Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Thanking God for the absolute best gift ever....Jesus!  And wishing all of you a most blessed Christmas!

Glory to God in the Highest!

The setting sun this evening seemed to proclaim, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" Luke 2:14.  Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year!  Happy birthday, dear Jesus!!!

Thanksgiving Show of Support 2013

My man and I had the great privilege of attending the Show of Support Dinner this past Thursday evening with his sister and brother-in-law.  Show of Support is an incredible ministry to, "Honor those who honor us with our freedoms."  (More information can be found by clicking here).  

Terry Johnson and his wife started this ministry ten years ago.  Their passion and vision to honor the Heroes who serve our country is both admirable and contagious.

Walking in to the venue, my eyes already began to flood with tears at the very sight of Old Glory, tables beautifully decorated in red, white, and blue, and countless service men and women already seated around the tables.

How often do you have the great blessing of being in the presence of heroes and brave men and women who bravely and willingly fought for your freedom and for mine?  There are no words to adequately express our gratitude.

Major Rusty Bradley was the Keynote Speaker,  and what a speaker he was!!!  Several times during his speech, the crowd erupted in applause and we all leapt to our feet.  To say the least, our country is aptly protected under his care!  What an honor to hear him speak.  He is the author of, Lions of Kandahar.

We were seated right behind Sheriff Gary Painter who must have had his granddaughter at the banquet with him.  I thought this was a tender moment captured.  She was worried about her grandpa when he would cry listening to the stories Major Bradley shared.  So sweet!

And then they introduced the Heroes that were honored that evening.  Each Hero received a custom cowboy hat, a rifle, a deer hunt, the wives were given jewelry.

We were in the company of many Purple Heart recipients and highly decorated men and women.

They seemed very humbled and appreciative of the much deserved recognition.

Clayton Williams was one of the sponsors.

And Susie Hitchcock Hall and her husband were as well.  Have you tried her delicious goodies? You can find them here....it's a West Texas tradition.

It was an unforgettable night!  My mind is still reeling with stories and faces of brave men and women who willingly fought for our freedoms.  How often do we take their sacrifice and love of God, family, and country for granted?  I'm thankful we had the opportunity to be there, to stand and applaud them....but there are so many more who deserve our gratitude.  This Thanksgiving, and every one after this, we remember and we are forever grateful!

Hello November!

Please, pardon the little break from blogging!  I have been terribly sick....like as in I have never been so sick in my life!  Pneumonia is now a 4 letter word in my book and I don't cuss!  It is brutal!!!!  I'm finally on the mend and trying to resume normal life again, just not quite as fast paced as before.  And oh is that hard.

I realized that I don't have a stop button unless a doctor mentions they might be checking for Congestive Heart Failure on top of pneumonia.  What????  I thought both of those were for the elderly only.  Thankfully, it wasn't CHF, just complications from pneumonia and fluid around my lungs.   But, I was on home/bed rest for a week and a half.  I think I watched every single Christmas Hallmark movie available.  Sigh!  I use to enjoy those!

I'm so thankful for the many of you who prayed for me, sent cards, and made the most delicious meals. What a blessing you are!

I did manage to finish editing all of my recent sessions and finish my Christmas shopping from bed!  Delight!

I couldn't resist posting this image today...one of my first sessions back.  We were blessed with the best weather and the most glorious sunlight!

See You at the Pole 2013

What a perfect way to begin the day!  Praising the Most High and bathed in glorious Light!

Our students gathered early at the high school to pray.  I am so proud of them.

First Week, I Survived!

It may be a bit premature to say that I survived the first week of school because it is only 7 in the morning, but I'm going to throw caution to the wind and press on and claim victory that I survived my first week of school!!!!  Yay!!

I'm not normally this dramatic over the first week of school, but this week has been a doozie of a first week! Honestly, I am thankful to be a high school teacher! I am blessed to teach in our small town, I enjoy my coworkers and my students.  But this school year start has been a bit different than in years past.  

Usually by the end of the school year I feel like I am crawling to the finish line, hoping to make it.  Ha!  This year, I am already there.  Oiy!!!  

Monday's devotional was this, "It is not in me!"  Seriously, it's a passage in Job and was the daily devotion from Streams in the Desert for Monday.  I laughed out loud when I read it.  

But, God has called me to teach and I will continue to trust in His perfect plan, His perfect ways, and keep looking up....because that is where my help comes from.  I resolved to spend my days in the classroom with joy and that is what I am striving to do every day.  

I'm praising Him for all He has done this week, even the things I know that I missed seeing Him in, and claiming victory for this new school year that, "With God, all things are possible!"  

My Favorite Pastor

My emotions are still a bit raw and it is so very easy for the tears to flow.  My favorite pastor retired this past Sunday.

This is what I posted on Facebook Sunday Morning:
Today is Dad's last Sunday before retirement (and the tears are already flowing). What a precious, bittersweet day today is. My mind is flooded with incredible memories and the joy knowing full well He completed the call God placed on his life with absolute joy and grace! But, Oh, how I am going to miss hearing my favorite pastor each Sunday!

I have many more thoughts and images to share but for now, I simply had to post this one of my dad. He was praying right before the service began....just like so many Sundays that I can remember.  I'm so thankful I had my camera to capture this tender moment.

The Next Chapter

I've been a Pastor's Kid for the past 30 years. What a blessing my dad is. Sunday, listening to the Lord's leading, he announced his retirement. My heart is heavy and my emotions a bit overwhelmed but more than anything, I am so thankful that He listened to God's calling on his life 30 years ago, for the blessing of his ministry, the joy of being his daughter, and the excitement he and mom have for this new adventure with The Lord. (I was upstairs running the PowerPoint for Dad as my mom and family were on the first and second row on the far right). I'm so thankful God prompted my heart to snap this image with my iPhone.  I will treasure it!!!

A new chapter unfolds and it is written by The Lord, Himself....it's His story after all. 

Happy Father's Day

I love my dad!  I really feel that when God chose all of the men in the world to be my daddy, He absolutely chose the best!  I have to keep this short, because I know his love for reading wordy cards...and probably blogs too. Ha!


Thank you for loving mom above all else except for the Lord.  My girls and I were just talking about you two and how fun it is to watch your relationship.  Your love for each other is fierce and so admirable!

This is one of my favorites!  Thank you for loving me....even the times when you loved me too much to let me act that way and for always being one of my biggest fans!

Thank you for teaching me that life really is an adventure and to live each day with joy and a song (you can whistle better than anyone).    This image makes me smile.  You carried every "special rock" we found in that backpack. It surely weighed 50 pounds.





Thank you for making my dorm at Baylor feel a bit more like home.  I was the only Freshman in either dorm who had a custom built vanity, book case, and place for my refrigerator. That was awesome!

I watched as you beautifully officiated a special wedding last weekend.  The words you chose and the way you made the couple feel so special was wonderful...but nothing compared to my wedding.  I pray you have the blessing of officiating at Rachel and Hannah's weddings one day too!  And thank you for loving me enough to make my man take a test before we were allowed to get married.  We will be passing this on to our girls for sure!

Thank you for the way you love your granddaughters!  Oh, they love you so much too!  You are some of their biggest fans and encouragers.  I always adore basketball season, but I love it even more when you are sitting right beside me as we are watching Hannah on the court!

I could have posted a million other pictures and written so much more.  I really am trying to keep this short. Ha!  Thank you for being the Dad that every girl dreams about having, the Spiritual Leader that every home desires, the Grandpa every grandchild wishes they had, and my favorite Pastor in the world.  Happy Father's Day!  You are dearly loved!

Building Cathedrals

A sweet friend posted this video on Facebook and I instantly knew I wanted to share it with you! I needed this reminder today...okay this week! In this me-me-me world that we live in, what we do as wives, mothers, grandmothers, and teachers matters!


Please, take time to watch this video and be reminded of the great work and calling we are so blessed to have!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0&sns=em

Wounded?

Source

I saw this on Pinterest last week and thought it was an excellent reminder!  Just maybe, you needed this reminder too.

Happy Sweet Sixteen Sweetheart!

Happy Sweet 16th Birthday Sweetheart!

I could cry just typing those words. My heart is so full of precious memories of wonderful you. It seems like yesterday that I held you in my arms for the very first time...and now here we are already 16 years later. Oh my goodness time needs to stand still!

I thank the Lord for the wonderful gift of you!

I remember dreaming about you and anxiously awaiting your arrival. The nursery was beautifully decorated and I was reading books about sisterhood to your sister.  

My favorite book she and I read was about Spider Sisters.  I remember praying that you two would have the most amazing relationship....and you do! Sisterhood is a blessing to watch...yes, you two are "Spider Sisters" through and through!  

On this special day, I thought I would try to only share 16 things that I love about you....I could easily list sixteen million things that I love about you, but on this, your Sweet Sixteen, I will try to list only 16.  I love you sweetheart to the moon and back again a billion, gazillion times over!

1.  "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  Psalm 139:14.  And you know this full well!!!  You love the Lord with all your heart....and that makes this momma's heart sing for joy!

 

 2.  Joy!  I love this picture of you from so many years ago!  It captures your absolute joy!  Not only are you filled with joy but your joy spills over to everyone around you!

 3.  Spider Sisters through and through!  I loved this relationship when you two were little...

 3.  ....and I love your Spider Sister relationship today! What a blessing you two are!!!

4.  And although you tend to be a dramatic at time (I wonder where on earth you got that? Yes, your daddy for sure-lol) you are the best drama queen I know and love.  I can't wait to see how your One Act Play advances this year.  Remember being Mrs. Osgood and your furry friend-Leeroy?! 

5.  Even your band costumes are bright and cheery....my Hannah banana!

 

6.  You are so generous and would do absolutely anything for anyone. Remember the rainbow cupcakes?  I think you spent well over 6 hours making 87 of them for your fellow band mates.  Each cupcake was a piece of art. 

7.  You are an athlete, and a great athlete at that! You work hard on and off the court and you are definitely a team player!   Not many sophomores make Varsity and then have the grace to not brag about it to those who didn't make varsity.  We are so proud of you! 

 8.  You have the most gorgeous eyes and eyelashes.  They are as blue as the ocean!

9.  And the most gorgeous smile....when you smile, your whole face lights up and, as my Granny would say, "your eyes dance with joy!"

 

10.  Contagious joy and laughter!  Remember this photo shoot?  Your song had me rolling on the floor in pure laughter!

 11.  Your family LOVES you!!! And you love your family!!! 

12. You like things that are vintage/retro....like my 1988 prom dress that you are wearing.  Be still my heart!

13.  You are a treasure, the apple of His eye and He shines so beautifully through you!

14.  You can be a girly-girl, but a fierce hunter too...and your daddy adores that about you. 

 15.  You have a thing for cowboy boots...and cowboys!

 16. ...and mustaches!  Which totally makes me smile.  You know what you like, who you are, Whose you are, and that your incredible future is in the very palm of His mighty hand.  I know He dreams big dreams over your precious life and we do too!!!!

My dearest Hannah, your name means God's Grace....and that is certainly what you are!!!!  I love you so very, very much!!! Happy Sweet Sixteen, Sweetheart!