Christmas lights

We decided to take the boys to look at Christmas lights last night. They got all ready for bed - showers, PJs on, robes, and slippers. We did not tell them where we were going, we just got in the car. Our first stop was to the Chesapeake Energy campus. The only word that came to mind was WOW! Each tree was wrapped from top to bottom and each one was a different color. It was spectacular! I am going to post some pictures, but they really don't do it justice.

From there, we drove to NW Oklahoma City to a neighborhood I had heard about on the news. It is about 15 houses all on one street and they have connected them together and put the lights to music. You tune your radio to a certain station and listen to the music as you drive through. Very well done. The great part of this story comes in while we were waiting in line to get into the neighborhood. The car of teenage girls behind us do a Chinese Fire Drill. The boys want to know what they are doing - of course. We had a discussion of what a Chinese Fire Drill is and why it is called that. M then pipes up and says ''I want to do that!" G responds with "I would be SO embarrassed if you do that." So...... M gets out of the car and runs around it!!!! The girls behind us thought that was great and started honking at him. G is about to crawl through the floor board at this point. This all starts a chain reaction - the car about 3 cars back then does their own Chinese Fire Drill - running all the way up and around our car as well. Lots of fun and clean entertainment for the evening.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Birthday!!!!

We celebrated G 11th Birthday on December 13th. We had a family party on the 13th and then had a friends party on the 19th. What a blessing you are to our lives G - you bring laughter and creativity into our world. We thank God for you everyday.

Green Belt

So proud of G this month. He had made the decision a couple of months ago not to take his test for green belt in Tae Kwon Do because he didn't think he was ready. On December 12, he was ready! Each test seems to get longer and harder (as it probably should) and there was a lot to do and remember. He did great and here are the results:

Praying for Friends

Friends,
If you don't already know, we have several friends who have adopted and are going to adopt from Eastern Europe. One of those is our music minister and family - the Malones. They have 2 children with Down Syndrome that they have already adopted that grew their family to 7 kids. They currently have 3 children with Downs. They are all precious and we love each one of them!
They have (this week) committed to adopting another angel - Ruslana (soon to be known as Ellianna - not sure of the spelling). There is a time crunch for them right now, but God will provide as He leads. In order for this sweet girl to be kept in the baby home and not moved to a mental institution, they must have all of their paperwork submitted (and funds raised) by February 1st. Humanly, this seems impossible, but with God all things are possible.
I am writing to ask you to pray for them. Pray that God will provide exactly what is needed for every step of the journey. Pray for all of the details here and abroad to be worked out. Let God work in your life as well. You can follow the Malone's journey at www.themalonefamily.us.
We love each one of you and wish you a very Merry Christmas this year!

Miracles

On the way to church yesterday, the boys and I were talking about how beautiful things looked - especially the changing leaves. I got a lesson on why leaves are different colors - did you know that leaves turn red or purple when they still have salt in them?
One of the things that came up was the fact that the changing of the seasons is a miracle because it is something only God can do. The wind is also a miracle - when it blows, when it stops (especially now), when it changes directions. Sunrise and sunset are also miracles - these cannot be controlled by man, but is something only God can do.
My sweet G says: "You know what that means Mom?" "What G?" And out of the mouths of babes: "That means every day is a miracle!"
I am praying that I remember that as I start each day and that I treat it as a miracle from God.

Here's hoping you enjoy your miracle - today!

Inspiring reading

Okay, so I admit I am not a very consistent blogger. But, life happens and sometimes - okay most of the time - this does not come very high on the priority list. I think about it often, especially when I am reading other people's very inspiring blogs. I guess I just don't find myself very inspiring and I know I was not a "born" writer.

There are two things I just want to share with you that have impacted my life lately.

The first is a book I have been reading - Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney. I am not done with it yet, but WOW. This little book has really changed my perspective on how I view my walk and what is important. Here is an excerpt: "What's the main thing in your life? What is truly "of first importance" to you? It might be something perfectly honorable, perfectly legitimate; but if it's somethign other than the gospel - are you willing to repent to God and reorder your life?"

This is how it started.
I told you. Wow!

I have underlined and made notes all the way through - and I can only read about one chapter at a time so I have time to process all that was in those 2 or 3 pages. I have understood the meaning of the Cross for many, many years, but one chapter really moved me. I have always looked at the Cross from a human viewpoint - I don't have another one to reference really. I would have run away from "wanting" to go to the Cross because of the physical pain I knew I would have to endure for hours. C.J. Mahaney gives another perspective - one that only Christ could have known was coming: "What Jesus recoils from here is not an anticipation of the physical pain associated with crucifixion. Rather it's a pain infinitely greater - the agony of being abandoned by His Father." He later tells how Jesus is willing to endure what He does - for me. "Jesus is saying, "Father, I will willingly drink this cup by your command - I'll drink it all." And He will. He'll drink all of it, leaving not a drop. Not only will He leave nothing in that cup of wrath for us to drink...but today you and I find ourselves with another cup in our hands. It's the cup of salvation. From this precious new cup we find ourselves drinking and drinking - drinking consistanely, drinking endlessly, drinking eternally...for the cup of salvation is always full and overflowing."
I did not intend to quote so much today, but I cannot help but share some of the treasures I am receiving. If you have not read this book, put it on your "to read" list. It is profound.

Another bit of reading I have been doing is on another blog - www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com . I found this blog after a post on Facebook from Klove radio. What a story this family has to tell! This is (mostly) written by Angie Smith - the wife of Todd Smith, one of the members of the Christian group, Seleh. It chronicles their journey of finding out they were expecting a little girl that was "not compatible" with life and how they dealt with the reality and emotions surrounding that pregnancy and birth. It really is a story of God's grace and mercy. Reading it is like sitting down and having a conversation with Angie. She is very real and open with her readers. Her down to earth style is refreshing and is an inspiration. I will warn you, if you choose to go to the beginning of their story, you will need a box of kleenex to get you though it!

This is much longer than I anticipated it would be when I sat down, but it seems right now you get all or nothing. I would love to hear about the things that have inspired you or changed your perspective lately!

No pictures

Okay, so I have this obsession that I shouldn't post anything unless I have pictures to go with it. Why is that? I know I enjoy reading other people's blogs, even when there are no pictures. I guess it is like all my other little obsessions = just the way God made me.
So here goes (and pictures will come later).
The last time I blogged, we had just spent a week at a reunion for our youth group in Illinois. God has been so faithful to allow us to see some of the fruits of that weekend. One of the ladies that came, brought her husband, who is not a Christian. He joined us for the evening of sharing that we all did. She shared that she had been convicted over the weekend, that she should be back in church - she had not been going since she had children. After the reunion, she got her husband to agree to go with her for a few weeks. Well, that's all it took - within a couple of weeks, he was saved and baptized!!!! God is Good! They are all going to church together now.

The rest of our summer has been a blur of activity. The boys had cousins camp with the Lee side of the family. Lots of time together and very few injuries make for a successful camp. It is always fun to be with family - especially when the kids are all fairly close in age! No matter what, you have your spats and disputes, but we are family, so we will get along. Isn't that what it is all about.

In August, the boys and I got to spend a week in New Braunfels with my parents. Boy have we been spoiled in Oklahoma with our gorgeous weather or what?!? While we were there, they were on their 56th day in a row of over 100 degree weather and had had less than an inch of rain all summer long. We just about melted!!!! Despite the heat, we had a great time. We went to Schlitterbahn for a day - a must do and the boys favorite activity. We tubed the river one morning - the water is so cold it takes your breath away! The rest of the week, we shopped, did touristy things, and just had a good time.

Now school is back in session - I was ready for the routine, but I really don't like the early mornings!!!! All is well so far - trying to ease back into a homework schedule and chores in the afternoon.

I am going in for surgery in the morning on my knee. After trying to do physical therapy all summer, the doctor decided it was time - not healing completely on its own. So, here we go... I really don't know what to expect - except pain. So many have already offered help and meals, and it is so appreciated. We feel so loved.

So for now, that is all. Maybe I will get pictures up when I can't do anything else next week. Thanks for bearing with us on this journey and for loving on us!