Just Chillin'

This is our son, David. I'm looking forward to spending some special time with him tomorrow on his day off.
This is our daughter, Elise. She just called to tell me she has a bad sinus infection. She lives in Mobile, Alabama and I wish she was closer...especially when she is sick.

Elise

Bella, the cat that is driving me nuts!

Nothing too eventful to report. Here are a few bullet points so I can keep my blog up-to-date:

• Bill and I have rediscovered the joy of being together. It just feels so amazing to both of us to have time to actually spend together. So we have determined to see this lay off as a blessing and we are going to enjoy the time off of work.
  
• And speaking of the lay-off, I was goofing around with his phone while he was driving me to an appointment yesterday. I could tell he had voice mail waiting for him, but I had no clue how to access the messages...his phone is W I E R D !!! Anyway, suddenly I was listening to a voice mail from an engineering firm that wanted to interview him!! While we were in the car, he booked the interview and met with the people that afternoon. Now, we are praying that Bill will be hired, if this is God's will for us at this time. Please join us in prayer.
• Elise's cat is beautiful and all, but a real pain. She sheds all over the house.
• I am able to FINALLY attend a women's Bible study at our church! I can't do that during the school year because of my teaching schedule. I went this morning and it was so refreshing to meet with my sister's in Christ. We are reading the book, "Assured By God".Yes, I am still on my diet. I have officially lost 20 pounds, but I'm finding this to be intensely psychological for me...it's as if I keep getting scared to lose weight. Sounds strange, I know. Hmm, sounds like Dr. Phil might have met his match!!

Okay, that's all for now. No, my white jacket doesn't fit yet and yes, I will post more pictures for TOO TIGHT TUESDAYs...I promise!!! And I'm thinking of also starting "Way Too White Wednesdays"...I seriously need a tan!

A healthy fig tree

Thought the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

This verse has always been one of favorites. Once again God is reminding Bill and I that He is a Sovereign God, the One Who controls ALL things. Yesterday the phone rang. It was Bill. After only hearing him speak maybe three words, my heart knew the message he was about to share. This would be his last day to work at Waller Marine. They are out of work. When we see the gas prices go down, we all get excited. However, this always indicates bad news for the oil industry. And that's what's happened with Bill's job. They appreciate his hard work and excellent work ethic, but there are no more contracts for him to work on. They will call him back as soon as they have more work...meanwhile, need to pay our bills. But right now, I just have this overwhelming sense of peace and calm - which is NOT from me! - and I know the God that has NEVER let us down will be the same God that meets our needs in His way and in His time. So, I now have a newer, more urgent prayer request that the one I posted on Thursday. Please keep us in your prayers as we look for new work. Thank you all so much.

She Speaks

Will you join me in a prayer request? I talked to my husband tonight about the possibility of attending the "She Speaks" conference this summer. This is put on by a Christian organization called Proverbs 31 Ministries. This special conference is all about developing a speaking ministry and that has been a secret desire of mine for many, many years...probably as far back as high school. I just went to their web site to look over the cost and registration and it's already full. I put my name on the waiting list (I think...I don't know if it went through or not!) and now I'm trying my best not to feel disappointed, but to trust that if I'm suppose to be there that God will make a way. So if you don't mind, could you join be in asking God for an opening so that I can attend if it is His will? Thank you friends.

A Wonderful Perspective

For some of you, this entry won't make any sense. It may even seem foolish. But I have to admit that on Monday night, when I was held up at the airport, all I wanted to do was find out the "Big Announcement" on Jon and Kate Plus Eight. The moment I landed, I called Elise. Not to say "Hi, I missed you sooo much!" but to have her turn on channel 66 and let me know what was going on. Why? Why was I so consumed? Because for some reason this family encouraged me. I enjoyed turning in on Mondays to find out what Maddy made in school or what cute observation Aiden had made about the world or just to see Leah's precious smile. And then there were the parents. No, I didn't like the way Kate bossed her husband around, but I loved Jon's casual ( and satirical) comebacks. And I loved that he often wore a t-shirt with a quote from Isaiah that reminded all of us out in TV Land that "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength."

I even heard her speak when she came to Houston in January...I even spoke with her as she autographed a copy of her book for me. When a friend said, "Oh, I can't stand her!" I came to Kate's defense. I told my friend that when I heard her speak and share from her heart, she wasn't this domineering, control-freak that was portrayed on the program.

So imagine my despair when they ended the season with Jon very clearly stating he wanted to rethink their contract. He had had it with the intrusion in his personal life, while Kate still wanted to "keep the cameras rolling." Then, suddenly, everything went south! My heart could hardly bear the first episode of the new season..it was so sad to see the disintegration of a family played out before my eyes. While many people (and magazines!) have had much to say about this topic, I admire Lysa TerKeurst's comments on the situation and her Godly response. She is the woman that set up the speaking engagement for Kate in Houston This is her take on the situation:

Over the past couple of days I've received 3 e-mails about an acquaintance of mine that is on the cover of many tabloid magazines right now. This blog post is not meant to defend, offend, discuss, rehash, or remark about this woman I care about in any way.This blog post is about you and me.And those three e-mails.The first e-mail I received used such hateful remarks, it hurt my head to read it. Seriously, I could have skipped my run for that day because reading that e-mail set my heart racing as much as a good cardio workout. It was dripping with judgement, condemnation, and venomous words like "shameful" and "hate."Many of those words directed at me and my character.The second e-mail I received was a 'Christian' call to action. It was strong and slightly demanding that I do something about this situation. You know, rain down a little hell fire and brimstone in an effort to correct the actions of this woman in question. All in Christian 'love,' of course.The third e-mail was completely different. It still expressed concern and rightly so. However, in complete humility she said she's using this situation as a call to action to examine her own life and as a call to prayer for this woman's life.She said as she watched this woman being featured on TV, she saw things that bothered her. So, she asked herself some very tough questions about her own life- her own marriage- her own attitude about the importance she places on God- and she found herself falling short.With great honesty and courage, she set aside her judgements and got down on her knees.If I could have jumped through cyber-space, I would have thrown my arms around the author of the third e-mail and hugged her.Seriously, hugged her.And I'm not even a huggy person.But I would be today.Sisters, I do believe with all my heart that there is a place for Christian accountability. I believe it is biblical and necessary. However, making judgemental remarks- rolling our eyes- belittling someone we don't personally know or do life with in the real world- and sending hateful e-mails is not biblical or necessary. It's sin.It's totally missing the mark of what God has called his girls to be and to do.If the actions and attitudes of another person hurt our heart and rub our soul the wrong way, be it a neighbor or a woman on the cover of a tabloid, I pray we handle it with the grace and dignity Jesus enables us to have. "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment," (Phil. 1:9).And may we always remember the person in question is loved by God. He may not love their actions and he most certainly doesn't love their sin. But the person, He loves. They are loved. She is Loved. Totally and immensely, unfathomably and remarkably, beautifully and abundantly loved. And that's all I have to say about that.The end.

I am praying for them. I wish they would not say "Our children are our first priority". I wish they would make their marriage their first priority. And that's all I have to say about that.

Um...Houston, We Have A Problem!!!

Me, blissfully unaware of all that this new day had to hold!
Elise and I at LaMadeline's
Molly, Elise and Melissa
My sister and her new best friend, Scooter

(She had foot surgery and can't walk on her foot for 8 weeks!)
Nancy and Mom
Karen and I
Karen and Mom
Mom and I

So my sister arrives to pick me up and take me to the airport. She has three grandchildren with her, all eager to come inside the airport because, as Lynnae reminded us, "They might have toys in there!" So we get me and my 782 pounds of luggage checked in, and go off in hot anticipation of TOYS!!! Didn't find anything but pizza and 7-up. After saying our goodbyes (will post those pictures as soon as Nancy sends them to me...meanwhile, here are a few from Kare's birthday lunch), I go through security and arrive at Gate A3. I'm on time - just! - and hope I don't have to wait too long until we board. Wrong!! Three hours and 15 Snickers later we are finally told that our plane had arrived. Apparently the plane was coming from New Jersey and they must have had bad weather. Landed in hot, humid, Houston , got home by 11pm and was greeted by Elise and her friends from Mobile. They knew I hadn't had dinner, so they had a table full of Mexican delights waiting for me...even flowers!!!! Thanks, girls!
Woke up with a HORRIBLE headache...think I have to adjust to this humidity again. Took girls out for lunch and waved good bye as they headed back to Mobile. Then, raced home to take David to work. Laid the car keys down for a second while I checked my email and then headed out the door. Oops! I left my keys inside. David quickly checked his pockets. He didn't have his either. He headed off to see if the friendly pizza man on the corner could drive him to work. I opened all the doors in the car in a futile attempt to maximize airflow, but it still felt like I was going to be headline news: Woman found MELTED on front seat of car. Bill forgot his cell phone. Well, not actually FORGOT it, it just didn't look like it worked because Elise had taken out his SIM card so that she...oh, never mind...bottom line is I was able to reach him at work and they were nice enough to let him come home and rescue me.
He left to get new keys made. We now have 48 hiding in various places throughout greater Houston so that this NEVER happens again! I tried to lay down and get rid of my headache. Then we went to the pool and swam away the tension of the day.
Isn't life FUN!?!?!?!

Ladies Day

Yesterday I enjoyed a wonderfully refreshing day at Gull Lake. Every June, Gull Lake Ministires has a women's conference. My sister has attended these meetings for over 16 years. Yesterday I was able to join Nancy and her friend, Sandy. It was a great day basking in God's love and grace!

Sandy, Me, Nancy

Sandy and Nancy

Grandma is Busy

Yesterday my mom and I began our day with an early swim in the pool. Then we met up with Aunt Connie and my sister Nancy and enjoyed a fabulous breakfast at The Omelet Shoppe. Grand Rapids always amazes me with its seemingly endless variety of restaurants. They also seem to offer an equally endless supply of coupons and specials that entice people to eat out. Well, it worked for us! We each had fresh squeezed oj, an omelet with our choice of cheese, veggie and meat, and our choice of bread. My favorite there is the Oat Bran Cherry with icing...soooo good!!

Aunt Connie and Mom

Nancy and I

Me, just happy being with family

Nancy and I dropped Aunt Connie and mom off at their condos and headed out for a girl's day out. We had fun exploring cute little gift shops, sat in a coffee shop so I could hook up to wi-fi, and laughed...we laughed a lot!!!

At 5:30, our oldest son, Ted, picked me up so I could see Leilani (our granddaughter) perform in her end-of-the-year musical. They performed Alice in Wonderland and Leilani was a flower - the most beautiful flower on stage!!!

Leilani in full bloom!

Leilani with her friend, Norah

Sweet Leilani celebrating sweet success with a sweet treat from Arnies

A proud Grandma

While walking through the halls, I noticed they used Leilani's story as an example of excellent work!

The proud parents, Lilly and Ted

Grand Rapids!!!!!

I am spending a few weeks in my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. A lot of my time is spent with my mom, who will turn 90 years old on Christmas. She has been having a few health setbacks, so I'm so thankful I can stay with her and try to help out a bit. My two sisters live here and are the ones that always help out, so I'm glad I can participate in her care and spend my days with her.
Our oldest daughter, Laura, drove up from Bloomington, Indiana (about 5-6 hrs. away) and we were able to spend some fun days together.

Laura and I trying to escape the camera

Sweet Clarissa - 4th grade

Athletic Andrew - 7th grade

Our oldest grandson, Brandon -9th grade and equally athletic

My sister, Nancy.