"What's For Dinner?"

9/11

2011-09-11T23:03:00.004-04:00

10 years ago today. We all remember where we were and what we were doing and how we felt when saw our country come under attack. It was scary. I was sitting in my living room doing math with my two older children...homeschooling. My next door neighbor came over and told me to pray,pray pray! I turned on the TV and watched the horror with the rest of the country. Today while I was on facebook, by the providence of God, I noticed my status one year ago today and thought it is so appropriate and such a good reminder.

Life is not just a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then ...finally to heaven. Life is winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback...and God is not showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. --John Piper

Bible study anyone?

2011-09-11T22:54:00.002-04:00

I just want to do ministry with my husband again. I don't know what it will look like. My prayer is that God will bring the joy of ministry back into my husbands life sometime soon. I long for him to do what God has wired him to do and to work alongside with him. We just keep praying and waiting, praying and waiting...
Soooo maybe we just start where we have been for the past 4 1/2 years. Maybe we are supposed to stay here. Tonight I was wishing we had a Bible study, small group or something to go to... I miss doing something like that on Sunday nights. I think maybe we should just start a Bible study group right here and now. We minister everywhere we go...Chick fil A...who knows what God is doing. We are just broken vessels that want to be used by Him for His purposes.

PLEASE PASS THE BUTTER!!!

2011-09-11T22:41:00.002-04:00

My sister, Melinda, tells the story of when I was a little girl sitting at the dinner table. I quietly said, "Please pass the butter, please pass the butter, please pass the butter." After not being heard, of course, I yelled, "PLEASE PASS THE BUTTER. I SAID IT THREE TIMES!" When you are the sixth of seven children sometimes you have to yell to be heard. Which is probably why I am a loud, outgoing person...kinda had to be that way. Sometimes, lately, I feel like yelling again (or screaming)...just want to be heard and understood.

life is good to a 10 year old

2011-08-01T13:41:00.002-04:00

David and Jacob went to the store to get root beer for root beer floats. After they found the root beer, they spotted a good deal on frozen pizza. As they made their purchase, Jacob said to David, "We are livin' the good life!" :) I love that he is so easy to please. I guess that's why Jesus told us to have the faith of a child! We ARE livin' the good life! When we have Jesus we have everything we need!

community

2011-08-01T13:26:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we were visiting friends and talking about how important it is to be in community. The purpose of community is to point us to Jesus--to help us keep looking to Him as the author and finisher of our faith. I have been in communities that did that and some that didn't. One community in particular started out that way and then began to idolize itself. When a community begins to love themselves and value their community more than the One who gave them to each other, it begins to destroy itself. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about this and can articulate much better than I). No one in that community is allowed to question them or say anything that might put them in a bad light. They are no longer resting in their Saviour but in their own "rightness". All their efforts are put into protecting their community and they will chastise anyone who dares to question them. It is heartbreaking to watch this happen. We must be careful as the body of Christ to love each other...to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. I might add, we must also to be quick to forgive. Don't let anyone hold anyone hold anything against you what Jesus has already forgiven.

what to write...hmm

2011-01-24T00:17:00.002-05:00

It's been a long time since I wrote anything here....Kate's graduation. Well a new year is upon us and we are still wondering where we are supposed to "land". Sometimes God seems far away and I feel a little like I am shriveling up inside. Last night, He burst through my yuckiness in a big way. At least, it felt like a big way to me. Last week, I was feeling at an all time low. Not sure why...just get tired of waiting I guess. I also have been struggling with past hurt. It has definitely changed me, as does all suffering. I hope for the better in the long run. Back to my night...Saturday night. I just got off work. (oh yeah, I am now a Chick Fil A employee, woohoo!) I received a text from David that said,"you are going to get a phone call tonight from SC. Answer it and prepared to be blown away." So I waited about 45 min. (Mary Ellen was still working) in the food court at the mall. When my phone rang a vaguely familiar voice said, "Hi Emily, this is Karen. You taught my daughter Michelle." I immediately recognized her lovely voice and could picture her face with her sweet, kind smile as if I had seen it yesterday. (It has been 20 years since I taught at BLS). I told her where we were living and a little about us. Then she told me why she was calling. She said, "The reason I am calling is because I want you to know something before you get to heavean. Michelle has just given birth this month to twin girls. One is named Katherine and the other is named Emily after a certain middle school teacher whom God used to impact her life." I was floored. speechless. couldn't believe it. She went on to tell me how and gave an example of a specific time when I talked to Michelle. I can remember it like it was yesterday, but had no idea of the impact it had made on her. This call couldn't have come at a better time for me and God knew that. This may sound like no big deal to some of you teachers who have been teaching awhile and you have students coming back and thanking you. It happens, I know. For some reason, to me this was HUGE! It was like a billboard from God to me telling me how much he loves me. I belong to Him and He is not far away but close and acquainted with all my thoughts and struggles. I felt like I was in a pit and God picked me up, rescued me and set my feet back on the rock! If this call had come 2 months ago, it still would have been so wonderful to hear. But I felt like God's hand was all over this and he caused it to happen this week. God knows how I am made, he formed me and knows all my quirks. He is my Daddy and displays his love for me in big and small ways every day. I had begun to feel so crappy about everything...no other way to say it. God takes all the crappiness, cleans it off and makes us shine! :) It is amazing that in some way He helped me to shine the light of His gospel of grace into the life of someone else so many years ago and she still remembers! I am still blown away and it just brings tears. I stood there in the food court with tears streaming down my face just amazed that God used me for HIS purposes and is still going to use me and my family. It's not me. It's ALL for Jesus, by his power and for HIS glory. I can't wait to see Michelle and her family the next time we travel south...hopefully soon!

Some pictures

2010-05-31T10:28:00.006-04:00

Kate's big day....happiness! She is in the middle, in case you couldn't tell.

beautiful

2010-05-31T10:08:00.003-04:00

When I think of this past weekend "beautiful" is the word that comes to my mind. I have been so blessed by friends and family that God has woven into my life. They make my life beautiful and rich. So many of them were so kind to come our festivities over the weekend and celebrate Kate's graduation from high school. She was beautiful in her gown and her dress (that we found in 15 minutes). When the graduates stood up and turned around to face the audience, she was beaming as she turned her tassle....beautiful! She was beautiful as they came marching in. They were so eager to graduate, it seemed like they came running in! I was savoring each moment and was so proud and happy for her and her friends. God has given her some beautiful friendships. They have walked through some really hard things this year but have come out with a better understanding of the gospel of grace. I have seen and heard them encourage one another to do the right thing, cheering each other on...that is a beautiful thing to see.
My dear friend, Joanne, hosted the party at her home and did an amazing job. It was BEAUTIFUL!! She seemed so calm the whole evening while over 200 people came through her home. God blessed us with a beautiful summer evening. Joanne, is a constant reminder to me of the love and grace of God. She is constantly pointing back to Jesus and is amazing grace. She is a beautiful person and I am so thankful for her friendship.
Our family traveled up from SC and we had such a good time with them. We feel so blessed to be in a family that loves one another and loves Jesus most of all! The body of Christ is beautiful! We have so much fun together laughing, eating, running around...thanks so much for coming! You made this weekend so special!
Now I am going to sit and savor the memories...thank you Jesus for making all things beautiful!

it's here

2010-05-27T10:21:00.003-04:00

The time has come....my oldest daughter is graduating. I remember when I was a young mom and this same child would not let me out of her sight, even to walk to the mail box. It was driving me crazy! I was talking to some older ladies in our church at the time and they said, "This time goes by so fast." I responded, "Everybody says that and I don't believe it." :) Of course, those wise women were right. I look back at that time and it seems like it was such a short time. What a wonderful, beautiful young woman she has grown to be! I love listening to her sing and speak...she does both so well! Last week she presented her Senior Thesis on prostitution and how the gospel is the only true way out. It was absolutely amazing! She is a very good public speaker and draws you in as she speaks. It was a 23 minute speech and then judges asked her questions afterwards. I wish I would have recorded it. As her mom, I know that their are some things that only the Holy Spirit can teach her. I can teach her how to do laundry, cook, ride a bike, keep a budget, etc. But only the gospel of his amazing grace can set her heart free to worship and enjoy Him forever.
Kate, I pray that the Father binds your heart to His and that you always have a song in your heart because of what He has done for you. DANCE FOR JESUS!! :)

sweet!

2010-02-24T22:01:00.002-05:00

After I finished praying with Jacob tonight, he said, "I want to help pay for Kate's trip to Scotland. Maybe I can sell ice cream sundaes OR hot chocolate! Yeah, I'll sell hot chocolate! I'll give the money to Katelyn." I had to savor that moment while I laid there next to him and we discussed how he could do that. What a sweet moment of unselfishness...only by God's grace!
So with snow in the forecast (AGAIN!!), I think hot chocolate will sell better than ice cream sundaes!
I also would like to do a coffee house to help raise money. We have one month to raise $1,000! If any of you want to contribute, just let me know! :)

my heart is full of praise!

2010-02-22T09:44:00.002-05:00

I just have to write this down so I don't forget! Zechariah 3 is a vision of Joshua the High Priest in the presence of God. ( Tim Keller shared this thought in his sermon that I listened to yesterday.) The high priest went into the presence of God one day with a basin of blood one day of the year Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. He spent all week preparing, cleansing himself over and over, bathing, and putting on beautiful robes. In this passage Zechariah realizes that all that cleansing, bathing and beautiful robes are all for naught. They don't do the high priest any good. v. 3 says that his garments were filthy. v. 4 "The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Remove the filthy garments from him". And to him he said "Behold I have taken your iniquity far away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments"....So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments.
This makes my heart sing! He has torn the curtain and clothed me in his robes of righteousness so that I can gaze upon his beauty and know him as my Father!
Happy Day!

thoughts runnin' through my head

2010-02-22T08:29:00.002-05:00

What is the work that we are supposed to be doing as Christians when the Bible says "work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you..." ? It is to believe...faith. Faith is the power switch, the Holy Spirit is the cord, and we shine the light into a dark and broken world. None of this is from me, it's all "God working in me". I was talking to Jacob a few weeks ago about how he is doing in school. We usually have these talks while lying in the bed at night. The dark and quiet seem to bring out honesty and vulnerability from a child's heart because that is where I have had some of the best talks with my kids. Jacob was telling me he is a "bad kid" at school. I asked him why he thought he was a "bad kid". He said because he gets lots of tallies. I named another student in his class who never gets tallies and asked him if he thought this student was a "bad kid". He said, "NO!" I responded, "God tells us that we are all 'bad kids' even this other student and that we all need Jesus. No one is better than anyone else. We all need Jesus. Some people learn how to act in certain places so they don't get into trouble but this doesn't mean that their heart has been changed by God. God wants us to come to Him every day in repentance and trust Him." I was thinking to myself, "What does it mean to be a good boy?" God has shown me that there is nothing good in me. I have no light of my own...I'm just like the moon reflecting the light of the sun. I told Jacob, "to be a good boy is simply to trust, to believe". I pray for Jacob to see that he can't just TRY HARDER. I don't want him to think that if he doesn't get any tallies that he is okay. In fact, if getting a lot of tallies shows him how much he needs a Savior then bring it on! I don't want behavior modification. I pray for God to change his heart, to bind it His own, to change him so that He knows how wide, long and deep the Father's love is for him.
I listened to a Tim Keller sermon yesterday b/c I couldn't go to church. It was on
Ps. 27. David had learned how to face life (viewing all of life as a battle and not just a series of battlefields)...by gazing on the face of God, simply look to Jesus...being in His presence. He could face anything and not be afraid because he was looking to Jesus. God does the work, ALL the work. Jacob and I just need to remember to keep our gaze in the right place.

changes everywhere

2010-02-03T17:18:00.002-05:00

Our school is probably going to be moving into a new building. A Christian school in our area is closing. It is connected to a church and has been in existence for 45 years. The church is voting tonight on whether or not to lease the building to our school. I remember when my school closed when I was finishing my eighth grade year. It was a hard time for many families. I remembered feeling very anxious and how my mom seemed so calm about it! We all scattered and went to different schools in the area. Our church opened a school in its basement, which is where we went. So I have thought about these families from New Castle a lot this week who are seeing the end of an era to their school and my heart goes out to them. I hope that we can welcome many of them into our school family and that it will be a safe place for them where they are embraced and loved by the body of Christ. I pray that this will help advance the kingdom for the glory of God.

I don't want to forget....

2010-01-31T19:21:00.002-05:00

I am going to write this down so I don't forget. David, Kate and I have been reading John Piper's book A Sweet and Bitter Providence on the book of Ruth. Kate flew through it and LOVED it...she said it was one of the best books she has ever read. She read this to me and we were both in tears. What God does in our lives is so sweet and merciful...even in the difficulties. Read on and absorb...get the book.
"Sweetie Pie" p. 122
This pledge God has made to his people is ungreakable. No famine or death can break it. I saw it in a parable. I was visiting some of our elderly people in a nursing home. I got on the elevator with a woman in a wheelchair who was old, misshapen, and confused. Her head wobbled meaninglessly and she uttered senseless sounds. Her mouth hung open. Then I noticed that a well dressed man, perhaps in his mid-sixties, was pushing her chair. I wondered who he was. Then as we all got off the elevator, I heard him say, "Watch your feet, Sweetie-pie."
Sweetie Pie. As I walked to the car, I thought...if a marriage covenant between a man and a woman produces that kind of fidelity and commitment and affection under those circumstances, then surely under the great and merciful terms of the New Covenant, sealed with the blood of his Son (Luke 22:20), God has no difficulty calling you and me (sinful and sick as we are) sweet names. And if he does, there is no truth more unshakable in all the world than this: For them and for us the best is yet to come. God is at work in the darkest times--for our good and Christ's glory. He will see to it that the glory of his Son fills the earth and that in him we find everlasting joy.

didn't know that would happen

2009-12-15T08:31:00.003-05:00

Yesterday when we got home, there was a letter in the mail from Cedarville University. We visited the campus a few weeks ago to see if that is somewhere Kate would want to attend. She loved it. We met some really great people while we were there. She had applied before we visited, but wanted to visit to get a feel for the campus atmosphere. So we have been waiting to hear from them. She had to work last night and didn't get home until 10:45. We held the envelope up to the light and all the usual attempts to see what it said without opening it. Mary Ellen called her to tell her the letter was waiting for her and poor Kate could hardly concentrate all evening at work. I went to bed but woke up when I heard her run into the house, plop all her stuff down, tear into the envelope, and started sobbing...yes we are a little emotional in our home. I thought, "oh no!" Kate came up and showed me the letter. It was a "Congratulations! You have been accepted for the fall semester of 2010." I just couldn't believe that my little girl's name was on that letter with those words. Wasn't that just yesterday that I got that letter?? Now my daughter is spreading her wings and getting ready to fly! I just looked at it and read it over and over. Tears came...I had such a mixture of emotions. I am so proud of her and all her accomplishments. I am so happy for her to have more opportunities to learn and grow. If she chooses to go to CU, I will be happy. (she has applied to three other schools). I will miss her so much when that time comes. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about all the things going on in my life and the changes we face as a family. I was wondering what it will be like for us next year without her around and what it will be like to go visit....all kinds of thoughts. I finally fell asleep around midnight...happy, thankful, knowing and trusting my Heavenly Father.

first snow

2009-12-08T21:03:00.002-05:00

Saturday was our first snow of the season. I was at a Christmas tea. It was perfect...all Christmasy inside and big fluffy flakes coming down outside. I am hoping for a few good storms this year.
I had an "ah ha" moment today....kinda. I was teaching my first graders the lesson about the spies going into the land of Canaan and coming back scared and getting all the people scared. They had forgotten the promises of God and how He had taken care of them and promised to take them into the land and give it to them. To them, taking over the land of Canaan looked impossible! Joshua and Caleb didn't forget and knew that God could help them conquer the land. They probably had no idea how it would happen, but they were confident in God's promises to them. Halfway through the lesson, I felt like I was preaching to myself! The lesson was for me! The Holy Spirit was convicting me as I was speaking. Sometimes when God calls us to something and takes us through difficuties it is scary. I become fearful and try to control the situation so that it will work out to my liking. I remember when God was calling us away from my beloved Willowdale. I was scared. I loved my church, my friends....my life in PA. What if God took all of that away!!!?? What would I do? He did (except for the friends) because he wants me to trust Him and love Him more than ANYTHING!
I was so afraid that we would have to move far away and how hard that would be on the kids. God has a way of bringing us to the point of surrender, rest and trust. You know the verse, "In repentence and rest is our salvation..." it's my theme. :) So now after wandering in the wilderness and going through more trials and struggles, I see my sin...my pride, stubborness and now I don't care where we end up. I just want to be wherever God wants us. That's what happened to the Israelites too. They had to wander around and realize that God's promises are ALWAYS true....repent,rest, repent, rest, repent....God is faithful and always forgives and loves.

my very own Amelia Bedelia

2009-11-14T16:31:00.002-05:00

This week at lunch Mrs Baumann was telling the 1-6 graders about our next fundraiser. She told them that we are going to be selling magazines. Later that evening I found Jacob collecting up all my magazines I had laying around the house. He said, "Mom, we need to sell all these magazines to get money for our school!" I tried to explain that Mrs. Baumann meant you buy a subscription to have magazines sent to your house or you get your friends to buy subscriptions. He said very seriously, "Mom I went up to Mrs. Baumann and said,'So you want us to sell magazines to other people and she said Yes." I was laughing so hard by this time that he started laughing and said "your laugh is making me laugh!" What a funny kid...you never know what there little minds are thinking when you are telling them something. They think so literally.

A Saturday at home

2009-11-14T16:08:00.002-05:00

I am loving being home today. It has been cold and rainy since Wednesday. I haven't had a whole day home in about two weeks. So today was cleaning day. I love the feeling of a clean house, coffee is brewing, cookies are in the oven...life is good. :) This week flew by for me...not sure why. I am getting ready to take Katelyn and her friend to go visit Cedarville University next week. We will be driving out Thursday afternoon, leaving school around noon. They have a science fair at school that day so we have to wait until after that to leave. Hopefully, we won't have any car trouble. Pray for us if you think of it. We went to a college fair a couple of weeks ago in Philadelphia and talked to their representative. His sister goes to The Kings Chapel in West Chester, Ohio...the same church I went to during my summers in college. We had a great conversation about all kinds of stuff. I feel like I have said all this before...hmmm. Anyway, we are going to visit his church as well to see if that would be a good church for Kate if she ends up going there. He said there are two good reformed churches in the area.
Yesterday, I drove to Philadelphia with Mary Ellen's class to go the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We had a tour guide who was very smart and brought out so many points about different art that I wouldn't have known....very interesting tour. I was so proud of our students and how they engaged with her, answering her questions, asking questions and making good conversation. She asked me if I was a mom and I told her I was but I also teach at the school. She said, "They are really smart!" :) I confess, I had a little proud moment...even though I don't teach any of those kids. They were great and so polite and kind. I want to go back because there was so much we didn't get to see. I think it is free on Sundays in Jan. or Feb...I bet Jeannette knows.
A funny thing happened in first grade about a week ago. I was beginning my Bible class and one child says, "Mrs. Stover, what's wrong with your hair?" You gotta love first grade....brutal honesty. You would never get that in the older grades. Of course, then they all had to comment, "Yeah, it's kinda big." another says, "like an afro"....no one has ever said that to me. The other teacher in the room just cracked up....definitely a first grade moment!
If you pay any attention to sports you know that the Phillies were in the World Series again this year. One of my first graders is one of the most devoted Phillies fans I know. We were working on a project, making a book about the life of Joseph. I was helping him with some of the cutting and glueing. As I looked closely at his Joseph and Jacob characters, I noticed something unusual about them. I asked him, "Grant, are Jacob and Joseph Phillies fans?" He replied proudly, "Yep, and one of Joseph's brothers has a Phillies tattoo!" Teaching is never dull! :)

opening day and other things

2009-11-09T07:08:00.002-05:00

I really need to post some pictures on here. The new Chick Fil A store opened this past Thurs. It's in the mall (about 2 minutes from our school). David is one of the managers there and one of our students is working there too. We are getting to know all the Chick Fil A people around here and enjoy them so much. I told David I feel like having them all over for dinner and get to know them better. Kate and David work with some really wonderful people. I'm sure they are kinda sick of seeing us hanging around all the time.
Saturday Mary Ellen, Jonathan, Jacob and I went up to Newtown Square, PA to see our friend Nathan Taylor in his middle school play. He was Smee in Peter Pan and did such a great job! He is such a great kid...love him! He and Jonathan have been friends for awhile. We stayed with him for two weeks while his parents went away on their 25th anniv. trip. He got to find out what it is like to have a little brother and big sisters to pester! :)
Sunday we were back up to PA for church. We made a whole day of it. Left the house at 7AM and got back at 7pm. We had a baptism service in the morning and an ordination service in the afternoon. Our friend, Peter Doerfler was ordained into the PCA. Both services were absolutely wonderful. God once again reminded my weary soul that it is ALL him. His gentle proddings of grace and love warmed my heart as we sang and heard the stories of God drawing His children to himself. One young man said, "It was like I was wandering around not knowing what direction to go and God just reached down and took my hand and said, 'This is way to go. Come with me." I thought that was so beautiful because isn't that how it is with all of us? God reaches down and rescues us from ourselves, takes us by the hand, shows us the path of life, and walks with us.

November!!

2009-11-06T08:28:00.002-05:00

It's November already!! I am at home this morning for the second time this week. I just pulled some pumpkin scones out of the oven to have with my coffee and share with my friends at school. I put this yummy spiced glaze on them. They are so good. David took the kids to school or should I say the kids took David to work and then Kate drove over to the school. They have to leave a bit earlier than usual (is that spelled right??....looks weird).
It's almost time for Christmas music!!
It is a beautiful fall day and I am so thankful for the opportunity God has given to me today to enjoy Him and His beautiful creation.

so many things...

2009-10-28T19:59:00.002-04:00

I have a hundred different thoughts that I would like to write about. Some of them I think, "oh dear, better not write about that or some might think I am completely whacky."
I am so excited about Kate's race tomorrow. Actually, I am way more excited than she is! This is it for her, unless by some act of God she decides to run in college. She could do it, but she doesn't think she wants to...which is fine (as Diana would say). This is the league championships and she has a good chance of placing 1st or 2nd. She doesn't think she has a chance at first. Mary Ellen is going to take pictures. We will post those on FB.
Next topic, am I just a paranoid parent or will I ever get used to my daughter driving on these crazy highways by herself! I breathe a sigh of relief when i see her pull in the driveway. You should hear me preach to myself! I am so glad they changed the laws in DE so Mary Ellen has to wait an extra year!
Next....I love those seniors at our school. I got to sub in one of their classes today and they are just the best!!! They totally crack me up! I want to have them all over to my house and just be a fly on the wall and watch them interact with each other.
Next....I love food. I love cooking it, baking it, serving it to my family....it loves me back....nuff said. I think it has become an idol in my life....pretty sure about that.
I just started reading Tim Keller's book Counterfeit Gods....It's awesome.
David preached the best sermon EVER on Sunday. He had me in tears because I saw so much of what God has been doing in his heart over the past couple years as we have been in the "wilderness". I love him so much and God has been working on both of us....He promises to do that and to work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. The gospel just becomes more and more real to us as we struggle through this life.

sad.....but feasting

2009-10-25T19:59:00.003-04:00

I was just reading through my summer blogs and now I am sad that I haven't taken the time to do more blogging the past couple months. Oh well....I'm back.
I have been contemplating (while eating my warm apple crisp) about feasting on Jesus. What does that look like practically in my life. My pastor preached on it a few weeks ago and we had a good conversation about it the next day. While he was preaching, I kept thinking of the song that Chris Rice sings called "Come to Jesus". I posted it on my FB that day or the next. Piper talks about how we fill ourselves with the white bread of the world so we aren't hungry when our Father spreads a wonderful feast before us of wonderful, tasty, satisfying food. Jesus wants us to come to the table with nothing but hungry hearts and souls ready to filled by Him. He says to come to him, you who have no money. Come and buy and eat. Sometimes I try to bring things to Him...my good works, performance. So many times my sinful heart wants to be filled with other things (which may not be bad things), but they will never satisfy me. . I find out because I get frustrated, fearful, controlling, prideful, etc....the list goes on and on. Then I come running back to Him and he is always there....ahhhhhh yes once again I find His love to all that I need and want! Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling!

a couple months

2009-10-25T19:38:00.002-04:00

I knew if I started a facebook my blogging would stop...and it did. David signed me up on FB and since then I just haven't felt like blogging. It's just easier to write a sentence or two on facebook.
Tonight was a beautiful fall night. David and I went for a run which hasn't happened in awhile! The sunset was absolutely glorious and the trees are just as breathtaking!
We are coming to the close of our fall sports. Mary Ellen was playing volleyball. The boys were playing fall baseball with our Little League and Kate was doing cross country. I was helping coach cross country. This is our last week! I am so happy because my schedule has been brutal...another reason why I don't write much. I am pretty much brain dead by the end of each day. I am a little bit sad about cross country being over because this is Kate's senior year and it will be different without having her on the team....my star runner! When she first started, I beat her all the time. Now she beats me all the time! She is waaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of me! It was a really good sport for her. We have league championships this week and I am pretty sure she will do well, Lord willing.
I am working at the school. I'm usually there all day even though I only work in the afternoons because I have to go up with the kids. David leaves the house around 5 am to go to work with one car and then we leave around 7. Kate drives now, but even if she drove everybody up I wouldn't have a way up there. David and Kate both work at Chick Fil A. It has been a great place for both of them. Kate looooves her job which has been wonderful for a first time job experience. The owner is a really great guy and Chick Fil A is a great company. We always have Sundays off and we treasure that day now more than ever! The end of the day is coming and I have to get ready for my week! That's it for now!

get ready

2009-08-23T18:19:00.003-04:00

We are getting all geared up for a new school year. The first day is tomorrow. Backpacks are all packed, lunches made, uniforms cleaned and ironed. We have a short week because we are going to SC. David's high school is celebrating it's 40th anniversary and his sister is turning 40 as well!
We are so excited to be a part of all the festivities. I don't feel like writing a lot so that's it for now...I need to go enjoy my last evening before school starts.

the Browns

2009-08-18T21:09:00.005-04:00

Bunker and I are relaxing on the deck after canoeing on the lake.

Aren't they cute?! I love this couple! We were on our way to the lake to go canoeing and kayaking.

David and Herb chatting after breakfast Sat. morning on the screened in porch.

I love, love, love this fireplace. It is double sided. This side faces the kitchen and eating area and the other side faces the living room.
We had so much fun this past weekend. The Brown's home is like a little haven for us. We start relaxing as soon as enter into the neighborhood. It's therapeutic. We have known the Brown's for about nine years. We love Herb and Susan and there daughters. We have shared our ups and downs in life and walked along side each other. I pray I am half the blessing to them as they are to us! Our weekend was all we hoped it would be and more! It came at a perfect time. Thank you to all who helped with our kids, the Hesses, Taylors and Foggy's. You were a huge blessing to us as well.

my funny kids and other randomness

2009-08-18T20:52:00.003-04:00

Kate thinks she is a big, fat, white whale! hah!
I can't wait to get her senior pics from Nick to prove her wrong! I think she is beautiful and I know I am right about that one!
It is the beginning of cross country season and so being out of shape is really beginning to be noticed and discussed a lot around here. I think we all could use some butt whuppin'! We are going to have to crack the whip and start working out more!
The boys started fall baseball this week and Mary Ellen started volleyball. I'm so glad for the opportunities they all have been given to participate in these activities. It has been so good for them. Kate has this quote on her wall that I love about cross country that says, "Our sport is your sports' punishment." good one, huh? Maybe Meredith could make her bumper sticker with that on it...hmmm could be a Christmas present.
I got to come home to today to a nice clean house and dinner! I feel so blessed and so rich! God has blessed me beyond anything I could imagine with a wonderful family and His bountiful grace and mercy which is new every morning!
Jacob helped me clean the fridge yesterday. I hate that job and I don't think I had done it in over a year. So it was pretty gross. Then today all the Stover boys worked while Kate and I were out gallivanting around the country.
I am actually looking forward to school starting now and fall! I am always ready for the change of seasons and I LOVE fall. I love pumpkins, leaves changing, cooler weather, Aunt Melinda's pumpkin pie, football and all things fall! It's coming...............after at least one more trip to the beach!

new job

2009-08-17T20:18:00.002-04:00

David just got a new job at Chick Fil A. It is a great company to work for and it is closed on Sundays. So he can still help do church planting with our church. It isn't as much pay as he originally thought. He will have to work a lot of hours in order for this to work. But he was doing that with teaching and then bringing the job home! It seems like a great company and great people to work for. We know some of the people already and Katelyn has been working there all summer.
It has been a great experience for her as well. On to the next adventure...I wonder where this will take us in our journey.

family friends

2009-08-12T09:16:00.002-04:00

This picture was taken this summer on our trip to Iowa. The lady on the left is my mom's friend, Liz. I was thinking the other day about Dan and Liz and how much we enjoy being with them. It is so nice when your parent's friends become your friends as you get older. We always loved being at their house. Dan and Liz were my parents best friends and their kids were like our cousins. We took trips together and spent many Sunday nights at one family or the other's house. It is rare, I think, when both the husband and wife of one family are both best friends with another couple. I found in my married life that usually I will be close to the wife of one couple and David will enjoy the friendship of a husband of another couple. Not that we don't get along with the other spouse...it's just not as close a relationship. It is rare to find friends like Dan and Liz were to my mom and dad. We lived close to each other until I was ten and then we moved two hours away.
So tonight I am excited about having dinner with Dan and Liz at my sister's. :)

end of summer

2009-08-12T08:56:00.003-04:00

I can't believe the end of summer is upon us! Yesterday was my first day back at work. It was good to see some friends. This year I will be part time again,working in the afternoons teaching 1st grade Bible and 2nd grade science and doing some tutoring. David has done some serious job hunting this summer. It seems like every time he gets a job it is through word of mouth...someone we know, knows someone else, etc. Being jobless is a scary time and I feel like it has consumed our lives for the past couple of years even though he had a job teaching last year. By March he knew he didn't have that job anymore. Being jobless takes you to a whole new level of trust. Do I really believe what I say I believe that God will provide, that he loves His children and always has their best in mind; that He will never desert me when I am faithless; that everything he brings into my life is from the loving heart of my Father? So "yes", "yes" and "yes" to all the above. He holds me and my life in his hands and nothing I do can change who I am and nothing can change how my Father feels about me. The things my heavenly Father brings into my life don't always look good and it is hard to understand why certain things happen. But the great thing is I don't have to understand, I just have to trust. I don't have to figure it all out! I just follow. I'm sure I have written about all this before. But I need to preach it to myself over and over.
So a new school year is upon us. School starts Aug.24. Some of my kids are more excited than others. Mary Ellen can't wait to see her friends. This is a big year for Kate, of course. We have been looking at colleges and applying for scholarships. Jonathan moves into the upper school (7-12 grades). So he gets to go on the retreat this year. Jacob is in 2nd grade and gets to have his mom for his science teacher. He actually is pretty excited about that! He has great friends at school and enjoys his class very much. He will have a great teacher this year, Mrs Brunson. I love her. She is so thoughtful and does so many little things to make the kids feel special.
Well on with a new day. Today Mary Ellen has her class party and we are going up Lancaster to my sister, Melinda's to have dinner with them and some friends from Iowa.

Jenny

2009-07-31T09:47:00.002-04:00

Happy birthday to my sister, Jenny! We just got back from our trip a few days ago. We spent time with our family in SC, KY, Iowa and IL. All of my siblings live in a different state and we got to see 4 out of 6 siblings and all of David's family as well...not bad. Jenny is the youngest and such a sweet sister. She just loves Jesus and her family. What a blessing to have biological sisters who are also my sisters in the body of Christ. While were out in Iowa, my kids loved hanging out at Dan and Jenny's with all their cousins (they have 6 kids). One night David and I took the older girls out to the movies and on the way home the girls were talking about how old their parents were when they were born. It was mentioned that Uncle Dan was 19 when Hannah was born. One of my daughters said, "Really?! 19?! Wow, no wonder he is so much fun!" Uncle Dan is one of the best! We have a joke in our family that we love the in-laws more than our sisters or brothers....well, maybe it's not a joke... :) Anyway, you done good, Jenny! Have a great day today! You are such a sweet mama, wife, sister and daughter!

switched roles

2009-06-24T22:23:00.002-04:00

Tonight I was putting Jacob to bed and he told me that he had a rip on his lip. So I took off with that and made up a whole story with words that rhyme with lip. I went on and on and was laughing so hard. Finally, he said "Mom, stop! You need to be quiet! It is bedtime not speak time." Then I just laughed to myself and thought, "that's a switch! The little boy is telling his mom to stop talking so he can go to sleep!" ...what a funny boy :)

who are you?

2009-06-24T21:30:00.000-04:00

Just curious....who is bluekoala that commented on my blog??

Baltimore

2009-06-23T16:37:00.006-04:00

We went to Baltimore last week for Kate's birthday. She wanted to go to the Inner Harbor, to the National Aquarium and out for dinner. This had been the plan for awhile but is it got closer and closer the weather wasn't looking very good. It was cold, windy, and rainy. We still had a great time at the aquarium and at the Cheesecake Factory where we ate dinner. However, we do want to go back on a sunny day!

group time

2009-06-23T16:30:00.002-04:00

I love my little women's group on Tuesday morning. They are the most real women I have ever met! They speak the gospel into my life all the time! I love that it is a safe place where I can be honest about myself and they will always love me and point me to the cross! Most of them are farther down life's road than I am...I love that I can glean from all their wisdom! Everyone needs a group like this in their life. They can love, forgive, and extend grace because they have experienced all that through Jesus Christ. As was said by one of my friends this morning, "It's good to have a group of women in your life whom you have known for awhile and know your struggles and always believe your side of the story." :) I loved that.

another first

2009-06-18T22:52:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I really feel sorry for the firstborn child. She is like the guinea pig. As parents, it is the first time we go through all these things with her. We are all fallen sinners in need of God's grace every day. So we are going through having a driver for the first time as she is learning how to drive. When she was little, I homeschooled and of course did so many things I now regret. As the next couple of kids came along, I learned to relax more and enjoy the process. (Although I'm not sure the words "enjoy" and "homeschool" were ever in the same sentence for me :) )
Today was another first. Our firstborn is gainfully employed. I couldn't ask for a better place for her to work. She is working at Chick Fil A. The owner goes to a PCA church in the area. The managers are Christians and the other young man who was hired with her goes to Wilmington Christian School and knows a bunch of kids that Kate knows. So I am hoping that this is a good "first" for Kate.

my girls

2009-06-17T22:32:00.011-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATE!

So these are my June babies.

She made me "mama"

2009-06-17T22:21:00.002-04:00

She was so beautiful...born with a full head of hair, beautiful skin, etc. I couldn't get enough of her. I just kept looking at her and told my friends, "She is really beautiful and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mother!" She still is beautiful! She is my firstborn, Katelyn Grace. Happy 17th birthday, Kate! One of my favorite things about Kate is her singing. I love to hear her sing. When I am singing with her at church, I just want to stop and listen to her beautiful strong voice. I think she was born singing! We have lots of videos of her when she was little singing her heart out! I would post one of them, but she would be appalled! She is looking forward to her senior year this year and then who knows what after that. I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up working in an orphanage in Africa somewhere along the way!

Happy anniversary!

2009-06-16T17:29:00.002-04:00

June is such a busy month! The Stovers, Petersons, DiBernardos are celebrating somebody's birthday or anniversary all time. Today my sister, Celeste, and I are celebrating our anniversary. She was married six years before me and also married a David. She is celebrating the big 25th anniv. this year. She mentioned to me this morning that it used to be old people that were married this long! :)
Today David and I celebrate 19 years. I am so thankful for the grace and forgiveness of God. If it were not for His unfailing love and mercy towards us we would nothing to celebrate today.

storm fun

2009-06-15T22:28:00.006-04:00

We love watching thunderstorms roll in. I remember as a kid we would sit in our screened in garage and watch those wonderful Iowa summer thunderstorms. After the storm the other night we had a magnificent sunset. Enjoy the pictures Mary Ellen took!

love cup

2009-06-15T20:51:00.002-04:00

Jacob just burst through the front door, walked over to me and gave me a big smooch! I said, "I love you!" He said, "I love my mama and my love cup is over filled!" I thought I better write that down so I can remember it forever!

better pic

2009-06-07T22:54:00.005-04:00

This is a better picture of the happy couple! How sweet...Congratulations, Emily and Seth!

Strawberries!

2009-06-07T22:42:00.002-04:00

Last Tues. I bribed the kids and told them that if they would come with me to pick strawberries, I would take them to the beach the next day. We picked and picked....8 full buckets. I love the picking part. THEN you get home and have to do something with all those strawberries. The plan was make lots of jam and freeze some. I made 60 jars of jam and NONE of it firmed up like jam...it's all syrupy. It tastes really good on our ice cream, waffles and pancakes. Probably some of you will see it when I come visit you this summer, or if you come visit me! :) I used a different fruit pectin, bought in bulk at the Mennonite/Amish grocery store.
We did have fun at the beach the next day. I was exhausted and fell asleep to the warm breeze and the sound of waves...ahhhhhhhhhh! None of us brought a camera to the beach, so I don't have any pics for you....but I do have a picture of some of the jars of strawberry SYRUP I made.
Come over and have some with me!

weddings and stuff

2009-06-07T22:01:00.005-04:00

Mr. and Mrs. Seth Trader! What a beautiful wedding...beautiful couple!

My HANDSOME young men...

crazy young men...:) We had a big day yesterday. Katelyn took her SAT test in the morning, then we had a wedding (Emily Cathey and Seth Trader) and then graduation party. We were so happy to get in our comfy clothes when we got home last night! The girls and I went to get a movie. When we came out of the movie store, we got in the car to come home and the key would not turn in the ignition. I was thinking, "okay, I got here with these keys, what could be the problem?" They were the keys to David's car, not the van, but somehow they had worked on the way to the store! Isn't that weird?!
Back to enjoying this beautiful evening with a mojito and brats off the grill...

Mare Bear--

2009-06-06T07:50:00.010-04:00

Our birthday girl...

...with her best friend, her sister.

....with her classmates

...with her cousins,siblings and Gaga's red hats!

....with her cousin Meredith. :)

That's what we call her...Mare Bear, May May or Mary Ellen. Happy Birthday, sweetness!

My sweetness

2009-06-06T07:27:00.003-04:00

Today is my sweet Mary Ellen's birthday! Fifteen years ago right now I was getting ready to go the doctor for my weekly checkup and boy was I READY to have that baby! I wasn't getting much sleep and sat in the doctor's office and cried to my doctor. He was such a good, kind and patient doctor. He was a Christian and me and all my friends went to him. Later on that day I found out why I was so uncomfortable. Even though she was 9 days early, Mary Ellen came flying into the world at 9lb and 4 oz!
Mary Ellen has brought us so much joy and laughter with her free spirit! We look back pictures from when she was little and chubby with her pretty blonde curls down in her face and can't help but smile! She was such a funny kid and still is. She is the nurturer...the little mommy. When Jacob was little she would read to him, hold him and kiss him...even at two weeks old. Jacob has always been her little buddy. She loves being with kids and they love her too. It was once said about Mary Ellen that she were a shape she would be a heart (Mrs. McGehee--forgot how to spell it). I wonder how God will use Mary Ellen. She is such a special gift from Him to her family and her friends. We pray that you will always know your great need for the cross and the great love of your Heavenly Father. We love you, Mary Ellen!

created a monster

2009-06-04T16:00:00.002-04:00

Yes, I have created a monster. My daughter is turning out like me in that she wants to have a party alllllllll the time! She is relentless! So tonight she was supposed to have a party with friends from school and then found out that the guest of honor can't come! I know how disappointing it is to plan a party and be so excited about having friends over and then it all goes up in smoke. So I told her she could have a FEW friends over. She keeps trying to make more than a few! I am brewing tea and only have a few minutes to write....oh, I hear it, gotta go! :) Happy partying!

almost done

2009-05-27T08:23:00.002-04:00

Teaching is the best job for a working mom, especially if you teach at your kids' school. We are all on the same schedule. This week is the last week and we are sooooo excited! I have lovely in service days Monday and Tuesday of next week. Right now my girls are looking for jobs for the summer. If anyone wants to hire them to come and help for a day just let me know! They can clean, babysit, cook (well Mary Ellen can cook) whatever you want them to do.
We are looking forward to trips to the beach, Iowa, and SC....Lord willing.
Katelyn and the other Jr. and Sr. that went to Mexico are doing a presentation at school this morning.
BTW, these juniors and seniors were absolutely amazing at presenting and defending their theses last week. I was soooo impressed and wanted to discuss further many of the topics they presented. I think you can watch them on You Tube. Good job TOCS Juniors and Seniors! I was so proud of them....smart kids! gotta get on with my day...

some fun pics

2009-05-25T12:59:00.006-04:00

This was this past winter sometime before our friends, Scott and Meghan left
for Peru. This is such a cute picture of Jonathan with their little girl.

This is fun picture. I'm not sure if I posted it last year or not...my crazy kids!

An oil painting Kate was working on in art. It turned out great! Now I am
going to frame it and put it in my kitchen.

More crazy pictures....:)

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T12:49:00.002-04:00

Mom was here last year on Memorial Day and we had about 30 people over for a picnic so they could meet my mom. It was so fun. This year we are just relaxing and taking it easy for the day. The girls and I might do something later. My dinner is ready, except for the grilling and shucking the corn. The boys have some nerf gun game going on with Glenn outside. The girls are studying for their finals tomorrow and I am enjoying the latest issue of BH&G and Southern Living.
Can I just say that I LOVE cilantro! I love making stuff with cilantro, the smell, everything. I made some homemade salsa this morning to snack on today and it smells soooo good. We could eat that stuff by the bucket! Speaking of buckets...I am hoping to pick strawberries this week and make lots and lots of jam! I'll probably freeze some too. We just used the last of the jam from last year a couple weeks ago. I LOVE picking strawberries! I'll pick them for you if you want me to...let me know. :)

Isaiah 61:1-3

2009-05-21T08:18:00.004-04:00

I love this passage. It puts wind in my sails!

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion---to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that HE MAY BE GLORIFIED! Hallelujah!
It doesn't end there...they begin to rebuild what was destroyed by generations! This gives such hope for me and for others! No matter what your background is, God died to bring life and restoration for His glory! It is a sure thing. We can count on it!

the power of the cross

2009-05-14T23:10:00.003-04:00

Tonight was our spring concert. Katelyn and Mary Ellen sang the song "Mighty is the Power of the Cross". It's a Chris Tomlin song. (I love him). There friend, Emery, accompanied them on the guitar and they all did such a beautiful job. It really is special to watch and listen to them sing praises to the Rescuer of our souls and know the power of the cross in their own lives. It is really hard to keep the tears back... but I did! Aren't you proud of me??!! :)
They both have seen the power of the cross in their own lives in restoring brokenness just this week. God is all about restoring. I see brokenness all around me and would get overwhelmed with it but for the power of the cross. We have to keep coming back to the cross and see its power.
In one of Keller's sermons that I listened to last week he quoted J. Newton, "Everything the Father sends is necessary. Nothing He withholds can be necessary." Sometimes I don't understand what he sends and could think of a better way to learn the same lesson, but as a wise, godly woman once said to me, "We don't have to try to figure it all out and understand it. We just have to trust and rest." This is a woman who has gone through some serious pain in her life. She just had to trust and rest...that's it. That is where she found the strength of the Father. I love the verse Isaiah 30:15...In repentance and rest is our salvation, in quietness and trust shall be your strength". I'm not sure if that is the exact words...but it's close.
God, help me to trust and rest, laying down at the foot of the cross....it's a powerful place.
Thanks, girls, for pointing me back tonight to the power of the cross. I love you!

beautiful girls

2009-05-13T21:34:00.005-04:00

Friday night was Protocol (for an explanation see last May's blog post about it).
Next year David and I are hoping to go and Mary Ellen will be going.
It's for 9-12 graders.
Kate with her sweet sister and wonderful friend, Jess Foggy.

The junior class

My beautiful girls. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Kate's dress. She
looked so beautiful. They went to the Grand Opera House in
Wilmington for dinner and the opera...The Marriage of Figiro.
Kate absolutely loved the opera. I was kind of surprised by that.

Baseball on a Sunday afternoon

2009-05-12T23:20:00.007-04:00

Here's the pitch......

the swing.....

He's out!

Mary Ellen is flying the cool kite that David got for Mother's Day!:)

Enjoying the warm sun on Mother's Day with my family and the DiBernardos. Who is that hot mama??!! :)

baseball boys

2009-05-12T23:06:00.005-04:00

Jonathan..playing third base.

Jacob just hit a big one...He and his coach are watching the ball. It
didn't quite make it over the fence. He came really close twice tonight.
We have been enjoying watching our boys play baseball this season. It's fun for David and I to sit together on these spring afternoon and evenings and talk while we watch the boys do their thing. They are really enjoying it as well. Jonathan's team had a bad night tonight and he came off the field with a migraine at the end of the game. He hung in there until the end and then just broke down as he came off the field. He's had a rough week.

Prayer of Repentance

2009-05-12T07:41:00.002-04:00

I read this on my friends blog....actually in the comments. So many times our prayers of repentance our ME centered and we need to repent of our repentance. My friend had posted this in the comments of my friend Emily's blog.

O GOD OF GRACE,
Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute
and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul,
clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe,
decking me with jewels of holiness.
But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;
my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my own righteousness.
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,
for thou dost always justify the ungodly,
I am always going into the far country,
and always returning home as a prodigal,
always saying, Father, forgive me,
and thou art always bringing forth the best robe.
Every morning let me wear it,
every evening return in it,
go out to the day’s work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death in it,
stand before the great white throne in it,
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.
Grant me never to lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace.

Kate's trip

2009-05-03T22:10:00.004-04:00

Here are a few pictures from Kate's trip...They are all on her Facebook as well.
This is one of the cenotes where they went swimming. You can look up cenotes at Chichen Itza online and find some really cool pics of where they went. They had to climb down a ladder to get to one of them and the only light came from the hole (like a manhole) they climbed down. They were pools in caves underground...beautiful.

Kate and her friend having fun.

I love all the color in this. I thought I loved color!
Mexico has a love affair with color.

The yellow one was Kate's bed the first few nights.

dinner

2009-05-02T21:04:00.002-04:00

I know that you want to know what I decided to do for dinner. I found a GREAT recipe for shrimp and grits. It was SOOOO good and I had everything I needed to make it. You could close your eyes and imagine the streets of Charleston! I cooked the grits in milk and chicken broth and they were so creamy and then you put the shrimp and cajun sauce over the grits....oh man! I even had leftovers of the shrimp and sauce! Of course it was a Southern Living recipe.
Then I made a mojito for my after dinner drink. That was yummy too.
If you come to my house this summer, I'll make you one. :)
Glenn was here to enjoy it all with us. :) We were all happy to see him...our "little" buddy.

this week

2009-05-02T16:30:00.003-04:00

We have had such a busy week. I am so ready for school to be done and have a more relaxed schedule. Monday Kate got home from Mexico! We were so excited to have her back home and sat listened to ALL the details of her trip. She took some fun pictures and videos. It's too bad that her trip has been overshadowed by this flu stuff. I think people are WAY overreacting to it all. People die in the US every year from the regular flu and we don't even hear about it. So that's my two cents worth. Instead of being asked about her trip she gets asked if she is feeling okay...
Anyway, she had a WONDERFUL trip, and I think it has strengthened her desire do more mission trips. She was bummed that her first stamp on her passport didn't even show up! She said the stamp pad was dry. We had standardized tests this week in school and then today we had our annual 5K fundraiser. It was little rainy, but that it's okay. It wasn't cold. I'd rather be a little wet than suffocatingly hot, like last Sat.
What's for dinner tonight?? I just finished watching the movie No Reservations...LOVED IT!! I want to go buy it. Last weekend I was making black bean salsa and thought, "this is beautiful food!" It has so many different colors in it. I'm in the mood for some really good Italian food, good music, and good wine....and good company. What can I come up with? Does anyone want to join me?
Another subject...baseball. Both boys are playing this year. This is Jacob's first time playing Little League. The little boys in the outfield get tired of standing out there waiting for the ball and so some of them just sit down, until the coach yells for them to stand up. It's so funny.
Jonathan's is a little more serious, but also sooooo much fun to watch. They are pretty competitive and exciting games. I wish his grandparents could see him play. He had a game on Tues. night and it such a perfect evening as far was weather goes. They lost the game, but David and I enjoyed sitting in our chairs watching the game, feeling the warm evening breeze. Jonathan really loves baseball and has now become a Phillies fan in the past few years. His father tried to warn him about straying away from the Braves telling him that they have lost more games than any other professional team in any sport. He warned him that he would get his heart broken over and over, but the son would not heed the wise counsel of his father. He listens to the games every night and gets on the computer and keeps up with it. Jonathan ran his first 5K this morning. He didn't even practice, just went out there and did it! Bravo!
Well, better go fix some dinner!

love letter

2009-04-22T09:01:00.002-04:00

I have been learning so much about the love of God lately. We have been talking about in first grade as we are at the death and resurrection of Jesus in our Bible survey. I am reading to them from the Jesus Storybook Bible...my favorite Bible story book. I also have been listening to Tim Keller every morning on my way to school. The sermons are the perfect length for the drive up. I have been listening to the series on the Attributes of God...awesome! It breathes life into my soul every morning, gets me out of the pit and puts my mind on the cross. Yesterday, he talked about the love of God and his text was Hosea. This is such a heart wrenching but truthful story of God's pursuit of us. I was undone by the picture of God's never-giving up love for me. Then I was reminded of some of the simple love letters God sends to me all the time that I get so used to and don't give him the glory for them. On Sunday, I was at Longwood Gardens with the boys. We were only going to be there for about an hour and a half...walk through the tulips, and the children's garden and go to the treehouses. However, there was kite flying going on in the big green field at the entrance (which I have always wanted to run through). Usually people aren't on that field. Sunday it was filled with families, strollers, little kids running around and lots of people flying homemade kites. Of course, my boys wanted to make a kite and fly it, but I was sure there was a fee involved so I said "no, we can't". As we were leaving, Jacob said, "PLEEEEEEEEASE, can we just ask if we have to pay?" So I said yes (because wouldn't that be bad if it WAS free and I didn't let them have the fun of flying a kite on the big green field at Longwood?? yes...I would have felt horrible) So we went over to the tent and asked. Yes there WAS a fee but it was such a popular event that now they were handing out free store bought kites. The boys got one with Iron Man on it! So we called Dad (who was supposedly grading papers in the car) because he LOVES to fly kites. He is the expert and we got it all the way up as far as the string would go and had a blast! It was so fun. Yesterday, I thought, "Thank you God for showing your love to us on Sunday. It was such a special time together and HE made that happen!" What a wonderful gift and act of His love toward us...His children!

It's the birthday month

2009-04-14T07:59:00.006-04:00

The birthday boy a "few" years ago!

Beautiful Calhoun women!!

Meredith's display of affection toward Mary Ellen at Mere's birthday a few years ago!

My family has a lot of birthdays this month...that is my extended family. Meredith, my niece, is one of them and she always celebrated the whole month. It was always the birthday month! Yesterday was her birthday and she was born the day after her dad's (my brother) birthday. What a wonderful gift she is to him and to so many of us. Her smile has lit up my day many times. As most of you know she lived with us for a total of about 2 1/2 years when we lived in PA. So she got to know us...the good, the bad, and the ugly. We also got to know her pretty well. Meredith is not only my niece but a special friend. I love you, Mere. Happy Birthday!

Pray for Kate!

2009-04-13T22:57:00.002-04:00

This is actually of picture from when David and I went on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Kate is getting ready to go to Mexico this Saturday! Pray for her and the rest of the students that they will have a great trip, for safety, good health, and that they would be a blessing to those they meet. This is a missions/service trip through our school. The juniors and seniors go on the trip. I am so excited for her to get to see and experience another culture outside the USA. Pray for humility, graciousness, and kindness to be shown to all they come in contact with. Pray for teachable spirits and that God would use this experience in their lives to draw their hearts closer to His own. Thanks for praying for Kate!

college road trip

2009-04-13T22:47:00.003-04:00

This is from our college road trip in March. Kate is with her friend Jess Foggy. They have been friends since 7th grade. I am good friends with her mom. So the four of us had a great time together. We have A LOT of fun together! We visited Messiah and Patrick Henry. Kate really likes Messiah and had a good chat about the school with our friend Herb Brown. His daughter went there. The Browns are our friends in VA. who we love!

fun night

2009-04-09T09:00:00.003-04:00

I know it has been awhile since I wrote. I haven't had the desire, motivation,inspiration, or whatever it takes to write anything. I went out with some friends from school the other night to celebrate my friend, Barbara's, birthday. She is the first grade teacher and as Jacob said last night, "She is the best teacher in the world! She rocks!" To know Barbara is to love her...what a great lady. When she walks into the room, the fun begins. She will light it up with her laughter and humor...she is good at making us laugh! Laughter is good medicine and I got a good dose with my friends Tuesday night.

going places

2009-03-22T11:41:00.003-04:00

We are on spring break this week...yeah!! Kate and I are going to look at two colleges with some friends from school. David and the rest of the kids are meeting us down by Washington and going on down to SC to look at another school. We are looking at Messiah College, Patrick Henry and Charleston Southern Univ. We hope to spend a little bit of time with David's family while we are in SC.
Yesterday we took Jacob, Jonathan and some of Jacob's friends to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and had a great time. Our season pass expires at the end of the month and we wanted to see the Narnia exhibit before it left. So we had five boys running around and heard all the butt and fart comments imaginable. :) So I am in the midst of packing and cleaning up, etc...
My mind has a thousand thoughts running through it and can't figure out how to right them down.
Hopefully, I'll have pictures and lots to write about when we return (next Sat. or Sun.)

St. Patrick

2009-03-17T18:07:00.002-04:00

I read the story of St. Patrick last year at this time. What an amazing man who changed Ireland for the glory of God. He fought against the powers of darkness (and it was very dark) with the sword of truth by the power of Holy Spirit. God radically changed him and then he shared the gospel and changed Ireland. It is a very interesting story...go read it. Here is the "Breastplate Prayer" called that because the words that speak of protection from evil.

The Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation

musings

2009-03-17T07:23:00.002-04:00

I have not been in a very good place in my mind lately. I have been battling anxious thoughts, worrying about stuff---constantly. This past Sat. night we went to hear our favorite celtic band, Beyond the Pale, at Stewarts Brewing Co. with some good friends. David and I had such a great time. We were able to relax, be ourselves, and just laugh and be real. Friends that you have history, who know all your stuff (good and bad), who have walked life with you, celebrated with you, cried with you and still love you are great friends! So why do I worry and become anxious? Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a brother. We've got history, that's for sure. He definitely knows all my stuff and still loves me. I can relax and be myself with him. In His arms, is the safest place of all. He has gone to great lengths to show His love for me, his beloved daughter! He has even put people in my life to demonstrate Himself to me. Thank you, Jesus.

birthday pics

2009-03-17T07:18:00.005-04:00

New bike for his birthday!

tin grin

2009-03-17T07:13:00.003-04:00

Isn't he so cute!! I just love those dimples. Even with braces, his smile just melts me! Jonathan got braces yesterday. So he has the lovely tin grin for the next 15-18 months. The big scratch on the forehead was the marks of last weeks football game in the back yard with the neighbor boys.

excited

2009-03-12T20:35:00.002-04:00

I am excited to hear Katelyn say her Fine Arts recitation again tomorrow night.
I am excited that my nephew, Sam, is engaged to Sarah! Yeah!!! Bring on the party!
I am excited that my brother got a much better job!
I am so excited to see God working in my son's heart!

Jacob's day

2009-03-08T12:23:00.002-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACOB!!! WE LOVE YOU!!

birthday boy

2009-03-08T11:57:00.003-04:00

Today my baby turns 8! What a day it was...he came 6 weeks early after I had been in the hospital for about 10 days trying not to have him. He was our little peanut, and now he is our overgrown first grader! :) He is our entertainer. If you know my nephew Sam, then you can get an idea of what Jacob is like. Jacob had several health issues in his early years, but has been helped and now doesn't suffer from any health issues. (thanks to God and our chiropractor). We are so thankful for Jacob. He makes us dance, laugh, sing, and cry. We were laughing at him the other day and I said, "Where did we get you?!" He replied in his best attempt of a southern accent, "from Alabama!"
He is my snuggle boy and loves for his mama to snuggle with him at night and scratch his back. It is a sweet time when we talk and pray. It was during on of those times that he told me about when he prayed and "confessed it all" as he put. He told me when my Uncle Paul was preaching at our family reunion that he felt like he needed to go outside and pray....so he did. I asked him what he prayed about and he sighed a deep sigh and said, "I confessed it all, mom...all my sin" God loves to hear the cry of his children.
When he was born and cried out, I wept. His lungs weren't strong enough and that little cry wore him out. They showed him to me and whisked him away to the NICU. Later they rolled my bed into the NICU and I reached over and put my hand on his little head (the picture). We are so thankful for the gift that he is to us. God delights in us in the same way...but a much deeper, more perfect way!

Thanks, EM

2009-03-06T22:59:00.003-05:00

My friend at "finding grace" always finds the best stuff...books, quotes, etc. So here is what I read tonight and had to pass it along. Emily, God uses you so many times to encourage my heart.

There are two basic narrative identities at work among professing Christians. The first is what I will call the moral-performance narrative identity. These are people who in their heart of hearts say, I obey; therefore I am accepted by God. The second is what I will call the grace narrative identity. This basic operating principle is, I am accepted by God through Christ; therefore I obey.

People living their lives on the basis of these two different principles may superficially look alike. They may sit right beside one another in the church pew, both striving to obey the law of God, to pray, to give money generously, to be good family members. But they are doing so out of radically different motives, in radically different spirits, resulting in radically different personal characters.

When persons living in the moral-performance narrative are criticized, they are furious or devastated because they cannot tolerate threats to their self-image of being a “good person.”

But in the gospel our identity is not built on such an image, and we have the emotional ballast to handle criticism without attacking back. When people living in the moral-performance narrative base their self-worth on being hard working or theologically sound, then they must look down on those whom they perceive to be lazy or theologically weak.

But those who understand the gospel cannot possibly look down on anyone, since they were saved by sheer grace, not by their perfect doctrine or strong moral character.

Another mark of the moral-performance narrative is a constant need to find fault, win arguments, and prove that all opponents are not just mistaken but dishonest sellouts. However, when the gospel is deeply grasped, our need to win arguments is removed, and our language becomes gracious. We don’t have to ridicule our opponents, but instead we can engage them respectfully.

People who live in the moral-performance narrative use sarcastic, self-righteous putdown humor, or have no sense of humor at all. Lewis speaks of “the unsmiling concentration upon Self, which is the mark of hell.” The gospel, however, creates a gentle sense of irony. We find a lot to laugh at, starting with our own weaknesses. They don’t threaten us anymore because our ultimate worth is not based on our record or performance.

Martin Luther had the basic insight that moralism is the default mode of the human heart. Even Christians who believe the gospel of grace on one level can continue to operate as if they have been saved by their works. In “The Great Sin” in Mere Christianity, Lewis writes, “If we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good—above all, that we are better than someone else—I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the Devil."

Gracious, self-forgetful humility should be one of the primary things that distinguishes Christian believers from the many other types of moral, decent people in the world. But I think it is fair to say that humility, which is a key differentiating mark of the Christian, is largely missing in the church. Nonbelievers, detecting the stench of sanctimony, turn away.

Some will say, “Phariseeism and moralism are not our culture’s big problems right now. Our problems are license and antinomianism. There is no need to talk about grace all the time to postmodern people.” But postmodern people have been rejecting Christianity for years, thinking that it was indistinguishable from moralism. Only if you show them there’s a difference—that what they rejected wasn’t real Christianity—will they even begin to listen again.

Source: “The Advent of Humility: Jesus is the reason to stop concentrating on ourselves,” by Tim Keller in Christianity Today (December 2008) pp. 50-53.

about to bust

2009-03-06T14:41:00.004-05:00

At our school we have Fine Arts presentations. Every child does a recitation. Kindergarten does theirs all together. Wednesday was grades K-5 and yesterday was 6-12. This was Jacob's first time on his own and he did great. It is such a great experience because they learn all kinds of public speaking skills. We want them to learn to be comfortable with speaking in public. So we start young. Hopefully, they get better and better. In grades 6-12, it's a competition and the top two of each class recite again at a Fine Arts festival on the 13th. Well, my Katelyn got first place in her class. It was a powerful recitation called "The Vision"...about what it looks like to live passionately for Christ. I was sobbing by the end of it! There weren't too many dry eyes at the end of it. The video probably won't do it justice but God was with her. She knew it and felt it as she spoke. She was trying to hold back the tears by the end. She has practiced it over and over, getting ready, but she told me that she has never felt they way she did when she was reciting yesterday. God be praised. I was praying that she would be able to speak passionately from her heart. This poem was given to her by my dear friend, Joanne Foggy, on her sixteenth birthday. She read it to Kate the day of her birthday luncheon and Kate was greatly impacted by it. Thanks Katelyn, for sharing your gifts for God's glory! I love you with all my heart! I pray that God would help you to live out the vision and love people into the kingdom of God.

snow,snow,snow

2009-03-02T20:39:00.005-05:00

Jacob and his friend playing football in the snow the night before
when the snow had just started.

Smurf boy....he's excited to go out in the snow...funny kid!

This morning...

....the shoveling done, for now. That's our new van.
Lots and lots of snow...blowing snow! I got my workout today shoveling the snow. That is the first time we have had to do that in three years. We have had such mild winters. I got to wear my wonderful warm boots (just like Meredith's) :). I was so excited to get out there and play in all the beautiful white stuff!! Loved it!

sights and smells

2009-03-01T21:18:00.003-05:00

The smell of a hot water bottle reminds of my childhood. I think my mom fixed a hot water bottle for us at night. We put it at our feet to keep them warm.
It is snowing....really hard!! yippee!! I was helping Jacob get ready to play out in the snow and dug out the snow pants. He looked at them and said, "Cool! Do I have to take my jeans off to put them on?" I said, "No, you just put them on over your pants." He thought that was so fun! I asked him if he remembered wearing them and he didn't. It was like a whole new experience for him! (It has been three years since he wore them.) Then he went outside and played football in the snow with his friend across the street...in the dark. How fun!! :)

Sunday afternoon

2009-03-01T15:09:00.010-05:00

Here is Mary Ellen starting out on the BIG wall!

Halfway there...!!

YEAH!! SHE DID IT!

This is Kate...starting out
climbing higher...

Go Kate Go!!

We usually have church on Sunday afternoons. We are a part of a church plant and don't have our own building yet. So we use another church's building after they have their morning service. Since going to this church, we have started a new family tradition on Sunday morning, a big family breakfast. Today it was sausage gravy and biscuits. I am home today with a sick one.
Mary Ellen and Kate went rock climbing yesterday and had a great time. Today....ooooooh, so sore! Then Mary Ellen started throwing up in the night, so she has all kinds of aches and pains. The weather man is calling for 10 inches of snow tonight and 1-3 more tomorrow! We haven't seen that much snow in about 3 years! Enjoy the pictures of the girls rock climbing.

new van and new food

2009-02-25T21:47:00.002-05:00

Yes, we finally got a van. It's not new, but it is newer than what we had by 2 years. It has been very well taken care of and it feels like I am driving a new van. So our insurance won't go up much and we won't have a car payment! God is good to provide for us!
I have been enjoying cooking real food this week for the family. Tonight my sister, Jenny, was having tuna casserole. So I did the same. I looked it up on line and found a good recipe with fresh mushrooms (thank you, Irwin family), peppers, cheddar cheese, onions, etc...It was really good, filling and cheap. Okay, so some of you are probably gagging because your mother fixed tuna casserole one too many times in your life! I don't think I have ever fixed it before. It was a regular meal at Ron and Diana's when I lived with them my sr. year in high school. I know they don't ever want to SEE a tuna casserole again! Monday night we had a broccoli and chicken noodle soup and Tues. we had Tex Mex Calzones....can't go wrong with any mexican in this family. Both were from the latest issue of Cooking Light. The calzones called for ground turkey but I used deer hamburger.It is very lean and we love it. I made a black bean salad to go with it. Talk about beautiful food! All the colors in the black bean salad were so cool...I should have taken a pic. of it. It had black beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, celery, lime juice, olive oil...you get the picture. It's nice to have b-ball done and enjoying real food, family dinners.

good quote

2009-02-23T07:05:00.002-05:00

I read this on my friend's blog (finding grace), and loved it. I just wanted to share it with you this Monday morning. It is from Paul Tripp's book, "How People Change". I'm going to put it on my mirror...like she did. Thanks, Em.

Each morning that greets me is full of hope

Not because I am successful at what I am doing,

Or because the people near me appreciate me,

Or because circumstances are easy,

But because God is, and He is my Father.

To look at the morning any other way

Is to believe a lie.

To live in hope is to live in truth;

To live in truth is to bring Him glory;

To bring God glory in my daily living

Is the highest form of worship.

day off

2009-02-20T17:30:00.002-05:00

We had the day off...all school ski trip. I didn't go and instead went and got my haircut and highlighted! yippeee!! It is very cold and windy so we didn't wander around Chestertown. MaryEllen stayed home and also got her hair cut and had a friend spend the night. This afternoon Jacob and I wandered around Bombay Hook (in the car) National Wildlife Preserve. When we first got there we saw a field covered in snow geese. Just as we were leaving we saw them all fly away. Jacob said,"Wow that was like the whole earth moved up into the air!" Then as that show was ending a bald eagle flew right over us. Time to make dinner...spaghetti.

v-day

2009-02-14T22:55:00.003-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day. My husband coaches middle school boys basketball. They ended their season today with a great win. It was a tournament and they got a little trophy for third place! We came home and I made chicken cheese lasagna, that yummy spinach salad with strawberries, mandarin oranges, and carmalized pecans in it, garlic bread and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. It was sooo good and I hate way too many strawberries...couldn't resist. Our friend, Glenn, from Baltimore, spent the day with us and is now spending the night. I wish he could move here. He lives in a pretty rough part of Baltimore. Tonight he told me he was going to start calling me Mom. I said, "You can call me 'Mama Stover'. "

basketball season

2009-02-11T07:45:00.004-05:00

I don't know why this picture is little. I tried changing the size and doesn't seem to work. I am not very good at this formatting thing. They are beautiful, sweet girls...Kate is at the bottom with the white shirt on.

Our girls had a great season. It is amazing how much they have improved since last year. Last night was there last game. Congratulations, girls, on six wins! You are the best! This group of girls are beautiful, inside and out. I love them!

on the farm

2009-02-11T07:17:00.003-05:00

We have some friends that live near us who go to our school. They have a little farm, 2 horses, chickens, dogs and a little pond. My boys love going over there and Jonathan has wanting to help out. So this past Sat., he got to help groom the horses and clean out the horse stalls. He was working with their daughter who is in 4th gr. They had to scoop the manure into the wheel barrel, put it on the back of the kabota, and haul it out to where they dump it. After they finished cleaning out the stalls, Jonathan's job was to hang on to the wheelbarrow in the back of the Kabota. The chocolate lab dog wanted to ride as well. So he jumps in and sits right on the gas peddle, sending them speeding off towards the pond, with Jonathan hanging on to the wheelbarrow full of horse poop and yelling "SLOW DOWN!" I wish I had a picture of that one! The girl was driving and fortunately turned it off before they got to the pond and before horse manure went everywhere! A good time was had by all on the farm!

scones

2009-02-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

I made the famous Cranberry Orange Scones yesterday and brought them to school. When I make them, it is purely for selfish reasons (because I am craving them), but I share them so I won't eat the whole batch and be 200 pounds. For those who have asked, here is the recipe.
Cranberry Orange Scones
2 cups all-purpose flour
7 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. orange peel
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt.
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/3 c. cold butter
1 c. dried cranberries
1/4 c. orange juice
1/4 c. half and half cream
1 egg
1 Tbsp. milk
GLAZE:
1/2 c. confectioners' sugar
1 Tbsp. orange juice
In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, orange peel, baking powder, salt, and soda. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs;set aside. In a small bowl combine cranberries, orange juice, half and half and egg. Add to flour mixture and stir until soft dough forms. On a floured surface, gently knead 6-8 times. Pat dough into an 8 inch circle. Cut into 10 wedges. Separate wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet ( I actually lightly grease the baking sheet). Brush with milk. Bake at 400 for 12-15 min. Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over scones.
Have a tea party! :)

The Prodigal God

2009-02-06T07:24:00.002-05:00

I loved this little book. It had me weeping at the lavishness of my Father's love for me, a Pharisee at heart. Tim Keller calls the parable of the prodigal son the "parable of the two lost sons". The Father pursues both. He runs down the road to greet the one and lavishes him with kisses even before he hears any kind of repentance. He leaves the party to go out to the older brother and tells him "everything I have is yours." We are all doomed if our Heavenly Father does not pursue us! We would never come to Him! He isn't waiting for us to get our act together or prove our repentance. Keller says, "It is not the repentance that causes the Father's love, but rather the reverse. The father's lavish affection makes the son's expression of remorse far easier." Repentance is so much more than just confessing to a list of sins, many of us have to repent of our "goodness". The older brother didn't think he had done anything wrong and was actually worse off than the younger brother at this point who knew he was a sinner in need of a Saviour. We need to repent of our own righteousness which are all filthy rags. I have to do this. I see myself as the older brother, was never very rebellious, people pleaser, wanted to do everything right, but at the same time very proud. Every day I need God to rescue me from my "goodness" and help me see my need for HIM!
"To truly become Christians we must also repent of the reasons we did anything right...It is only when we see the desire to be your own Savior and Lord--lying beneath both your sins and your moral goodness---that you are on the verge of understanding the gospel and becoming a Christian indeed. When you understand that the antidote to being bad is not just being good, you are on the brink. If you follow through, it will change everything: how you relate to God, self, others, the world, your work, your sins, your virtue. It's called the new birth because it is so radical." (Keller)
There were so many parts of this book that I love. The next section than tells us not what to just turn from but who we turn to...very powerful little book. As a follower of Christ, I need to hear the gospel every day to remind myself of who I am and who my wonderful Father is and live out of that! It's so powerful. I hope you know this Father as your own.
On to the next book...It's called "Get Outta My Face". by Rick Horne. He went to Westminster Seminary is Director of Guidance at Delaware County Christian School and the coordinater of the Graduate Concentration in School Guidance Counseling in the M. Ed. Curriculum and Instruction major at Columbia International University. If I ever wanted to go back and get my masters in something, I think it would be some type of counseling. Christian school guidance and counseling is very appealing to me. If you are still reading, thanks for bearing with my as I posted my thoughts this morning.
VERSE TO REMEMBER (thanks, Meredith)

"The Lord says, 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.' " Isaiah 43:1
Remember that this Valentine's Day.

Southwestern soup

2009-01-31T19:51:00.002-05:00

We just had the BEST soup for dinner! I wanted to try the soup recipe on the front of Jan. Southern Living. Every time I saw the magazine, I would WANT that soup. So this afternoon I made my grocery list and decided to make that soup. Well, while I was gone to the bookstore, my wonderful husband went to the grocery story, came home, and made the soup with the help of Jonathan. It was so good that I have to share the recipe with you just in case you don't get SL...my favorite mag.
Southwestern Soup
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. coarsely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
2 (16 oz. ) cans of light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes and jalapenos, undrained
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes and chilies, undrained
1 (14 oz.) can beef broth
2 cups of frozen yellow and white corn
1 envelope of taco seasoning mix
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
toppings: sour cream, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro
Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large Dutch oven medium-high heat,
stirring often, 10-12 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink and onion is soft; drain.
Stir in kidney beans, next 8 ingredients, and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in cilantro just before serving. Serve with desired toppings.
ENJOY!!!! If you want a picture look up Jan. issue of Southern Living

don't forget

2009-01-31T11:25:00.002-05:00

I read the letter that Jenna and Barbara Bush wrote to the Obama girls telling them some of their experiences in the White House. You can read it online. I don't know if you read it, but it was wonderful. They told them to enjoy everything about living in such a special place and go to every event that they possibly could. They told them what staffers were good for a hug or smile. At the end, on a more serious note, they gave them a bit of advice which has stuck with me all week. They told them to never forget who their daddy really is. Others will think that they know their daddy, but they don't. They weren't there when there daddy held them right after they were born or when he sent them off on their first day of school. What a good reminder, "Don't forget who your daddy is." My Abba Father walks with me every day, loves me even when I mess up, picks me up out of the pit and sets my feet on a rock. He is my refuge and strength.
As the hymn says, "O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be; let they grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander-- Lord, I feel it-- prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
Our daddy binds our heart to Himself. Our daddy is gracious and longsuffering. He is a big-hearted Father! So many others will tell you that they think they know Him, but they don't.
Don't forget who your daddy is.

being sick...

2009-01-31T11:15:00.003-05:00

...i hate it. I miss out on everything. If you know me, you know how I hate to miss stuff. I love going to basketball games, even though you get home late and have to get up and at it again the next day. I love going to parties...all kinds. I missed both yesterday. David called from the b-ball game to tell how wonderful and exciting they were. Both the girls and boys won, the boys in overtime! hooray!! He said he was going to bring the girls over to their friend's house for some fun! Their friend's mom is my good friend. I hung up the phone and felt rather crummy. I hadn't eaten anything in two days, still not sure if I want to. I was bummed. I also was missing my nephew's wedding celebration dinner. I was sure there was lots of talking, laughter, and wine...and I was missing it ALL!! Oh well, so I just went to bed early and woke up, jumped on the computer to see if anyone had posted any pictures of any of the events that I missed yesterday. Today is a new day, I feel much better and am hoping to go to a Super Bowl party tomorrow night....

being mama

2009-01-29T12:20:00.002-05:00

The last few days I have got to be just the mama and not teacher. Jacob was sick all night Mon. night into Tues. and then Jonathan started last night. When Jonathan starts to throw up, it comes on him like a vengeance...always has been that way. It always makes me worry a little. We finally got a nice blanket of snow. Jacob looked longingly out the windows on Tues. as it snowed and then as the kids played in it. He wanted to go out, so I let him. Who knows when it will snow again. He only lasted about 10 minutes because he was so weak. Tues. was nice snow to play in. Yesterday was snow mixed with ice and slush...very wet. One of the joys of being home the past couple days was making homemade bread. I keep hearing my mom and sister talk about all the baking they are doing and it just made me so hungry for homemade bread. So I made four beautiful loaves! It is so soft. I think I must have kneaded it b/t 12-15 min. I was having so much fun...like therapy. Mom once told me that is why my Aunt Gladys had such good bread...because she kneaded hers for a long time. Mom was in too much of a hurry to GET IT DONE!
Katelyn has decided to read two books a month outside her school work. She just finished Passion and Purity and now is reading a book by Paul Tripp...can't remember the name. By doing this, it has challenged me to do the same. So I read "Same Kind of Different as Me". Now I am going to finish "Prodigal God" by Tim Keller...one of my favorite authors and preachers. I started it over Christmas and then started and finished a couple of other books that I got for Christmas. PG is an easy read and very, very good.

friend's blog

2009-01-20T21:32:00.003-05:00

If you don't read any other blog today, you have to read my friend's at "Life with 4 kids". It is hilarious! Also, Emily Evans, thanks for referring us to such good books! I just finished "Same Kind of Different As Me". I LOVED it! Melinda, you will love it. Emily is at "Finding Grace".

back again

2009-01-10T23:13:00.003-05:00

Home again, home again....
What a quick trip. It feels like a dream. Aunt Miriam's funeral was a sweet worship service. Kate and I sang "The King of Love" (the traditional funeral song in the Calhoun family). My sisters and I have sung that song together many times. It is such a good song and I never get tired of singing it. It was a beautiful day yesterday for Aunt Miriam's funeral, sunny and 60. David did a great job as well...that was a hard funeral to do...Miriam loved David like a son. We will miss her very much. We saw many friends from our first church that we hadn't seen in a loooonnng time. I got to see my friend Jennifer in Aiken for a little bit. We got back home tonight and I sat down, checked my email and found that my Aunt Carolyn went to be with Jesus this morning. I don't think we will be able to go to that funeral...in Minnesota. Our thoughts and prayers are with my mom and her siblings and other family members...we love you.

Christmas at Longwood

2009-01-07T15:34:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday night the girls wanted to go hear their favorite band (Line of Fire...a group of TOCS students and former students) play up in Kennett Square, PA. So I thought that sounded like fun, we (the boys and I) could go to Longwood Gardens while they are at the concert. I wanted to hear the band too, but it wouldn't be too cool to have your mom hanging around with your friends ALL evening. We got to Longwood just as the last ice skating show was about to begin. We practically ran to the rink and found some REALLY good seats. One reason they were really good was because they were in front. When we sat down and got settled, Jonathan pointed to the people sitting right in front of us...Melinda and Joel (my sister and brother-in-law)!! What fun! We couldn't have planned it better ourselves! I didn't have a camera with me, so Melinda will have to post her pictures on her blog. I haven't been to Longwood in a long time at Christmas, so I really wanted to fit it in this year. It was not disappointing at all....breathtaking!! It was fun being with
M & J too!

our friend

2009-01-07T08:06:00.003-05:00

Aunt Miriam went to be with Jesus. She is no longer struggling with a body that is eaten up with cancer and all its side effects. Praise Jesus! We are going back down to South Carolina, leaving sometime late this afternoon. The funeral is Friday at 2. David is helping with that and Kate and I are singing. We are looking forward to seeing friends and celebrating what Jesus did in Miriam's life...what a dear friend she was to our family. God gave us a really special time with her when we were down there. She had improved and wanted to show me her sewing projects. She sewed 7 Christmas place mats on Christmas Eve! We all sang and prayed together. She told me that she wanted "And Can it Be" sung at her funeral. So I said, "Why don't we sing it together right now." What a sweet time of worship that was; it brings tears to my eyes now! Part of the last verse says, "bold, I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ, my own. Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?" Amen!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T10:56:00.001-05:00

We are back home in our own little nest! We have tons to do before school on Monday, including finding some sort of vehicle that will hold 7 people and their gym bags and backpacks. David is out doing that right now....and he has to preach tomorrow!! I am off to the post office and the grocery store and just thankful to be where God has put me. I had a dream that I lost track of time and realized that I was very late getting to school. I was running through a parking lot trying to get to my car and woke up! yeah, it was a dream! I should take down the Christmas decorations today...I really want to keep them up and enjoy them a little bit longer. I know, most people just want to be done with it by now. I want to hang on to every last minute.
We had so much fun in SC. We had the traditional New Year's dinner at our friend's the Avera's in Beaufort, SC....black eyed peas, collard greens, ribs, pulled pork, butter beans, mashed potatoes. David was a happy man. Actually, we all thoroughly enjoyed it and ate like pigs...now back to reality and eating right!

God's protection

2008-12-24T23:38:00.002-05:00

You never know what a day will bring. Yesterday we left our house around noon for South Carolina. Last night at around 8:45 we were about two hours away from David's parents and got in an accident. We collided with a tractor trailer, spun around, went into the median and ended with the trailer of the semi hitting the left side of the van, blowing out the windows. It was all quite terrifying, of course. Thankfully, no one is hurt except for a few little cuts, just very shaken. God's hand was upon us and protected us from flipping over. The rescue workers were so kind. One of them took me and the kids to a truck stop after we had sat in her truck for about an hour. The people at the truck stop brought us food, water, coloring books, and just kept asking if there was anything we needed. So this Christmas, God has shown us His mercies in a whole new way! Life can change or end in a blink of an eye! God is a merciful and forgiving God. We praise Him for the gift of His Son who has saved us and continues to hold us.

19 years ago

2008-12-22T11:49:00.001-05:00

Nineteen years ago yesterday, David proposed to me!!! It was on my Dad's birthday. I am so happy to be stuck with him! Remember that Huey Lewis and the News song?? (So Happy to be Stuck with You)...I liked them.

crunch time

2008-12-22T11:39:00.002-05:00

We are going to South Carolina this week. Mary Ellen has her annual strep throat so we might not be able to leave tomorrow as planned. She usually gets it on our trip some time around New Years Day. She gets it when she is worn down, lack of sleep, etc...Last week was crazy with midterms, Christmas program, parties, etc...thus the lack of sleep. I am the same way. If I don't get enough sleep over an extended period of time, I always get strep. I have so much to do before we go. I haven't finished my Christmas shopping, gotta clean the house, pack and all that fun stuff. We are looking forward to seeing our friends and family, going to the fish camp, carousing with the Avera's in beautiful Beaufort, SC. I hope it is warm down there. It's windy and cold here, but nothin' like it is in the midwest. Maybe I will post some pictures while we are on our trip...if not. I'll see ya when we get back.
Goin' to Carolina.... yippeee!!

Christmas cookies

2008-12-15T20:38:00.005-05:00

Jacob working on his cookies

We had so much fun baking on Sat. These our two of our neighborhood friends that come over quite a bit to play. Glenn (on the left) actually lives in Baltimore, but comes to see his grandma on the weekends in our neighborhood. Tristan (on the right)lives across the street. He loves to play football with the boys and is pretty good at it. He is a little guy, but holds his own. I think there was more eating than frosting going on, but that's part of the fun. Glenn thought that we made the gingerbread men brown just for him... He is so funny. He didn't know that gingerbread IS brown. He saw me putting them in the oven, after I made the "white" cookies and said, "You made some black ones?!" I said "Yeah, we did that just for you!" He was touched until I started laughing and explained that they are gingerbread men and gingerbread is brown. We have so much fun when he is around. When he comes over, everyone is happy to see him. It's nice to have neighborhood friends that we enjoy having in our home. We have kind of adopted Glenn. His grandma says he is our stepchild. So that was our Sat. I also made peppermint cheesecake brownies for a party Sat. night. I wasn't too impressed with them. I tried a new recipe.
This is our last week of school. The girls have midterm exams this week and the teachers have to have all our grades in by the end of the week. I am sooooooooooooo looking forward to Christmas break.

looney

2008-12-10T08:07:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning my brother called me to wish me a happy birthday. He called early to be the first one! You know how everything is a competition for us Calhouns!! :) I was on my way to my friend's house to work out. It is a drive through the country from my house to hers. I have been there several times by now and should know my way. Well, I am not good at multi-tasking or maybe it has something to do with age. I am talking away on the phone and come to a stop sign. I look both ways, look around me, and realize that I have no idea where I am! I have never been on this road and don't know how I got there! So I say to Ron, "I have no idea where I am!" He says, "Wait a minute, I think I have the wrong number. Is this Elsie?" ha.... I laughed the rest of the way (once I figured out where I was)!!!
So thanks,mom, for passing down all kinds of wonderful traits! I am so blessed by you! :)

birthday

2008-12-10T07:55:00.002-05:00

Thank you all for your birthday greetings! If any of you are discouraged or feeling a little down on yourself, just spend a day in a first or second grade classroom. If the one at Tall Oaks is available to you, I highly recommend it! I wasn't feeling low or anything, but if I had been those beautiful children yesterday would have picked me right up! They were so cute yesterday. In second grade the tradition is for the girls to wear a crown for the day of her birthday and they are princess for the day. I kept teasing them that I was going to bring in a great big one and wear lots of jewels on my birthday! I got to wear the little toy crown yesterday and they all thought it was just the greatest thing to see the teacher wearing that little crown. Then about 10 min. into science class, David comes in the classroom and just starts dancing with me right in front of them all. So we did a little jig and they LOVED that! In first grade you get to wear a sticker. So I wore the sticker and then both classes threw a little party at the end of the day! It was so nice. You know me I love parties...no matter what the size! Today is the faculty/staff Christmas lunch and party. The kids have a half day. We are going to have an Italian feast! I'm so excited!

Ruth Graham...and Christmas

2008-12-08T07:20:00.003-05:00

Christmas is in full swing!! I went to two Christmas teas this weekend, sang lots of Christmas songs, did a little shopping, sat in my cozy living room by the fire and Christmas tree and watched a movie. It even snowed a little bit! Now we just need to make time to go to Longwood Gardens before the end of the season.
I heard a quote by Ruth Graham yesterday, "I saw what I want on my tombstone the other day while driving down the road, 'End of construction. Thank you for your patience.' "
I love that...what a lady!