A New Day

I'm so glad that God's mercies are new every morning. It's amazing how his word can lift me out of the pit over and over again; usually the pit of my self-pity. Today, I read in Ephesians because it's what our homegroup is studying. Here's just a run-down of the good stuff God pumped into me today:

1. I have been called to hope.

2. I have the riches of a glorious inheritance.

3. I can know the power of God that a) raised Christ from the dead - it can also transform all the "dead" spots in me, b) seated Christ at the right hand of God - His work was done/complete, and c) placed all things under Christ's feet and placed him at the head the church.

That's some pretty powerful stuff and has so helped my despairing attitude of yesterday.

So, I was thinking about how aggravating it is to not know at least a little bit of the big picture when I started thinking about the small picture and the things I know I should be doing regardless. Loving my husband, loving the girls, loving on the folks around me. And, let me tell you, there are plenty of people who need loving! Back in Clinton, homeschool mom is synonymous with Christian mom. Not so here. There is such a cultural mix here at our playdate group and even at church. So many people are seeking and looking for answers, and Jesus is right there waiting for them. It's pretty exciting to have a mission field that is so ready for the harvest right in front of our noses. I think God may get a chuckle out of that one. "I'm not sending you to Mozambique. How 'bout Austin?" Our homegroup which meets twice a month is the biggest breath of fresh air I could have ever longed for. People are there from all different backgrounds and some don't know Christ at all. But they come to home group. Amazing. God is really at work all around us.

Okay, I was just sitting here typing and realized that I've left out a big part of my frustration. A few weeks before Christmas, Todd got a pay cut. A big one. So, we moved to Austin for a promotion with a certain plan in mind; a few acres to learn to be chicken/goat farmers, and that plan no longer exists in its original form. Not life-shattering, I know, but still more change in an already big transition time. I'm just not so great at that. I like a plan. I like a plan even more when I get to check off all the steps. So, we are trying to look for a house where we could still possibly have chickens (sorry goats) and trying to decide what our revised budget needs to look like. This majorly stresses me out because we can't seem to land on a new plan.

More random stuff. One of Emma's best new buds is a hoot, and she and Emma are peas in a pod. Emma's lost some more teeth, and we're thankful to have Olivia around so she can be in good company! :-)

Yes, they both have their pajamas on. We had Olivia's family over for dinner, and Melinda said they would love to come but that they would probably bathe their kids and have them come in pjs. Sounded like a great excuse for a pajama party to me!

Last random tidbit. I'm no photographer, but I had some fun playing with some pictures I took of Mary, Micah and Judah. Hope you enjoy.

Grumbling and Really Fun Stuff

I told myself that I wasn't going to wait this long again to post, but here we are. I think an underlying reason for my lack of posting is a general negativity I feel in myself. I don't think I'm upset about not going overseas, but I think I am experiencing some real frustration over not knowing what God has for us. I realize that probably most folks find themselves in this position from time-to-time, but this seems to pretty much be the theme of our lives. And, I'm tired. I'm weary. It's one of those moments that I want God to write on the wall and spell it all out for me. I'm ready to not feel like I'm on hold. I want so much for God to use our family for eternal things, and most days I just feel so mundane. I realize that I'm echoing the tune of a million stay-at-home moms, and I know that pouring into our sweet girls is a high calling indeed. I just need a little space to air my grievances.

Now, the daily activities of my life definitely don't feel like I'm on hold. There's been a lot going on around here. We just recently bought a new history curriculum that we love. It's called The Mystery of History, and it beautifully intertwines what is usually left segregated: Biblical and ancient history. It's truly so much fun, and Emma and I have had a blast with it.

Adam and Eve - in case you couldn't tell!




Emma's own cuneiform tablet




Emma as a mummy - Jessie and
Aubrie had a big time helping with this one.




On another exciting front, Mary, my youngest sister, had her baby Monday night. We drove down that evening in the hopes of getting to see her before the C-section, but she was already underway when we got there. I had to bribe the girls with donuts for breakfast because they were so disappointed. Anyway, we got up the next morning to go meet Judah Micah Coop, and I know I'm biased, but he's beautiful! Mary had not really wanted a C-section, but the stinker was breech and had already dropped so she and her doctor decided it was best to ahead and get him out of there.

Jessie Doing Her Thing

Jessie recently started taking tumbling (tonight was her third lesson) and is loving it. Judy suggested I record her in action so I did. Hope you enjoy watching her!

Walking for Magdalena

Where to start. Probably the best place is on this blog. During the time she was here Magdalena touched many lives, and the testimony of God's amazing mercy and grace continues to amaze me in the lives of her sweet family. On May 9th I'm going to walk a little over three miles in her honor. I'm hoping some of my San Antonio and Austin buddies will join in!! (hint, hint) If you would like to sponsor my team (ha! a.k.a. me), you can follow the link on the right.

Also, you can find out more about the amazing Magdalena on Lori's page. One more thing, if you want to walk, too, you can go to this page to sign up and find an event in your area.

Yes, I'm Still Alive!

I won't go into great detail right now, but I kinda had a post-holiday slump and didn't blog, and then, life got busy, and I didn't blog. I missed some fun and some grieving and keeping up in general. I'm going to try to do better, but I'm not making any promises!

My friend Amy photo tagged me (actually a while back, and she had to get my attention on Facebook...so sad, I know), and I am finally cooperating!

Amy's blog explains what to do. Once tagged, I am to go to photos on my computer, choose the 6th folder and the 6th picture and post it on my blog. Then, I have to tag 6 people to do the same.

So, without further ado, here it is...


I love that you get to see this sweet picture of Papaw and his girls, BUT I would NEVER normally have posted it because I wrongly dared to go sleeveless. There is a reason I don't do this except when it's extremely warm. This picture was taken during a pivotal weekend for us. We had just been in the Austin area praying, thinking and worrying about whether we were supposed to go to Mozambique or Austin. Strange, the choices life presents to us. Anyway, after deciding that the Lord had Austin in mind, we headed up to Grand Prairie to see my Dad. It was a short visit, but I'm glad I get to share it with you.

P.S. I forgot to tag anyone!! Okay, I tag Angie, Meredith, Amy Travis, Lori, Sherrey, and Tina.

Fitness Dilema

Before we moved to Cedar Creek, I checked online to see where the nearest YMCA was located. I thought there was one about 20 minutes away which, although not near as convenient as Clinton, was reasonable. Well, the map on the internet was way off. I mean really off. The Y is actually about 40 to 45 minutes away which is not okay. So, I've called and asked around, and the ONLY place with childcare here is Jazzercise, and they charge you for keeping your kids. I'm not a big class taker when it comes to exercise so this idea leaves me pretty cold. I love to be on a treadmill with great music and Fox News. I don't mean to sound anti-social, but I need a little bit of alone time in order for it to be safe for others to come near me. I love being with people, but if I don't get that time alone, it can really affect me in some not-so-pretty ways.

So, I need some help. Our driveway is .10 of a mile. I can run it at the crack o'dawn before Todd leaves (not likely to happen), do a work-out video not quite so early, or purchase a jogging stroller for my two youngest and hope Emma can keep up. Quite frankly, I'm not sure how far I'd get pushing the 75-80 lbs in the stroller. The other option is to buy a treadmill...but where to put it??

Is there anything you can think of to help me out of this crisis? Between the comfort eating I was doing in Clinton with Todd in TX and the lack of exercise since we've been here, things are starting to get a little scary. Please help me out of this mess I'm rapidly getting myself into! Anyone else have fitness challenges that they've overcome? I really need some ideas here...so stumped.

A Gift He Loves

Each year at Todd's birthday and Christmas I struggle with what to give him. This is primarily an issue because he usually wants hunting stuff, and I am still so clueless sometimes as to what to get. Is it going to be the right kind, brand, etc? This year the choice was easy even though I was a little unsure if he was going to like it because I was going out on a little bit of a limb. When Todd's Uncle Larry passed away not too long ago, we were looking through his vast collection of cookbooks, and Judy and Jerry (Todd's mom and dad) brought home with them this book. Well, Todd was glued to it any time we were at their house. I knew it wouldn't be the same as having Larry's, but I thought he would still appreciate it.

Let me tell you! He has carried the book to work, to the "library," and is presently cooking up a gumbo in the kitchen. It has been an all day affair, and I think he is in hog heaven. I am too!! It's been so fun to watch him enjoy his gift. It may sound silly to be so into a cookbook, but this is no ordinary book. It gives all kinds of incredible history and pictures, and it makes me want to jump up and cook any time I look at it.