Church Camp

 This past summer I blogged about C's summer activities and attending church camp for the first time.  My friend just sent me these photos taken at that camp.  Looks like a little boy having a great time, dontcha think?!   The boy in the middle photo is C's best friend and it was very cool that they were able to attend together.

Skip Day

The local public schools were out on Friday for an in-service day, so C and I took the day off as well. :)    Matt's friend, Edwin, spent Thursday night with us, so we spent a leisurely early morning with a big breakfast before all going our separate ways.  Matt went off to work with Steve, Edwin went home, and K, C and I went hiking at a great trail that my friend, Ruth, told me about.  It was so fun!  Then we investigated another park with great trails for our next day hike (I can't wait!). The day was warm, sunny, and.....perfect. :) 

Matt

Totally random picture of my 16yo son, Matt. Why? Because I love seeing him with his work gloves, safety goggles, and dirt/grease-smudged face! He just came in from the shop to grab a ruler and I had my camera in hand. Love, LOVE my boys.

Thursday's Thoughts: Cling to the Good

Romans 12:9b
NKJ: Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
TM: Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.
KJV: Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
NIV: Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

I'm thinking this portion of Romans 12:9 is pretty clear. No gray here...just black and white. Run from the bad, hold on to the good. Hate the bad, and cling to the good. What could this look like in day to day life?

Running from the bad:

~turn the channel
~switch radio stations
~walk away from the lewd jokes or gossip
~leave the theatre
~close the book
~avert your eyes
~distract your mind
~remember that evil is a product of the the enemy of our souls

Clinging to the good:

~be purposeful in choosing the channel, radio station, movie, book, activity, or friends
~be consistent in feeding your spirit the Word of God
~make choices to do right, think right, feel right, and walk right
~meditate on the good
~remember that all good comes from our Father, thank Him...consistently

Lord, let me be purposeful in the things I choose to do and allow into my life. Help me to discern evil and not give it place EVER and invite good. Lead me in teaching my children to abhor evil and cling to good. May Your goodness be continually in our thoughts and our hearts continually grateful.

Taylor Swift loves her mama...

If you like Taylor Swift or if you're a mom, you will love this. :)  Personally, I think she is a fabulous songwriter.  Matt says that each of her songs are "Mini Chick-Flicks". LOL.  Enjoy!

A dinner conversation which seemed perfectly normal to me...

Steve: Whatcha doing?

Me: Fixing (peanut butter) pancakes.

Steve: I thought we were having leftovers for dinner?

Me: Oh. Well there isn't enough spaghetti left for five servings though someone can have that if they would rather. I thought we'd (Caden and me) have it for breakfast.

Steve:(now chuckling) You're having pancakes for dinner and spaghetti for breakfast. Okaaaay....

(he's chuckling a bit harder now)

Me: Yeah, and?

It took me a minute to figure out what he was chuckling about...LOL. 

Matt at OctoberFast!

Here is a video of our 16 year old son racing his dirt modified.  This is not the beginning of the race, but a restart after a 4 car wreck.  Matt was behind the wreck so his car escaped with only a flat tire.  Because this is a special race night, no one could leave the track or they couldn't return.  Since his left wheel is off the ground on the turns anyway....he drove this race with a flat!  So bear with the first few laps because they started, were told to restart again, and then they get to take off.  So keep watching and you will see how fast these cars can go...but it still isn't like seeing (and hearing) them in person! 

~Gentle rain on my face and puddles to splash underneath my boots...the cozy comfort of an autumn rain beckons me to dance along the trail and soak up the kisses of heaven~

Camouflage!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Saving Money at Whole Foods

I recently went to a free workshop* in which the speaker addressed saving money by couponing in general, and saving money at Whole Foods specifically.  Here is what I learned that may help someone else**:

1. Shop on Wednesdays. Their circulars typically go from Wed to Wed, so on Wednesdays you can benefit from both weeks sales and loss-leader items.

2. When you buy in bulk you save. They have a 10% discount on all cases, no matter what it is or how many are in a case. A case may be 4 small bags or 20 boxes of something. So buy the things you love in cases and save that 10%.

3. In store frequent buyer cards.  When you buy five of a item, you get the sixth item free.  I don't know yet if this applies to all products or if some things are excluded.  The FBC can be used in conjunction with the other savings ideas.

4. And in addition to all of the above savings, you can also use manufacturer's coupons. The stores don't mind the combination because they are reimbursed by the companies for the manufacturer coupons. http://www.mambosprouts.com/ has great coupons books available free by mail, and online coupons that you can use with the others. It's all about the COMBINATION of these things.

5. If you have products you love...don't hesitate to call the company direct and tell them so. They often will send you coupons (manufacturer) if you ask.

6.  Take advantage of produce sales of seasonal fruits and vegetables.  When the price is great, buy extra to freeze or can.  

 

Check out Whole Foods' website for stores near you, money-saving meal plans (under $3 meals), and current sales flyers.

*The workshop was at my local Whole Foods and was presented by The Coupon Queen.  If you would like more information about couponing in general, please visit her site.

**I am a newbie to this and have not been able to try all these things yet, so I can only write as one who has heard The Coupon Queen's ideas and believes them to be accurate. The Marketing Director for the Tulsa Whole Foods was present at this workshop and offered her full support and assistance. That speaks to the validity of her suggestions!

Thursday's Thoughts: Sincere Love??

Romans 12:9a
NIV: Love must be sincere.
NKJV: Let love be without hypocrisy.
TM: Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it.
KJV: Let love be without dissimulation.


I’ve heard it said, “You don’t have to like them to love them. “ I know I’ve said those words…and believed them to be true.

But as I have been pondering Romans 12, I’ve been wondering….could it be that God asks more of us than just grinning and bearing it?? When I look at the different translations of Romans 12:9a, I am seeing that love should be REAL. Not faked. So if my love for my “neighbor” is to be sincere and without hypocrisy, can there be room for disdain? Is it possible that God is working in us to go farther and dig deeper?

People are multi-faceted, complex and complicated. This I know. We can think we have someone “pegged” only to be surprised when they reveal things that are a far cry from how we have “judged” or surmised them to be. But when I sing Brandon Heath’s song about being able to see others through the eyes of God, what does that mean?

I heard an evangelist say one time that we are more sympathetic or empathetic to those whose weaknesses are like our own. We can say, “I’ve been there” and encourage the other person. And yet, we judge more harshly those whose weaknesses are in areas in which we are strong. Yikes. I think he’s been reading my mail.

So, I’ve been pondering Romans 12:9a. I have been thinking that if I can find something with which I can identify with EVERY ONE of my neighbors, maybe I can choose to love instead of judge. And maybe God will help me to walk out “Let love be sincere” in my life.

Lord, help me to identify with those around me. Help me to find common ground and a desire to pray for them…especially those whom I might tend to judge harshly or dislike. I don’t want to be fake. I want to love them FOR REAL. Love them through me, Lord…

Creature Shots: Comfortable Visitors

Thursday's Thoughts: Camping Out in God's Word

In my current studies, I'm camping in Romans 12. There is so much in there and I want to meditate on every morsel. Right now I am drawn to verses 9 through 16 because my prayer was that I would learn what it truly means to love God and love people (Matt 22:37-40) and this is where I was led.

These verses are filled with action words, and it seems appropriate to write each action in list form. Wow. Like I said, there is so much in there! I don't want to rush through these verses. They are a path before me and my desire is to ponder them and walk each one out in my life.

Romans 12:9-16 (NIV)

• love without hypocracy
• hate what is evil
• cling to what is good
• be devoted to one another in brotherly love
• honor one another above yourselves
• never lack zeal
• keep your spiritual fervor...serving the Lord
• be joyful in hope
• be patient in affliction
• be faithful in prayer
• share with God's people in need
• practice hospitality
• bless those who persecute you...bless and don't curse
• rejoice with those who rejoice
• mourn with those who mourn
• live in harmony with one another
• don't be proud
• be willing to associate with people of low position
• don't be conceited
• don't repay evil for evil
• do what is right in the eyes of the everyone (be careful to)
• live at peace with everyone (if possible, as far as it depends on you)
• do not take revenge (leave room for God's wrath)
• do not be overcome with evil
• overcome evil with good.

Intro into Thursday's Thoughts

These new Thursday posts begin as a place to chronicle some thoughts of where God is leading me in drawing closer to Him and walking out the two commandments most necessary in a believer's life: Love God and Love People. I want to do that. I want to BE that. I'm striving for a life that loves....loves God with my whole heart, and loves my neighbor as myself. I know it's a marathon, not a sprint, so I will keep to the path and keep my eyes on my trail guide ~ Jesus.  I hope you will feel free to add your thoughts as well!