SCARED A BIT

I received wonderful Christmas presents this year. A great new pair of black boots that would make Big Mama proud. A fantastic brown jacket. A Scentsy that matches our home decor. The John MacArthur Bible Commentary. However, I received one gifts that scares me. To the point I have avoided it as long as possible. I have actually tried it once, but quit soon after. The culprit... Breaking Free by Beth Moore. Yes, I am afraid of it a tiny bit. When people who have done the study say things to you like,

"If something ever happens to me make sure that

study gets burned BEFORE anyone reads it",

well, it makes you a little leery. I know, thousands of women have done it and been blessed beyond belief. I also know it has a way of getting all up in my business and rocking my world. To the very core. Which is kinda the point, but scary still. It is really a silly fear and a complete work of the enemy, but a fear that is still there.
What is even more frightening is what will be missed if I don't do it. The only way I am going to fulfill all God has and wants for me is to let Him get all up in my business. To allow Him to reach into the very core and start from there. I must admit I am a bit ashamed that I am even telling you I have been dodging it. Almost like I have failed you. Truth be told though, if I have failed anyone, I would be me and Him. It would be easy to let that condemnation monkey jump on my back. I won't. For I know this as well, God's timing is perfect. Perfect. He knew exactly when I would be willing, if not totally ready, and willing I am.
I have not started it yet, but next week when we get back to our regularly scheduled lives I will. I go into it with great expectancy. If what I expect to happen happens, my regularly scheduled life is no more.
Praise the Lord!
P-r-a-i-s-e t-h-e L-o-r-d.

COMMANDO CONTAGIOUSO...

So yesterday I made mention of MC 1 going commando all day Christmas Day.

I did not realize this condition was contagious until bath time last night.

After an afternoon of going to various stores and playing outside,

it was time for MC 2 to get cleaned up.

MC 2 take you clothes off and get in the shower.

MC 2 strips down and gets in the shower.

As I am picking up, I notice the orange sweat pants

he was wearing were laying on the floor,

underwear in absentia.

Dude, where is your underwear?

I don't know.

Did you wear any today?

Uhm..nope.

G-R-E-A-T.

So now underwear confirmation has been bumped

to the top of my daily to do list.

I hope HH doesn't catch it.

TMI... I know;)

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO...

Did you spot it?

Our first causality from the bow and arrow set MC 1 got for Christmas.

Granted they were suction cup arrows, so I really did not think they could do too much harm.

I did not take into account MC 2.

Apparently the wise man was eyeballin' him the wrong way.

MC 1 - Mom! MC 2 broke on of your guys!

Me - What? Why? How?

MC 2 - It was an accident Mommy! It was an accident!

MC 1- Yeah right. Mom when he did it he pulled his arm in and said Y-E-S!

Me- Dude that is not an accident when you celebrate.

MC 2 - Uh huh Mommy. It was an accident.

Accidents do happen Mommy. They do.

In their defense, they did have all the visible pieces picked up and thrown away before I even came in.

Ahhh...life with men children.

Oh and did I tell you MC 1 went commando ALL DAY LONG Christmas day.

Yes mam. Did not find out until one of his cousins ratted him out at grandma's house.

Yep...good times;)

RELOAD!

You good Ag's will recognize that sentiment! My Ags's face the Dawgs of Georgia today. We pray for a good showing.
This week we are literally reloading. Reloading the house after Christmas '09. Reloading the washing machine and dryer for the ump-teenth millionth time. Reloading the fridge. All in preparation for 2010.
Christmas Eve we went to our church's candlelight service. I would love to tell you how great it was, but MC 2 was still being beastly, so I missed most of it. We did get to see some huge snowflakes though. That was neat.
Christmas was surprisingly great. To be honest I was a little concerned about the men children. They each only received 2 gifts at the house, one Santa and one mom and dad (and that one was homemade). I was concerned they would be upset and throwing fits. Much to my delight, not a cross word was said. They did not care one bit. (Makes me think how much money I could have saved in Christmases past). They were thrilled with their toys and homemade gifts and we really had a great day. We moved from our house to my parent's house. Again, the homemade gifts were a hit. I had made my two nieces bags and the boys "interest appropriate" pillows with their initials one them. Sisters were very impressed. We are already planning for next year's homemade make - off. To say we are a bit competitive is putting it lightly. After lunch and a few naps, we migrated to MIL's. I will say I did have to finish some of the presents on the way. Again, the men children were delighted with all the things they received.
So now we recover.
We reload.
Gig 'em Ags! Beat the heck outta Georgia!

I WIN! YOU OWE ME!

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!

Merry Christmas

to you and yours

from me and mine.

"LINE"!

First, let me preface this post by saying I am not well. But I am not super sick either. Nothing hurts, I just have a nasty cough that has not left me yet. I mean nasty. The kind that when a bad one hits you it takes your breath away. Having said that, you will hopefully understand if I seem a bit raw in this one.
I love Christmas time. It is beyond a shadow of a doubt my favorite "time" of the year. One of the regrets I had from working was that I did not get to fully do Christmas like I wanted to, for me or the kids. I was super excited about this one because I knew I would have the time to do all the things I wanted to for me and for them. I was looking forward to going to the local nursery and buying a poinsettia and seeing all the decorations. I was excited about taking us all to the local Bass Pro Shop for Santa's Workshop and our FREE pictures with the big man himself. I would be going to man child 1's music program and party. We would make candy, cookies and baked goods to take to our friends. We would attend a local live Nativity. My house would be decorated by the first week of December. We would spend Christmas Eve decorating the tree. I had it all planned out.
Guess what?
You already know don't you.
With the exception of the party, NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED OR WILL.
Some I am responsible for; some were unavoidable; some just did not pan out.
How was I to know that MC 2 would puke as we were getting in the car to go to the music program or that I would be sick 3 days before the day.
To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. Yes I know what Christmas is about...yes Jesus is the reason for the season... Yes I am trying to refocus. I have to tell you, though, my flesh is highly disappointed. HIGHLY. I caught the tail end of the a Brady Christmas special and actually teared up. (Thank goodness it wasn't Little House on the Prairie for I would have been a goner for sure).
My flesh quickly cried out, "Why can't my life be like that!"
My spirit man quickly replied, " Because your life is not a script. Your life is REAL."
VERY.
My life has very real financial constraints. My life has a very real man child who was an absolute horror while HH was away on a hunting trip. My life has two men children in it who got in a shoving match at Wal-Mart, after they had fought with the purchases I had made. My life has a very real woman smack dab in the center of it who is reading a book about grace and discovering she grapples with it. My life is real.
So is yours. You have your very real stuff as well.
As I am working this out, even as I write and between coughing fits and a man child telling me to go to the doctor, this thought comes to mind.
Just as my life is real, so is my God.
Amen!
Can I get an amen?!
He is not made of stone. He is not carved of ivory or jade. He is not embodied in an animal. He is very real. Sitting on His very real throne by His very real Son who is making very real intercession for me at this very moment.
I can make all kinds of memories with my kids, but if those memories don't focus on the real Son of God who came to dwell among us, then I have failed. If they don't know that the real Son of God who came to Earth as a baby is coming back as King, I have missed the boat. Truth be told, my kids aren't missing the "stuff" I wanted to do. The stuff has no eternal impact on their lives. What will is mama getting her priorities refocused on the real reason for the Christmas celebration. So she will, real fast.
Thanks for listening while I work this out. I feel better already, spiritually anyway. Physically may take a bit.

NIGHT AWAY

HH and I got the chance to go away for a night this past weekend for some work related thing for him (because as he so often points out I am unemployed). Of course I am not sure I would call sitting in a fine eating/drinking establishment for 6+ hours and watching "da' BOYZ" beat the Saints work related, but what do I know...I'm unemployed (and quite happy about it!).

I digress.

Anyway, in the spirit of PW's book tour I thought I would take pictures of our historic hotel.

Now picture in your mind all the fancy rooms PW has stayed in.

Got 'em?

Good.

Now completely erase those thoughts.

Here is the room/bedroom.

Here is the bathroom.

THE END.

THIS IS HOW WE CHRISTMAS

Celebrating Christ....

1. My parent's home church does a Bethlehem Alive program where they re-enact the Nativity Story. This year it was very interactive.The men children could make bread and get their names written in Greek.

2. We go to our church's Christmas Eve service.

3. Pretty much everyday when we get on our "I Want" kicks, we re-tell what Christmas is really about. My men children are small.... E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y:)

4. Veggie Tales movies!

A Call to Grace

ABOLISHED

BECOME WHO YOU ARE

A Call To Grace

BLOG BLOCKED

I have a blog block.

Actually, I have some stuff but it will require more attention

to the writing than I want to divert from the Mentalist right now.

It is one of those shows you have to watch or

you spend all night asking, "What did he say?"

So, enjoy your last shopping weekend before Christmas.

Don't get caught up in the hustle and bustle.

Be nice.

Smile.

Show Jesus.

Everyday.

Much love sisters.

Much love.

WHO AM I

Then king David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said:" Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God? Now what more can David (RHONDA) say to you? For You, Lord God, know Your servant. For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore, You are great, O Lord
God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears."

2 Samuel 7:18-22 (NKJV)

IT CONTINUES...

As MC 1 lay on the couch,

sleepy-eyed and quiet,

I,

in my best,

most loving

mama voice ask,

"Do you need some

mommy love baby?"

Response-

"I want daddy."

LIKE A BANNY ROOSTER

So I was thinking about how I would act if God actually gave me a "Christian" lunchbox.
Ya'll I would be struttin' around like a banny rooster.
I would be so proud of myself.
I can see it now.
Strut into the lunch room at work (assuming I go back to work, otherwise I will just have to crash someone else's work).
Casually slide that bad boy out to the center of the table.
Someone says "Nice lunchbox"
I reply " Yeah....It's from God"
Can you see me puffin' my plumage out as I say it?
"I am one of His. Aren't you?"
A pitiful mess I would be.
The question is not bad.
I am one of His. Aren't you?
That is exactly what I should be telling people.
Not proudly, but in humility.
See... here is what He has given me.
Eternal life.
Forgiveness of sin.
Relationship with the Father.
The Comforter.
Jesus Christ.
Those bad boys I can show off to everyone at lunch.
At work.
At Wal-Mart.
God in His great wisdom knew.
He knew that to appreciate what we had been given, we must never forget it had been GIVEN.
Not earned, not merited, not deserved.
GIVEN.
To flash our card, we must give of ourselves.
Not because people have earned it or deserved it or even merit it.

We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19 (NIV)

CARD CARRYING MEMBER

MC 1 finished up his rodeo tour this past weekend. The kids ride once a month for five months. You are allowed to miss one. If you complete four (of which you only have to compete in one event) you WIN A PRIZE. Win is a rather loose term since mama and daddy paid good money for you to ride, but WIN you do! He got a set of reins, a belt buckle, and cowboy'd up lunch box. He was so excited about the lunch box because when he took it to school on Monday, then people would really believe that he is a cowboy, like he has been telling them. Because every card carrying cowboy has a cowboy lunch box. It's proof I tell you. P-R-O-O-F!

Wouldn't it be easier sometimes if God gave us a "Christian" lunch box. Or something to prove we were card carrying members... you know some kind of proof. Something tangible. Something to show to our friends that says "Official Christian" on it.

In John 13, verse 35, Christ does give us our card...

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

That we have genuine affection for one another in the body of Christ, regardless of which part of the body they are. We flash our cards every time we speak, good or bad, about fellow Christians. We flash our cards when we see someone is upset, believer or non-believer, and we either stop and listen or we walk away.
Our love for one another is our card. It carries more power than any "Christian" badge we could ever flash. It is poured out in our words and our actions. It can either shine brilliantly as our Christ does or be as dull as the world. This Christmas season provides a great opportunity to pass out our business cards to the people around us. Whether it be the people we serve at the mission, or the checkout lady at Wal-Mart, we can show our card. Hearts are tender, people are searching. Let us, and by that I mean me (believe me), point the way.

Would be totally cool to get a lunch box from God though.

Have a great weekend!

THIS IS HOW WE CHRISTMAS - DECORATIONS

I have been looking forward to this post all week. Not so you can see my decorations, but so I can see yours!

First, we do no outside lights because, and I quote HH "Then people would know we live here."

Second, this is what I have to work with...

We do a real tree with string lights, but we don't do it until closer to Christmas.

My plan this year is Christmas Eve Day is tree day!

I tend to use ornaments that where either made by family members or given by family members.

On to the house... a few pics and explanations.

These stockings were given to me by a classmate when we were in the 8th grade. She made them herself.
These were made by the men children during daycare days.

Santa basketball lights.
They were a gift (I think...it's my story anyway)

The men children love them.

The nativity was a gift from my mom. The runner was made by my grandmother. She is celebrating in heaven for the second year. Miss her and her red robe.

The deer are all sporting the Christmas ties. What else was I going to do with them?

Can't wait to see yours!

CHRISTMAS VACATION

Yesterday Clark Griswald (I mean mc 2) and I put up the random strands of lights we have around the house. Of course this was after I convinced him that he could NOT plug in the one big bundle of a mess they were in and just connect them all together. That, and the fact that just because you can jump off the ladder onto the couch does not mean you can jump from the couch back onto the ladder...just doesn't work that way. I will have pics up tomorrow for This Is How We Christmas, but, please, bear in mind that I have deer heads on my wall. Notice I said heads, plural, so don't get to excited.
By the way, did you watch the Biggest Loser last night? Love that show. I am officially addicted. How do you lose 50+% of your weight? Without surgery? Amazing! One of the Biggest Loser contestants from seasons past is part of a movement called I am Second. So are some other interesting figures, like Mike Huckabee and that boy that QB's for that other school down Highway 6. You know the one with the steer for a mascot.
Hope you guys have a great Wednesday and be sure to check back tomorrow for the complete decor! I know, you won't be able to sleep tonight. It's like Christmas has come early. My gift to you.

FLESH VERSUS FAITH

The past month has been (and continues to be) a battle of my flesh versus my faith. Some days it feels too close to call. I would love to tell you it is only about one particular situation, but it is not. Flesh and faith are battling over a few things. Part of my frustration comes from the silence I keep getting from the Lord. I have had many days of "WHY AREN'T YOU TALKING TO ME" conversations. His answer... silence. S-I-L-E-N-C-E! My faith knows that He is listening. I have searched and repented. He hears me, I know He does. My flesh says something totally different. That I have angered or disappointed Him so that He has turned a deaf ear to me. My flesh says that I have not kept all the rules so He wants nothing to do with me. I know this not to be true by faith, but that flesh is holding on tight.

I am focusing on His Word. I am praying always. I am praising and not pleading. Not that I haven't pleaded my case, for I have, but my words have turned to praise for this time. All be it deliberate praise by faith, praise still. Praise that this time is maturing my faith and killing my flesh. Praise that my God is able to meet my needs out of His glorious riches (my synopsis) and praise that He knows what I need.

Today is going to be a battle day, I can already tell you. For me, I will fight on the side of faith. Because regardless of how bad the battle is, I still pick the side I am going to fight for.

I choose.

If you are a follower of Deliberately Delivered, you'll notice a lot of activity. This is part of my battle plan. Not that I read to get great stuff to write about so you will think I am so smart or whatever. This battle plan entails me getting focused and searching the Word for what He is saying to me. Today we go to James 1. Just click the broken shackles on the right to join in. What He is saying to you may just be the thing that helps me.

SELF-PORTRAITS

My boys like to see themselves in pictures.

A LOT

Some are self-discovery...

... and there are always a few peace signs...

...they are big on drama at times....

... and then for fun they like to melt their mama's heart.
Hope you a having a great Monday.

TICKLE YOUR EARS

I love Christmas music. I really do. Carols stir up a range of emotions within me. O Come O Come Emmanuel makes me cry every time- a good hard cry. Something about the despair of the lyrics combine with the hope of the chorus. I also love the secular songs. Bing Crosby and White Christmas are perfection. My mom used to play Silver Bells and Walking In A Winter Wonderland so I love those as well. (Just heard I'll Be Home for Christmas...definite favorite. Oh and Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire... I need to stop or I will go on for a bit).
ANYWAY... if you are looking for a great night of music and worship then check out Gloria!
Shaun Groves
Travis Cottrell
Cindy Morgan.
Having heard 2 of the 3, I can promise you won't be disappointed.
So if they are in your area, go check it out!
Have a great weekend.

LOTS TO READ

Still going through the last few chapters of Hebrews

on Deliberately Delivered.

Just click the broken shackles (AMEN!) on the right.

Also, check out the post below for quirky Christmas traditions

and the link to the Preacher's Wife "This Is How We Christmas".

You will enjoy it I am sure.

Have a great day!

THIS IS HOW WE CHRISTMAS

I am participating in The Preacher's Wife "This Is How We Christmas". Click on over and check out the others:) It will be fun!

Quirky Family Traditions
1. Christmas Eve Gift - On Christmas Eve (obviously), when we see or talk to my grandfather or mom we try to be the first to say "Christmas Eve Gift". When we were younger, if we successfully beat our grandfather, he would dig into his little red plastic change holder, the kind you squeeze the ends together to open, and pay up with some coinage. If he won, we settled up with a Yankee dime (aka a kiss on the cheek). We play to the very day.
2. Christmas Trees - We always went and cut our own from the woods (not the tree farm). A tradition I continued. However, one year, HH bought a tree on Christmas Eve that was gorgeous and super cheap. So I am thinking we are doing that again. In my mind's eye I visualize going and getting the tree Christmas Eve morning and spending the day decorating it.
3. Gifts - We do one gift at a time as well. Slows it down and lets us appreciate it.
4. Midnight Mass - We are not Catholic, however, when my grandparents lived by a monastery we would go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. It was beautiful and something I enjoyed.
5. Christmas Morning - We can not wake my parents until the coffee is made. Even now. Even though we drive nearly an hour to see them- MAKE THE COFFEE FIRST!

FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY....

MC 2, well, he is something else. As my mom said he is not the first wild child to be born, he is just our first. Last night HH and I got in a discussion about MC 2 starting school. We have concerns, mainly that he will run away. Wander to the bus barn, perhaps visit the tractors across the street. HH fears MC 2 is just mean and will get into trouble. Granted HH pesters the mess out of him and he does retaliate so I don't think "mean" is an issue. I have even thought of requesting MC 2 be put in a classroom with no outside facing doors. One way in and one way out. Rest assured I will be talking with his teacher when he does start.

As we were talking, I could not help think how God has made MC 2 fearless and brave. When he formed him and put character and personality in him, He threw in brave and courageous, and He did not do it randomly. He, God of the universe, has a purpose for this man child. A purpose that will require courage and bravery and all the things that drive me nuts now. (I maintain that MC 2 is going to serve somewhere clothes are scarce and they eat raw food based on his current behavior and attire).

So while his antics fill me with fear and wonder at times, I must never forget that MC 2 is fearfully and wonderfully made by God Himself.

So are you, lest you forget:)

I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

GRAB YOUR BIBLE AND JUMP ON OVER

Deliberately Delilvered

3 YEARS AGO TODAY

Three years ago today I was sitting in the truck with HH, in the freezing cold, standing guard over our house that had caught fire. The kids were at HH's mom's house and we were just sitting back taking it all in. I alluded to it here, but today I want to give you, as Paul Harvey would say... The rest of the story.
First - Jesus Christ saved our lives. Let's establish that from the get go. Okay let's go now.
We had stoked up the old fireplace the night before as it was bitterly cold. The boys were in bed, HH shut down the fireplace and to bed we went. Our bedroom is located at the back, while the men children's room is next door to the living room (where the fireplace is located). Due to heating issues in our house, we had pulled the door to our room to, not shutting it all the way, in case a man child needed us.
I remember waking up from a groggy sleep to some annoying beeping sound. You know, the kind where you think it is a dream, so you roll over and go back to sleep, which is exactly what I did. However, it would not go away. Finally, after an exasperated "What is that?", I got up and opened the door from our room to track it down.
When I stepped in to the kitchen, smoke was over the ceiling. I stepped around in to the living room, where I saw a glowing the wall about 5 feet up - not where the fireplace is supposed to be. Our lone smoke alarm, which had not been checked in a very long time, was going off.
Before I continue you need to know one tiny fact. At this time in my life I was taking anti-anxiety meds. The reason why is a long story that has to do with a very prideful girl and a God who was gracious enough to knock her on her butt. However, being on anti- anxiety meds, well it REALLY mellowed me out. R-E-A-L-L-Y!
So I casually call back to HH. "HH the house is on fire", then proceed to the boys room. Again smoke is all over the ceiling and I can hear the fire rolling over the ceiling in the boys room. I begin to ever so gently wake the boys, "Boys we need to get up, the house is one fire. Boys, boys...". By that time HH has raced in to the bedroom. He yanks MC1 up by the arm, over the dresser and heads outside, while screaming at me "COME ON!".
We get the boys safely into the car. I run back in for the bills, HH goes for something but I can't remember what, and we try to go out the back door. The lock is frozen so I run, well probably just walked fast, out the front door. HH gets the lock open and goes out the back. He calls the fire department and his mom. In the decade+ we have been married I have never seem HH cry. I did not that night either, but apparently he did.
I back the car away from the house and call my parents and my friend Casey. Then we waited. One lone fire fighter shows up first. He begins putting the fire out. They remove HH's lone deer mount before it gets damaged. When they open the garage, smoke billows out like you see in the movies. Mom-in-law and family rush over, and then we watch and wait. The volunteer firefighters did an amazing job saving our house.
We received texts and calls all morning checking on us. HH called Cory and he came over to help. Then he and his wife did an amazing thing...they opened their home to us. The home they just bought and moved into 2 weeks before. So that night , me and my 3 men children moved into their back bedroom where we lived for four months.
Casey washed clothes for us, as did others.
Cory's mom brought food and sleeping bags for the boys, which they have this very day.
Our church family took up an collection for us that blew our minds.
At the end of the day we had a roof over our head and friends and family by our side. December 1 will always be an Ebenezer stone for me. I know God Himself brought us safely through.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer;

hither by thy help I'm come;

and I hope, by thy good pleasure,

safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

interposed His precious blood.