Great Weekend

I had a great weekend.  Scotty received some new instruction for his finger and it is working !  Scotty and I spent some time working on stuff for second session this year and for camp as a whole. I did about 15 loads of laundry (yes, I had that much) and I even folded it!  Scotty’s Aunt Rose came Sunday after church and spent the afternoon with us.  Throughout the entire weekend I couldn’t help but think how blessed I am.

 Chelsea spent the weekend getting sent to bed because she was sick and would not, not, not stay still.  She was better last night and will go to school today.  After school she has her last U12 soccer practice and will receive her evaluation.  I have a meeting for parents of students who will be in Jr High next year.  YIKES!  My baby will be in 7th grade.  She had her meeting for incoming Jr High students this past Friday.  I thought it would make her more comfortable, but it gave her more things to obsess about (an unfortunate trait she gets from me). 

Have a good week !

Heart Check –

I said in my post yesterday that I was going to write about my thoughts on John Dobb’s sermon titled “Jesus Came to My Town in a Hurricane.”  I plan to do that today, but I am only sharing my thoughts and how I was stirred to really think about some things in my own walk with Jesus.  This will be a personal post that will be a little out of my comfort zone to post and will more than likely bore you – but hey, it’s my blog.

When things like 9-11 , hurricanes, tornadoes and freezing temperature affect people, it’s easy to feel compassion.  I encourage Scotty to give blood (because I cannot), I make a donation to a relief effort, I give a homeless person some cash for a hot meal.  It’s easy to feel compassion for someone who loses a family member.  I cook for them, I send a card.  That’s what I do.  John’s sermon made me examine my heart and ask “What do I do to serve others and show compassion on a day to day basis?  Why am I waiting for something to happen?  Does something huge and devastating need to happen for people to need compassion?”  Of course not.  But I know I have failed to show compassion.

The next question I was forced to ask myself was “Am I using the talents and the resources God has given me to help others?”  I might not make a 6 figure income (I know this must come as a shock!) but I do know how to write letters, understand a hospital bill, use the Internet and cook (another shocker!).  I can also plan a meal and a menu for 100 + people.  All of these things are second nature to me, but I have been too selfish to show up sometimes when needed.  I use the excuse that I work and have to take care of Scotty and Chelsea and our home.  I do have to do those things, but I know I could spend some time helping other people instead of watching TV (shout out to Roger here).

John mentions that after the hurricane he was offered an “EXIT”.  I am sure there are countless people who are so grateful he did not exit when he had the chance.  Instead, he stayed and showed Christ’s love.  Again, I had to do a heart check here and ask myself “How many times do I take the easy way out when it comes to serving?  How many times do I actually look for the easy way out?”  I know I have had opportunities to show Christ to people that I have missed.  I also know that I have taken advantage of opportunites too.  This is not a thought process of beating up on myself.  It’s just a little heart check and I was convicted in my heart by some of the things I heard. 

Thanks John.  I needed that.

Another post for another day will ask the question “Am I showing people Christ’s Church or the Church of Christ?”   

Birthday, iPod, Hurricane Katrina

Well, I have been absent from this blog for a while.  Last week I spent two and half days in bed sick, celebrated my birthday and drove back and forth to Lafayette for a soccer tournament.  I also spent one and a half days trying to get my stupid cell phone to work.  All of these things combined kept me from sitting down for a long block of time to blog.  As a result, I have a ton of things to say today!

My sister and her husband gave me an iPod for my birthday.  I mentioned to her that I would like to have one and use it while walking on my treadmill.  I already had a list of favorite songs in my mind and was eager to begin.  You should note here that I was eager to begin downloading songs, not walking on the treadmill. 

I consider myself to be pretty quick when it comes to computers, electronics and such.  I saw on the Today Show this morning that Mom’s who are technologically savvy and work and do the whole soccer mom thing are now called “Alpha Moms”.  Well, until last week I would have told you that I was surely and “Alpha Mom”.  After the cell phone, blue tooth, iPod week I had, I must admit that my technology “skills” are lacking in a few areas. 

Many friends told me I would love, love, love my iPod.  And I do.  Now.  The whole download iTunes and sync but don’t disconnect the iPod from the computer while it’s blinking orange.  WHEW!  OK – got the iPod all in sync and started to download.  And what did I download you might ask – sermons!  That’s right people.  I have yet to download any music.  If you know me very well, you might read this and check my temperature.  Enough of the blah, blah, blah and on to the sermons -

I downloaded a few of Jeff’s sermons, Rick Atchley’s series on marriage and John Dobb’s Hurricane message from Tulsa.  Let me tell you I have been tremendously uplifted by all of them.  Jeff’s and Rick’s were great reminders for me and I even learned a few things   John’s was the one that made the most impact though.  His thoughts on Jesus and Hurricane Katrina really affected my thinking on the whole Katrina issue.  I have not blogged about the hurricane very much because I have some very strong opinions about it.  I feel bad about some of those opinions because I was inconvenienced by Hurricane Katrina, but I wasn’t devastated by it like so many others were.  I will write more about Hurricane Katrina and John’s message in my next post.  What I learned from it will take a lot of words.  This post is already too long and I could not do it justice or expect you to keep reading this wordy post today.

I leave you with this.  Jan keeps a book list writes a book review on her post every now and then.  I have decided to start a “recommended listening” list.  So here are the first ones I encourage you to enjoy:  How to Chase and Overtake the Lions I & II , Lord of the Rings , and Jesus Came to My Town in a Hurricane .

And, I recommend this hilarious iPod post by Antique Mommy because I could really relate when I read it.  When you’re done with that one, read this one.

 Have a great weekend!

Game Over.

Chelsea’s soccer with the U12s is over.  It has been a long, frustrating year.  She will have two more practices with the team and the coach so that all of the players can receive their evaluations.  This will not be fun for her.  She looks at the evals like a report card.  If it doesn’t show all top numbers, she feels like she failed.  I have tried several times, unsuccessfully, to explain the difference. 

This past weekend was the State Cup Prelim tournament.  I wanted so much for our kids to come away with a win.  They did not.  They did have 2 very hard fought and well played games.  Some of the kids really stepped up.  Unfortunately, some did not.  And in all honesty, there were just some things that did not go our way.  That happens.

End result.  Chelsea played well while she was in the game.  She made the most of her opportunities.  She left happy. 

Try outs for next year are in a month!

I Wish You Would Blog

I read plenty of blogs everyday.  I read all of the ones that I link to.  In addition, I click on the links at Dusty’s site, John Dobbs site and Sandy’s site.  I never miss Jeff Jenkins’ site because I love to read “It’s a great day at Shannon Oaks Church!”  His enthusiasm for what he does really shines through.  All of these are great and are fun for me to read.  However, there are some people who do not blog (!) and I would love to read what they have to say.  They are (in no particular order) :

George Myer – he’s a level headed guy.  I appreciate his willingness to rely on scripture even though, in some cases, he has to eat crow because of what the scriptures say.

Christi Grady Marin – She is an awesome wife and Mother.  She has the heart of a servant and she should share some of her insights.

Sara Fergus and Van Chesney – oh the wisdom!  and lessons that could be learned from such beautiful women of God.

Ray Morris – because when I was a teenager I did not appreciate fully what he was trying to teach me.  I would like to opportunity now to learn some things from what he has to say.

Lance Hendrix – because he is so stinkin’ funny!

Eddie Parish – wouldn’t that be a fun one !  If you know Eddie P., you know what I mean! 

Cook Book Crazy

I found something new that I really enjoy.  Cookbooks!  I do love to cook when I have the time.  I enjoy spending time on new recipes.  I never make the same thing, the same way twice.  I follow the recipe the first time and then change it for our tastes the next time I make it.

I received an early birthday present this morning.  A cook book called Mardi Gras to Mistletoe.  The book is divided into months with appropriate recipes for the time of year. 

I don’t really come across as someone who loves to cook, do I?  I’m not really good at the whole hostess/serving part.  I’d rather stay in the kitchen and put it all together.

Anyway, on this Friday the 13th I’m going cookbook crazy !  and loving it.

American Idol Discussion

How many of you are having American Idol discussions?  I know we are.  We TiVo the episodes and watch them commercial free.  That helps when Ryan says “We’ll find out, right after this …”  We just fast forward and find out.  We have all wondered why Sanjaya is still on the show.  We liked Chris Sligh (who has a blog by the way) and Chelsea likes Blake.  I think Melinda can sing and I do like Phil Stacy because of the attention he gives to his wife and daughters.  I was holding out hope for Gina because she was the rocker chick.  But the funniest discussion we have had went like this:

Chelsea: Dad, you can sing, you should try out

Scotty: I don’t think so …

Lisa: Chelsea, this is not really the kind of thing your Dad enjoys about singing.

Chelsea:  Well, he’s too old anyway.  I mean, not that he’s old (trying to dig out of a hole).  It’s just that I think the age limit is like 35 or something (still digging). 

Camp Smiling Acres

Some things about Camp Smiling Acres :

- In the beginning it was called Camp Smiley after the man who owned the land camp used.

- Camp has a website and you can download and print an application for 2007.  You can also see photos from the 2006 sessions. 

- Youth ministers at South love camp – :0 .

- A lot of kids are exposed to Christ for the first time there.  They are also given a break from some of the “issues” going on at home.

- When I was “camp age” , I would not have scheduled anything that conflicted with the 4 weeks of camp.  Several of my friends feel the same way.

- It was awesome to have some of my fellow campers’ children at second session.

- The new camp is a palace compared to the old camp but by the end of the week, no one is talking about the facilities.  They are talking about being closer to God, having new friends and coming back as soon as they can.

- I would like to know how many people have been baptized at a camp session.  I was.  First session, July 4, 1982.

- I don’t want to go to South America, Russia, or Africa but  I understand some people feel the calling to do so because that is the way I feel about camp. 

- I will be forever grateful to the people who had the vision and made the camp experience possible.

- Camp is a huge, important part of my life and the lives of many people I know.

Thanks for reading.  I just felt like saying some things about camp this afternoon. 

Thyme In A Bottle

So many things have happened since the last time I sat still to post.  I am going to try to catch up one day this week and include some things about a two week visit from my Dad, George’s resurrection sermon, Camp Smiling Acres and a little soccer.  But for now I will share the story of Chelsea getting her belongings searched at school last week.

On Wednesday, all of the 5th and 6th graders were taken out of class one at a time and their book-sacks and lockers were searched.  It just so happened that this happened on the same day that Chelsea brought dried spices to school for a mummification project demonstration.  The administrators spend extra ”thyme” in her locker sniffing the Spice Blend by McCormick.  Several of the adults passed it around making comments about the spices.  A little background on this:  I cooked something using fresh thyme the week before and Scotty did not like it.  The taste was too strong.  Chelsea needed spices for the project and I had an entire bottle of dried thyme, parsley and some seed combination.  Knowing I would not use it, we tore the label off and she took it to school.  After having to explain her whole project and the process of mummification and what spices were used for, she was sent back to class.  She told me she didn’t know why all of those people were sniffing that stuff so long because it really stinks!

The following day some more things came to light.   (this part is not funny) A fifth grade student was taken from campus because the administration found marijuana in his gym bag.  Apparently there are several issues this kid is dealing with that stem from the parents’ divorce and battle over the child.  No matter which story you hear, it sounds like a sad situation for the kid.

This part is funny.  Chelsea called to tell me a 5th grader was removed from school because he had “wheat” in his locker.  It occurred to me she did not know what weed is.  I told her I was pretty sure he was taken away because he had weed.  This left her confused.  I had then explain that weed was another name for marijuana.  Then, I had to explain what marijuana was – oh brother.  I finally got her to understand that no matter what you call it (weed, pot, mary jane), it’s marijuana and it’s illegal. 

Now I know why her “spices” were cause for concern.  Little did the adults know, Chelsea had no clue why they were so concerned and she was somewhat annoyed that her “search” took longer than some of the others.