Serious Stuff :)

You never know what you'll find at WalMart. I rarely find my name spelled with a "y" on monogramed gifts, ornaments, keychains....so imagine my surprise to find an exercise company named "Marcy." The funniest part is the slogan following it. It reads, "When you finally get serious." That cracks me up. To drive the point home, I had Jim take out his camera and take a pic. :)

Happy New Year's Eve!

Marcy :)

Homeschool Dropout!

4 months. That's all it took for me to realize I'm not a homeschool mom. :)

Don't get me wrong or misunderstand my statement. I totally respect homeschooling and the discipline it demands. At the same time, I must tell you that my oldest is enrolling at the same private school my other two are at later this week. :)

My kids are great and they weren't the "problem." It was me. I don't know why that is either. I've been a stay-home-mom for 12 years now. Homeschooling should have come so natural to me. It didn't. I bought all the "right curriculum", and did all the "right" things. I joined a homeschool group and had in my mind that this would work. I told myself many days....."I CAN teach first grade, 4th grade, and 6th grade." (What was I thinking? Just typing that sends me into a frenzy!)

Jim is real supportive and isn't even "making" me get a "real job." :) Shoot, taking care of him and the 3 kids is a full-time position! He's a wonderful husband to me..and great dad. After all the health issues with me over the last couple of years....he's just glad to have me back. I'm glad too.

So, I begin leading the newest Beth Moore study next week on Wed. mornings at church. I'm excited about that!

I don't know what my thoughts are on resolutions this time of year. I'd like to make healthier eating choices..and exercise more. YIKES! I so dislike working out!

Marcy

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

From our house to your's..............have a wonderful Christmas Day with those you love.

Read the Christmas Story too. Luke 2: 1-20.

Marcy

Hook 'Em Horns

This is my little Texan, Jay-Man. He was born in Houston, but we moved back to Ky when he was only 2 and 1/2. He insists he'll go to college at UT.....and that's not Tennessee. :)

What do you think he had to drink before this pic was taken? Don't you miss the "kool-aid" days? Well, maybe not, but what they represented brings an immediate smile to my face.

Life is good as a kid. It's good as an adult too. As a kid, we yearn to grow up and do everything. Then we grow up, and realize doing everything wasn't everything.

Here's to kool-aid mustaches and carefree childhoods. :)

Marcy

My Guy

Almost 15 years of marriage, and here we are! Jim and I were on a way to a Chemtreat party/dinner last Sat. night, and we had our sitter, Kelli, snap this picture.

Jim is such a good husband and friend to me. All the ups and downs we've had over the years have certainly refined us into what we are today. Simply put, we're better than we were. We're to the point where we "like" each other.....despite oddities and quirks. :)

I look forward to 15 -plus -15 more years with this wonderful man who does a wonderful job taking care of me and our 3 kids.

Marcy

My Dancin' Dollies

Here are my dancin' dollies of the chorus! Tori and Kate's dance studio had their Christmas Gala last week and as you can see from the smiles.....there was fun for all.

The girls absolutely love dance. Sometimes I wonder if Tori looks more forward to the flowers afterward. :)

Here's a funny story from recital night. On the way to the PAC, we were running right on time, with none to spare. Kate called Jim, who was still at home, and asked him to bring her American Girl doll, Megan. So, Jim agrees, but I wondered if he'd really "remember." Nonetheless, in Jim walks with flowers and the doll. What a dad! In the above picture of "Megan", we're doing what Kate asked us to do......and that was.....make sure the doll had a seat to herself. Kate has the proof we REALLY did get "Megan" a seat. (Man, the lengths we go to as parents!) :)

Marcy

Craziness I Tell You!

I don't know who coined the phrase, "Craziness I tell you!", but it's my life right now. :) It's a good crazy though. Whew, that's a relief. :)

We are moving! 2 days ago an offer was accepted we placed on a house (still here in E-town), and we may be moving in the week after Christmas! YIKES! Yes, we're excited, but at the same time, I shudder at the thought of tackling the basement. In fact, I've already started, and it's in a word......yuck. I'll put it this way. Our garbage is running today, and will be here anytime. I'm loading up junk and running (literally) up the driveway every 10 minutes so I can beat the truck. My neighbors must think I've really lost it now. :)

I have pictures to post, and in between the rummaging, I'll put them on here. They're from the big dance recital last week. Kate has piano recital coming up next week.

Marcy

Trials and Temptations

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. " James 1: 2-4

I have a feeling if Kate's thoughts could be transferred onto a big screen, there would be something about "testing" involved. I don't know who's perseverance is tested more during piano practices.......mine or her's. :) I've given her the spiel about how "I wish I'd had the opportunity to take piano lessons." I tried that route and I don't think it mattered too much.

This was taken tonight and her face was priceless. Funny thing is she smiled after the flash went off. Playing piano is fun for Kate...it's the practicing that's difficult. She takes lessons from her grammie once a week, and the Christmas recital is in 2 weeks. Yikes! We've got to get "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" down and those fingers ready to slide up and down the ivory.

Jay and I are memorizing in school James 1: 2-4. After I saw this picture, I thought of that verse. Perseverance. Testing. Being complete. Lacking nothing. Joy regardless. Did I say perseverance? :)

One day Kate will thank her dad and me for making her practice......making her play. Not only is this a wonderful skill to have honed as a child, but the memories she's making with her grammie are priceless and something she'll treasure years from now. Until then, though, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers (& sisters), whenever you face trials of many kinds................." :)

Marcy

Advent

We had our Advent service at church tonight and what a way to begin this season of celebration. Celebration because of the One who came in a lowly manger. The One who would fulfill prophecy....according to the Old Testament prophets....time and time again. The One who would eventually die on a cross for you...and for me. The One who gives hope to a dark world.

Pull those you love close to you as soon as you can, and tell them how much you love them. Most of all, tell them about the One...Jesus...who loves them more than you do. Wow. That's always huge to me. Being a parent brings all that home, doesn't it? If you're not a parent, you most likely have a young child in your life who fills your heart with so many emotions you can hardly stand it.

Love. Grace. Mercy. And more love. The love that came down in the form of a baby to show us the heart of God. I want to get that in a way this year like I never have before.

Marcy

Marcy

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving with our families. We ate a huge dinner.....twice. :) Whew...it was tough, but someone had to do it. :)

After all that food on Thursday, it was necessary to shop it off on Friday. Those calories had to be burned up somehow. Only thing is.....my hand didn't need quite the workout it got. Waist? Yeah...but not my hand making that sweeping motion across the credit card reader machine. Yikes! I think there was smoke coming off the card. I was halfway afraid my wallet was going to have a hole burned through it!

I am happy to say though that I'm almost completely through Christmas shopping for everyone. Hooray! It's so fun finding just the right gift too. Amidst all this hustle and bustle, I know I need reminding of what this season is really about. It's so daggone hard to be aware of that when I'm standing in a stand-still line for 45 minutes at Kohl's!!

I'm so thankful for my wonderful family you see above. A wonderful husband, and three great kids. Most of all, a great big God blessing our socks off when we deserve anything but. That's the gift of Christmas. Grace.

Marcy

AAAGGGGHHHH!

Okay, the name of this post needs explaining and I'll do my best. :)

It all started Thanksgiving Day. My niece, Samantha, says, "Aunt Marcy, let's make you a facebook account." It's been downhill from that point.

Here's the deal. I really don't have time for facebook, but, man, it's so addictive! :) Before I know it, I'm getting "friend requests", and posting pictures!

Facebook is fun and I'm hooked. I just have to bypass the computer during the day (and at other times) to do things like....uh...can anyone say "dinner?" What about those things we were on our bodies? Clothes maybe? :) You get my point. :) My laundry may be 3 baskets high, but you can bet my facebook is updated. Gee whiz. Is that ridiculous or what? :)

Nonetheless, check out my facebook. :)

Marcy

Writer's Block

Okay, I have a fierce case of writer's block. Last night I had some time to myself and sat down to brainstorm on the annual Christmas newsletter. Whew. I'm trying to find that fine line no one wants to cross between telling what we've been up to in 2007, and then, sounding downright braggy. Does anyone else have the same dilema?

I have to brave the crowds and go to Walmart or Kroger tonight. I brought this fate on myself. I knew better. I knew to go a few days before the onslaught of last minute shoppers. Now, I'll be one of them. Yuck.

I'm going to attempt the newsletter in a day or so. Maybe all the chemical releases from digesting turkey will stir up the creative juices. :)

Have a blessed day with your families and the ones you love.

Marcy

Turkey Week!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Wow, this week begins the quest for the ultimate Christmas gift, huh? Black Friday is a tradition with me and my mom, and we wouldn't miss it for the world. Shoot, I even attempted it 2 years ago only 2 weeks after my hysterectomy! Yikes! That was so not smart.

My kids were in our church's Thanksgiving musical tonight and it was great. Kate and Tori actually had lines and were onstage, and Jay-Man was working the sound in the media room. I think he may have found his calling in media ministry! :)

I attended the Women's Forum in Nashville last week and it was awesome. Everyone on our team got to go but one person. We had sooooo much fun meeting Lifeway authors, attending workshops, and hanging out in the hotel room. Oh, did we ever solve life's problems at the Wyndham! We tackled every subject and were so vulnerable and transparent that we left Nashville feeling like sisters. We are you know....in Christ. It was so cool because our age differences are so varied, but our one common thread is that we love women's ministry and want to do whatever we can to equipp women of all ages. Even those precious girls (a.k.a teenagers.) :)

This isn't the most spiritual post. Sorry for that. :) Tell me what you're doing for Thanksgiving. I want details. :) If any of you come from an extended functional family....don't tell me about it. :) Nah, go ahead....make me jealous for you. :)

Marcy

School Changes!

Okay, my kids are going to be completely messed up by all this school switching! Public school, homeschool, and now private school all in one year! As many of you know, we signed up for the whole enchildada and decided to homeschool our 3 kids this year. Well, as of today (don't blink), we're only homeschooling one. :) The girls have been at ECA for almost 3 weeks now, and what a good experience it's been. I am still homeschooling Jay, and that's a good decision as well.

What happened you ask? Hmmm. I stopped using the DVD's early on in the year, and couldn't find a way to effectively educate my 3 kids at various grades (6th, 4th, and 1st). Someone was getting shortchanged, and I think it was my older ones. It was an agonizing decision, one that Jim and I prayed about and talked through for hours. I love the school the girls are at; however, we may live in a shack for them to attend there. :)

Here they are on their first day of school (in October!)

This is one of those experiences where I've eaten a huge slice of humble pie. My kids will be fine. They hopefully won't be too messed up by all this. Being my kids is enough to put them in therapy in those adult years. :)

Marcy

Kater Tater :)

A Tea Party!!!

(In your best British accent, say "party for 7, please.")

I like saying that. :) Party we did and it was a truly wonderful birthday for Kate. My oldest daughter is now 10! Yikes! If you haven't really seen Kate at church, or something like that, see if you can pick her out. Everyone says she looks like me. I don't think that, I just think she has lots of my DNA....and not always the good strands. :)

Martha Stein, in Glendale, did an awesome job making this b-day special for Kate. She even had a table set up for the dolls. :) There was a part in the evening when Kate leaned over to me, and said, Momma, this is the best birthday ever." That girl means the world to me.

Now, while you're looking at the picture, see if you can spot my youngest daughter, Tori. That's a bonus question. :)

Have a great Sunday!

Marcy

A Much Needed Mini-Vacation

Last week the five of us packed our swimsuits and headed to The Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio. It's an indoor waterpark and the temp is always 84 degrees or thereabout. It was fun and the kids had a blast on our official fall break.

Yeah, homeschoolers take fall breaks too. We don't stay in our P.J.'s all day and watch television. We don't sew either. Now, there's nothing wrong with sewing, but it's something I know little about. Okay, that was off tangent. Sorry. :)

The Great Wolf Lodge. Fun, but expensive. I had a totally blonde moment and made some blunders when scheduling this trip. First of all, I didn't read the fine print when looking at our room rate. I was telling everyone in my Sunday school class about the great deal I got on our cool family suite, etc. Well, when I called to confirm the room the day before, the lady said the money figure I'd been throwing out was the room rate PER NIGHT. Yikes! Jim was working the Boy Scout booth at Lincoln Days, and I so dreaded calling him and telling about my huge goof. Then to top it off even more.....I had us scheduled at a Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio...6 hours away from our house! So, I had to scramble the day before we left and get reservations transferred to Mason, Ohio and Jim managed to get the room rate per night down a bit. :) Oh well, thank goodness for Mastercard moments!

No offense to blondes out there with that earlier comment. Shoot, I color my hair and I have a few fake streaks here and there. :)

Have a great rest of the week! I may post more pics!

Marcy

Homeschool Happenings

It's hard to believe we've been homeschooling for nine weeks now! There was a point I didn't know if I'd survive 9 days! Well, with God's help, grace, and extra heapings of mercy.....we've done it. :)

I'm in the midst...between school, laundry, kid stuff, etc., of planning Kate's birthday/sleepover this Friday night. She's having a few friends over after a special birthday tea in Glendale. This should be a fun, memorable time for her. It's double digits, you know. 10 is a pretty big deal. 10. When I think of being 10...............I can't. :)

Kate is such a big girl. If I could just get her to see that time flies and she'll be that 14 year old she desperately longs to be in the blink of an eye. She doesn't realize that this is the fun time of being a kid. Responsibility looms in the distance, and will consist of more than making the bed and setting the table. :)

Sorry I've been a bad poster to this blog. Got to run and get something else accomplished for the day. :)

Marcy

Thought to Ponder....& Chew on......

Something interesting happened to Jim yesterday morning in his Sunday school class. Actually, it was a conversation. A conversation that has fascinated me ever since I heard about it. Okay, you've twisted my arm, so I'll share it. :)

One of his Sunday school members approached him after the lesson, and said to him, "Wow, I look at you in a different light than I did before." Jim was taken off guard at this remark, and thought the guy was just joshing him. Jim had shared with his class that he himself "falls short" sometimes. Jim was acknowledging in front of everyone, you could even say he was testifying to the fact that, despite all his personal efforts...he still goofs sometimes.

What concerns me...maybe concern is a strong word...is the seriousness with which this comment was made. This guy....this Christian man...was surprised that my husband, a saved, Godly man, still sinned.....and even worse...that Jim was in leadership. How dare a Sunday school teacher not be perfect.

Okay, these comments are obviously tongue-in-cheek. The closer my relationship becomes with Christ, the more my own personal shortcomings stand out. I am an imperfect woman, mother, and wife. Most of all...an imperfect friend. I fall short, but I like to think I'm pressing on...that I'm being refined....more Christ-like. What's scary is the fact that there are more church members who think like this guy. They think those in church leadership/ministry have it all together. No problems....no baggage....no sin. Wow. Nothing further from the truth.

I explained to my kids today how we are like lumps of clay on the potter's wheel. We're spinning around and being molded by the Master Potter all the time. One day, when we're are ushered into our Heavenly Home, we'll be whole and done with this life; but until then, we're being transformed...having our minds renewed....becoming..hopefully...more like Him. I caution anyone who holds those in leadership/ministry to a higher standard than themselves to be careful. People down "here" will fail you every time you make an idol out of them, however, there's One who will never fail or forsake you. Place your faith in Him. Now, I totally believe I have a personal responsibility to, not only my husband and kids, but to the women I sit in front of and lead every week in bible study. I take that seriously too. You bet I do. However, I pray they will never be "disappointed" to learn I'm a fellow sojourner as well. I struggle too. I've known huge sin in my life, and while I'm in this earthly body, I'll never totally escape it's grip. I am confident though, that one day, I will be in the presence of the God who has saved my soul...through His grace and mercy...and at that time...He will make all things new.

Until then, sister.....let's run the race marked out for us. Not just "run" either...let's persevere like nobody's business. :)

Marcy

A BIG SHOUT OUT!!!!!

I have totally neglected this blog. Here's the thing...I don't know if I have time to write on a regular basis. I know my many readers are terribly disappointed. :)

This past weekend I went with Vicki, Terri, & Lori to Deeper Still in Nashville, TN. Wow. I'm a regular at Living Proof Live events, but this type was different. Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur teamed up with Beth Moore to pull off a totally awe-inspiring weekend. God spoke in a huge way to me, and I've come away changed. This time will be different. More intentional perhaps to live out loud for Jesus Christ.

Homeschooling is fine. Tough, but fine. I battle my selfish nature everyday as I think about the other things I could be doing. I love Women's Min. and felt I would take on a huge role in that area this year. Who would have thought I'd be teaching my three kiddos? Not me. I was one of those women who said I could never do that. Lesson learned. Never say never.

Marcy

Changes

I have gone from being a stay-home-mom with 2 kids in school, 1 in pre-K, and a slate of church volunteer activities to being a stay-home-mom, homeschooling 3 kids, and being involved in church activities. Whew.

This teaching thing is alot to get ready for! :) I'm wanting to have everything just right for them. We're pretty much set though. Everyone has their own area, along with desks, and Jay and Kate have computers so they can watch the DVD subjects. I really an anxious to see how all this goes. It feels so right to be doing this...even though I'm scared to death at times. :)

Who has seen Hannah Montana? My oldest daughter LOVES that show. It's blaring as I type this.

Gotta get back to organizing. :)

Marcy

Pool (Almost) Closed. Summer's Over? :)

The weather here has been unbearable the last few days. Today in my Durango, the temp. gauge said "100 degrees." That's nuts. It reminds me of the days we lived in Houston. :)

We're going to the pool tomorrow. There's not many days left either. :( County schools started today, city schools start next week, and our school starts on the 13th. Yikes! Where did summer go?

The sunday evening event at church went really well. We had a great group of women present, and missed those who couldn't be there. The desserts were wonderful, coffee tasty, and the company excellent. I truly hope women connected over their common grounds. :)

Jim and I had an anniversary this week. 14 years. Know how we celebrated it? I took the kids swimming and he and Jay played Ultimate Frisbee in Glendale. That's 14 years for you. :) We'll have a date night soon, but please hear no complaints that we didn't celebrate in grand style on tuesday. Jim's a wonderful husband, father, and friend. I'm so grateful that God saw fit to place Jim and I in the same Eng. 102 class 17 years ago this fall. He came in one afternoon talking real loudly about how he had broken up with his girlfriend the night before. Yes...I was a "rebound." There you have it...through almost 3 years of dating and 14 years of marriage...we're still here. There have been difficult times and not-so-difficult times. Ah, the growing pains of living with someone and figuring out all the ins and outs of being in a relationship. While I have fond memories of the "lean years", let's just say things are better now than they've ever been. It takes so long to get to know someone....and love them anyway. :) God has truly blessed me, not only with Jim, but with the added blessings of Jay, Kate, and Tori.

I'm beat. I worked on home school stuff tonight and will continue to do so for the days to come. I want to have everything "just right." (Okay, maybe not realistic, but a goal.) :)

Good night,

Marcy

Busy..Busy..Busy

Again I come and ask for forgiveness for blog neglect. :)

I am covered up with the Coffee Women's Event that's taking place tomorrow night at Severns Valley. It's called "Connecting Through Common Grounds" and it's going to be lots of fun, and hopefully, full of info on all the things we have coming up this fall for women. COME and be apart of it!!!!

Sometimes I can be long winded....(surely not you say!)...and I'm going to try and be brief with my comments tomorrow evening. I am not the main speaker. We really don't have one. One nice lady in our church will be giving her testimony of how bible studies have impacted her life. This is a kick-off event of sorts and we hope the women in our church will see the need for bible study.

Got to go. Girls are in the tub and Jim and Jay just got home.

Marcy

Mundane Monday

It's terribly late...for me...and I'm tired. Not too tired to not take an Ambien, but tired nonetheless. :)

Highlight of my day was taking my friend, Lori, out to b'fast for her birthday. We went to Panera Bread...yum. Happy Birthday my friend!

I'll have to give you an overview on Dr. Cosby and his choir coming and leading our church in worship last night. In a word.....incredible. He's annointed as a preacher and gifted in a unique way. He can take the most familiar scripture and make it jump out at you in a different way and you come away learning something you never knew. About a verse you've read a hundred times. Incredible.

I'm covered up in planning for this sunday's coming event. Details later. I have a great team to work with. Again, it's late. :) Come to the coffeehouse in the atrium at Severns Valley on sunday, the 29th of July, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. We're going to "connect over common grounds." It's going to be f-u-n. Only other thing we need is YOU. :)

More later...this gal is worn out from being at the lake and boating. Oh, by the way, I'm a jet-ski queen now. :)

Marcy

Goin' to the Lake

Woo-hoo! We're looking forward to a great weekend at Lake Barkley with friends. I haven't been down there except to dine at Ms. Patti's, so I'm looking forward to it.

Poor Jay-Man can't go. :( With his incision still healing, he's practicing water abstinence, and doing quite well. He has had a shower or two. :) He'll be staying in Bardstown with my Aunt Jean and Uncle Mark. Jay has lots planned for them, and I hope they know it. "Big River", the civil war museum, trolley tour, go-carts, and much more are on the agenda. Hope Aunt Jean can keep up with him!

If you want to have your socks totally BLESSED OFF, get to Severns Valley Baptist Church this coming sunday night, July 22, 7 p.m., to hear an awesome word of God from Dr. Kevin Cosby. You won't be disappointed in the least you cut an hour and a half out of your evening. The word of God will fall so fresh on you that you'll think you've slept outside and been covered with dew. God's mercies are new every morning...everyday...and the St. Stephen's Choir will make you think Jesus just came back and this is His prelude. That choir is the best choir I've ever heard and I'm convinced that Heaven will be like that. A place of uninhibited praise and worship to a great, big God we don't deserve to have. But that He has us anyway is amazing. That's another story for another time. :)

So, come on sunday night to be awakened in your spirit and renewed in your walk with the Lord!!!

By the way, thanks to Teddi for subbing for me so I can go on this lake trip! I love that class and feel totally at ease when she takes the helm for me..which has been often this summer. :)

Have a great weekend,

Marcy

Sunday Night Wrap-Up

Sorry there has been blog neglect. :)

Between the pool, dance, birthday parties, Louisville trips, Jay's minor skin surgery, and baby showers....I have survived the last week. Hard life I know. :) It's been a great, but busy week. This upcoming week is much more calm. I like calm.

We're going swimming tomorrow at a friend's house. Jay still can't swim because of his incision. The steri-strips have fallen off and the site looks really nice. Dr. Brown...a.k.a. Chad...did a great job. He's great with kids and put Jay so at ease with the hour long procedure. I hate it that Jay can't get in the water tomorrow, but he can hang out with my friend's oldest son, Chase.

Bible study class was great this a.m. It was nice to have so many gals back in town. It's obvious summer is winding down. So many signs all around....supply lists in every store in town...flyers in the paper for $.10 Crayola Crayons. (Not the "Rose Art", but real Crayola.) :)

Was so glad Billy and Marnie Clagett officially joined church....(again)...today. They grew up at Severn's and now are back after years in California..and 2 kids later. :) They're a sweet family and it's great to have them here. I'm also really glad she's in our sunday school class. :)

Things are pretty low key here this week. I'm still in the process of getting organized for being a homeschool mom. Wow, that sounds funny. If anyone had told me a year ago that we would be bringing our 3 kids home this school year, I would have laughed my head off. Well, here we are. It's really going to be a reality and the task is overwhelming and exciting all at the same time. What a responsibilty this will be. I've always had the utmost respect for school teachers. They give their all to other people's children for 5 hours a day...or more. We've been so blessed to have wonderful teachers at Morningside over the past 5 years. Bringing them home is one of those things though that Jim and I will regret if we never at least try our hand at it. Does that make sense? :)

Okay, it's late and I still hear my kids talking. I let them build a "tent city" in the playroom tonight and they're sleeping down there. Only a kid would choose a hard floor over a nice, soft bed. The older I get I sound like my mom when she used to say, "I just can't sleep anywhere but in my own bed." I remember thinking she was being a fuddy dud and boring . Again...here I am saying the same thing. :)

Have a great Monday. I'll try and post some new pics tomorrow.

God Bless,

Marcy

One Fish

Here is my 3rd fish. :)

Tori started swim lessons tonight and she's doing wonderful. She was hesitant to let go of the wall though. The lifeguard assured Tori nothing was going to happen and that she would be right beside her if she got into trouble.

I sat nearby observing this scene. I thought about how my youngest was dealing with an issue of trust. Here was a sweet, young woman trying to convince my 6-yr. old to trust her. It made me think about who our Lifeguard is. God is right there with us...always assuring us to trust...and sometimes...often...we're hesitant to do so.

Marcy

The Family that Camps Together......

I'm exhausted. Jim's exhausted. The kids could do it all again in 5 minutes flat.

I'm talking about camping. We spent one night and 2 days in Otter Creek Park, and it was alot of fun. Thanks to my brother-in-law, Sam, we camped in style. He set the pop-up camper up for us and we had air conditioning. It was great.

I'll admit I'm not the best camper in the world. I like the comforts of home. Again, air conditioning...refrigeration...clean bathrooms....etc. Did I say air conditioning? :) I'm not near the trooper my sister-in-law is. Connie can camp, and I mean really camp, for days. She can whip up a homemade meal over a gas stove, and not worry she's not had an actual clean feeling shower in days. Don't misunderstand though. Connie just gets in that "camper mode" that all men only wish their wives could do. I've come to realize I need to relax and just chill with the comforts only camping can offer.

Comforts like.....a fire at night. Totally priceless. We need to find a way to bottle it. Can't be done. It's just too cool. What about the comfort of just sitting and talking to our husbands...to our kids? Jim and I had a real conversation. :) Last night I had my first campfire smore. I had never had a campfire smore. It was great. I've also found out I'm a firebug. I like to stoke the fire and play with it. I was burning everything I could find. Jim looked down into the fire pit this morning and said, "hey, that's my treated lumber." :) I think he had meant to take it back to 84 Lumber and get his money back. :) Oh well, that's what happens when you have everything imaginable in the back of your truck.

It was fun. I realized we have to do that more often. In fact, we're going to schedule something in the next month. I may not ever be the best camper wife/mom, but the experience and fun on the kids faces says it all. This meant alot to them. They made wonderful memories....and guess what? So did I.

Marcy

Pool Day

Okay, as I write this there is a tingle on my shoulders that reminds me that 3 applications of sunscreen was not enough. I kid you not, I applied 3 times. I even rotated brands and methods. I'd use the lotion based once...then the aerosol type...then the sport stick..and so on and so forth. My daughter, Kate, is just like me. She and I both look like a new shade of pink in the crayola box.

My Aunt Jean went with us today too. :) She's coming back tomorrow. We have fun together and she loves my kids. She has no grandkids of her own, so she lays claim to mine. :)

I'm starting to get more excited about the women's ministry event coming up at the end of the month at church. It's called, "Connecting Through Common Grounds." Obviously, coffee will be involved. Chocolate too. Yum. We hope to appeal to women of all backgrounds in our church. It's casual and laid back. No stuffiness at all. Our goal is fun and a time of getting to know women who share pews with us on sunday mornings. We'll have live music, great desserts, and best of all, prizes. Everyone is asked to bring their favorite coffee mug/cup...hopefully one with a "story"....and at some point in the evening...share that story with a small group. Best story gets a prize...and they'll be good prizes. :)

My posts haven't been very spiritual of late. That's probably reflective of my lack of quiet time the past few weeks. I miss being in a small group study. I need accountability. Between Disney World, St. Louis, and pool days....the most important start to my day has taken a back burner. It's so nice starting my day out opening the Bible. Okay, hold me accountable, and ask me if I've done this next week. :)

Have a great night. Tomorrow we're headed back to the pool. I'll shower in sunscreen I suppose. :)

Marcy

Aunt Jean :)

No one will quite understand this entry unless I've told you about our Disney experience with my aunt Jean. If you were in sunday school this a.m., you got the full affect of the thrill rides and maybe more info than you wanted to know. :)

This pic was taken right before we got on the tram to leave Animal Kingdom. We were headed to Magic Kingdom right afterward, but one ride we weren't going to ride again was the Tower of Terror. :) The story is too long and must be told face to face for you to fully understand just how funny that experience was. :) Let's just say the ride lives up to it's name. When I rode it 5 years ago, I was not as terrified. Aunt Jean says it's because I've "gotten older." :) Maybe so.

Excuse my second entry for the day. I just had to give you a clip after telling some stories this morning. :) By the way, this was "post pull-up." :)

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!!

Okay, well, actually it's the first of July, but our church is having a huge celebration this evening. Guraranteed to be the biggest fireworks show in Hardin County too. :)

It was so good to be back in church today. With all the travelling the past 2 weeks, we've been out of pocket and I think I've taught sunday school once in 5 weeks. Good to be back and in the swing of things.

We're low key this afternoon until the skies light up tonight. Kate and Jay are in a patriotic musical this evening after the pony rides, inflatables, and carnival type games are over.

This week will be fun too. It's going to be good because there's not a schedule. My aunt is coming to visit tomorrow and stay until tuesday, then on wed. we'll head over to Jim's mom and dad's for a real 4th of July celebration. This will be the first time we've all been together since the wedding in St. Louis, so I'm sure we'll have lots of snapshots and stories to swap.

This is a boring blog, but I don't want to be guilty of blog abandonment again. There are "blog police" out there you know. :)

Have a great sunday!

Marcy

Elizabeth and Joe's Wedding

Sorry to post so many pictures. My excuse is that I was "quiet" for almost 3 weeks! I deeply neglected the blog. :)

Joe and Elizabeth look so happy here. The church they were married in is absolutely beautiful. It's on the campus..I think..of St. Louis University. If it's not on the campus, it's darn close to it. Anyway, it was just a beautiful wedding.




Here's the cute little flower girl. I totally "claim" her and not because she's beautiful, but because she's mine. She's a sweet, funny, smart 6 yr. old. I have a feeling the mother of the bride feels some of the same feelings for her daughter as well. Julia's proud of Elizabeth, and not because she was absolutely stunning on her Day, but because of the woman she's turned out to be.

M.

My Dancin' Queen :)

Here's Kate right before boarding the bus for Magic Kingdom. She had to travel there a few hours before the actual time of the performance. She did a great job!

Marcy













Here's Kate onstage during the actual performance. She's on the far left. The girls on the ends were supposed to be different from the 2 in the middle. :) (My child is "perfect" of course and would never mess up a dance move.) :) Joking of course. Good grief, these girls are nine! :)

Disney

What a great time we had at Disney World!! We originally went down to see Kate dance in Magic Kingdom, but ended up having an outright vacation. Wow, I think I'm the biggest kid of the bunch. When I saw the Cinderella Castle, I just turned to mush. This wasn't my first time either! There's such a little girl inside me that doesn't surprise anyone who knows me well. :)

In this picture, Kate and I are at The Beach Club having breakfast with some other "dancin' parents." We had no idea it was a Character Breakfast until at the very moment we asked for a table for 7. Can you believe we got in? No reservations whatsoever! If you're a Disney junkie, you know how important those reservations are. :)

It's good to be home. I have done at least 15 loads of laundry. Jay and Kate got home from church camp today and boy, did they have fun. They want me to go as a chaperone next year, and I want to go as well.

Well, it's back to reality around here. Some news we have, as a family, is that we'll be homeschooling in the fall. It's one of those things that we may regret if we don't at least try...so, here goes everything. :) The timing is right, especially with Jay entering middle school.

I'll try and post some more pics soon. Maybe tonight if I can get to it. :)

Have a great evening,

Marcy

A Wedding to Remember

Hey everyone! Wow, it's been a long time since I posted.

It's been a wild and crazy month, but a fun one no doubt. I've included a picture of my youngest, Tori, looking absolutely beautiful as the flower girl in my niece's wedding. Tori did a great job too. I knew she would. She walked down that aisle and all I could see was a grown woman years from now holding onto Jim's arm.

We were in St. Louis for the wedding from June 15 thru the 17th. The 17th was Tori's 6th birthday...plus it was Fathers' Day. What's cool is that on the day she was born in 2001, it was also Fathers' Day. That's neat.

We rolled into E-town on the 17th and within the hour I, along with the girls, my mom, and my aunt, headed to Orlando, Florida. Disney World or bust was the goal! We drove past Atlanta that night and then the next day made it into our hotel at Disney. We stayed in the Port Orleans and it was nice and comfy. The main reason we went to Disney was for Kate to dance with her dance school. She did a great job too dancing in Magic Kingdom.

Okay, I have so much news to tell, but can't do it this late at night. Plus, Jim needs his laptop. :)

Will post more pictures soon!!!

Marcy

Kick in the Pants

I need a kick in the pants. :) It's a beautiful day. I should be outside enjoying the sunshine. Instead, I'm surfing the web, sending out emails, and basically, wasting time.

Thing is....I don't have time to waste. I have to have all 5 of us packed by thursday so we can leave or a wedding in St. Louis. We'll be in St. Louis until the 17th, then we'll make our way back to E-town, only to immediately get back into the car and drive south toward the Mouse. :) Yikes! Jim and Jay aren't going..they have boy scout camp. So, me and the girls, my mom, and my aunt will be travelling for what may seem like days on end to Florida. We hope to get back around the 23rd. I'll be the one who slides out of the car utterly exhausted. :)

Back to a kick in the pants. When we got home from church, I had Jim park my Durango in the front yard so I could wash it...and...water the brown grass at the same time. Well, there sits my car. There's no reason I shouldn't already be done with it by now, and have it sparkling.

Kick in the pants I tell you. :)

Have a great sunday,

Marcy

Lazy Summer Days.....Not!

You remember that "Country Time Lemonade" commercial from years ago? The older gentleman is sitting on the porch watching kids play outside and life is moving in a way that makes us smile and suddenly we're reminded what lacks in our own lives. Don't hear me wrong. I love my life and have been immensely blessed by God. I like to think, that, for the most part, our family life has a healthy balance of activity.

As a child, my summers meant spending lots of time at my grandparents house, as well as my aunt's house. Both my parents worked, so I spent those long summer days hanging out with mamaw on the front porch. That was a time when kids rode bikes without helmets, spent hours outside without anyone knowing where they were...and...only coming inside when night came. Then, I'd beg to stay outside "just a little longer" to catch the lightning bugs and put them in a Ball mason jar. I'd take a knife and jab holes through the metal lid, then have to wash my hands to get the remnants of the "little yellow light" off my already dirty hands.

Another memory is sitting on the front porch watching cars go by. I'm not joking. Mamaw lived on a road that no one travelled unless they had to.....oh, I mean unless their address was Clifty Church Road. :) Mamaw knew everyone and most of them we were somehow related to. She'd find a way to make them a third cousin twice removed, but there would be a family tie somewhere. :) We really would sit on the front porch, wave at those who went past, and often people would actually stop by without calling. They'd stop...ask about the beans or corn growing in the huge garden within sight of the white clapboard house...ask questions about small country town life. Questions about the weather. We always seemed to need rain. Much conversation centered around that garden. Beans. Corn. Cabbage. Potatoes. Tomatoes. Green Onions. Did I say beans and corn? Lots of it. Oh, and the days of watching my family members "can." They'd can anything in sight. If it could be bottled, shredded, blanched, purified in anyway shape or form, it would be going to the big, metal pot. :)

Sorry this is long. My summer memories surfaced today when Jay was outside playing and the girls were walking along holding hands. Making memories. One day they will remember these times of being still. Times of playing outside and riding bikes and scooters. It won't be the video games or TV. They're so overrated anyway, but that's another blog. :)

Well, Jim's needing his laptop. Mine's still broken. :)

Marcy

Dancin' the Night...and Days....Away

The DuPlessis house has been lighting up the dance floor this week at the Performing Arts Center. Well, at least 2 family members have been cutting the rug...and this one has had the honor of sitting through 3 rehearsals...(4 hours long)...and logging camera time. Ah, it's been worth it though.

My girls love to dance. Tap. Ballet. Jazz. They love it and they're good to boot. :) Jazz is by far Kate's favorite, but Tori is into them all. And the costumes. They are beautiful and elegant...stunning would be a good word.

We're so into dance in this household that the ladies of the house...plus a mamaw and a great aunt...are leaving for Disney World in 2 weeks. Kate will be one of the students dancing in Magic Kingdom...at the Galaxy Theater in Tomorrowland. What an opportunity for her and what an experience for us all. My mom and aunt have never been to WDW and they are so excited. :) Jay and Jim can't go because of boy scout camp. Okay....sleeping in tents with dirt floors versus a hotel in Florida. Hmmm. Poor guys. They're missing out, but them seem to think they're "getting out." :)

Okay, enough dance talk. School's out and we've joined a local swim club. We got the key cards on friday and hope to be able to go tomorrow for the first time. None of my kids can swim, so this will hopefully be helpful in that area as well. Not all fun and games, but they won't know that. :)

Tori's soccerfest starts tomorrow night. Her little team is too cute. Last season their name was "Chocolate Thunder." This season they are the "Super Stars."

Our June is pretty nutty. We'll be missing 2 sundays at church. I hate that. I get out of sync when I'm not able to be there.

Okay, it's late. Well, not really, but my brain is playing everything from "Mozart's German Dance" to "Material Girl." I better go before I break out in a broadway tune. :)

Have a great monday!

Marcy

Thread, a Needle, & Soap

Be careful when you disclose your shortcomings. I'm pretty transparent. I confided to a friend in bible study something that I've carried inside for many years now. I hesitated before doing do, but thought, what the heck. I had one of those moments of being "real" and "genuine." :) (My sunday school class knows I can really get on my soapbox on that one.)

So, what is the big secret? Okay, here goes. I've never really mastered the art of sewing on a button. There. It's out. Laugh. Okay, now stop smiling. :)

A friend, and fellow bible study sister, brought me some spools of thread, needle, and even a practice cloth. Last sunday before class, she gave me the basic information. Line up the button, knot the thread, go up, and then go back through....so on and so forth. I've put off fixing that favorite shirt of Kate's all week now, but tonight decided I'd tackle the beast, and I felt confident I could do this thing.

Here's what I learned. Threading a needle almost costs me my religion. No one was in the room with me when I became so frustrated with that darn threading-the-needle part and that's a good thing. I found a couple of four letter words reared their heads like an alligator popping it's head up in a swamp. Out of the blue I heard myself muttering those "little not-so -bad words" under my breath. I felt like someone had taken over my body! Some part of me that had been lying dormant decided to resurrect right then and there. (Don't worry about me. I''ve already repented and promised God I'll never attempt a button again.) :)

The first thing I thought of was the Proverbs 31 Woman. Yes, that woman that we usually don't like to read about. She reminds us of what we're not. Now, that's a whole other rabbit to chase, but stick with me on the sewing issue. Proverbs 31:19 says, "In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers." King Lemuel's mother goes on to speak to the fact that this woman makes coverings for her bed, and clothes herself in fine linen. She goes on to say again that she "makes fine garments."

Let's just say I was not the picture of the Proverbs 31 woman. I didn't even come close in that area this evening. If my husband and children depended on me for bed coverings and clothes they'd be covered with anything that would fit over their bodies and who knows what they'd be wearing. Jim might be in animal skins covering the essentials, and the girls and I might be donning coconut shells and leaves.

Okay, you get the point, but here's the hilarious point. The kids were downstairs watching a movie, and I finally got this cute little two-holed button attached. It was one of those Eureka moments. I yelled down to Kate, "Kate, I did it!" (What she's thinking about this fact I have no idea.) Anyway, for about 10 seconds I'm totally proud of myself and anxious to tell the sweet friend who gently coached me to this point. Suddenly, I looked closely and noticed the button looked differently than the others. Hmmmm. That couldn't be...same size...and I was sure it was the right one. I laughed out loud when I realized the button was tightly attached UPSIDE DOWN. Just when I thought I was "the stuff", the truth comes reigning down. The wrong side of the button...you know..the plain side is facing upward.

My lesson is that I shouldn't sew on buttons. If I try it again, I will need a bar of soap nearby to wash out the dormant sailor in me. YIKES.

I'll address the not measuring up to the Proverbs 31 woman later. Just writing about this incident has made me see visions of needles and thread. Better stop while I'm ahead. :)

Have a great memorial day weekend!

Marcy

I'm Alive!

Okay, someone may be wondering where I've been...or maybe not. :)

My hard drive in my laptop died for the second time in 4 months! Yikes!! We have a PC in the basement for our kids, but the filter won't allow me to come to the blog! So, this a.m., I was walking through the living room and noticed Jim left his laptop home today. I'll spare you the computer issues, etc. Just know until everything gets fixed, I'm limited on getting on here. :)

School's out for my kids tomorrow. Tori's already out. I'm looking forward to this summer. Hanging out with the kids, sleeping in, doing whatever. It will be nice.

Our church was blessed with the Crabb Family sunday night. Wow, they can sing and get down if you know what I mean! They praise God from their hearts and what a blessing they were to everyone who had a chance to be there.

Well, before I sign off, I want to share with you a verse in my devotional this morning. It's timely for me. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." This reminds me that change is inevitable, so we might as well just roll with it, and most of all, always expect it.

Have a great day! Hopefully, I'll get back on here soon!

Marcy

Blurry Weekend

This weekend was a total blur. It was a good blur though. :)

I'm super proud of my son, Jay, for making state in bible drill!! We went to Bowling Green on saturday and spent much of the day there. I'm so proud of him I can't hardly stand it! Jay is an over-comer. He has a stutter, along with oral motor deficits, but he lets very little stop him. There he was...in a room full of stranger and judges, and he recites scripture. It's obvious to anyone that Jay speaks somewhat differently. Here's the thing though. Sure, the times he was called on, he stuttered through the words, but he doesn't care. Jay lets nothing hold him back. I don't know if I could do what Jay does. He's one in a million and I'm ever glad God chose me to be his mom.

This week is busy, busy, busy. Have a great rest of the day!

Marcy

Kate

Meet Kate. She is my 9 yr. old daughter with a firecracker personality. It's a good firecracker though, not a bad one. She's strong-willed, smart, and fun. If Jim and I can channel that "strong-willed" part over the next few years we may be able to rival James Dobson's book. :)

One thing Kate is seriously into is American Girl dolls. Their names are "Katie" and "Ashley." (You can see them in the picture.) These dolls have been known to sit in high chairs when we go out to eat. (Yes, you can imagine the looks.) These dolls have also partaken of chips and salsa, and, according to Kate, they like it. :) The humdinger of all though happened last week. I found Kate in her room being particularly quiet and the door was closed. I peeked inside and saw a mound of black hair and scissors in Kate's hand. Yep, you guessed it, they "needed" a haircut. (Now, need I remind you what these dolls cost? I had to take a deep breath.) :) Kate became upset when I told her that their hair didn't grow. She was adamant that it does indeed grow and there was no arguing with her. You know what though? I didn't want to argue with her. She's a child. This is childhood. This is what it should be about.

As Mother's Day approaches, I'm so thankful God chose me to be the mother of three wonderful children. He decided to knit Kate together in my womb, and, what a creation He made. :) She's unique just as Psalm 139 explains. Fearfully and wonderfully made.

So what if "Katie" and "Ashley" eat with us and have regular haircuts. May I be ever mindful of the season of childhood and it's brevity. Jesus valued little ones immensely. Children are a reward from Him. Thanks God.

Marcy

When Momma's down...everybody's down....

I now am familiar with the drug "Z-Max." I took...actually drank...my dose today. I had to go to the Dr. because this sinus mess had turned into something worse. No amount of over-the-counter drugs was going to tame the wild beast that had taken over my head. :)

My mom's b-day is tomorrow and I'm taking her to breakfast. Mom is special to me for lots of reasons. She is there when I need her. Like today, for instance. She helped me at the last minute so I could get to my appt. I've been totally blessed by both my parents...and am thankful to God for them.

The weekend was good...busy, but good. My niece made her First Communion Sunday afternoon. That was my first first communion as well. The church was absolutely beautiful, with marble columns and exquisite paintings. Very nice ceremony, but rather long. :) Being a Baptist, I'm used to hour services. :)

When I get to feeling better, I'll post something interesting. I guess that's pretty relative, it will be interesting to me at least. :) Honestly, though, I'll try to post something not quite as "fluffy."

Marcy

Ohio River Valley Issues

Okay. Imagine a thumb pressing into each of your eyes. The thumbs press so hard that your eyeballs truly are sore to the touch. Now, throw in extreme pressure above each eye (that's still being pushed into the brain), and you'll have a good idea of what I feel like. :) It's the "Ohio River Valley" curse. This happens to me every spring and summer...but spring seems much worse. Maybe that's because I'm currently in the throes of this congested mess.

Claritin, occasional squirts of Afrin (I'm mindful of my former addiction to it), and tylenol sinus are getting me through the day. I'm not seeing huge improvements and I wonder if my pill popping is even working.

My "issues" are small potatoes compared to a prayer request I heard of yesterday. Please pray for Conner Casey. He's the 9-year-old son of Don and Shawn Casey and he's in Kosair with rheumatic fever. From what I understand, the fever has damaged 2 of his heart valves. He's an active young boy and this news is devastating to him. Please pray for him and the healing of his heart.

Have a good weekend! Tomorrow night, Jay is having 5 boys over to spend the night and celebrate his b-day. We're taking them bowling. This should be fun!

Marcy

Sunday School Girls

Here's the picture of our class that I've been promising for days now! (Thanks Lori!) There were some ladies out that day, but no worries, because we'll take another one soon! :)

Marcy

Realization

"Looks like we made it." The song by that title has been in my head all morning. I was just a kid when Barry Manilow released that single in the late 70's. Now, here I am, over 3 decades later, humming a tune that seems to be the theme song between me and God.

"Looks like we made it."

We've made it through too many surgeries, too many hospitalizations, too many doctors. The menu for late 2005 and half of 2006 included 4 surgeries in 8 months and the dessert (with a cherry on top no doubt) was a bizarre incident of physician misjudgment. The thing was...and is...all that was not too much for God. He can use everything for His glory...even the unusual stuff.

Why today? Why write about it today? Maybe because I finally can. It is one of the most freeing feelings and it's hard to even articulate or put into words.

Look like we did make it, God. :)

Marcy

Three Sweet Kiddos

Well, I finally figured out how to get pictures on the blog and decided the first one would be of my 3 kiddos. :)

This was taken a few Sunday's ago on Easter morning. It was a miracle in itself that we had a minute to snap this picture. I don't know what your Sunday a.m.'s look like, but mine can be pretty hairy. I've been know to wig out as I get myself, Jim, and the kids ready. As we walk out the door, I typically hear, "I can't find my bible", or "My shoes are too tight." For some reason, it's on Sunday mornings that we have wardrobe issues and missing dress socks that I'm sure were there the night before. However, I'm thankful I have a wonderful husband, and these 3 sweet blessings. I've been told there will be a day I remember, with a tear in my eye, what it was like to have the 3 of them at home.

I hear the girls' upstairs having too much fun in the bathtub. I'd better go and check on them because the other night I was sitting at my computer in the basement and heard a dripping noise in the closet. I opened the door to find a steady stream of water hitting the foosball tabletop. Kate and Tori forgot to place the shower curtain inside the tub while they were laughing and having a good time, an inch of water was standing in the floor. Oh, well. One of those moments I'll one day miss again, huh? :)

Marcy

Checkin' in

It's been awhile!! :)

This week has been super busy and I just haven't had the chance to sit and collect my thoughts. Uh-oh...now that's scary. :)

My oldest, Jay, had crossover into Boy Scouts last night. It was such a nice ceremony at Freeman Lake. No time was wasted, in that he's at his first official camp out tonight.

I went to a women's min. networking conference today and it was great. Lots of ideas and sharing about what different churches are doing in their women's programs,etc. It was held at Southeast in L'ville. That church is a huge facility and is so versatile in that the community can use it for various functions. While we were there, Sullivan University was having their Bacc. service.

Well, my aunt is here visiting and I've got to get the girls' in the bathtub. Somewhere in the mix of things I need to put my Sunday school lesson on paper. YIKES. :)

Marcy

Birthday Party!

In just a bit, we're having Jay's "family b-day party." He's 11 today. We're having his favorite meal for supper...lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. I made his cake today too. Chocolate sheet cake. Right in the middle of making it, I ran out of sugar and used splenda to round out the ingredient list. Hmmm. I don't know how that is going to work out...the splenda...but I'll let you know. :) The cake didn't rise like usual, but the sugar shouldn't have anything to do with it, should it? You who are cooks let me know. :)

Last night I was telling Jay about the night before he was born. He was totally bored hearing the story...again. I only tell it once...or twice...a year. I think Jay really doesn't mind to hear the story...it's just cool to not let on like he likes it. :) 11 years ago Jim and I were living outside Houston, TX., and I was almost a 1,000 miles away from family. That was tough. I was so "young" then. I remember soon after bringing Jay home I freaked out about the umbilical cord stump on his naval. I thought it might come off in the night and he would bleed to death. Is that not nuts? I was the "greenest mom" you've ever seen! :)

Better go. The stove is beeping and telling me the lasagna is done. Whether I like it or not, and I really do, my oldest is eleven. :)

Marcy

Tragic Day

What unspeakable tragedy in Virginia today. It's beyond my scope of understanding as to why this shooting happened. The students. The families. Those left behind. Tonight, as I tuck my kids into bed, I'll be ever mindful of the parents asking "why?" tonight. I can't imagine what they're feeling. I only hope, at the end of the day when their eyes close and the sleep finally comes, that they feel the presence of a great, big God. Regardless of the day's events, God is still our refuge and strength, He's still our ever present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Marcy

Sunday Sentiments

I'm reflective tonight. It's been a day. Not a bad day at all, just a busy one.

After church I had about an hour and a half before my niece's bridal shower. Left there with 20 minutes to spare before church at 5 p.m.. Immediately after church, I had a children's minister comm. meeting. Got home around 8:30 and had some hang out time with the kiddos before they were off to bed. Now, here I am bloggin'. :)

I've been thinking a lot about my Sunday school class. They are a great group of ladies. I'm honored to be their teacher, but most of the time they teach me. Today, for instance, a young woman who's visited only a handful of times, asked the most genuine question. It was one of those questions "seasoned Christians" wouldn't ask because of how it might sound....like they didn't know anything. That's one of the things I pray my class never loses. The diversity. Ages aside, we differ in so many ways, but our likenesses stand out the most. We've known the pains of life and we've survived. Death of a loved one. Depression. Divorce. Those 3 characteristics right there represent over half of the class, if not more. They represent, but they don't define the ladies. Despite their circumstances, there's always a hope present. A solid, concrete, common thread that thrills my spirit and encourages me. Charles Stanley said something once I'll never forget. He said, "Adversity cements us to the heart of God." Think about it. It's true. Whatever you've been through, whatever you're going through, and whatever you're about to go through....the tough times tend to make us stronger in our relationship with the Lord. Yes, every week my class will have prayer requests about failed relationships, loved ones battling cancer, and the pains and hurts of life. That's okay...because something is terribly wrong when we stop bringing our needs to each other...and to God. We need that fellowship. We need each other. Hebrews 13:1 says, "Keep on loving each other as brothers." In our case, "sisters." :)

Have a good week, sister! :)

Marcy

New Look

Hey! Let me know what you think of this new look! :)

Marcy

Soppin' Wet Saturday

The rain has been coming down in buckets for hours and I've heard the Spongebob Squarepants song one too many times. So...what am I getting the kids out of the house to do on this rainy morning? The laundromat!! If you've been following the dryer saga..well, it continues. I've been 3 weeks without a dryer. The company has been "guaranteeing" the part every other day. "It's on it's way", they say. Yesterday, a guy at the company promised Jim that someone would be here by evening. Yeah, you guessed it. So, hopefully, this will be the last time I have to take wet clothes out the door, because Jim called Lowe's and they have a gas dryer in stock and we should get it today. (Apparently, many stores don't keep many gas dryers in stock. They usually take 10 days to get in.) Anyway, the store has one and Jim plans on bringing it home this afternoon. I'll get the matching washer in about a week, but at least the one I have still works.

While we're out, think I'll take Jay to the party store and let him pick out his b-day invitations. He'll be 11 on tuesday the 17th, but his party won't be for a couple of weeks. Eleven. E-L-E-V-E-N. :) At least my "baby" is still 5 and my other daughter in "single digits." :)

Have a blessed day!

Marcy

Bumble Bees

As soon as the temperatures climb back up the bumble bee that hangs out by our front door will return. It was there a week or so ago and the kids were too terrified to go out the front door. I'd hear this blood curdling scream...feel certain someone was abducting my child...and then fuss at the kids for scaring me like that over a bumble bee!!! :)

Anyway, I learned something very interesting today about the bee. Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly. A scientist can explain the mechanics behind that finding, but I think there's a message in the fact. The bee has an uncanny determination. Furthermore, the bee doesn't know someone decided he/she can't fly. They fly anyway.

Sometimes we can allow others to determine what we can and can't do. We're not smart enough. We don't have enough "connections." We don't have enough money. We don't have enough ________________________. You fill in the blank. Wouldn't it be nice if we learned a thing or two from the bumble bee? We wouldn't know all the things we "can't" do. The bee has no idea it shouldn't be able to fly...it just goes on anyway. That's cool. :)

"Buzz on".......:)

Marcy

popsicle sticks and velvet

My oldest daughter is so much like me. I don't know if that's good or bad. Let's just say that the characteristics that come with that trait need to be properly channeled. :)

I picked her up from dance class this afternoon and she was carrying her recital costume in a bag. In the car, I took it out to look more closely at the silver sequins and the black fringe. Kate ran her hands along the material, shivered, and said in the most exasperated voice along with large, dilated blue eyes, "M--o--m, velvet makes my teeth hurt!" (Imagine extreme drama.) I started laughing and couldn't stop. You see, that "oddity" she has rivals my own weird-ism(s). Popsicle sticks touching my teeth will send me into a major body shiver. I can't stand it. It's so bad that when I eat one..which isn't that often...I bite from the sides because my teeth can't get near the stick. Now, I know you're dying to know the second odd trait, and that is, going barefoot on carpet. Very difficult for me and you'll rarely see me without socks. Jim has pointed out that I tip-toe walk when barefoot in the house...but walk normal outside without socks and shoes.

I'm weird. I know these reactions and behaviors are not typical. What's so funny to me is the fact that my nine-yr.-old is weird too. What's "normal" anyway? I'm convinced everyone is a work in progress and we all have odd quirks. I read a great book last summer by John Ortberg. It's titled, "Everyone's normal until you get to know them." Is that funny or what? :)

God made us all different. Fingernails on a chalkboard...ice cream on teeth, etc., we're all different. Makes things more interesting too. :)

If you happen to be "issue free" don't tell me about it. :) However, I'd love to hear your "weird-isms." :)

Have a great rest of the evening!

Marcy

American Idol Thoughts

I would say I'm a closet American Idol fan, but that wouldn't be true. I'm out of the closet and sometimes...(gasp)..even vote. Go ahead and tell me I'm a geek. :)

Who's going home tomorrow night? Phil? Haley? Hmmm. My official opinion is that Haley will hear the "I'm going home" song and Phil will be standing there beside her...in shock that it's not him.

Just in case you want to know...still no dryer. Please consult me before you buy a new washer and dryer so I can tell you what brand NOT to buy.

Sorry this is such a wimpy post. :) It's late..I'm tired.

Marcy

Technically challenged, terribly impatient, but optimistic...

I told my sunday school class yesterday that I was going to put a picture or two on here. I'm trying. My husband is trying to survive my trying. :) Jim's fairly patient, but when it involves me and the computer his fuse is rather short. :) So, either I will have a eureka moment or it will be a day or so before that gets up and going. If I were a betting woman, I'd encourage you to bet on waiting perhaps until the end of the week. :)

If you've kept up with my clothes dryer saga, well, it continues. "As the Clothes Turn"...(into piles) has debuted and is heavy into sweeps week. Jim has promised me that as soon as the company that made the dryer (& washer) fixes it, that he will buy me a new set. (Woo-Hoo! I feel a potential early Mother's Day gift brewing.) :)

Going to the laundromat every other day has been an opportunity to make small talk with the nice lady who works the day shift. We talk a little more every time I frantically rush in to retrieve the clothes I'd started 2 hours previously. The last couple of times she has folded them for me. A lady I don't even know has folded my family's underwear. I think I'm going to make her a pan of brownies and invite her to church.

I've learned in the last year and a half that God is always working in our lives. He works through people and circumstances. We won't know until Heaven the extent God was intricately involved in our lives.

For Christmas, a dear friend/mentor gave me a beautiful ceramic tile to sit behind my kitchen sink. There's an extremely close up picture of a single drop of water dripping from the faucet. Below the picture, is a quote from Max Lucado reminding me of God's activity in my life and how He can use whatever means He wishes to carry out His plans. Even maybe a broken dryer. As I read these words every morning, I'm touched, humbled, and thankful that I have a Big God who can use me despite my many flaws and imperfections.

It reads:

"God sanctifies each day. He conducts holy business at all hours and in all places. He uncommons the common by turning kitchen sinks into shrines, cafes into convents, and nine-to-five workdays into spiritual adventures."

Jesus said in John 5:17, "My Father never stops working, and so I keep working, too."

Marcy

What A Day!

Wow...what a day! Too much food, plastic eggs filled with too much chocolate, and temperatures too low! Did I say too much food? :)

I try so hard, as does Jim, to find the balance between "the bunny" and the real reason for Easter...Jesus rising from the dead. Last night, I felt like it was Christmas Eve as I tip-toed down the stairs to fill their stockings...wait, I mean baskets...with care. Jump ropes, a DVD, books, stuffed animals, and lots of candy awaited the kiddos this morning. Forget the Easter Egg hiding many of us knew as kids. Shoot, that was the best part! And, back then, the eggs were hard boiled and the only thing you got inside was a snack. Now, chocolate and money are the going thing. Oh well. No harm done as long as we can season the appetite of the kids with the Lamb who has overcome.

Got to tell you a funny story. We didn't get home from the DuPlessis' until after nine. By the time teeth were brushed, pajamas on, and the last sip of water given, it was well after 10. The kids were on the biggest sugar high. Kate couldn't even articulate it, but tried. She said, "mom, I just don't know what to do." They received some good books today, so I suggested we read one of them. Jay wanted to go it on his own, so I chose Beverly Cleary's "Ramona and her Mother." Well, the girls were hanging onto every word of Ramona and her life experiences as a 5-yr. old. Jay wonders into the room, bible in hand, and proceeded to tell me he'd been studying the similarities of Philippians 2:14 and 1 Peter 4:9. The girls and I were deep into the plot of Ramona backtalking her teacher and the discipline that followed, and my 10 year-old son is doing a compare and contrast of 2 scripture verses! I felt kinda bad that as Jay is studying his bible on his own that I'm in the other room reading 36 pages...all saying the same basic thing...about a pesty little sister! :)

Sometime I'll tell you more about Jay-Man. He's had much to overcome in his short life and it's not over. He'll be an overcomer in many ways....I just feel certain of that. I have my own verse for Jay....Jeremiah 29:11. The words God spoke to His people when they were exiles, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I sometimes wonder if part of the plans the Lord had for Jay included teaching his mom and dad a thing or two. Man, has He ever. :)

As the last hour of Easter sunday ticks away, I pray you have had a blessed Easter Season.

Marcy

Cold weather...Cats...Chillin'

This cold weather is going to do my rhododendrons in for sure. Maybe they're "tough cookies" and will be able to withstand the snow and freezing temps.

You'll never believe what we did today. This morning we heard that a UK coach had been named...Billy Gillispie (sp?). Jay was sitting on the coach and said, "dad, can we go?" I told Jim I was game for it, so off we headed to Memorial Colisium for the big pep rally. It was total hype and the fans were so excited (myself included). Tori was sitting on Jim' shoulders waving her blue pom pom and Jay and Kate were screaming, "Go Big Blue!" Too exciting! The cameras zeroed in on Tori and she was on the big jumbo-tron screen! The last time Jim and I were in Memorial Colisium we were newly weds and students at UK. We'd get up early on sunday mornings to go over for the lottery pick for the seats in the student section. That was the "Pitino Era" and the Cats were so much fun to watch. Hopefully, the new coach will bring back some of that luster. :)

I hope you've had a blessed Easter week. Had a chance to catch Glen Beck on CNN tonight and Anne Graham Lotz was one of his guests. She is as awesome a teacher as her father. She presented the gospel and made no bones about just what it is we, as Christians, are celebrating this weekend. An Empty tomb and a Risen Savior. A Savior who now invites us to allow Him to change our lives, enter our hearts, and renew our minds.

Psalm 51:10 says, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me."

See you sunday!

Marcy

Short and Sweet

Hey there! Sorry I've neglected the blog. :) My excuse is that's it's spring break, kids are home, and yes, the dryer is STILL out of commission.

Will definitely post something tomorrow! We're going roller skating! WOO-HOO!!!! :)

Marcy

Home and Garden

I'm feeling like the 5 minutes of my life that I've ever spent watching a gardening program are coming to fruition. :) I worked in my side yard for hours yesterday and ended up planting 4 types of rhododendron. (I only learned how to spell the word yesterday!) I'm going back out today and get some mulch and perhaps another plant or two. Hopefully, these efforts aren't in vain as I've heard cold weather is coming back into the picture. Yuck. So much for going to the Ky. Horse Park on Friday with the kids. Maybe a movie instead. Has anyone seen "Meet the Robinson's?" :)

Hope you're enjoying your week regardless of what you're doing.

By the way, still no dryer. Jim may come home and find that I've been to Sears or Best Buy. I'm blaming any irritability on the dryer. :)

Have a great day!

Marcy

11 days and counting........

11 days and counting with no dryer. Let me remind you that we're a family of 5. You can do the math and see that my patience has been and continues to be severely tested. :) Jim called the appliance store today and only one of the 2 parts needed are in. Apparently, the company that made the dryer doesn't ship parts quickly. Who thinks about that? I've learned a lesson that as consumers, we need to ask about repair issues and accessibility to parts, etc.

It's spring break. Kids are already bored. :) Today's pretty and a great day to play outside, BUT, that means they may dirty more clothes. :) Oh well, everything comes back to the laundry. :)

Gotta go back to the laundromat and see if the 3 loads I put in are dry. :)

Marcy

Wave your palms!!!

Good Palm Sunday to you! I hope you and your family have taken the opportunity to attend worship and celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Wave your palms of praise this week. That's what the crowds were doing all those years ago. They were thankful the Promised One was with them. They were crying out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." What's our application? What can we learn from the crowd of those who praised Him? 3 things.

1. They were intentional. They went out to meet Him. We, too, must be intentional. Join a bible study, read the bible, go to worship. Be intentional to meet with the One who was intentional through his love for us.

2. They were joyful in their praise to Jesus. Palms go all the way back to the old testament times. They were used to rejoice over something. Today we might use posters or banners to show excitement at an event...they used palms. (Interestingly enough, palm trees didn't grow in the city of Jerusalem, but rather, in the area known as the Mount of Olives.) Lesson for us is to be joyful and forthcoming in our praises. May our prayer requests not outweigh our praises.

3. They acknowledged Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How do we elevate Jesus to His rightful position of authority? Do we bend our knee to His will and Lordship?

What's interesting is that, most likely, some of the ones who praised Him as He entered the city were the very same ones who screamed for His execution only a week later. Funny how emotions change in one week. This week hasn't been dubbed the "Passion Week" for nothing. It was full of passions....joy, sorrow, fear, and anger, just for starters.

I hope you participate in this Holy Week. There are many opportunities in areas churches as well as SVBC. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are celebrated in many churches this week. Go and be apart of them. Participate by attending one of them. Worship at a bible based church next Sunday. Engage in the week that changed the world forever.

Marcy