One True God

I just got home from teaching my first night at Vacation Bible School. It was such a fun experience. It's amazing to see kids get excited about the Lord, and let me tell you, these kids were pumped up! The Bible verse for the night is:

"The Lord is the one true God." Jeremiah 10:10.

It's amazing how the Lord can teach you things through kids. Tonight I was reminded of exactly who God really is. Why is that we get our priorities so messed up? I am constantly putting my husband and my kids in front of the Lord who actually created them. Why? I am pretty sure that you spell that I-D-O-L. In my sinful nature, I trade the created for the Creator. God has blessed me in so many ways. I would do good to remember exactly who blesses me.

It's sad that God can bless us with all the good things in life and we don't acknowledge Him. As soon as we get really sick or some other equally bad thing happens, we are forced into at least considering Him. I pray that if you are reading this and you don't know Christ, that you would at least consider Him. Don't wait until you are on your death bed or until you are going through some crazy tough time. Claim the Lord. I can't promise that all your life issues will go away, but at least your eternity will be safe. And I don't think there is anything that is more important than that.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

It may be shocking to some of you out there to find out that I am mildly obsessed with the Harry Potter books. I know that many people have issues with these books because they have witchcraft in them, but I view them as harmless fiction that is nothing less than brilliant. I love books. I will read anything that my eyes come in contact with. I just can't stop myself. It's not necessarily just books...it's post it notes, crawlers along the bottom of the T.V. screen, bank tickers, notes lying on people's desks...if you know that I am coming over and there is something lying in the open that you don't want me to read...put it away. I can't help myself. It's like an addiction. I have been this way my entire life. I can remember being either a Kindergartner or 1st grader and reading every single Little House on the Prairie book. I am a reader...no doubt. I can rarely think of anything better to do than sitting somewhere nice and comfy with a book. Notice that I say "a book." It doesn't have to be on the New York Times Best Seller's List. If someone gives me a book, I am going to read it bottom line.

Now that I have confessed my reading problem, I am going to continue on about Harry Potter. The Harry Potter Series is a 7 book series that follows the life of Harry Potter and his 2 best friends as they go through adolescence fighting the evil wizard Lord Voldemort. I have read every book a minimum of 5 or 6 times. Each time I read one of the books, I find something new in it. They are truly phenomenal. So, why do I mention this book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? It is the last book in the series. It all comes down to this one book. If you haven't read any of the Harry Potter books, I recommend that you either borrow or buy them and see for yourself what it is all about (if it doesn't go against your beliefs, etc.).

In 36 hours there is a good chance that I will have read at least half of the book, and it doesn't even get released until 12:01am on Saturday. Anyway, I hope that those of you who are finding this out about me for the first time don't think I am too weird. Mildly obsessed might be slightly understated, but nonetheless I am who I am. I do ask that if you know anything about book 7 that might give away the ending for me, please keep it to yourself. I am one of those crazy people that start at the front of the book and read my way through.

So, until next time....happy reading!

UGH! Only 7 weeks....

Okay, I went to the OB today for my first prenatal visit. We got to have a sonogram and see the baby for the first time. First of all, thank God there is only one. Second, thank God that the baby is doing well. Third, UGH...I am only 7 weeks pregnant! Does 7 weeks even count as being pregnant? This is shocking because my dates had me at 11 weeks, but apparently I skipped a period AND ovulated late on top of skipping! (I guess that explains how I got pregnant in the first place doesn't it! Counting days is not an exact science...I have 2 kids that prove that! :-) )

Anyway, my official due date is March 2, 2008. Please pray that this baby comes before February 28th since I will totally be the person that has their baby on February 29th. Yes, 2008 is a leap year. I know that is a retarded prayer request, but how confusing would that be to explain to your child that they only have a "real birthday" every 7 years? I am just weird about dates anyway.

So, all that to say that everything is going well...unless you count the puking. Hopefully that will be over sooner rather than later. Until next time, have a blessed day.

Leaving a Legacy of Friendship

This past Friday night, a bunch of us girls got together to send off our sweet friend Stephanie. It's crazy to think that they now live in San Marcus, TX. Life isn't going to be the same with the Smith Family gone, that is for sure. It seems that we have so much to celebrate in our friendship with Stephanie. Over the past 4 years that I have known her, she has become on of my most cherished friends. She has taught me so much and walked through so many things with me.

Just a few of the million memories about Stephanie and her family that will be missed:

The no pressure hang out sessions while the kids play.
Being pregnant with all of our kids at the same time....
Luke and Adeline kissing.
Adam loving on Faith (who is just a little resistant :-) )
Talking to Steph about life in general...she is so grounded and wise.

The list could go on forever. When we had dinner Steph talked about not settling for less when it comes to friendships. That goes in both directions. Steph taught me so much about how a real friendship is supposed to be. I could never go back to most of the friendships that I had that were pre-Stephanie. San Marcus is going to be a better place because the Smith's are now living there, and we are all blessed that we have had them in our lives for the past 4 years.

Stephanie is truly leaving a legacy of friendship. So many women that are used to broken female friendships know how to be better friends because we were friends with her. God has truly blessed me by putting Stephanie and her family in my life. I know that Stephanie has a purpose and will be obedient to what God calls her to do. I am so excited to see what God has for them. It's going to be an exciting adventure...I am sure of it!

"The LORD bless you and keep you;the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Number 6:24-26

All Summer in a Day

It seems, as many of you other moms know, that it will NEVER stop raining. My family feels like we have been cooped up in our house or in our friend's houses for months. There is only so much you can do inside. One particularly rainy morning Luke wanted to go outside and swim so badly that I filled my bath tub to the brim and let him "swim" inside. My creativity has officially been put to the test this summer. We have colored, painted, made cookies, made cakes, watched movies, walked the malls, played at every germ infested "playland" at every fast food restaurant in Denton and Collin counties, played at friends houses, had people over to play at our house, gone to Daddy's gym to play hoop, and the list goes on....officially I am tapped out of ideas.

This morning dawned bright and beautiful, and I actually woke up and didn't puke. It seemed that today was the day we have wishing for, so Tyron and I got the kids dressed and sun screened and went to the sprinkler park. We had such a great time. The good weather lasted just long enough for us to go, come back, eat lunch, and take naps. Now we are back to thunderstorms. I am so thankful for the few hours of sunshine that we had though. My sanity has temporarily been restored.

Thank you God for sunshine and rain, or as Luke likes to say, thanks for the fun and drinks for the animals.

# 3 Lee....On the Way!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, as many of you guys know, Tyron and I have been really praying about having a third child. I have so many issues that make staying pregnant so hard, and I had yet another miscarriage back in March, so we were really seeking God's will in this decision. One day I told Tyron that I just needed a clear answer from God. Tyron said, "I don't know if it will be a crystal clear 'yes' or 'no'." Then I missed my period. I took 3 pregnancy tests...all a big fat negative! Then 2 weeks later, just before we left for vacation, I took one more just to be sure. It was positive! So, not to rub it in or anything, I think that is pretty crystal clear from God since we were trying NOT to get pregnant and got pregnant anyway.

So the "#3 Lee" is on the way! Should be due in either January or February. I will let you all know when I found out. Yes, I am sick. Yes, I am tired. No, we are not finding out what the baby is until he or she decides to make their way into the world. We are so excited that I thought that I would share this with all my fellow bloggers. If I get brave I will post pictures of my belly...which is already poking out. (Yikes, I am going to be enormous!!)

Tata for now!