What a day, what a week, what a life...

Today, the boys and I went up to a friends nursery to find a Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun. It was up in the hills/ mountains here and the snow was still on the ground. It was a challenge driving through the fields in the Volvo station wagon, but we made it and found a great tree.

This week, I was supposed to start selling Life Insurance for AIG American General. However, paperwork didn't make it in time, so I had another week off. It was a good and bad situation because I need to get back to work, but also needed the week to finish painting the big apartment in the front of the house and move all our stuff from the back to the front. we have just about finished it just in time.

As for life, its been hard for a while, but we are making it. We would appreciate your prayers for some of life to settle down and to find some peace during the holiday season. We are tired of moving, living without knowing, and feeling like we don't know why or what is going on.

Loving Genuinely and finding Joy in the process

I passed my life and health insurance license test on Tuesday, so I was set to start working this next week, then another opportunity came up this week in a managerial position in the food industry (I haven't been offered it yet, just interviewed). I am asking my self, how can I serve God in the world, enjoy life, supply for my family, and be around and supportive for my wife. The following paragraphs reminded me that I can simplify some of the decisions and trust that God will use me and us wherever I go.I Continue to be challenged by this blog at http://www.simplechurchjournal.com/ They have been publishing chapters from a book that you can download for free. In this chapter they were talking about evangelism and how messed up it has become. Obviously there is so much that the church needs to re-evaluate and this is a huge area. However, for me this is hitting home in other ways. I long to know the heart of God for my life, for my family, and to share it with the world. I think I can do it in either way, whether selling life insurance or being a manager of people.

Love Genuinely
Although Jesus said that Christians would be known by their love, this is almost universally not the case today. We are more often known for our self-righteousness and judgmental attitudes. Furthermore, most un-Christians believe we care more about “making converts” than about them as people. I heard an atheist share that, having made friends with a Christian, he felt the need to ask him, “Am I truly your friend or am I just your project?” This suggests that people may have the perception that Christians tend to look at them as “objects to convert” rather than people that they care deeply about.
Yet, the joy that Jesus has called us to, is to is to simply love others. That’s it. No strings attached. When we recognize the people that God has called us to (including those we are already living among) then we are free to unleash creative ways to just love others genuinely and generously.

Discover Your Own Gifts and Passions
As we live among those we are called to, listening to God’s voice, loving those we are with, we can begin to uncover our own passions and spiritual gifts. We become more and more dynamic as our unique abilities are unleashed outside of the church walls. Many of us have been trained to use our spiritual gifts inside church buildings. How much more powerful to see those same gifts (and more) unleashed as we live a life that is engaging a lost world.
God’s heart is that all will know him. Our joy is to find our unique and created way to join him in that passion. Reaching out to others and using our own gifts and abilities to love them reflects the very life Jesus lived.

Cast Your Vote, Your Voice Matters!

I keep a running list of topics I would like to blog about and sometimes instead of picking one myself or being drawn to one topic or the other, I like to get other opinions. So what would you like to read about next? If you care, I'd love to have your input for one of the following topics.

• Irreconcilable Differences


• How to lead or follow for that matter if you are tied up


• Balancing the Scales

I'll give it a few days before tallying the votes.

Happy Fall!

For my outspoken Brother... love ya Bro!

I have appreciated my brother speaking up recently on some issues that he feels strongly about and while I don't agree with him on certain points, I still love him and look forward to hearing from him in the future. One of my favorite blogs deals with the issue of how to love but still disagree. here are some quotes, check the whole blog if you like.

"...If the body of Christ is going to demonstrate herself today in the corporate majesty of her collaboration and cooperation then Jesus will have to be our only focus and loving others will be our motivation, not a demand for conformity..."

"...Jesus asked us to love as we follow him; he didn’t ask us to agree. If we have to agree to love, then what hope have we? If a group has to all think alike to have fellowship then they have pitched a tent at some stage of the journey and will not grow on to know him. In most groups I’ve known, conformity has been the goal. Someone needs to set the standard for the group and people either go along or go away. Neither leads to the reality of Christ expressed among his people..."

"...So here is the problem today. Too many people think they alone are right and anyone who disagrees with them is a threat to their world. And it only takes one person like that in a group to destroy its ability to live, love and grow together. Until we have enough brothers and sisters that have a passion for truth that does not outrun their calling to love others, the body of Christ will continue to be fractured and impotent in the world. And they’ll have to have enough love to lovingly stand up to those who would be divisive among the family by demanding everyone think like they do..."

Quotes from lifestream.org blog titled "If you ever wonder why..."

James wonders why...

The fuel of Desperation by Matt Tullos

Great thoughts from my Friend Matt at www.tullos.org (I hope you don't mind me putting it on here Matt)

The fuel of Desperation leads us to the end of ourselves and into the presence of God.

Are you desperate yet?

It moves all the petty chips of our life into his hands

The fuel of desperation is a realization that we can never be good enough, never strong enough, to live a life of independence from God.

Are you desperate yet?

The fuel of desperation helps us realize that we are powerless against our own sin and that our
only hope is in God. In God alone.

Are you desperate yet?

The fuel of desperation compels us to open up our closets, or treasures, our secret wounds, our addictions because pride is no longer an option for us.

The fuel of desperation is coming to the cold realization that god is real, that He is holy and that he is the only for you.

The fuel of desperation is smelling the pig slop on your ankles and realizing that there is a father who is just beyond the western horizon of your soul.

The fuel of desperation involves a face down submission, spread eagle submission to God’s presence.

Are you Desperate?

A week in Pictures

I just found a cool application on the google picasa photo program that lets you put whatever pictures you want into a collage. So here are the pictures from the last week in a collage.

The Gathering Tonight

Kung Po Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Shrimp Lo Mein, Beef and Brocolli, General Tso's Chicken... any of this sound good to you?????

If so come join us tonight at 5:30.

We are getting together for some Chinese Take Out! If you have a favorite Chinese food, let us know. We will order it all and pick it up. All you have to do is come hang out and eat. We would like to have an idea of who is coming so please RSVP by Friday afternoon.

Cost: $3 per person Bring friends and family!

Where: The Jacksons - 138 Club Drive

yuàn shàng dì zhù fú nĭ hé nĭ de ài rén yŏng yuăn cì fú yú nĭ men:

God bless you and yours and surround you ever with His blessing

Walking on the Greenway

We went to Riverfront park today to walk the greenway and I forgot the camera, so I had to resort to the camera on the cellphone. It a beautiful day and so warm that we didn't want to miss out

James found a vine that seemed to be used for swinging like Tarzan and gave it a try. Actually, John-John was the willing one to try it out, then James went for it after him.

Being Church

I read a great article/ chapter today at www.simplechurchjournal.com and found out it comes from a free downloadable book at www.simplechurchrevolution.com .

Here's what caught me...

Being Church

My Filipino friend, Molong Nacua, wrote an excellent article entitled “Being Church” that reminds us of the true meaning of “church:”

Church is where Christ lives, not the place where we meet. It is Christ-empowered people, a kingdom of priests for the purpose of winning against the works of the devil and establishing God's Kingdom (1 Cor. 3:17; Matt. 18:19; Ex. 19:6)… Christianity is not about doing church, but being the church. Church is not some place to go to participate in, but it is about being who you are in Christ and thus experiencing His real life in you. Your Christianity was never defined by attending a particular church. It is defined by Christ in you. In other words, you are a Christian 24/7, not because you participate in a two-hour worship service, but because Christ lives in you every minute of every day.

November 08 Update

The weather here in Middle Tn. is beginning to turn cool and the landscape is ablaze with colors. Fall has arrived in full force and it's beautiful here! Matt is continuing to search out different job opportunities such as, teaching/coaching or selling life insurance for a time. Our time off here has provided us with the opportunity to work more now through our non-profit organization, MMerge Ministries, than we were before. We have been hosting weekly family gatherings each Saturday and mentoring during the week. Our new home is convientently located right in the middle of town and we have noticed it is much more accessable for the community kids to find us and drop in often. We also just learned that we will have the opportunity to use or occupy the entire building we are in come December. This whole house/building was a country club clubhouse in the past that they have divided up into 3 separate apartments. Though this is more than we can afford right now, it would give us the ability to host much bigger gatherings, functions and activities. The front of the house is very spacious with a huge great room and 5 other bedrooms. We would like to open it back up some and use the apartment we are living in now(2.5 bedrooms) to house people that are in need of a place. So again it seems for now that we are staying in McMinnville and seeing God lead us down a new road. We see now that we never would have been able to do this type of ministry if we had not gone through the whole process of selling most everything we had and preparing to go to the mission field. Well, actually we are in a mission field, just not with OM, rather with MMerge Ministries in Middle Tennesse. We continue to homeschool our 5 children and we are actively involved in the leadership of the local homeschool group. Myra continues to take on a few cases at a time in the area of Behavioral Consulting through the ministry and we continue to look for opportunities of involvement in the community.

Gathering @ The Movies

Every year we have to decide how to deal with Halloween. In the past we have hosted dinners and fall activities. This year we have decided to just do something else and we wanted to invite you to join us.

We will be going to the movies on Friday night to see "High School Musical 3." Obviously, this movie isn't for everyone, but our kids like it and its rated "G". You may want to just come and go to a different movie. We will meet at the Three Star Cinema around 6:45. We will not be doing anything on Sat. night this week, but we are getting excited about the Thankgiving and Christmas season and how we can Gather and celebrate it in different ways together.

If you haven't researched Halloween, it's origins, and a Christians response, I would encourage you to do so. There are lots of websites that talk about it. Weigh them out and decide where you stand.
We are all in the same boat, in striving to be "in the world, but not of it." We are thankful for a group of people like you to share life and the journey with.

We'd love to see you friday night or just stop by some time,
Have a great weekend,

Matt and Myra Jackson
MMerge

Still Here

Reading through the Psalms. I'm stuck in the 50's with the Psalms and not movin' very fast but gleaning some things. This is what struck me today....
Psalm 56 verses 3-4
When I am afraid(or hurt, disappointed, uncertain, fearful, threatened, add your own struggle here)
I will trust in YOU. In God, whose word I praise, in God I TRUST; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Verses 12-13
I am under vows to YOU, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.
For YOU have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

My personal prayer:
Lord, I will trust in you. I have trusted in you. My trust in you has saved me. Help me to hang onto and TRUST YOU more. Help me PRIZE your word more and turn to it more instead of turning to others in my times of need. I feel as though I am under vows to so many but only ONE is most important...my vows to you. I am also under vows to my husband, children, family, friends and work responsibilities. How do these play out, where do they lie in the line of my priorities and where should they be? In all or some of these at certain times I must confess I feel "prone to wander, prone to leave the God and things I love. Take my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."

The Gathering - Oct. 25

GAME NIGHT!

Come and get your game on and enjoy some chili too.

• Date: October 25th, 2008
  Time: 5:30 PM
• Place: Will and Allison Terry's 109 Rebel Hill Street
  

This week "THE GATHERING" will be a game night at the Terry's House. Bring your favorite game or just come and join the fun. Some will be large group games for whoever wants to play and others may want to play in small groups or just hang around.

We have two people making chili already. If you want to bring Chili let us know, if not bring a side for the chili such as fritos, cheese, sour cream, etc., and/or dessert. Drinks and the rest are taken care of.

CALL or EMAIL for more info - Bring a friend. Bring your family!

If you are not on the mailing list for THE GATHERING and would like to keep up with where, what and when each week, click the link on the side to sign up and you will get an email.

And the Winner IS......

Matthew Woodard!!
This is a type of Assassin Bug called a Wheel Bug.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_bug

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin_bug

October 21, 2008 12:36 PM

Anne, you called right after him but did post first, however, I think he wins the Bug Prize and you win the Chigger prize...stayed tuned for details of the prizes and when you should expect it. THANKS for playing and now we have a science lesson for this afternoon :)

Prize for figuring out what kind of bug this is!!

We found this bug outside today. We are not sure what kind of bug it is and need some help. We tried quickly looking it up in our Peterson's First Guide to Insects but couldn't find it. If you can figure it out, we'll come up with a prize.

Rob Bell Interview at RelevantMagazine.com

This is just a clip from an interview that Relevant Magazine did with Rob Bell about his new book "Jesus wants to save Christians." - Looks like a good book, but you can't be afraid to think out of the religous box the church seems to be stuck in. Check it out

As the title of the book suggests, Jesus Wants To Save Christians. In your opinion, what are the biggest things we need saving from?

Boredom. Which is really despair in its non-caffeinated form. And boxes. Where we live in fear and where we put those who unsettle us.

You describe the plan of God for the church to be a gift to the world. Many people today would say that the church is anything but. What are some crucial changes that our churches need to make to become a Eucharist that is broken and poured out for the world?

1. Master the art of doubt. Faith needs it to survive.

2. Surrender the compulsive need to constantly remind people that according to your worldview you're going to heaven forever when you die and they're going to burn in hell forever.

3. Celebrate the good and the true and the beautiful wherever and whenever you find it regardless of the label it wears or the person it comes from or the place you found it. All things are yours.

4. Remember that the tax collectors and prostitutes loved to feast with Jesus and the religious establishment gossiped about him and dissected his teachings and questioned his commitment to orthodoxy and eventually had him killed. There's a lesson for us there.

Camping Pics

We had a good, quick, cold, bonding, tiring, camping trip this weekend. Here's a few pics.

It was cold this morning.
The boys had a blast. Yea, that's our big ol' tent in the background.
Horseshoe bend is right at the end of Center hill lake. it was foggy this morning, then it cleared and the water was steaming. Beautiful place and day. Thank You God!

Josiah trying to get some more heat out of the fire.

Gathering - CAMP OUT!

The Gathering - CAMP OUT! October 18th, 2008

WE ARE GOING CAMPING THIS WEEK! Come join us at Horseshoe bend (Directions and info) in Rock Island. We will be going out Saturday evening (eating around 6pm) and coming back sometime Sunday. I need to reserve campsites so please let me know if you are coming. You could also just come for the evening. Each family will be responsible for their own tents, sleeping bags, etc. If we can all bring some snacks and sides to share, we will get burgers and dogs and the "fixins". On Sunday morning we will have a small worship gathering for those interested or you could pack up and make it back to your regular fellowship.

If you would like to get our "Gathering" emails click the sign-up for our newsletters link at the side or email me. Some of you may be getting it, but it's not getting through, so check your spam folder for mail from us.


FamilyTimes - In our desire to strengthen our family we have been having a family worship time either on Wed. or Sunday or both. We are using the Familytimes packs that we used at CFC. You can subscribe if you would like to do the same at www.familytimes.org. If a few of us start using the same material, we could also use it as a focus sometimes for our weekly gathering. For example, the theme for the month of November is Gratitude. In each pack you get a listening CD with stuff for kids and parents. You get a weekly bible story and a weekly discussion guide. It is a great way to grow together as a family. This past year we also made calendars at Christmas for the next year with birthdays for family and friends included. We used the Familytimes theme virtue and verse on each month. If you would like us to make these for you, please let us know. Obviously there is a small cost for paper, ink and supplies. These might be a great gift for your family and friends and a good way to get them thinking about incorporating virtue and character into their family lives too.

This camping trip is a big adventure for us. We have never camped as a whole family and it promises to be full of new experiences and fun. If you have extra camping gear or need camping gear let us know and we will see if we can get more people to go.

Where I've Been and Where I'm Still At

I've been stuck on Psalm 51 for awhile now, like 3 weeks if not more. For some reason I just can't move from there. Guess there's a message for me in there somewhere. Funny thing is I've gotten several messages from it in the weeks I've been there and continue to get them. Guess I'll just stay here til I feel like I can move on to the next Psalm. Anyway, there was also this reading that went along with it that I thought I would post. Hope it speaks to someone else as powerfully as it has spoken to me. (Underlining, bold and italics are mine as well as the questions for reflection).


Losing The Way

From top to bottom, our society is success oriented, however one may define that in terms of one's own goals. Christians are not immune; "Everything comes out okay for christians," and "The King's kids are always winners", these are misleading slogans to live by. We develop unrealistic expectations of the Christian life and of ourselves; and then when our wings get broken, we think failure ends our usefulness.
For those of use who know too well the salt taste of failure, it helps to remember that even the great ones of the faith failed, yet God continued to use them, often in a deeper ways after their fall.

Some of David's greatest writings came after his greatest mistakess. God called him "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). Abraham lied, perhaps to save his skin, yet he is the towering example of faith for 3 major religions and is called "God's friends" (James 2:23).

It is those who have plumbed the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given only to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such. Without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and poverty, they are quite unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a person who has discovered something of the measure of his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others.

Too often we live in a quid-pro-quo relationship with God: "I've been faithful to you, I've worked hard, so please give me this or that." Or, "I've failed again; I can't expect any blessings." We forget that the WHOLE of our life is GRACE.

Too many sincere Christians, facing their failures, berate themselves unmercifully and keep asking God for forgiveness. Each of us should memorize, hang on our mirror, and make forever our own the ringing truth: "There is now no (repeat NO) condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Not only does he not condemn us; he even brings blessings from the ashes of our failures.
author: Gini Andrews

Questions for reflection:
1. What do you consider some of your greatest failures or what comes to mind when you think of how you have failed (jot these down)?

2. When you have failed, do you feel as though people have encouraged you and helped to lift you up OR judged, condemned and punished you? (often times we will translate how people have treated ius into the thinking of ,that is how God is or would treat us and often times, most times, that couldn't be farther from the truth)

3. Do you tend to want to redeem your mistakes or quit and do something else?

4. Is it "ok" to lie if you are saving your own skin or someone elses?

5. Is honesty (complete honesty) always "the best policy"?

6. Do you have a healthy understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses inorder for both of those to be used for your good and the good of others?

7. If a quid-pro-quo relationship is not the way, then how do we attain a life well lived and a life flowing with blessings recieved and blessings given away?

8. WOW! What do you think about the statement "....the whole of our life is grace."?

9. Do you berate yourself unmercifully and keep asking for forgiveness? Is that necessary? Healthy? And would God speak to you like you speak to yourself in that way?

*remember these important points.....there is no condemnation! AND he not only condemns us, he even brings blessings from the ashes of our failures! Cool!

Have a BLessed Day and Rest of the Week,
myra

The Gathering

The GatheringOctober 11th, 2008

We had a great time getting together this past week and we want to keep "The Gathering" going. We hope this becomes a special time for families and friends to get together for food, fun times, and growing relationships. A few details may change every week. We will keep you posted via email and post it on the blog. Though the place or focus may change, the purpose remains the same - to integrate families into everyday life.

When: THIS SATURDAY - Oct 11th @ 5pm

WHERE: Our house (138 Club Dr)

MENU: Lasagna, Salad, Sides, and Dessert

FOCUS: The Heart of the Family

Right now we have three families making (or buying) Lasgna to bring. We would like one or two more otherwise just bring sides and/or desserts.
Feel free to bring family or friends.

Have a great week and we hope to see ya Saturday.

"Quote"

What are your thoughts on T.O. 's statement today,"God used me for His glory today and that's all there is to it, Reality is where Glory resides"?

give your feedback....

What a Word- Determination!

October Theme: DETERMINATION
Deciding it's Worth IT to Finish What You've Started
2 Corinthians 8:11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

I am so excited, blessed and encouraged by this new month, new theme, new meaning and new verse. This theme couldn't have come at a better time for us. It's only Oct. 1st and I'm already inspired!

I love determination, I love the word, the meaning, the spelling of it, I just love everything about it and I can't wait to learn more as we study it ALL month!! I know I will grow as I study, read, learn, meditate and am open to what God has to say to me this month, not just regarding this new word, theme and verse but about our lives in general and I hope you'll come along and GROW with us!

Be Determined!

myra

A Banquet of Praise

How important are our sacrifices anyway and what are they? What do we say we "sacrifice" for Him or in His name only to be made to feel good that we are "sacrificing". Does God accept that or even want that for that matter?

See Ps. 50 for what He really wants from us and what he doesn't. Hint: I had to read the Message version to understand

Your comments after you read are requested :)

Have a blessed day and remember, read your stress-less checklist :)

A New Washer and A New Outlook on Life

This is the second time I have gotten a new washer(it's the same washer twice) and have had a new lease on life. Ok, is that possible??? That a new washer(and honestly a lot of other things my sister gave me today) can change a girls world and redeem a very desperate situation/person? I'm sick ya'll. Good night, I'm tired too...HA ! sick and tired! It's no lie and if I don't get more sleep I'm going to be sicker and tireder(b/ Iknow that is not correct grammer, Imeant to do that).

I've got to go print out and ask myself the stress questions of which I know I've already got to say NO to several, especially the sleep one and saying No to things I need to say No to, like blogging and facebooking all night long, that is NOT healthy but I already confessed I was sick and tired, and I've also already confessed I DO NOT like rules or conformity so I can't keep that list to a T or that would be conformity :) Doesn't confession count for something and turn a bunch of my No's to Yes's on the checklist....I think so but what do I know I didn't make up the list and can't ask the lady that did. I need to go to bed so I can check yes on that one tomorrow. Goodnight

Stressed?

Questions to ask yourself daily.....and if your me, to ask yourself 3x daily.
by Deborah Smith Pegues

1. Did I take the time to become clear on the nature and core reason why a certain stiuation threatens to stress me today?

2. Did I strenghten my spritual foundation by connectin with God through prayer, Bible reading and meditation?

3. Did I avoid foods that provide NO nourishment?

4. Did I sleep at least seven to eight hours that night before?

5. Did I engage in a physcial activity for at least 20-30 minutes?

6. Did my actions align with my core values relative to God, Family, etc.........

7. did I schedule my day to include only a few versus numerous major takes?

8. Did I spend within my budget?

9. Did I resist the temptation to do wrong in any way? ahhh....resist the temptation, today?

10. Did I make an effort to enjoy today rather than focusing totally on the future?

11. Did I say no to a request that would have distracted me from my goal or purpose?

12. Did I exhibit flexibility, even though I wanted things done my way?

13. Did I delegate a task rather than doing it myself?

14. did I evaluate my expectation when someone frustrated me?

15. Did I attempt to resolve conflict today by running away, exploding, or handling it God's way?

16. Did I make a decision to forgive and release the past?

17. Did I take appropriate breaks today?

My suggestion is that you print these out and have one by your bedside for the morning before you get out of bed, one in a kitchen area and one in your work area or at your office. At least that's my plan anyway, these are incredible tools for a life well lived! And if you didn't know I'm definately always looking to improve mine.

I succumbed......

my facebook name: myra micah periwinkle jackson or johnson, I was so tired when I joined I don't know if I spelled periwinkle with one "r" or two so you might have to try it either way. What is the exact periwinkle spelling and definition anyway?

Personal info: when I was little my dad would call me myra micah periwinkle pickle star johnson and i wanted that to be my facebook name but they said it was too long......jerks :)

friend me! I think i have a new addiction :)

Simple Yet Profound.....Clutter......

I have a friend that just posted this today.....i think she was simply just trying to recount her day for her records and her family and friends but it just resonated with me in a way that I thought I wanted to share it here for my records and those interested enough to read it. I emailed her to let her know how much this post spoke to me.....this is so my life over the past 6-8 months....beginning with the mess part all the way to the end.....except for one thing, I have a love/hate relationship with Sundays(some of you will understand that)....Saturdays is now my ultimate favorite day of the week(after all Sat. is the Sabbath anyway right? :) .....and sometimes SUNDAYS, just depends :) Ok, I digress...as you read, take careful note of the bold part near the bottom of her post, read it a few times and tell me what that says to you. I'll post more on what it says to me after I've had some sleep, which isn't happening as much as i need it to be. w/o further adoo:

"I love Sunday's! Usually it is a day for rest and spending time with family and friends. Though part of today I spent doing just that the other part I had a mess. This morning before Church I thought I would hang up some clothes in the closet - harmless right - well as I went on to the next job that needed attention I heard a big crash. I knew before I looked what had happened.
I knew that someday that rod would say enough is enough - You have to many clothes - lots that you don't even wear. Get rid someone else could be putting them to good use. So after Church, lunch at Mom's and a friends birthday party I came home to a mess. By the way the birthday party was great - Her girl had a Girls Birthday Band - they were so cute. We had cake and ice cream of course - my kids always love that. Even though Hannah didn't want to leave we had to come home a face the mountain of clothes waiting for us.
It's good to go though things every so often because we really don't realize all the stuff we pile up over time. I think God is just telling me Clean up Get rid and Be happy. Sometimes we can get so cluttered in our lives that we miss out on the joy of living and God's grace. I pray that I will be more thankful, helpful to my friends and joyful. God loves me and you what more do we need.

Keep looking ahead and loving each other
and God will take care of us,"

Ok, I'm off to try and get to sleep AGAIN! remember comment on what you think the bold part(or any part of her post really) means or what it means to/for you.....lets get a dialogue going as b/ would say!! b/ whatcha think dude, profound or am i just a few fries short of a happy meal? Or maybe being slow and REALLY hard headed is my problem....i'll catch up ya'll just wait for me and cheer me on :)
Peace out and prayerfully to sleep land, Lord willing!

Top 10 Reason to Sell Everything You Own and Be Willing to go to the Mission Field

10. it's time to declutter

9. it's just stuff anyway

8. it's time to go "see" the world

7. it helps get you out of debt

6. it supplies lots of other people with things they want or need

5. it teaches your kids to hold "things" loosely and "give" willingly

4. we didn't need, want or care for most of that stuff anyway

3. it frees you up

2. you might not have to go after all AND the number 1. reason to sell everything you own and be willing to go to the Mission Field.......

1. it won't be hard to find christmas presents for everyone this year!

it's good to have a sense of humor about these things ya know.....not easy but necessary.

I Actually Won Something!

Ok, not much has actually made me smile lately but this did........today or yesterday I can't remember which I get the following email, entitled: YOU WIN

Hey Myra, you won the giveaway. Congratulations. I'm sure that I should have your mailing address somewhere, but I don't know where. Can you e-mail that to me? Thanks. Hope you guys are doing well.
b/

Here's what I won: http://th.eophil.us/ Scroll down 4 or 5 posts to the post entitled Book Giveaway AND mark this site on your reader cause this guy has some good stuff to say, read about and discuss!! Not to mention HE GIVES STUFF AWAY FREE!!! AND PAYS THE POSTAGE! What a guy, what a guy....and thanks Kirsten for laughing....matt said you guys probably just wanted us to have it, like maybe we needed to read it or something. I guess that means he(matt) didn't think my caption was very funny...oh well, his wasn't either :) I'm just stoked I won and it made me smile, that's a feat lately, ask matt. Thanks /'s!!!

Is this the Moment?

"What if you knew somewhere in front of you was a moment that would change your life forever, a moment rich with potential, a moment filled with endless possibilities? What if you knew that there was a moment coming, a divine moment, one where God would meet you in such a way that nothing would be the same again? What if there was a moment, a defining moment, where the choices you made determined the course and momentum of your future? How would you treat that moment? How would you prepare for it? How would you identify it?"
From Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus


I believe we are in the midst of the moment, but it is hard to see. I can't wait to look back on it. May God lead our choices today and onward!

God's Playground

There really is so much out there to discover!

I've been reading lately on the Charlotte Mason stlye of homeschooling. I have attempted to read some of her stuff over the years always to get discouraged with it due to the depth of the reading. She was way more intellectual then I will ever be, yet I am continually drawn back to her methods because I believe them to be so true. So this year, I am back again trying to glean and apply what I can to our daily routine. One of the biggest challenges this week has been to have the children get from 4-6 hours a day outside. We've always been out-doorsy but if you think about your day and all you do 4-6 hours outside is a great deal of time outdoors. However, I must say since Sat. we've accomplished it!

We are also incorporating nature walks into our daily routine, taking our nature journals along to jot down what we see, hear, discover or would like to draw, trace or rub drawing. This week we are studying leaves.

Wonderworks TN

We got away for two days recently and were blessed with tickets to wonderworks. it was a cool discovery-type museum and had a dinner show. The dinner show would have been good, but it was made much better by the fact that we were involved in a few parts of the show. All the kids started the show up on the stage for a fun rendition of the hokie-pokie. Then I was brought up with four other guys and we were seated on four buckets and told to lean back on each other, then they took the buckets out. It was very strenuous, but I'm sure funny for the audience to see us straining. Josiah was the hit of the night as he was brought up and used to help the guy balance spining plates. As you can see he was holding three plates at one time. The funnest part happened before that as the guy was preparing Josiah to balance the first plate on his finger, he was trying to get him to keep his finger straight and firm, so in the process had Josiah looking away and the guy started acting like he was going to put his nose on Josiah's finger and get his nose picked. When he was done and we were all rolling in laughter. The guy told Josiah what he was doing and asked "Is this the finger you use to pick your nose?" Josiah said "No." Then the guy asked "so what finger do you use?" and Josiah proceeded to show the whole audience his middle finger. Ahhh, the innocence of our kids. I wish I would have got that on video, it would have made a youtube favorite.