a little reminder

I find it rather funny that I can hit the snooze button a zillion times and fall right back to sleep but the sound of "Momma" in the middle of the night and my feet hit the floor before my eyes are even open. There is something about being called out of a deep sleep by your baby. No matter how old "my girl" maybe, she will always be my baby.

That's exactly what happened on Tuesday night. I went into her room to find that she had a nightmare about a former classmate. She just wanted me to lay with her while she went back to sleep. As I laid beside her; I was quickly reminded that although she is a teenager, she still needs me. The best part is that she still calls for me. I hope the day never comes that she doesn't call for me when she is in need.

I am truly blessed.

God on FB

I know that may seem like a bit silly of a title for a post....but sometimes we find God in what we would call strange places. The truth is... God is everywhere; even on FB.

When I spoke with the secretary at "My girl's" new school, she asked if MG is on facebook. I said yes... the next thing I knew she was looking up MG. Okay, now here is a secretary at work(a Christian school) taking the time to look for MG on FB. After she found her, she offered to have her two daughters become friends with MG. She also asked if I would like to have the other girls in her grade become friends with her. That's how it all began. Someone offering a small gesture of kindness and now MG is connected with girls that she will be attending school with next year!!!

She is getting to know three of the girls that are at the school. I love to listen to the excitement in her voice as she learns new things about the girls and the school. I can not imagine how much easier this is going to make the transition into the new school.

God had a hand in this... praise be to Him that He loves MG enough to send friends before we move!!!!

D NOW

"My girl" had a great weekend at D NOW. We dropped her off at church about 6pm on Friday. They had dinner, worship and then off to their host homes. "My girl" and 4 other girls enjoyed a small group bible study and lots of giggling. They stayed up late chatting and laughed alot.

Sat. they woke up to "alarm deactivated" when the host mom turned off her alarm system... once again the giggles began(7:30am.... I can not think of a better way to wake up). Back to the church... now they were wearing their team colors... hot pink and zebra. (Their host mom gave them goodie bags with sunglasses and a bandanna with their team colors.) Some time after lunch, they were off on a scavenger hunt. Host Dad drove the van while the girls had a list to complete and video tape the whole experience.

Here are a few things they had to do:

Go to Starbucks and order something off of the Dollar menu

Find a policeman in uniform to sing the "COPS" song

All members of the team climb a flag pole

Go to the mall and sit in a vibrating massage chair

TP a youth group leader's car(while at the mall, two girls ran to the bathroom to gather TP)

Tape a firetruck with the sirens sounding

Find a package of Oscar Mayer wieners and sing the theme song

"My girl's" team won!!!! Reward: bragging rights and candy!!!

I picked her up about 9:30pm on Saturday night. She was exhausted but couldn't wait to get back in the morning for breakfast and more worship. We are incredibly blessed to have members of our church open their homes to our teens. It was a weekend to remember for sure.

Football and giggles

It is absolutely beautiful here today. This evening we decided to head outside after dinner. "My girl" and Hubs passed the football while I caught up on some reading from the porch. From time to time I would look out and watch them pass the football. All the while I was reminded that she is only this age once. "My girl" loves life.... she laughs endlessly....and she is always looking for an adventure. Those are some of the things that I love about her so much.
"My girl" decided to hike the ball to Hubs..... let's just say she would never make a living hiking the ball. She hiked the ball and instantly, laughter.... (the ball went way right-I mean across the road, right). We laughed and laughed. I love moments like this with her. I just sit in awe at the young girl that God has entrusted to me.
God has blessed me with a beautiful family and a beautiful day. What more could I ask for????

A big decision

All I can say is, "Praise be to the Lord."

While we were in Al. we were able to visit two schools that "My girl" could attend. Since she had expressed an interest in attending public school once we moved; we told her we would consider it. Please understand, I am not opposed to public school just the one that "My girl" attended at our current duty station. We really didn't have a tough time making the decision to transfer her to a Christian school.

We visited both schools and I will tell you that either school would be fine for her. We allowed her to have some say in where she would like to attend. She switched back and forth a couple of times(she is much like Hubs- she needs to talk through it). I just listened and asked questions about her reasons each time she would say... I want to go to..... I suggested that she write out the pros and cons to each school. She did. Hers were a little different than ours, but they are what's important to her at this time in her life. One thing that is important to us all is Bible class. She said if she goes to public school she wouldn't have Bible class. I didn't realize how much she likes that class.

One night she came to me and said, I want to go to the Christian school. I asked her why. She said that she looked at the pros and cons for both schools and she had prayed about it. Can I just tell you that my heart grew about two sizes.... she prayed about it!!!! She is seeking God's will!!!! Oh, I so wish I had known the Lord like "My Girl" does at her age.

It is settled.. she will attend the Christian school next year. I can only wonder what God has planned for her there.

Alabama dictionary

We were recently in Alabama visiting the "in laws" and getting a few things accomplished before the big move. We have learned that people speak differently there than us(hubs begins to mumble as soon as we cross the Alabama state line) mostly with a drawl. During this trip we learned a few new set of "sayings".

I was chatting with my MIL today on the phone and she told me that my sister in law is "with fever" .....we would refer to this as a temperature. My MIL also suggested that I should "carry" some food to my sister in law because she was with fever. I am thinking she wanted me to take her some food.

My sweet southern nephew came for dinner.... trying to make conversation with a 6 year old.. I asked him if he took his lunch to school or if he bought lunch. He simply replied..... "no, I take a tray." I couldn't stop laughing. My nephew also draws out his vowels..... he will say baaaath or iiiice. (I caught myself doing it a time or two after being around him).

The weather turned cold one night and "my girl" commented on being cold while she slept. My FIL offered her a "sleeping blanket." When we asked him what that was; he said... "you know, you get in it and zip it up." He meant a sleeping bag. We laughed and laughed.

We also learned that people are "fixin'" to do something. I am fixin' to go to the store. I am fixin' to go outside. (Everyone is fixin' in those parts).

My FIL wants to tape me talking when we arrive and then play it back a year later. I am sure I will sound more like them the longer that I live there.

red dishes update

Some have asked about the red dishes. I still have them and haven't done anything with them. I know that I am suppose to do something.... but what? That's not for me to decide. Now, I must have patience. Maybe that's what God wants from me... is to be patient and wait for Him.
So many times I take things into my own hands and I can make a real mess of things. I am trusting in Him to tell me what to do with the dishes. I am sure that someday, I will know what to do with them. Until now, I will just have to wait.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5