day late...no less thankful.

• sharpies
• nick & caroline's lunch date last week
• sitting on the porch swing on christmas eve with my most favorite person (it's my favorite tradition)
  
• line full o' christmas cards
• those little pretzel/chocolate/rolo treats. yummy.
• coupon based progressive dinner date at the mall
• yaya's ornament party
• making melty bead things with caroline
• pigs in the blanket
• following a recipe - and the dish turning out as it's supposed to.
  
• rolls. i have yet to meet a roll i didn't like.
  
• the way emma "took" to mrs. christy last night
• that christy has a "mrs" in front of her name
• steak. well marinated and well cooked. and shared with wonderful friends.
  
• watching roman holiday
  
• eating - and liking (twice!) - sweet potatoes
• grandaddy stopping by yesterday for knife safety lessons and for a game of battleship
• beautiful sunshiny day, warm enough to sit and play outside
• "I care as much about your tiny trust-steps through daily life as about your dramatic leaps of faith" - jesus calling 12/29/11

come & worship

read these verses yesterday (it's fun to find Christmas in the psalms!):

Psalm 96:8-9 "bring gifts and celebrate, bow before the beauty of God, then to your knees - everyone worship!"

and then read these today:

Matthew 2:11 "...(the wisemen) entered the house and saw the child...overcome, they kneeled and worshipped Him..."

Luke 2:20 "...(the shepherds) returned & let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen..."

thought of this song...

http://youtu.be/83huFAMOte0

...as we encounter Jesus this Christmas may we be overcome...may we kneel and worship...may we let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything we have heard and seen.

simple significant gifts

• eli playing stack the states on nick's phone
• me playing stack the states on nick's phone
• a clean kitchen floor
• watching the "mercy box" videos with the kiddos
• ice.
• sweet conversations with friends & God pre, during and post crave
• homemade french fries (that french fry cutter is amazing!)
• tupperware container returned - full of chili (delicious chili!)(i don't really care about the container...man oh man those contents were fabulous!!)
• realizations
• learning the name of a neighbor
  
• hearing caroline sing in gaelic
• the ornaments that kaliena and aj made with the community group kids tuesday night (i do like the ornament...but i really like that kaliena and aj brought them for the kids to make)
• ALL of the activities and crafts Mrs. Shawn has been doing with the kids at crave lately.
  
• free monkey joe's passes
  
• having 5 kids in, on, under & around the cart at sam's today - obedient, cheerful, fun-to-be-with kids!
• barrel o' cheese balls
• thoughtfulness and kindness...it never gets old

amusing

so...something about my "homepage" changed and now it's got some little links in the top left corner (i don't know how these things happen)...when they showed up one link was for my gmail account (useful) and one was labeled "time waster" -- and i thought "oh...what is that? i think it's a blog that's full of random stuff that really serves no purpose but is slightly entertaining to partake of....let's see." click. up popped facebook. that highly amused me. at some point i had bookmarked my facebook page (in an effort to save a few clicks i suppose) and had named it "time waster" - and promptly forgot that that's what i named it -- no offense to anyone who loves, uses and enjoys facebook...i certainly do use it and enjoy it - especially when i don't fall prey to its time wasting trap. (though i must point out that my earlier description kind of fits facebook - "full of random stuff that really serves no purpose but is slightly entertaining to partake of")(truth be told, this blog could fit under the same description! especially this post...)

in other news (literally), i heard on the radio this morning that a Circle K off of I-85 was robbed (near Opelika, i think)...just for the record, i did not do it...though i do fit the description perfectly....white female, in her 30's, shoulder length brown hair, about 5'6", wearing a hoodie....that's a semi-generic description...but i still laughed as the news reporter was describing me - and then cried wondering what would lead a woman in her 30's to rob a circle K.... we all need God's love and grace so much.

too random to post. guess i'll do it anyway.

felt like changing the look of the blog up a bit. too bad i'm not technologically gifted...i could do all sorts of fancy things with this blog. it's sort of like fixing my hair...i could probably learn to fix it...but i'd rather spend my time on other things (did you know that about me? i don't know how to use a hair dryer/hairbrush in ways that would benefit my hair.) i do, however, want to learn how to add music (a playlist?) to the blog...

what else might you not know about me? http://obsequiumfidei.blogspot.com/2011/05/blast-from-past.html (did that work? it's supposed to link to a list from a while back ...sorry about the words written in orange) i'm going to try and come up with 5 new things that you might not know about me....

• i'm becoming more and more fond of vegetables...even to the point of actually wanting them from time to time. hard to believe, right?
• i used to see how far into the school day i could get without talking to anyone (except to teachers if they spoke directly to me). once i made it the ENTIRE day without saying anything that wasn't absolutely necessary.
  
• i avoid using the abbreviation "lol" (except i used it the other day)....but i really like using "idk"
• i had two "goals" for this year....but pretty much failed at both of them -- got about 1/2 way through each of them....and just sort of gave up. that's not really like me....but it happened. trying to decide if i want to try again in 2012.
• i've never been driving a car that's been pulled over by a police officer (but that is definitely not because i am a stellar driver who always obeys all the traffic laws and posted speed limits) - and i've never been in a car that received a ticket after being pulled over (but have been the front seat passenger 3 times in cars that were pulled over). random pointless information. sorry to waste your time.
  

something you definitely know about me: i like quotes. here are my favorites from this weekend:

"in the west i think our conception of God's love is so much tied to circumstance - when we think He is answering prayer, or things are going as we think they should. But i am challenged to conceive of a love that is deeper than anything, which is not in any way tied to circumstance." -- from an article written by andree seu in World magazine

"God is 100% grace and 100% truth. If we fail to represent any part of that then we fail to truly represent Christ." -- alan chambers

"i'm going to vacuum the upstairs." -- nick cash

"we need God's grace more than we need a life free of suffering." -- keith cowart

"this gingerbread man is trey...and this gingerbread girl is maddie." -- trey

T to the H to the ANKFUL

• wrapping presents. it's fun to give.
• mall chinese with nick.
• free refills on cherry coke at Chick Fil A in the mall
• that the CFA in the mall has cherry coke
  
• eli riding his bike with no training wheels
• getting to celebrate a few "firsts" with my 6 year old (it's been a while)
• dancing with emma in the living room
• that emma's arm is not broken or dislocated or anything else horrible (and that i don't have to live with the thought/guilt that it was accidentally my fault)
• a friend who listens and acts on random statements of wanting "cherry coke & chocolate"
• the perspective kaci lesley is choosing in their adoption process.
  
• how many times i've been making references to kaci lately :)
• indoor plumbing.
• bob costa's editorials during NFL games
• sitting on the front porch, addressing christmas cards
  
• a little shopping spree at the Dollar Tree
  
• salted caramel hot chocolate (or whatever that deliciousness was at starbuck's last friday morning. what a delightful time. especially the conversation and the bell ringing. even the coffee i spilled on my jeans "spattered" perfectly.)
• tacky christmas tops
• emma is 2!! i'm claiming "terrific 2's" - nothing else.
• using birthday money and ordering black chaco flip flops
• friends being in town for Christmas break
• getting to see those aforementioned friends
• calling cashiers and others wearing nametags by name.
• nick's laughter. (especially at ridiculous things)

one of the most beautiful things i've ever read

just read this blog post from an amazing girl that i had the chance to share life with when she was in high school. she's a gem of a girl. (wow, that sounds cliche' - but she is rare and splendid and valuable and a treasure...a delight...i only wish i was in more consistent contact with her...maybe i'll work on that). just wanted to share her beautiful words...almost felt like i HAD to share them - compelled to share them. it's beautiful. raw. real. holy.

Welcome, Sweetheart.: You Said.

favorite quotes & song from church yesterday

my favorite quotes from keith:

• "we can live in the freedom that we've already been accepted"
• "it's not about style or personality - it's about substance...it's about knowledge of Him."
• "may my life be a demonstration of the character and nature of God."
• "the source of all deception is satan"

my favorite song from worship (the italics are my most favorite parts...):

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Chorus
Lord, I need You, Oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Bridge
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You Jesus, You're my hope and stay


And for your listening pleasure...

oh so random.

there isn't much in my book that beats the look, touch, and -especially- the smell of clean (another way we're alike, kaci!!). i like clean - so much! i just got to spend a couple of hours cleaning our bedroom. it gets so dusty and takes a bit of effort to clean out from under the bed and behind furniture....but it's sooo worth it. AND it's almost completely enjoyable if all the right elements are in place -- my "take home coke" from lunch (thanks, yaya). hillsong united music (playing the same 4 songs over and over and over. so good)(thanks, nick). and socks to slide around on the floor with. delightful. (and it helps that the one child in the house is sleeping....and the other 2 are out gallivanting)(thanks, yaya).

as i was cleaning, i was thinking that there are other not so enjoyable things that are made so much more enjoyable by adding just the right elements. for instance, going to the dentist - not the most pleasant of exeriences...but add a tv to watch while you're getting worked on and poof! it's like vacation! (thanks, dr. tyler)(and congrats on the baby!!) Then there are family get togethers with family who might not be your favorite...add a really delicious dish (deorio's pizza & 7 layer chocolate cake) and poof! it's pretty much tolerable. good food makes everything better.

all that to say: cleaning + coke + good music + sliding around in socks = enjoyable way to spend 2 hours (especially since the end result is a sparking clean good smelling room and bed to live and sleep in!)

among the things found as i was cleaning:

• 3 silly bands
• 1 regular rubber band (that quickly got put to use)
• 1 yellow rabbit cookie cutter
• 1 crazy looking little mermaid doll. that girl's hair needs help.
  
• 1 fake rhinestone ring
• 3 charm bracelets (i knew i had 2...but had forgotten about the 3rd one. i've got at least 2 charm bracelets too many...maybe even 3 too many....)
• that my music/jewelry box was broken (but now it's fixed!! what i hoped would work to fix it did! amazing!!)
• 1 big orange bouncy ball
• an easter egg with a bouncy ball in it (but it's not from easter...it was part of caroline's "stocking the stockings" week before last)
  

yay for a room being cleaner than it's been in a while....on to even more random thoughts....

there were 2 things (at least) that i can remember that made me think "um...not sure if i can be a mom if i have to do those things...." - one was loose teeth....and we're conquering that one (well, maybe "experiencing that one" would be more appropriate and accurate....and by experiencing, i mean, i have a child losing teeth and i'm letting him and his daddy handle it.)(i must admit that i was rather surprised by how small the teeth coming out are...i think i'm comparing them to the 4 hugenormous (just made that up) teeth that i had pulled in order to make room for braces to be able to do their thing...they were molars...roots and all (i still have them)(i actually have those 4...not sure how i managed to keep those - my mom has all my other teeth...surprised she didn't make me turn those in to her)(she has all of my siblings' teeth)(amy, jonathan, lane - did ya'll know that?!)(and she's got every marching quarter that's ever crossed her path)(among other things).

the other thing that i thought i wouldn't be able to handle was (drumroll...) -- cleaning out the little thing in the sink that catches bits of food and junk. what's that called? a strainer? the little silver thing that you can plug the sink with. i just always thought that was the nastiest thing growing up...i avoided it. the amazing thing is, it doesn't gross me out in the least these days (well, usually it doesn't gross me out...sometimes when we have eggs, what's left in the sink as the pan is being cleaned out grosses me out a little). the really amazing thing is how many other nasty things i've done and touched....and it's really not so bad. ahh....motherhood...or life...or something. builds character. and we like character.

wearing christmas sweaters that aren't quite my style - that also builds character (and causes smiles - it was a great evening). still resisting the urge to untag myself from every picture on facebook. :)

this makes me laugh (not even sure why...it's not all that funny...just makes me laugh)

back on track. it's thursday!

• eli lost his first tooth last sunday!!! (while eating an apple)
• eli lost his 2nd tooth yesterday (not sure what he was eating)
• that he knows that loose teeth make me a little squeamish and he came to me, wiggling his tooth and said "mom, does this freak you out?" why yes, yes it does. just a little.
  
• i am on the internet in my house!
• the pantry at the TA house isn't completely out of control anymore
• thinking about how awesome carey bray is how fabulous she is with kids!
• in general, i'm not a fan of the word "mine" -- especially coming out of the mouth of a child who is being selfish (or from this mom who is being selfish) -- but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the word when it's coming from God as He refers to us. He says "Mine! You are mine!" (and there's absolutely nothing selfish about it...pure love. We are His. We have security and identity in that position and title.
  
• teaching caroline to make a quesadilla
• that yaya spent the night!
• date night. sweet conversations.
  
• Christmas crafts (and how God even takes the time to provide for them...)
• that one wal-mart commerical (the lady & her list and the guy at the counter...i'll have to post it later). it just makes me laugh.
• dustbusters. they are my favorite small appliance.
  
• "joseph's journey" - the incredible rock opera that combines the story of Joseph with the music of Journey! and that it really does attract people who may otherwise never set foot inside of a church.
  
• the fact that our church "allows" / puts on/ has a rock opera featuring the music of journey and other 80's artists!
  

You Is Smart, You Is Kind, You Is Important

i love the Truth that this sweet lady is speaking into this little girl - telling her the TRUTH! let the Father speak His Truth into you today...crawl up in His lap, touch His face with your hands, see His smile, listen as He tells you who and what you are -- and then repeat it back to Him.

overdue

My lack of thankful Thursday lists has not been the result of not having things to be thankful for…more the result of a lack of motivation to turn on the computer when i'm at home (cause that’s sooo difficult!) and type my little list into a word document so that I could later copy and paste onto my blog when there's internet available. But right now it's like I can't keep it all in anymore. So – this might be quite long…making up for lost time…it's overdue...but thankful that no fines are involved.

• That the “funk” doesn’t last forever (just like messes….the funk gets cleaned up – I’m not talking about literal funk! More figurative funk – my figurative funk looks a lot like sadness….and discouragement…and fighting off lies of the enemy. Can I curse at him? The bleepity bleep bleep evil one. Not a fan of his.)
  
• The way starbucks smells…and the aroma that stays with your clothes and reminds you of the heart encouragement that happened in the sacred space that was created when 2 friends shared Jesus centered conversation, thoughts, hearts and coffee.
  
• Successful surgery for Caroline last week. Tubes in. Adenoids out. She can hear again!! And she’s got this sweet spirit about her again (I can only imagine how frustrated she’s been for so long – and, as a 5 year old, unable to really even recognize the frustration).
• The cheerful “good morning” we received from the lady working in the surgery waiting area. A beautiful way to start our time…she didn’t have to be so kind…but she was…and I am thankful.
• Having a “sub” for homeschool. Thanks, Sally, for keeping eli and emma for us on Thursday!
• The memories and stories that Christmas ornaments stir up.
• Sharing cherry coke with nick. It never gets old. Spending time with him never gets old.
  
• Walking in to get emma up from her nap and seeing her standing their with her knit strawberry hat on…just a grinnin’
• Walking around the block. Not sure why that brings me such great pleasure…but it does…and I’m thankful.
• Going to see “the help” – and the assortment of ladies that I got to see it with!
• Really good chili and really sweet fellowship at the white’s last week with our community group.
• Papa’s new dog – Buddy!! That dog is a gift straight from the Father. That man deserves a gift straight from the Father.
• The first clementine of the season.
• Getting into a warm car on a cold day.
• Washing windows with caroline in preparation for Christmas decorating…quite the fun balancing act.
• The kids’ help in decorating the tree – their excitement was beautiful. And they really were helpful!!!
• The “Jesus Scenes” Eli and Caroline set up in their rooms (their idea…not mine).
• Yaya’s dessert the other night – an assortment of candy/candy bars – kit kats, reese’s spree, heath bar….yummy goodness.
• A cup of coffee sitting by the backdoor…with a sunshiny note on a dreary day.
• The African Violet is still alive and well!
• Amy Taylor’s heart. Beautiful.
• Ideas that are so good that they can only come from God – no way in the world to give yourself any credit for them!!
• Emma (unknowingly) making rock angels on the playground at CCC – she was just laying in them and moving her arms around like you would if you were making a snow angel…made me laugh.
• The FACT that sitting in the backyard talking with a trusted friend does my heart far more good than a walk ever could (and walks do my heart a lot of good!).
• The moments when texts DO send from inside our house.
• The little countdown things at some of the crosswalks (on the “walk/do not walk” signs) – I don’t know if they are new…or just new to me…but I like ‘em! I like knowing how much time I have until the light turns yellow – it’s entertaining!
• Saying “rise up lights” in a semi-fast fashion – it sounds like you’re saying “razor blades” in an Australian accent. (thanks for sharing that little smile bringer, colleen!)

amusing little let down.

so...you know how you can see the first part of an email from your inbox (at least i can in gmail...not sure what it's like in other email worlds)? well, i just got an email and the part i could see said "would you be willing to adopt a part..." -- and my heart started pounding and i got so excited and thought "wahoo! an opportunity! a possibility!! a part what?" then i opened the email all the way and it said "would you be willing to adopt a part siamese cat?" sigh. not so much looking to adopt a cat...would rather have a little boy (or 2! or boy and sister! or whoever God wants to send our way!). (btw - this isn't a sad let down...but rather an amusing one...). we'll keep waiting and trusting and know that God's timing is BEST. He's got good plans for us.

pre-thanksgiving ramblings

so, i'm not sure if it's just this computer or if it's computer's all over the world...but, because i don't know the web address for my blog, i typed "becausehetoldme" into the search engine and a link to my blog was the first thing that popped up. somebody else try it...let me know what happens!!! (just kidding...you don't have to try it!)

i've got nothing in particular to blog about...just thought i'd take advantage of having internet in the house where i am sleeping. we're in warrenton for thanksgiving. had a sweet ride over today...read a kids' version of oliver twist to the kiddos...finished a book of my own...listened to fun music....2 out of 3 kids slept part of the way, the other was peaceful and cheerful (and quiet!) while her brother and sister snoozed. stopped in sparta to use the bathroom...closed our eyes and ignored the nastiness of that gas station bathroom while we used the facilities. that was gross. i'm going to erase it from my memory now and move on to better thoughts. we had some fruit snacks and lollipops as we made the home stretch. we've had a sweet afternoon here at 90 johnson street this afternoon...ate some pizza from doug's...drank some cherry coke...pulled some girls around the block in a wagon...watched a pick up game of football in my brother's yard. now one sweet emma is sleeping in the pack and play (fell asleep without so much as a cry). eli and caroline are heading to the cabin with their uncle lane to sleep (hopefully) and have some fun with their cousins. i'm enjoying pandora. nick is organizing star wars cards (?). just got a sweet hug from my daddy! oh the joy of holidays!!

random: i'm a bit amazed by texting. i can totally keep in communication with someone across the state...or nation (except in dead spots like 2215 19th ave -- the coverage in warrenton has improved greatly i must say!). what a fun treat (and a treat that can easily be left in another room if i need not partake at a particular moment!). (and i'm amazed that i think texting is a treat...some days, not so much because of how they won't send inside our house).

i'm very thankful that the sadness i've felt the past few days seems to be shaken. i think it "broke" yesterday when my sweet friend walked through the gate with her friendship and hugs...and continued to be broken through the cup of coffee...and through conversation with the my "three at three"....continued as nick and i shared some quality time last night ...and the good night of sleep definitely helped...the peaceful morning was a gift...time at crave solidified it all. our God is faithful...and so kind.

i'm looking forward to tomorrow...no doubt the food will be good (what am i looking forward to most? um...papa palmer's corncakes come to mind...and dessert....and more cherry coke cause i know it's in the fridge at the cabin! and the fried turkey.) and four wheelers and walks in the woods...remembering and forgetting and making new memories...seeing my siblings....it's going to be a good day. being with my family is a blessing - i'm very thankful to be able to say that and mean it.

God has overwhelmed me with good things. the "Jesus Calling" today talked about looking for the gifts that He has set out for us along the way (and gathering them up like flowers...and then giving Him his bouquet back at the end of the day - a lovely picture!). It was a reminder to me that we often see what we're looking for. I want to be looking for the good...looking for the gifts...looking for the blessings and the hand of God in the midst of whatever and wherever. He is present...that is Gift in and of itself. And, as if that's not enough - He continues to lavish us with love and other gifts. May we have eyes to see HIM and His gifts...and hearts that are grateful.

A most happy thanksgiving to each of you....may our hearts be more thankful than ever before!

focusing my heart....thankfulness

Words from Jesus Calling: “it is impossible to spend too much time thanking and praising Me.”

My heart is feeling a bit overwhelmed…a bit sad…a bit out of sorts…(and I’m not altogether sure why)…but I just read “thanksgiving and praise put you in proper relationship with Me, opening the way for My riches to flow into you.” I need His riches to flow in me (in to me and out of me!)… therefore, my heart is going to focus on being thankful rather than overwhelmed…on being grateful rather than sad….on Him instead of on my out-of-sortness. Honestly, I’m having a hard time coming up with things to be thankful for….but I KNOW there’s so much…here’s an attempt at a thankful monday list, let's see where it goes:

• An exchange of meaningless ink cartridges for useful ink cartridges (and the likeness of that exchange to what God does for us…takes what is meaningless (us/our old life) and swaps it for something useful (him/new life) (it’s not that he makes the useless useful….it’s a total exchange!)
• For things that don’t hurt – ie, if my tooth was hurting right now I’d realize how grateful I am for all the days when my tooth doesn’t hurt (and how grateful I am for our awesome dentist, tyler myers!!!). so today, a day when nothing hurts – not a tooth or a stomache or a head – I am thankful.
• Children who are NOT coughing.
• Washing machines. So little input for such tremendous results.
• A sweet friend who cares enough to ask what the tears were for…and to bring me tangible reminders of her thoughts, prayers & care…(now if I can just keep the Christmas cactus alive….)
• Caroline was excited about Caitlin being here today! (emma wasn’t quite so excited…but she had fun, too).
• Walking with nick through fantasy in lights last night (yay for winning free tickets from The Truth!)
• God has us…and He’s not letting go of us. He’s got good plans for us…and He’s going to take care of our hearts – all of our hearts!
• Today is a day worth rejoicing over….even if it doesn’t “feel” like it (I’m thinking feelings are overrated)
• Caroline giving free makeovers with her new “set”…and the location of her makeover station? The cabinet in the hallway…she’s got it all set up and she’s in the cabinet, open for business…complete with instructional signs like “girls must do their hair in the morning…except girls with hair like boys like emma….” And “crew members only must enter by the arrow. We’ll make sure no one is excluded.” I love that girl’s creativity and thinking.
• Eli’s love for reading…and willingness to read…and desire to “do more history"
• That God celebrates us every day as much as everyone else does on our birthdays (x’s a bazillion). He has special thoughts and gifts and encouragement for each of us daily….not just on our birthday!
• That thankfulness really does help. The thankfulness tends to push the grumbling and complaining out of the way.

every good and perfect gift is from Him.

so very thankful for:

• Working alongside my husband at the dining room table (and in life)
• Christmas surprises
• Wedding invitation ornaments…(not an original idea…but one I’m rather fond of and am having fun implementing)
• This year’s TA ornament from Addie (Excellent job! Talented girl! Generous heart! Reliable worker!)
• That horrible version of “oh holy night” (I am not thankful for that version of the song…but thankful the laughter – and cringes – it causes)
• Eli’s monopoly skillz
• The words/picture Jessica Hall shared with me after crave yesterday
• That man in wal-mart who was talking on the phone and said (rather adamantly) “but I’m not on the grass cutting committee.”
  
• The fabulous (live!)(loud!) band that was playing in the White’s living room Wednesday afternoon
• Parts of my house are cleaner and more organized than they’ve been in a while (other parts, not so much)
• Worship.
• Thinking about (and practicing) how to live more simply in order to give more generously.
• Waking up in the middle of the night and falling back asleep to the sound of the rain
• When the clocks says 12:34 (1,2,3,4)
• Good smelling soap. Being clean. What a privilege we so often take for granted.
  

unthankful for:

• whatever is responsible for the deaths of the other 2 chickens. we are officially chickenless.