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.