "which battles do you choose to fight?"

you've probably known people who rarely let things go, those who seem to battle over practically anything--correcting people, arguing, proving themselves, pointing out flaws, needing to be right all the time, validating their sense of worth, complaining and whining, etc. the tiniest dispute or disagreement becomes an automatic battle.

the problem with living this way is twofold. first, it's exhausting. when everything is seen as a big deal and worth fighting over, your whole life becomes a battleground. and who needs that? second, people will begin to push you away and/or avoid being around you. after all, who wants to be around someone s=who is argumentative and conflict-oriented...someone who can rarely just let things go? further, when you fight battles all the time, no one will take you very seriously, they will assume you're just letting off steam again.

i used to be the kind of person that spent too much of my life fighting battles. but lately, i have started something new. when a conflict comes up...potential arguement, disagreement, or whatever...i asked myself to rate the importance of the potential battle on a scale of 1 to 10 (low to hi). for example, if i feel myself "gearing up" for a battle over who forgot to load their dish, i might rate that a #1. or if i've asked faith to get her chores completed by 10am so the family can leave by 10:15, that might be a #2. the girls talking disrespectful to me (or anyone) would rate about an 8. cheating or lying would rate a #10 for me.

i've decided that anything i rate 5 or under, isn't worth a battle for me. i would rather find a way to simply let it go, or find a way to peacefullly resolve the issue with out needing to be "right". you can imagine the number of conflicts that has been dramatically reduced. but now i have more time to spend on things i enjoy.

is this easy? no way! becos, so often when i'm in the middle of a potential battle, everything can seem to rate a #10. i have to take a deep breath and ask myself, "is this battle truly worth fighting..am i fighting out of pride...if i win what does it change...is there any good going to come from this?"

i challenge you to explore this strategy. you may be surprised to find that also the battles that are worth fighting, are easier to win. i suppose it makes sense that when you battle less often, you are more focused on your positions...and other people take your positions far more seriously.

don't get me wrong. and for those of you that know me already know that i believe in standing up for things that are right and just. i especially dislike passive people who stand by and let any and everything happen. that's a disgrace, in my opinion. i suppose the word would be balance.

*these pictures were taken this weekend at a fast pitch softball tournament. this team, coaches and parents were just awesome! they all did a great job and placed third in the tournament.

this is the first time that the girls have been on a field together since last year. it brings back so many memories of passed summers on the softball field. tarah pitches, and plays outfield. she's a left handed slap hitter. as usual, they can be such opposites (while having so much in common)...maegan catches, plays anywhere infield, but absolutley loves first base. she bats right and is a power hitter.

there were several times that i was really concerned about maegan's cracked ribs, but it's been almost 6 weeks and even tho' she said she was sore, over all she did alright. she didn't even tell coach stan that she had cracked ribs. i finally mentioned it to him about the 3rd game. he looked at me in surprise and i just shrugged and said "she was probably afraid you wouldn't let her play!" we both smiled.

wake-up calls, softball and life

2006-06-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

as i look back on my teen years and on my whole life thus far, it's clear that i received a number of important wake-up calls. as i inquire into the lives of others, most people feel the same way. many will acknowledge that the wake-up calls are there for the taking, as long as we acknowledge and respect them.

wake-up calls can be anything from a fight with your sibling that gets a little out of hand or a little too rough, to being caught cheating on a test and thrown out of school. in both if these instances, and in so many others like them, the experience sends a shock, minor or major, through your mind, a feeling like, "oh, no, what have i done?" you might feel awkward or embarrassed--or you might feel uncomfortable or relieved. in any event, there is a message to be heard.

while you usually don't enjoy or appreciate wake-up calls while they are happening, often you may look back on these experiences as being turning points in your life; extremely important lessons that were learned. i heard a story of a teen who was caught stealing. it was humilitating, embarrassing and painful. yet that teen grew up to be a kind, generous, and loving person, someone who has really made a difference in the lives of others. when asked, he points to the awful experience as being among the most important in his entire life. it turned out not to be a tragedy after all because he learned so much from it.

two things can happen after a mess-up, mistake or mishap. you can pretend it didn't happen, deny your involvement, run away, or avoid the consequences the best you can. or you can say to yourself and others, "i'm going to learn from this experience and become a better person because of it." this decision is one of those really difficult things to make in life, but one that makes an enormous difference over the long run.

recently someone asked me what i believed were some of the keys to surviving the teen years. my answer was that was that it's tough to say, but that listening to the wake-up calls was certainly up near the top of the list. i believe this is true because every one of us makes mistakes. there isn't a person alive todaywho hasn't. so the only remaining question becomes, "what are you going to do with those mistakes?" will you listen to what they are trying to teach you--or not? i hope you'll take this one to heart and tuck it away for future reference.

most of these pictures were taken at the softball tournament last weekend. and there is no better example of "learning from your mistakes" than on that field. errors are just part of the game. i can't count the number of times that i've told my girls, "that play is over. realize what caused the error. mark an X in the dirt. now, erase that X and get ready for the next play." isn't that so much like our lives? we can't take away the error or the consequences, but we can learn from it and be ready for what's next.

so i challange you...live, learn, and be ready!

No Cookie Mold Children

2006-06-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

"Each child can be trained in the way he should go, but not every child can be trained to go in the same way. Each child can be trained to the highest and fullest exercise of his powers, but no child can be trained to the exercise of powers which are not his. Each child can be trained to his utmost possibilities, but not every child can be trained to the utmost possibilities of every other child. Child training has the fullest scope of the capacity of the particular child under treatment, and child training is limited in every case by the limitations of that child's capacity."

--H. Clay Trumbull

my oldest daughter sent me this email, and for me it has been so true. in raising three daughters, i have always found it interesting (and frustrating! at times) to see that there is no "cookie mold" for training children. from potty training, schooling, to guy issues, they are so unique and require a totally different set of ideas and wisdom, in training. yet it's always a blessing to see them grow in their own "one of a kind" and special selves.

i just pray that God will always give me wisdom to allow them to grow to be the most they can be.

Mid-Life Crisis? shhhh. girls only! hehe

2006-06-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not a mid life crisis for me, but here's how things worked out for a friend of mine.

Married 25 years, took a look at his wife one day and said, "Honey, 25 years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10 inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 25 year old blonde. Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 50 year old woman. It seems to me that you are not holding up your side of things."

His wife is a very reasonable woman. She told him to go out and find a hot 25 year old blonde, and she would make sure that he would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed....

hillside baseball and what we need more of....

2006-06-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

these pictures are from our fun time at billy and stephanie's cookout. we had so much fun. the food was great, playing baseball on the side of a hill was fantastic fun, but the best part was the time that we got to spend with family and friends!

THE WORLD NEEDS PEOPLE WHO...

1. who cannot be bought

2. whose word is their bond

3. who put character above wealth

4. who possess opinions and a will

5. who are larger than their vocations

6. who do not hesitate to take chances

7. who will not lose their individuality in a crowd

8. who will be as honest in small things as in great things

9. who will make no compromise with wrong

10. whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires

11. who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it"

12. who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as prosperity

13. who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success

14. who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular

15. who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world is saying "yes"

thanks to all of you who are these kind of friends and examples!

My Daughters

2006-06-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

How can it be that when
I bent to kiss you good night,
My daughter,
A beautiful young woman
Lay where only yesterday
A little girl had been?

When did the barrettes and
Ponytail ribbons,
Of birthday party days, give way to the
Styling comb and make-up mirror
Of Saturday night dates?
Was it not only yesterday,
Crayons of all colors laid upon the table
Where now bottles of nail polish rest?

How can it be the buggy you filled
With so many dolls
Has been pushed aside and new suitcases
Are filled instead
Did you ever know the finger you
Wrapped yourself around was tied right to my heart?

It seems as though the ink has just dried
On the pages of your baby book
And here we are laughing over pages
In your year book.
How did the ballet slippers of a little girl
Become the high heels of a young woman on her way?
Such a little while ago you cried,
"Mommy, I'm scared", and now you whisper,
"Mom, don't worry I'll be fine."
How can it be the smell of baby powder
Turned instead to the scent of perfume,
The giggles of a little girl
Became the tears of a teen,
And the roses tiny fingers picked
Were treasured like the petals of a prom bouquet?

Wasn't it only yesterday ruffles and tea parties
Colored my world pink
How did it happen so quickly and
When I stop to realize all my golden tomorrows
Will bask in the memories of pink yesterdays.
Thank you Lord for pink yesterdays.

alice c.

thanks for sharing your lives!

2006-06-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

g'ness, i can't believe it's been so long since i've posted! i suppose the summer months are just more busy with all the outside activities going on. as a family, we enjoy being together and we also enjoy so much of the same things, so that when one of us says, "oh, i'd love to go watch the rome braves/chattanooga lookouts play today," "let's plan a two-week road trip", or something as simple as "let's go to wal-mart!", we're all ready to load up and go.

when the girls were younger, people would ask, " how do you stand to be at home with your kids all the time?" i never really figured out an answer for that question cos i was always so stunned. i mean it was just such a way of life for me, and we just enjoyed being together. plus we didn't stay "home" all the time. just becos we homeschooled, i guess some thought we were becoming hermits. actually we stayed on the go alot. and still do. all of you that homeschool know that every trip is a "field" trip and a learning experience. i remember just going to the grocery store could be a great adventure when i would tell the girls to imagine that they only had $20.00 to spend, and then ask them what they would buy. then to just watch their little minds go into action, adding up the numbers and thinking "do i really want/need that"?

come to think of it, i think all our trips are still "field" trips. even tho the older girls are 18 and (almost) 20, we're always learning something, it seems. many years ago a wise mom told me, " schooling is a lifelong event. you never stop learning. so use every day to grow." at the time, that took alot of pressure off of me becos when you're schooling your children and trying to pour EVERYTHING into their lives in just 12 years, it seems impossible. but when i realized that even after their 12 yrs of schooling, they would still continue to learn and grow, that was comforting to me. so whether we're at the karate studio, at a baseball game, or just sitting on the front porch, our journey continues. these days, every day is like Christmastime, for me!

to my girls, maegan, tarah and faith...thanks for making every day so special. and i really do just enjoy hanging out with you, it's always an adventure. thanks for sharing your lives with me.

these pictures were taken yesterday at the karate tournament. faith was 1st in fighting (those poor little boys just hate getting beat by a girl), 3rd in forms. Tarah was 1st in forms and 2nd in fighting. Maegan wasn't able to compete due to cracked ribs from a kick at practice, two weeks ago. ~tear~ but she was an awesome cheerleader for her sisters and friends. it was a fun day!

secrets to ageless living...tarah's turning 18

2006-06-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

it seems almost impossible, but tarah's turning 18. she and maegan are 23 months apart. this is significant to me because when maegan was 10 months old i had a miscarriage. and at that time it was so hard for david and i to understand the whys, (and not than i can explain all of that), but i can say that when the doctors told us we were expecting again (when maegan was 16 months old) we were so excited, yet almost scared becos we didn't want to go thru what we had just experience. God was gracious and blessed us with tarah.

she was born in a birth center vs. a hospital. it was the closest thing to a home birth because i wanted no meds, no needles and no doctors. (yea, crazy i know) i had 8 hours of labor with maegan and they always promise that the next one will be shorter time...don't buy into those statistics becos um, babies like tarah take their own time and show up when they're ready. it was 21 hours of active labor. yes, active labor, not just the pittling stuff. and to this day, everyone in our family will tell you that tarah still takes her time and shows up only when she's good and ready. ~smile~

tarah, i just wanna say thanks for who you are. i am thankful to call you my daughter. thanks for being my hair stylist for all these years. i know i'm the most tough and most picky customer you will ever have...you're a real trooper for putting up with me. ~grin~ you are such a blessing to our family. always look to your perfect parent God your Father, for guidance, wisdom, health, peace and love.

i love you, sweet princess!

1. never let age get in the way of life.

2. enjoy and cherish healthy relationships with loved ones, friends, and family.

3. count your blessings.

4. today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do.

5. whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back too long.

6. build this day on a foundation of pleasant thoughts.

7. laugh at yourself and at life.

8. never neglect nor take for granted the little things.

9. cling to what is good.

10. do what is right, just because it's the right thing to do.

11. pray.

12. keep your word.

13. remember all the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.

14. avoid solutions that are worse than the problem.

15. let your actions speak louder than your words.

16. complain of nothing, not even the weather.

17. choose your battles...wisely

18. learn to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

19. remember your past mistakes only long enough to keep you from repeating them.

20. do more than exist...LIVE!

what is maturity?

2006-06-03T03:46:00.000-07:00

1. facing the truth honestly.

2. looking beyond personal comfort and gratification, to the greater good.

3. dealing with change without falling apart.

4. working hard and completing a job, whether supervised or not.

5. keeping the stresses and worries of life from taking control.

6. doing the right thing regardless of what others say and do.

7. finding more joy in giving than receiving.

8. relating to others in a consistently positive and helpful manner.

9. being a person of your word.

10. demonstrating respect.

11. showing love in both word and deed.

12. learning to be content based upon internal attitudes rather than external circumstances.

Hooray for you, Andrew!

2006-06-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

School seeks to get you ready for examination; Life gives the finals!

My nephew has graduated!

It's hard to believe you're really done! Seems like you should still be in middle school, playing baseball and helping with the 14 year old girls' league (remember that?!). But no, you're graduating!!! Thanks for who you are, Andrew. You're always ready to give advice, encourage, and help in any way you can.

Of course, I can't go without giving you some "advice" (it just goes along with being a great, responsible Aunt! lol

so here you go....

Be Yourself...Truthfully.

Accept Yourself...Gratefully.

Value Yourself...Joyfully.

Forgive Yourself...Completely.

Treat Yourself...Generously.

Balance Yourself...Harmoniously.

Bless Yourself...Abundantly.

Trust Yourself...Confidently.

Love Yourself...Wholeheartedly.

Empower Yourself...Prayerfully.

Give Yourself....Enthusiastically.

Express Yourself...Radiantly.

Andrew, thankfully you already implement these so well. Just want to remind you as you continue your journey! Love you!

a special hatred...

2006-05-31T15:58:00.000-07:00

the assault on femininity--its long history, is utter viciousness--cannot be understood apart from the spiritual forces of evil we are warned against in the Scriptures. this is not to say that men (and women, for they, too, assault women) have no accountability in their treatment of women. not at all. it is simply to say that no explanation for the assault upon eve and her daughters is sufficient unless it opens our eyes to the prince of darkness and his special hatred of femininity.

turn your attention again to the events that took place in the garden of eden. notice--who does the evil one go after? who does satean single out for his move against the human race? he could have chosen adam...but he didn't. satan went after eve, he set his sights on her. have you ever wondered why? it might have been that he, like any predator, chose what he believed to be the weaker of the two. there is some truth to that. he is utterly ruthless. but we believe there is more. why does satan make eve the focus of his assault on humanity?

because she is captivating, uniquely glorious, and he cannot be. she is the incarnation of the beauty of God. more than anything else in all creation, she embodies the glory of God. she allures the world to God. he hates it with a jealousy we can only imagine.

and there is more. the evil one also hates eve because she gives life. women give birth, not men. women nourish life. and they also bring life into the world soulfully, relationally, spiritually--in everything they touch. satan is a murderer from the beginning (john 8:44). he brings death. his is a kingdom of death. and thus eve is his greatest human threat, for she brings life. she is a lifesaver and a lifegiver. eve means "life" or "life-producer".

put those tho thing together-that eve incarnates the beauty of God and she gives life to the world. his bitter heart cannot bear it. he assualts her with a special atred. do you begin to see it?

eve is God's realtional specialist given to the world to keep relationship a priority.

men have a way of letting these things slip. they'll go months without checking in on the health of their relatioships. years, even. and the world simply uses people, then spits them out when they are worn out and no longer "on top of their game." our emeny despises relationship, hates love in any form, fears its redemptive power. the is why God sent eve. women are needed to protect relationships, bring them back to center stage where they belong. you might at times feel like the only one who cares. but as women we must hang on to this--that because of the Trinity, relationship is the most important thing in the universe. let us not give way or yield our intuitive sense of the importance of relationship for anything.

it is here, starting with our circles of intimacy, that we are first and foremost women. it is here that we must first turn our gaze to ask, "What does it look like to off my Beauty, my fierce devotion, my love? how do they need me to be their ezer?" you have an irreplaceable role in your relationships. no one can be to the people in your life who you can be to them. no one can offer what you can offer. there are many things God calls us to do, but loving well always comes first. and don't your relationships feel opposed? of course. they must be fought for.

satan knew that to take out adam, all he had to do was take out eve. it worked rather well, and he has not abandoned the basic plan ever since. your place in the world as God's heart for relationship is vital. all the enemy has to do to destroy people's lives is to get them isolated, a lamb separated from the flock. he makes a woman feel like "what do i have to offer, really? they're probably doing fine." don't you believe it for a moment. you have been sent by the Trinity on behalf of love, of relationships. fight for them.

j. eldredge

the greatest things

2006-05-21T23:10:00.000-07:00

1. the best day...today.

2. the greatest puzzle...life.

3. the cheapest, easiest, and most stupid thing to do...find fault.

4. the most expensive indulgence...hate.

5. the most disagreeable person...the complainer.

6. the best teacher...the one who makes you want to learn.

7. the greatest deceiver...the one who deceives himself.

8. the greatest thing in the world...LOVE---for God, family, home, friends and neighbors.

attributes to look for in a marriage partner

2006-05-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

1. positive attitude.

2. spiritual values.

3. sense of humor.

4. faithfullness.

5. honesty.

6. respect.

7. good communication skills.

8. hard working.

9. compassionate.

10. playful.

11. generous.

12. forgiving.

13. flexible.

14. confident

15. sensitive.

16. understanding.

17. common sense.

18. money-wise.

19. can they be my best friend?

i'm always expressing to my girls just how important it is to wait on God's best in a spouse. i'm sure they get tired of hearing me, but in my opinion, choosing a spouse is the second most important decision in life. of course the first being to give our lives to Jesus.

As I Look Back...

2006-05-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

As I look back on my life
I find myself wondering...
Did I remember to thank you
for all that you have done for me?

For all of the times you were by my side
to help me celebrate my successes
and accept my defeats?

Or for teaching me the value of hard work,
good judgement, courage, and honesty?

I wonder if I've ever thanked you
for the simple things...
The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?

If I have forgotten to express my gratitude
For any of these things,
I am thanking you now...
and I am hoping that you've known all along,
how very much you are loved and appreciated.

~Author Unknown~

Love,

Your Three Daughters

special thanks to eph2810 for the beautiful glitter tag

if you're going to fight....

2006-05-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

if you're going to fight...

1. fight for the relationship...not against it!

2. fight for reconciliation...not against it!

3. fight to save your marriage...not to cash it in!

4. fight to solve the problem...not to salve you ego!

5. if you're going to fight, fight to win....not to lose!

note: these pictures were taken last weekend at the karate tournament. maegan and tarah both placed 1st in fighting, 2nd in forms-faith placed 1st in fighting and forms.

but the most joy i receive from watching them is seeing them support each other, being the loudest cheerleader for the sister that's competing, and to see them giving 100% in what they do. i thank God for them and for blessing them with hearts to serve Him and others.

just this week, maegan and tarah tested
for their purple belt. up until now, i have been in the same class and rank with them. but because of some health issues, i've had to play hookie for awhile, so now they are going to jump ahead of me i suppose. but that's okay, i'll just have to work extra hard to catch up.