My Toes Hurt

Well, I'm entering my 4th week of discipleship, and I have to say Monday has now become my favorite day of the week. .. for this very reason. Y'all it is SOOOO good.

I've been involved in many Bible studies before. . . I've even taught one. . . but discipleship is quite different.

We all meet here at my house at 6:30. I have coffee ready for everyone and my girl, Lisa, always brings us a yummy goody. She is an excellent cook and an even better friend!!

We all gab for a little bit until about 7:00.

Then, it's time to get down to business.

We head to my family room and start out with prayer. Then we open up our books and read.

Right now we are going through "Respectable Sins" and "The Mischief of Sin". If you want to be convicted, have your toes stepped on, and the like, then you definitely need these books. If you're the type who chooses to ignore both the obvious and unobvious (is unobvious even a word?) then stay away from these books.

Cutting, I tell you. Makes you fall to your knees in repentance because you truly realize how wretched you are. . . how full of sin you are. . . sin that you like, sin that you allow. . . Becuase many times we as Christians tend to compare ourselves to unbelievers. We look at ourselves and think, "Hey I'm pretty good. I don't murder. I don't cheat. I don't steal. I love Jesus." The problem is we are comparing ourselves to the wrong standard. We've allowed these "respectable" or acceptable sins into our lives. Sins like worry, fear, gossip, impatience (I can't wait to get to that chapter b/c I didn't even know impatience was a sin). God is the ONE who sets the standard and His standard is His Word. We've got to be in the Word if we're going to know His standards.

In fact, we always read a chapter during the week. It's the same chapter that we will be going over. Once when reading "The Mischief of Sin" I'd have to stop after just about every paragraph and repent.

We learned last week that a single sin does not stand alone. One sin is usually coupled with another sin and probably several sins. For example. . . resentment, pride, frustration can all tag along together. And, what about the sin of gossip? Gossip is a pretty broad term, but to make it simple, gossip is ANYTHING that tears another person down. . that doesn't build them up. . .and it hurts both the person saying it and the person listening. I joked around and said, "Yeah, here in the South we think we can say something about someone and follow it by 'Bless his/her heart', and we think it's okay to talk bad about them."

Know what else? We are to keep one another accountable.

So, let's say my friend has a problem with another friend. She calls me venting about our mutual friend. She says some ugly things. I'm to call her out on it and tell her she is gossiping. OUCH!!! That's a hard one for this people pleaser.

What about the sin of complaining? This one really got me!!! When we complain about things in our lives, then we are questioning God's Sovereignty. Whew!!!

When we started this discipleship group I prayed God would not only step on our toes, but even bruise them. Now, I think we are on the threshold of having them broken. . . but that's good. That's what I want. I haven't gotten into Chapter 4 yet (plan on diving into this weekend), but I can't wait. I WANT to know my sin. I WANT to be aware of it. Because when I sin and do it willingly, then I am despising God. Oh, when I learned that it cut me to the very core.

I'm trying to be so very mindful of my sin, moreso my "acceptable" sins, the ones that make the church blend in with the world. Just today, only today, I've been tempted many times, and I'm sure I've failed. I'm so thankful God is so patient with me. I'm so thankful He is the potter and I am the clay. I'm so thankful that during this process of sanctification He hasn't let go of me yet. Stay tuned. . . I know I'll have much more to share!!!

Ergodic, Haphazard, Hit-or-Miss, Stochastic

I feel like I have more random posts than anything. . .so in an effort to be creative, I thought I'd give you all some synonyms . . . so there you go. . . right up there in the ol'title . . .

Want ergodic? My kids are having a fit. They think I said a cuss word. I was on the phone with my sister, who is moving to Columbia, SC. She and her best friend were talking about running a beach race up there. Melissa suggested the 3 of us running it and Leslie (her BF), jokingly, was like, "No, Michele cannot run it. We are going to tell her you have to have a certain percentage of body fat in order to run it." I'm cracking up as Melissa tells me this and I said to her, "That heifer!!!" Ash and Alec start saying, "Ewww, Mama said a cuss word." I told them my Granny called me a heifer alot when I was little. Melissa then corrected me saying, "She didn't call you a heifer, she called you a heifa." Oh me, oh my. . . it felt so very good to have a good belly laugh with her. It felt so "normal". I've missed her. She's been withdrawing from her antidepressants going on the 1-1/2 year mark. It has been a living hell on earth for her. Most of our conversations center around me encouraging her, helping her to think rationally, etc. (which I love being there for my sister). It's just been a good, long time since we've cut up and laughed on the phone. Side note: I did tell my kids I was teasing and I shouldn't tease that way. I didn't want them to go around calling each other "heifas"

Want more haphazard? I've decided that God gave me a job where I have to get up at 4:00 a.m. (tried to do 6:00 a.m. it just doesn't work for me) . . . to make me tired. . . because really I'm a fireball just like Ashley. Our household can only handle one of us. . . while Ashley is like a raging forest fire. . . I'm like a dimly lit match. . . only because I'm too tired to be anything else (ha!ha!). Jon, Hanna, Alec, and Cookie would probably go crazy if there were 2 live fireballs running around here. Side note: I'm very, very grateful for my job. I'm not complainin' (my discipleship girls will know what I'm talking about). I'm just sayin'

How about some Hit-or-Miss? My parents may be moving . . . from the home I grew up I. Although I will be sad, I am ecstatically happy for them. This will be their dream home. . . a log cabin on 18 acres. . . and . . . it will be closer to me. . . 45 to 50 minutes. Nothing is written in stone yet, but we will see. I'm really hoping it will happen. It will be so nice to be closer to them. It's almost a straight shot from where we live now. You don't have to turn down 10,000 back roads to the there like you do to their house now.

Okay, let me throw some stochastic at you?!? I AM SO EXCITED MY SISTER IS MOVING TO COLUMBIA, SC. It is less than 4 hours away from me (which sure beats 12 when they lived in Dallas, TX)!!! My other sister is only an hour from her in Augusta, GA. There's nothing in the whole wide world like a sister. . . someone who loves you always even when they hate you. . . someone who knows everything about you. . . someone who loves you enough to tell you the truth. Know what else? Blood doesn't make you sisters. It's your heart that does that!!!

Done!!! I feel like Joey did on the episode of "Friends" when he needed to write Monica and Chandler a letter of referral so they could adopt a child. He wanted to sound really smart, so he broke out his thesaurus. He signed the letter, "a baby kangaroo". Get it? Joey??? A baby kangaroo??? Oh that puts a gig in my giggle.

Have a wonderful Thursday!!!

2500? Really???

Last Monday night Alec's band had the opportunity to perform at the "Wild Game Banquet" our church puts on. I just thought this was a small event. When we showed up at the high school it was being held at I was informed there would be about 2500 people. You've got to be kidding me. I was as nervous as a pole cat in a room full of rocking chairs. . . yet so very excited for my boy. They performed, "O Happy Day". And. . . to top of the night, they got to meet Coach Mark Richt, coach of our GA Bulldogs!!! Jon and I both were so very proud of Alec. Here's a few pictures that captured our night. . .

Girls, Girls, Girls

I bet you're thinking this post is going to be about my girls. . . oh how I wish!!!

Alec is spending the night with his friend, Griffin. His mom, Jennifer, is a dear friend of mine and an excellent spy (as you will see shortly)

When I woke up this morning I had all of these messages on facebook. . . I thought I'd share. . .

>1st Message
"well...they were talking about GIRLS!!! YUCK! They were rating girls and Alec said "there's a difference between liking someone and thinking they're cute". I'm about ready to put on a good movie so they will stop talking about girls!!!!!! I'm not ready for this! LOL!! Oh, well... wait, now they're talking about video games. Yeahhhh!

2nd Message
"My mom always wanted me and Emily to get together but now she's like 7 ft taller than me..." They are cracking me up!

3rd Message
"Hanna likes Jonathon Ford. She's boy crazy." (Who the heck is Jonathan Ford? - this is me talking. . . and YES, she is boy crazy . . . and YES, she is beautiful. .. and YES, it scares me)

4th Message
"Alec is talking about some girl that use to be crazy about him but "she's gross...she like...bites her fingernails!" Alec is definitely noticing girls! The subject may change but he brings it right back to the topic of.... GIRLS!!!!! LOL!!

5th Message
"Okay...I had to run up there and change the subject when I heard them talk about the 11 year old that had a baby. Alec said...there's only one way...and I heard someone else say..yeah....So I told them it was time to watch a movie. The Incredibles to the rescue

Girl, I can't believe they are pre-teens...they have noticed girls and are acting so goofy about them! LOL!!

I've got to get to sleep now...can't spy any more.

Love ya!
Jennifer

I have ONE word and ONE word only. . .

HELP!!!

Family Olympics

Ladies and Gentleman I now invite you, in honor of Winter Olympics 2010, to take part in our family Olympics. There are 4 participants this year. . . Alec, Ashley, Hanna, and Verdia (our sweet neighbor whom I claim as my 4th child).

The first event . . . JUMPING JACKS!!!

Ashley gets the Gold

The second event is BALANCE ON ONE FOOT . . .

Verdia gets the GOLD!!

The third event was SPLITS!!!

The gold goes to HANNA!!!

The fourth event . . . JUMP ROPING!!!

The gold goes to ASHLEY!!!

The fifth event. . . PUSHUPS!!!

The gold goes to ALEC!!!

The sixth event was . . . SIMON SAYS!!!

The gold goes to HANNA!!!

The next event BALANCING A PILLOW ON YOUR HEAD . . .

And . . . Alec takes home the GOLD!!!

Then sweet Verdia went home. We started watching the Olympics and after 1800 flicks of light. . . this was the only light that was left. . .

The lights are out, which means no heat (don't be fooled by the fireplace. . . they are only gas logs and they don't heat very much. . . Jon says its like burning dollar bills). . . this stresses the Olympic Mom out. . .

So the Olympic Dad. . . called the electric company . . . and then called his parents (who live 2 miles away). . . they were out of town, but called their neighbors. . .

They had electricity. . . off we headed to their house (so we could watch the Olympics. . . spoiled Americans we are)

Guess what? Their downstairs heat was broken. Although we could watch TV we were freezing.

But,brilliant Olympic Dad had an idea. Turn on the upstairs heat and lay on the floor and watch the TV from the balcony that overlooks the family room. Olympic Dad kept calling the house (he knew when the phone rang more than once the lights were back on).

So, we headed back home, all piled in the bed and fell asleep to the opening ceremonies.

We are SO LOVING the Olympics!!! What about you guys? What's been your favorite event so far?

Betcha Didn't Know

Betcha Didn't Know . . . I thought I'd join Amber and Tiff . . .although I have 500 posts I NEED to be doing, but they have 500 pictures to go with them. . . and I'm just not in the mood.

Betcha Didn't Know . . . I haven't worn makeup or fixed my hair in 2 WHOLE DAYS!!! That is major around here. Our lives are so busy most every day we have somewhere to go . . . I often think we are the busiest homeschoolers out there. It is winter break around here which means no Wednesday night church (although I will miss seeing my church family). I had Bunco last night, but I had a terrible headache and stomachache. . . so I stayed home and sat on the sofa and read. . . Jon took ALL the kids to basketball practice.

Betcha Didn't Know. . . that I am already running low on K-cups. I got them for my Bible study girls. . . but I'm enjoying them waaayyyy too much myself when they aren't here.

Betcha Didn't Know . . . I'd so love to go on a skiing trip right now.

Betcha Didn't Know. . .we're broke as a joke and that ain't happenin' (just kidding. . . it's just super tight right now until a house sells or Jon finds a job. . . we're praising God for whatever He gives us)

Betcha Didn't Know . . . the family and I headed over to Sonic today for Happy Hour and I had a Cherry Limeade.

Betcha Didn't Know . . . that I am what my sister calls a "perfect little ball of insecurity". . . so I bought Beth Moore's "So Long Insecurity" and I'm participating in her online book club. I thought about posting my thoughts over here as well. . . however, I'm not that secure yet. . .hee!hee!

Betcha Didn't Know . . . that although I'm a size 2 I struggle with my weight ALOT. . . certainly more than I voice. . .I'm constantly critiquing my body. In the last year I've put on around 10 lbs and it drives me insane. However, if I want to run marathons I have to eat in order to have the energy. . . so the tradeoff is worth it. . . although I need to not use running as an excuse to eat. . . I need to be more mindful of what I'm putting in my mouth. I don't say these things very often to people b/c I don't ever want to sound like I'm "fishing", you know, "fishing for a compliment". My running friend soooo gets this about me. . . she understands, as she is the same way. . .so it really helps to have someone out there who "gets it" and you can freely talk about your issues with. . . I'm sure its part of this whole insecurity thing.

Betcha Didn't Know .. . I have started doing Jillian's "Shred" workout. It is TOUGH!!! Trust me, it is easier to run 26.2 miles. It is an awesome workout!!!!

Betcha Didn't Know. . . I looked at our gas bill and it was $286 (sorry Tiff, I told you wrong). I FREAKED out!!! So. . . I went and turned the heat from 70 degrees to 60 degrees. . . later that evening I turned the heat up to 65 degrees. I could no longer stand the cold. . . when Jon got home. . . he said we were going to keep the house warm. . . so back up to 70 degrees the heat went.

Betcha Didn't Know . . . that I'm ending this post, going to call the girls to get out of the bathtub. . . go downstairs and fix apple chicken, wild rice, salad, and banana bread for dinner. I'm going to have my buddy, Glenn Beck, on in the background and see what he has to say today.

Don't be Deceived. . . You Have Not Entered Narnia

Last week I saw the most snow I've ever seen here in GA. . . it was wonderful!!!

The kids were giddy with excitement. . . so much snow, at the first sight of it Hanna headed outside. . .

Alec and Ash got mad at her because they thought she was going to use it all up. . . told you we weren't used to snow around these parts:)

I loved watching the girls peer at the snow through the window. . . their delight and excitement over the snow filled my heart with joy. . .

When Jon got home, we all bundled up and headed outside for . . .

you guessed it . . .

A SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!

Cookie came too. He was so funny. He kept digging up the snow so he could see the ground. . .

YUCK!!! Hanna kept eating the snow!

This girl meant serious business.. .

Boys versus girls. . .

And. . . of course. . . there were snow angels . . .

Another serious snowball fighter!!!!

Alec and I went round and round with the snowballs. We pegged one another good!

Everyone had their time of tears. . . except Jon and I. . . family picture time was Ash's time for tears. . .

Forget the snowballs. . . Hanna means business with her stick!

He thinks he's going to peg me with this one!

Jon threw a few snowballs. . . his hit really hard!!

It looks like Narnia outside. . . this is our side yard. . .

Side yard . . .

Across the street . . .