Our “Youth Family” is more than just a group!

just a few words to describe them -

Amazing,

loving – “Your love for one another will prove to the

world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35

wise, Christians, lovers of God, genuine,

transparent, strong,

humble – “Humble yourselves before the Lord,

and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

obedient (to God)  – James 1:22 “But be doers of the word,

and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

followers (of God),

worshipers – “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him

must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

teachers, preachers,

leaders/examples - 

 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth,

but set the believers an example in speech,

in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

kind-hearted, awesome kids…..

who are they? They’re our church youth family & I am so blessed to know them and be allowed to walk beside them as they grow closer to our God!

The world may think we’re weird but we’re told to be different.

The world may think we’re boring but we have tons of fun!

The world may think we’re going no where but we know where we’re going!

The world may think we think we’re better than them but

we know we’re just forgiven and only by grace are we saved.

The world may not want to get too close because they

feel guilty about how they live but we’re not perfect either.

The world may try to detour us from our path with God

but God is our G od P ositioning S ystem

(no irreverence intended)

and He will never steer us wrong!

God gave me a heart for these dear, young people a while back but He’s drawn me even closer by showing them they can trust this adult. The fact that they feel so comfortable sharing and sometimes even pouring their hearts out to me assures me they know I love them but better yet – that God loves them and it’s easy to see their amazing futures as followers of Christ. They will turn the world upside down! I pray I’m here to see it but if not then I know one day in heaven I’ll get to see them get their just rewards.  They are so much stronger of a Christian than even I was at their young ages. They have a hunger for the Word, a desire to see their friends and families saved and they know who they are, who they serve and where they’re going! I continue to learn from them and consider it for my greater good to gain from their outlook, their wisdom and their stories. God will use their journey on this earth to reach people in their world who I would never be able to reach & I thank God for these youth!  They already know how much they mean to me and that I’m always here for them but they just don’t realize how they’ve ministered to my needs too!

I thank Him for putting me right here, right now, in this time, with this youth family! You guys and girls are always such a blessing to my life! Thank you!

Phil. 1:3
“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.“

New Living Translation

In Honor of Kimberly on her b’day

Kimberly and Me, Sept. 2009

Today is my younger sister’s 41st birthday. Wow! When did that happen? I remember when my mom went to the hospital to have Kimberly. I was so upset. I didn’t want her to leave me to go have THAT baby. See, I was the baby and did not want to give up that precious rank in the family. I was almost 6 years old myself. I begged but she went anyway. Finally, my Daddy brought my Mommy and THAT baby home. But, one look at that babygirl and I was never the same again! She became “my baby”. I helped my mom take care of her and never missed a chance to boss her around, just ask her, she’ll tell you even today. Hopefully the bossing has minimized over the years. But, somehow, in the midst of all that caring and bossing, we became best friends.
With me being in the middle, I normally shared a room with either her, when she got older, or my oldest sister, Launa. Wonder how she felt when they brought me home, huh? That’s probably another story since we are only 21 months apart in age. I doubt she remembers. By the way, we’re best friends too. I am so blessed!
Anyway….over the years, Kimberly and I went through a lot together. There were times we got mad at each other but always ended up right back together and forgave each other. There was such a connection between us. There were times we hurt each other’s feelings and I know we both would love to erase those memories, fortunately the love allowed us to forgive each other and move on. “A friend loves at all times…” Prov 17:17a New International Version
I’ve watched her go through life and take a number of different paths (as we all have). I’ve watched her grow as a person and gain more self esteem as she’s come to realize just how special she is! I’ve seen her allow another person, her husband, to care and to love her, just as she is! With that love, she’s become who she was always capable of but doubted, she could ever be! I’ve listened to her knowledge and awareness as she’s had to mature over the years. I’ve admired her determination and strength as she’s endured some sad heartaches. I’ve felt her love as she wraps her arms around me and tells me she loves me. She has an amazing sense of humor, in spite of life, and a great laugh that I love to hear! “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Rom 12:15 New King James Version
We’ve shared secrets, stories, clothes, heartaches, advice, encouragement, long talks, support, great times together, difference of opinions, but mostly a heart for each other. If you can’t tell by now, I love my little sister and yes, she will always be just that to me: my little sister, no matter how old she is! I’m very protective of her and love her with all my heart and am so proud to call her one of my best friends in the whole wide world! “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Eccl 4:9-12 New International Version
She’s accomplished so much over the years with what she’s had to deal with sometimes. I am so blessed that she was put in our family and that my parents didn’t listen to a 6 year old 41 years ago. I’d be so lost without her! I love you Kimberly! Happy Birthday from your big sis!
My prayer for you sis:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for Kaomie right now, for her health and safety, put a hedge of protection around her and her family. Wrap Your arms around her and hold her close to You so she can feel Your love for her. Meet her needs, right where she is today. Remind her how special she is to You! I pray she values the relationship she has with You and knows in her heart, without a doubt, that she will go to heaven when she dies and that we will spend eternity together after our life on this earth is over. I thank You for her and what she means to me! Thank you for our friendship and memories! Thank you for her life! Continue to bless her and her family as she’s been a huge blessing to me! Keep her healthy and if it’s Your will, I pray that we get to make many more wonderful memories together again soon! I love her so much! In Your Heavenly Name I pray, Amen.”

Truly a Good God

We have this bad habit of not watching the news that often because of it being so depressing and disheartening but we do tend to listen out for the weather end of it though. I’ll be honest when I say that Friday, June 12th, came by surprise and only after I’d already arrived at work, Scott had gone the opposite direction from home and our 2 kids were at our home “alone”.

We talked by phone once and then they were supposed to call me back a little later. It was only lightly raining at that point but looking a little scary to them. I knew there was nothing I could do from work nor if I were home so I did the best thing I knew: I prayed non-stop for my kids and husband. I didn’t know exactly when he’d be driving back home and I didn’t know what exactly was going on home with my kids. I just kept busy at work! Every time the phone rang, I prayed it was them. The call never came. The power went off at home shortly after we talked. Our phone is electrically charged. (note to self: get another phone)

The lights flickered a little and even went off once at work but we were fine there. It looked pretty bad here and there but finally cleared and the sun came out. I still had not heard from the kids. Scott finally called me and said he’d talked to our neighbor who went over to check on the kids but they didn’t come to the door. I only trusted God that they were playing upstairs and never heard her. She assured us the worst part of the storm was over and the house was fine, just no power. Scott also told me he was perfectly safe and the weather was fine to drive home!

I was somewhat relieved but still wanted to talk to my “babies”.   I completely left them in God’s hands. That was a little hard to this mom who is used to being there with them during the storms and bringing them comfort and assurance. They had each other and they had God! He could take such better care than I could anyway. I let that comfort me! I prayed for distractions for them from the lack of power, for love and peace between them while they entertained each other, for patience and tolerance and mostly for their safety!

I finally arrived home about 3 hours later. God had all of it under control! After checking the kids who were playing, having never heard our neighbor and were excited that the power had just come back on prior to my arrival, I checked the dog outside. Next to his house were 2 huge limbs. I was afraid he had been trapped but he was fine, tail just a waggin’ and safe inside the dog house. Then I walked the property. My heart fell as I approached the side pasture! Leaves, tree branches and limbs were all over our yard. But that was minimal compared to the side pasture. A huge pine tree had uprooted and fell right across the pond, blocking more than half of the width of the pond.  The colt who was in that pasture came charging toward me. I was a little nervous that she was hurt but she wasn’t – just terrified! She walked toward the tree with me and we checked out the miraculous direction it fell – nowhere near her nor the house! It must have made a horrible splash! She didn’t want to leave my side as she jumped at every noise the pond made with frogs.  I couldn’t help but fall to my knees as I took in what could have happened and how God made sure it didn’t this time! See, we’ve had trees fall at 3 different houses with a couple doing some pretty massive damage, in our eyes! Each time God has kept our family safe and this time was no different! When you realize what you could’ve lost – your family – and that you didn’t – your heart can’t help but rejoice, give thanks and praise Him “in the storm”!

That night, my daughter and I got to enjoy a rodeo together and it seemed as if that nightmare of an afternoon had never happened……till the next day during the clean up:) For all of this experience and the end result: We are truly thankful and know firsthand, once again, He is truly a Good God!

The uprooted tree that fell across the pond in the side pasture.

Sweet baby Carey going for a drink of water days later.

I always love the "calm after the storm!" Me and my baby girl at the rodeo!

Praise You in This Storm!!!

When I first began this blog today, I considered sharing why storms (real storms) don’t scare me like they used to years ago…..but as I listen to this amazing and reassuring song by Casting Crowns, I am reminded that I am still “in this storm”!!!  I can’t help but feel convicted that I’m not faithful to continue praising Him all the way through but He is faithful to carry me through!!!  “Never left my side, though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm!”

But back to the rain, wind and loud, damaging type of storm:   Years ago, I did have to go through a different kind of storm, more than once….lots of damage to our houses, yards, trees, hearts and added lots of fear! Fortunately I had a very loving and qualified Christian counselor at our church in AL who I loved and who shared God’s truths with me, along with various close girlfriends who “held my hand” through it all! Any night that a storm would wake them, they’d hit the floor praying for LeeAnne, no matter where I was at that time! I remember Miss. Alice asking me where I found the most comfort and it was in their prayers, the Word, my husbands’ arms and the arms of those friends! My stronghold at that time was to imagine my friends and husband around me, praying on my behalf, surrounding me with their prayers and then me crawling up and into my Savior’s lap where He would hold me all through those storms, while my friends and husband would continue to pray for my fears to go away, all the time circling me with their love and prayers!  It was around 4 years that I went through some scary tornadoes, storms, wind, whatever was associated and they would always bring back smells, sounds and helplessness on my part. The anxiety attacks were worse than awful! I never thought I’d get past those fears! Finally, one day, in the hallway of our AL house, during the middle of what Katrina decided to do to AL, surrounded by my family of 2 kids and my husband, with my Bible in my hand, reading and quoting scripture (God’s promises), while shaking like a scared child, my heart pounding out of my chest, choosing to sing songs of praise to Abba, I began crying out to Him in total surrender, tears were rushing out of my body like a floodgate, I felt this overwhelming and amazing peace come over me like I’d never experienced before! It was ok, I didn’t fear what that storm could do to us any longer! I trusted God! Even if it meant we didn’t survive it or everything got taken away from us, we would still be ok! It was breathtaking and I’ll never forget the peace that can only come from God!

The verse I was reading at that very instant was Psalm 32:6&7: “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Selah. (August 2005)

I focused on that verse as the tears changed to smiles and hugs with my family, as the wind calmed and we walked outside to see the aftermath and as my kids looked at me, realizing the change that had taken place that day! I could also see a peace in them that comforted me about their future fears and how they had learned to handle them. Now, Zach will tell me that when there’s a storm, he goes straight to his Bible and reads till he falls asleep. Most of the time they sleep right through the storms! A friend of mine, Elizabeth, shared several verses with me during those years but one that I especially shared with Zach was Proverbs 3:24 “when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet”.  Zach was terrified like me way back when and I was praying for the day when he’d find peace too. I know he has in his own way and I am so thankful for deliverance from those fears, they strangled me with their grip on me.  A sister, ok, a chosen sister/friend, of mine in AL, Teresa, just asked me how I came to this place in life where I can sit in the storm outside and watch the rain now, listening for the birds who always sing afterward, when just hearing the wind would send me into a panic and I told her, while giving God all the glory,  it was about “total surrender” and God’s promises then His peace came! I have to thank God again for my Grace girlfriends who’ve always had and continue to have a heart for me, no matter what, they fill so many gaps for me while they so faithfully continue to pray on my behalf, while the miles separate us, but the love holds us closer than ever! Hopefully this story of conquered fear will challenge you to trust completely and believe His promises, then you too, can have peace!  Don’t forget that fear is helpful but the spirit of fear or letting it control you is when it’s not: fear is very real but….it can be managed!   Your day of peace is nearer than you think!!!

2 Timothy 1:7…
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

“Growing Pains”

The Growing Pains of Life

My son, Zach, has often times complained of “growing pains” in his legs, arms and now his back. (at least that’s what we’re calling it now) I don’t remember going through that when I was little. Kristin has had her fair share also and they are miserable when they experience the acheyness. Then, on the other hand, they’re constantly coming up to me, especially Zach and measuring himself against me to see how much taller he is and how soon he will surpass his Mom! Trust me, it won’t be long! Isn’t it funny how something you look forward to can be so painful and you have to endure that pain for awhile before you can experience the growth?! You end up benefiting from the pain! I’m still trusting God to bring me to that side of my “growing pains”! I have such a desire to know Him and to experience the plans He has in store for me! It’s just been so painful and hard to go through the physical and emotional draining of it for all these months! Fortunately, it is never Spiritually draining because He continues to fill me with His love, His heart for me and His promises! Don’t mistake that to mean that I’m always “up” in the Faith department but it’s not His fault, it’s mine! He continues to restore me and He’s helping me to do an amazing amount of growing! Yes, I had to get to a place where I could honestly say “Thanks for the growing pains and whatever you have in store for us, for me, Your will is what I truly want!” Not easy but necessary in order to trust Him completely! I want to make my kids’ growing pains go away when they’re hurting so badly. I’m sure God doesn’t like seeing His child, me, hurting either when I go through my very own “growing pains.” But, like me, He knows that the outcome is worth the temporary pain and He allows me to endure it “for a little while”. My kids are usually so excited when they get measured and see how much they’ve grown. I look forward to the day when I look at how far I’ve grown after all these everyday “growing pains.” I hope you’re encouraged, as I am, by the following verse, one of my favorite!

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Smiles for the Teacher

Full of Life!

It amazes me still, after all this time, how a certain group of teens can bring such laughter and joy to my heart everytime I’m with them! Sure, they’re loud,  busy

Texting is like breathing for them

and rambunctious but they’re part of my world now and they make me smile! There are few things that put that expression on my face lately, since Scott lost his job, but these guys manage to wake up the hope and joy inside of me because of theirs. First and foremost, they’re Christian teens who love the Jesus I do and that makes a world of difference. They’re also leaders and examples to my son who is a preteen or “Tween” as they call it these days and they’re doing a great job there too! I know they’re lives aren’t perfect either but they share their hearts with me, their sense of humor and their friendship, which I’m sure is odd – me being an adult!

Facebookin' all night long

They bring so much to my life but mostly it’s the smiles that show me their acceptance and love! They’re so real and that part of my reality is great! Can you tell I’m proud of them

REACH Teens (yearbook staff)

and consider them a blessing in my life? I do! I have to thank them for including me in their world and allowing themselves to care about a 40 something teacher who might embarrass herself here and again but I know they’re laughing with me, not at me, right guys? To my Yearbook Staff: You’re all a very positive part of my life and an awesome part of my weeks – I look forward to Thursday because of YOU! I love you guys!

Please let me challenge each of you with the following verse:

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Love,  Mrs. L (“Mrs. Lele”)

Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you,”

In case you’re looking for a link to a devotional web site for teens:

http://www.devotional-reflections-from-the-bible.com/ChristianTeenDevotionals.html

Be Still and Know that I Am God

my little wiggle worm thanks to Lisa Konrad

You know by now that I have this beautiful and very sweet daughter, Kristin, but you may not know how much of a wiggle worm she is! There are some times that I wish she’d just “BE STILL”.  Like during school, dinner, lots of times…..I know she’s my husband’s because of the very same reason (ha!ha!)….he’s always on the move too…not so much lately because he’s had to learn how to “be still”.  About a month ago she was going through one of her wiggly worm episodes and I had to go off by myself and laugh/cry to God. It had never been put so bluntly in my face how He must feel about me as a person…you know, when He’s trying to get my attention? It’s been very difficult for me to hear Him or even feel His presence the past few months, although I’ve felt very close to Him, if that’s possible at the same time! I know I seem so stubborn to Him sometimes too but He still loves me, gently reminds me of that love and patiently waits for me to get still and listen to Him! The things I have to teach Kristin are important and she needs to listen but I don’t tend to stress so much when she can’t because I can so relate! Instead I decided to work on my own problem of not being still so I can listen better to my Heavenly Father! Just a reminder: “BE STILL!!!!”

Better Ending

You know, dreading the first of the month has become a norm for us since my husband lost his job 6 months ago but fortunately, God gave us a praise for the 2nd, close enough to the 1st to count: Fannie Mac has approved something today that’s going to help us with our mortgage (finally), especially after calling and calling without any success in replies from our mortgage co.  We’ve spent the day trying to reach people who don’t want to be reached about our financial situation, dealt with some pretty rude people who shouldn’t be in their present jobs and argued with technical difficulties all to try to fax necessary documents to those special people in our lives! My hubby actually got some work done with his job, finally finessed all the specifics of his first sale in order to get the actual processing part of the payment accomplished, we think.  I managed to accomplish some tax prep stuff for our business and the kids were allowed to be kids and play some. We had a great time last night spending some much needed family time together playing some fun and fast games of Uno Flash and having party food for dinner to celebrate our dreaded January 1st. It turned out to be a better end to a hard day! Then we ended it with a movie and some rest for the weary.   So, thank you God for friends, thank you God for family, Thank you God for your perfect timing and for turning a hard situation into a softer one just by prompting my husband to mention his cell number:) This family does not believe in coincidences, we fully believe in our Abba – God! Just remembering to give God all the glory and praise once again in our crazy lives here in the country that we love.

Mom needs a hug!

You know I probably should not be blogging in my present state of mind because you are really going to get a big taste of who I can be when I’m at the end of my rope! No, not everything ends happily ever after in my days either! Yes, I scream, rant and rave too! I really didn’t think I’d do it today though! I had such a grip on every emergency I handled today! Do you hear all the “I’s” going on here? I knew God was holding me up and I knew He was in control all day but I’d finally had all I thought I could take! It didn’t matter to me that He knew what I could and couldn’t handle. I finally broke! After dealing with a plumbing problem, A/C problem, ceiling leak, bad storm full of golf ball sized hail, lots of strong winds tearing up our yard, hearing about a friends’ sister having a heart attack, my poor son having his foot doused with acid and now he’s in extreme pain that I can do nothing about, (the foot Dr. did it, not me), spilling (not just once but twice), drinks of sticky diet pepsi in the worst places to clean in the office, once in the file cabinet, spending an hour online trying to find the best bargains on a web site and then placing the order only to have it disappear, need I say more? Oh, by the way, Scott’s out of town right now too. I am so spent! The rage serged out of me in full force as I proceeded to beat up the file cabinet while all the time screaming at God questioning why I can’t get a break today? On the other hand – Knowing good and well that we did get home & inside just in time to be safe from the hail, knowing that we didn’t suffer any damage from that storm, knowing that we don’t have to have the whole A/C unit replaced, knowing that the lady with the heart attack is going home tomorrow, knowing that my kids were there for me with lots of hugs and encouragement, knowing that I got a phone call-message-from a great AL friend of mine whom I haven’t talked to in ages, knowing that I sold some hot sauce to the plumber without even trying, knowing that tonight I don’t have to sleep on the couch to have A/C, knowing that I never let any of the first part of my day get to me….a-ha! maybe that’s the problem, I didn’t even try to acknowledge that it did bother me! I was just going with the flow but the flow was gradually getting under my skin and I just exploded! I can only be so positive during a day like mine was today, so – here’s for transparency! I’m so wiped out from all of it! Let me just admit here and now that I even heard myself tell my poor son that “right now I don’t have the energy and I can’t be sympathetic to your pain, you’ll have to go in the living room until I get done with my drama, I’m sorry!” The nice thing was that he understood and he loved on me in spite of his pain! Boy! What a slap in the face about selflessness, sensitivity and family! I guess… no… ok… I know, God did know just what I needed right that instant. But I’m still not ready to thank Him for my day full of stuff yet!
It’ll come, it always does but I had to vent. I had to dehumanize my body of these ever so human feelings of defeat! The emotions finally just overwhelmed my entire being! I think I’m going to sleep better tonight though because it’s all out, there’s nothing left to keep me awake! Ok, so maybe it did end “happily ever after” but that’s only because it’s “out of my control!” Thank God it’s in His!

(dedicated to my friends and family who have bad days too!)

It’s Ok Mom, I’m Growing Up

Where do I start about this one? Wow! As most of you know: my “baby” turned 11 recently and it was a huge event for both of us but for different reasons! I dreaded it like crazy! My kids know – out loud – how much I don’t like the idea of them getting older. I don’t know if it’s because I feel like I’m losing certain controls over them and their decisions or if it’s because it means they’re getting closer to not needing me but: “I DON’T LIKE IT ONE BIT!” Now, having said that, you have to continue reading because I get a huge wakeup call from God! I realized that my son’s 11th birthday was actually the most relaxed birthday and easiest birthday I’ve ever given! Can you believe it? See, God did a real number on me (excuse the human terminology) and He reminded me ever so gently that:

#1. He only loaned our kids to us.

#2. He is watching over them.

#3. He loves them more than I do.

Psalm 127:3 (NIV) Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.

#4. He knows what’s best for them.

Mark 10:16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

#5. It’s ok for me to “let go of them” to a certain extent (they are still in my care).

#6. We’ve taught them according to His Word so it’s up to them to make the right choices.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV)

Can you only imagine the peace that I felt all day? Even in the midst of 3 boys and 2 girls all over the place during the party, I was calm and lovin’ every minute of it! Only God can do that, believe me! He also gave me a bonus and provided a way for one of my girlfriends to spend some time with me during some of the party. We actually even got to talk and catch up some. That was awesome! See, He knew exactly what I needed and how to go about it! He’s so amazing! I just love Him so much and am so thankful that He’s brought me to this place of acceptance and trust in Him! Oh….I can’t forget…we even had a ceiling leak in the midst of it all but guess who took great care of it for us? Yeah, that would be God again!

I want to leave you with a verse that came to mind during this blog that says it all:

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

—Isaiah 26:3-4