What do you get when you mix 10 cousins, 10 hats and 10 mustaches?

Her First Homecoming

Combating Flopsy

This morning when I told Emily we needed to walk the dog before going to church she said, "I don't feel like walking the dog, I feel flopsy!" Now I am expecting that most of you don't know what flopsy means, as I did not know either. She informed me that flopsy means that you feel like a rag doll and you want to lay around and not walk the dog. Since yesterday was a hurricane rain day, we did that all day. I felt like it was my job as a parent to let her know that you can't be flopsy more than one day in a row or you will grow up to be fat. (tactiful I know) And that the best way to fight feeling flospy is to exercise. To this she said, "I will race you to the corner." Me in tennis shoes and her in flip flops, running as fast as I could, she beat me. Looks like I had too many flospy days in my past.

Daddy's advice to his girls

"My butt is not a billboard" Todd was out to dinner the other night with our girls and had them repeating this line. You gotta love quality daddy daughter time!

Watch the Olympics, Pray for the persecuted

President welcomes those fighting for the persecuted in China
Add one more China Olympic Prayer Band to the 500,000 given by VOM supporters to raise awareness of persecuted Christians. Just 24 hours ago, President George Bush received a prayer bracelet from Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association.

Bob and four other Chinese human rights advocates met with President Bush in a room usually reserved for diplomats. White House officials said President Bush organized the historic 45-minute meeting to "discuss his concerns about human rights in China," ahead of the Olympic Games next month. "The President seems very concerned about the worsening situation for human rights in China," Bob Fu said. "I gave him five China prayer bands for his family to wear and four house churches addresses and told him he would be welcomed to attend their Sunday service when he is there next week."

The President told Bob that he will talk to the press and the Chinese people about the importance of religious freedom. He also promised to tell China's leaders that they cannot use the Olympics as a pre-text to further crackdown on human rights. Please pray President Bush will be successful in advocating for the persecuted church to Chinese leaders. Pray the President will heed Bob's request to intercede for house church Christians in China such as Zhang Rongliang, who is currently serving 7 1/2 years in prison.

Order your Prayer Bands today!
Praise God! The Voice of the Martyrs and CAA's crusade to raise prayer and awareness for our persecuted brothers and sisters in China has reached the leader of the free world. But there are many more people to reach! Prayer bands can be purchased for as low as 50 cents each. Help remind others to pray for persecuted Christians by ordering your prayer bands today!

Order Here

What a bargin!

Just got this email from Costco.... I saved $770.00!!

TV Land

In the day and age of High Def and Flat Screen TVs.... we still have our 20 your old TV. Ok, so it is our 2nd TV and it is in our bed room, but some times we like to relax away from the kids in our room and watch a TV show. However, our 20 year old TV had picture distortion, so all the people were short and fat.

What to do.?

In an ideal world, we would buy a nice, big flat screen TV.

But this is not an ideal world, so what did we do? I went to a thrift store and bought an old Magnavox, biggest screen we have, clear, crisp picture for ..... 29.99. Maybe it is a perfect world.

101 days

Todd's blog suggested other things we could do for 40 days or more. Like 101 days of sex!
(Laughing Out Loud) Only a guy can make that transition... although in all seriousness the book Couples Who Pray: The Most Intimate Act Between a Man and a Woman by Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt does say the two are closely related. Seriously.

For what Todd had to say in his own words check this out: Todd's Blog

Couples Who Pray Together

A few friends who went to Women of Faith recently told me about a 40 day challenge they were embarking on, praying together as a couple. Now having been married 20 years and being married to a pastor, most people probably assume Todd and I do this, but we don't. Not regularly that is. So I decided to take the challenge to Todd.

Now busyness sets in, being tired comes early, and some times I am grumpy. All reasons why it is a struggle, but we are going to give it a try anyway. So far we are 2 nights in to the committment.

I found one web site (listed below) that had these stats. "Couples who pray together have their relationship enriched and strengthened. Surveys from the US show that whilst the divorce rate for Christians is not particularly less than for those outside the church, Christian couples who pray together have a divorce rate of less than 1%. "

Now if that doesn't motivate me, what will?

Are you up for the challenge?

http://www.prayerguide.org.uk/husbands.htm

Bicycle built for two? Easier said than done....

My 11 year old son, Clay, and I needed some time together. So on Sunday, down at the beach, while the rest of the family went to church, we went out to breakfast. We ate at a nice, new hotel down the board walk and had a really nice time. Then, as we were walking back to our condo, there is was. A yellow bike for two. What could be more bonding? So, we rented it. But we never, ever got it to work for the two of us. When we should have been laughing, we were yelling at each other. The whole reason we went out was for some bonding time, and it was backfiring.

We traded it in for a two seater side by side carriage that is big at the beach (and that I said I would never rent) and we road up and down the board walk. Clay summed up the whole morning with one line, "Mom, this is teaching us how to work together."

Who do you need some "bicycle built for two" time with?

The Beach

My Katey could not be more beautiful. Lucky for us, no boys noticed!


Clay thinks the harder a wave flips you the better it is! Here he is digging for sand crabs.



My Emily, almost 8 year old, has NO FEAR in the water. NONE! even with waves that are bigger than her!

Checking Off My Summer Goals

Have you set summer goals? Can you check any off your list? I've been reaching my goals (see last blog entry) I had some one-on-one time with Emily. Clay actually wanted to go to the outlet mall with me. Ok, he was hoping I'd buy him something, but we had a great time. I have lost a pound, and been walking daily. Reading.... well, I've almost finished the book The Shack, and today I had a lunch date with Todd! It was a good week. Now I need to make some spiritual goals. Write a comment and share some of your summer time goals.

Summer Time Goals

As a teacher I only have 9 weeks off in the summer, I know, those of you who work all summer are having a hard time feeling sorry for me. Well, if you put up with 24 kids, and their parents for little pay you could get summers off too!! But I digress... I only have 9 weeks to accomplish what I can't accomplish all year. So I have to set some goals. Otherwise, I'll get to the end of summer and feel like I accomplished nothing. So here it goes, I am going to read a book a week, get weekly one on one time with each of my kids, have at least 5 date nights with my husband, lose 10 pounds, lead a 9th grade girls Bible study, and clean my bedroom. I mean really clean it, because lets me honest, it has to last all year.

JUNO

Just got around to seeing the movie JUNO with Katey and Clay. Pro-life and pro-adoption. I loved it.

What do you do when your 14 yr old begs to spend the day with you?

You drop everything and spend the day with her. OK, don't really be impressed, it took me weeks to drop everything and give her a day. But today was the day. We went to Target, went to the mall with her and a friend. Spent HOURS at the mall, eating, shopping, laughing etc.... came home, rented 27 dresses, watched the movie.
May there never be a time that I am not willing to spend the day with my teenager if she is willing to spend the day with me.

Pray, Pray, Pray

One of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman’s six children was killed this afternoon when she was struck by a car said to be driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.

The child, Maria, age 5, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
She was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.

The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see the 5-year-old in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.
“It appears to be a terrible accident,’’ McPherson said.

No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.

Veteran singer/songwriter Chapman and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria is one of their adopted daughters.

The couple is so active they formed an organization, Shaohannah’s Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.
The tragedy was announced during services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. The young girl had just graduated from the church preschool.

Most of the family was at Vanderbilt children’s hospital after the accident and could not be contacted.
The long gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.
“The critical response team of the THP is reconstructing the accident,” McPherson said. “The district attorney’s office was consulted.”

Chapman was in the news in April when he was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame.

Water’s Edge (youth group) Talk- how your serving can change the world-----May 18

This is the talk I am giving tonight to the Jr. High and Sr. High youth groups at church. It makes me feel old because I am 44 and have not yet changed the world. My prayer is that the Lord will continue to narrow my visions to things He is passionate about. And broaden my impact for Him.


Tonight we are talking about how serving changes the world
When I think about changing the world – it’s a huge idea, to big for me to grasp, and you are probably thinking as one person, I can’t do anything big enough to change the world.

But how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time
And how do you change the world by serving one person at a time

I have three things you need to keep in mind to change the world:
The first is 1. It can be done
1 timothy 4:12 says
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Can you imagine if world change started in our church and it started with Water’s Edge.
Cnn has heroes awards – you can go on line and nominate people and see the varies winners and one of the categories is young wonders
Here are just a few:
Kayla Cornale, 18, of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, who developed a musical system to improve communications with autistic people

Pat Pedraja is only 12.
When he was diagnosed with leukemia he learned that minorities like himself make up less than a third of the U.S. bone marrow registry--so he started Driving for Donors. He travels the country to encourage minorities to register. This year, he signed up more than 5,000 donors in three months.

According to UNICEF, one of every six people on Earth lacks access to safe drinking water. So Sixteen-year-old Ryan Hreljac, who lives near Ottawa, Ontario, is working to change that. To date, the Ryan's Well Foundation has built 266 wells in 12 developing countries, bringing clean water to more than 435,000 people.
These are great examples of young people who served and are impacting the world

The second thing you need to keep in mind to change the world is
2.Your impact can be eternal
Right now in Hollywood it is very hip to help countries internationally, angelie jjolie and bread pitt are paving the way, and it is wonderful but if the people they impact don’t know jesus, they have only impacted 50 -80 years of their eternity.

Last summer, The Voice of the Martyrs which is a non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.
invited eight ordinary teenagers from around the United States and Australia to meet the underground church of Vietnam. Their mission was simple-to bring Bibles and other help to Christians in a restricted nation. 


Can you imagine at your age right now, smuggling Bibles into Viet Nam? Kids your age are doing it.

The third way your serving can change the world
is by giving what you have to God

I want to take you to John 6:5-13 This is when Jesus feeds the five thousand
He’s been teaching all day and they have no food for these people
In Vs 8 one of the disciples says “here is a boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish how far will they go among so many?” but Jesus takes it and starts to feed the people and then in verse13 they gathered the leftovers and it filled 12 baskets.
One small boy willing to share his lunch in a situation that seemed pointless got to see God multiply it!!

A few years ago there was a boy at my school, cfs, who needed to do community service hours for school – so he decided to collect money for an organization (International Justice Mission) who helps free modern slaves in other countries –where kids are enslaved in sex trades, working in factories and fields and so much more. His service project has grown into an arm of IJM. He has spoken all over the world and won awards and has helped so many people because he took something small and gave it to God. Lets watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3_V84gbUZs (if unable to see this video cut and paste it into your internet browswer)

Let me end with this quote by Margaret mead..
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Let’s pray

Three Words Only

Last Sunday: Breast Cancer Walk
Monday: Rest at home
Tuesday: Teacher Appreciation Day
Wednesday: Karate and Lacrosse
Thursday: Eat dinner out
Friday: Grading till late
Saturday: Sports rained out
This Sunday:

Chick-Fil-A

Katey has started looking up info on how to run for Leesburg town council. When she couldn't find the information she was looking for, she emailed somebody for more information. She said she wants to run to on the platform of getting Leesburg a Chick-Fil-A. I am guessing that she does not meet the age requirement and wouldn't win on just one issue if she ran, but the fact that she would even be discussing this is a credit to her civics teacher this year, Mrs. Robeson. So, if you like Chick- Fil - A, consider voting for her if she makes the ballot!

Student 'Twitters' his way out of Egyptian jail

By Mallory Simon
CNN

(CNN) -- James Karl Buck helped free himself from an Egyptian jail with a one-word blog post from his cell phone.
James Karl Buck sent a message using Twitter which helped get him out of an Egyptian jail

Buck, a graduate student from the University of California-Berkeley, was in Mahalla, Egypt, covering an anti-government protest when he and his translator, Mohammed Maree, were arrested April 10.

On his way to the police station, Buck took out his cell phone and sent a message to his friends and contacts using the micro-blogging site Twitter.

The message only had one word. "Arrested."

Within seconds, colleagues in the United States and his blogger-friends in Egypt -- the same ones who had taught him the tool only a week earlier -- were alerted that he was being held.

Twitter is a social-networking blog site that allows users to send status updates, or "tweets," from cell phones, instant messaging services and Facebook in less than 140 characters.
Hossam el-Hamalawy, a Cairo-based blogger at UC-Berkeley, was one of the people who got word of Buck's arrest.
"At first I was worried about his safety," el-Hamalawy said.

Then, el-Hamalawy took to the Web and wrote regular updates in his own blog to spread the information Buck was sending by Twitter. Nobody was sure how long Buck would be able to communicate. See Buck describe what he saw and captured on film during the protests
But Buck was able to send updates every couple of hours saying he was still detained, he had spoken to the prosecutor, he still had not been charged, and he was worried about Maree.

"Usually the first thing the police go for is the detainees' cameras and cellular phones," el-Hamalawy said. "I'm surprised they left James with his phone."

Twitter is normally used to keep groups of people connected in less urgent situations. Watch how Twitter works »
But Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, said he and others knew that the service could have wide-reaching effects early on, when the San-Francisco, California-based company used it to communicate during earthquakes.

Stone said that as the service got more popular, they began to hear stories of people using Twitter during natural disasters with a focus on activism and journalism.

Buck's urgent message is proof of the value of Twitter, Stone said. Buck's entry set off a chain of events that led to his college hiring a lawyer on his behalf.

"James' case is particularly compelling to us because of the simplicity of his message -- one word, 'arrested' -- and the speed with which the whole scene played out," Stone said. "It highlights the simplicity and value of a real-time communication network that follows you wherever you go."
Initially, the Twitter message was a precaution -- something people could trace in case anything went wrong, Buck said.
"The most important thing on my mind was to let someone know where we were so that there would be some record of it ... so we couldn't [disappear]," Buck said. "As long as someone knew where we were, I felt like they couldn't do their worst [to us] because someone, at some point, would be checking in on them."

Buck began using Twitter as a way to keep up in touch with the bloggers at the heart of his project and the events going on in Egypt that he intended to cover. Buck was working on a multimedia project on Egypt's "new leftists and the blogosphere" as part of his master's degree thesis.
Buck found out from a Twitter message that a planned protest against rising food prices and decreasing wages in Mahalla had been shut down by Egyptian authorities April 6.

The next day, tensions rose as family and friends of protesters who had been detained took to the streets, eventually throwing Molotov cocktails and setting tires on fire, he said.
On April 10, Buck returned to Mahalla, where protests continued.

"I was worried about getting arrested, so I made sure to stay at a distance from the protest so there was no way I could be accused of being part of it," Buck said. "Mohammed and I had a bad sense; it was really tense."
When the men tried to escape, they were detained. That's when Buck thought of Twitter and sent out his message.
Buck and Maree were interrogated, released and then detained again by the same police officers.
"We are really worried that we are off the radar now," Buck said.

Eventually Buck was released, but Maree was transferred to another police station.
As he left the station, Buck reached into his pocket, as he did less than 24 hours earlier.
Another one-word blog entry said it all: "Free."
As happy as he was to be free, Buck said, his biggest frustration was leaving behind the translator who helped protect him during the riots.

Although the Twitter message helped him find contacts to get out of prison, he says it was more the power of the network he had as an American that enabled him to be released so quickly.
"Mohammed was sitting next to me," he said. "But he didn't have the network to call. I tried to use my network to shield him until they tore us apart."

Twitter may not have been able to secure Maree's release, but Buck hopes his initial reason for using Twitter will help find his missing friend.

"It was my big hope that people would get [the message] right away and at least put a thumbtack on the map as far as our location," Buck said.
There has been no official confirmation regarding Maree's whereabouts.
Attiya Shakran, press counsel for the Egyptian Consulate in San Francisco, said Maree was released April 13.
Maree's brother Ahmed Maree said that he had not heard from his brother and that he believes he is still in jail.
Government officials in Egypt could neither confirm nor deny Maree's release, despite repeated requests for comment.

Buck is now using his story and Twitter page as a way to rally people looking for answers about Maree's status. He's gone as far as publishing the phone number of the press counsel of the Egyptian Consulate in San Francisco and posting a petition for Maree's release.
For Buck, the main story is no longer about his quest for freedom from jail; it's a quest to find answers and, eventually, find his friend.

white chicken chili

Those of you who know Todd know that I am blessed beyond words. He is the best husband a woman could ask for. That being said, we still have our differences.
A couple of years ago our church was having a chili cook off. I was going to make my famous tomato based chili and Todd wanted to try a new white chicken chili recipe he had found. Problem was, we only had one crock pot. So we passionately discussed what to do and I thought we agreed I'd make my chili. Todd offered to go to the store and came home with the ingredients for HIS chili.
He argued that we had decided on his chili. Well, even though I was sure I was right, there was that ever so small doubt in the back of my mind. Todd, on the other hand, is confident enough that there never was a doubt in his mind, I am sure. Over the years it has happened again and again. I think we have agreed on one thing, he thinks another. It has frustrated me to no end, until i found a secret weapon.
The kids.
I would get them to be part of the conversation and then I'd have witnesses (they didn't know they were my witnesses) to what we agreed on. Nine out of ten times I am right. But even so, Todd has never thought he was wrong, until tonight.

We decided to watch a movie, we were checking out the movies listed on "On Demand". Todd suggested "Martian Child"
and I wanted to watch "Saving Sarah Cane." Todd graciously said, "Honey, you don't get to watch movies very often, what do you want to watch? I said, " Well, I'm not sure if you will like this movie, but my choice is Saving Sarah Cane." Todd said, "ok! Katey if you are going to watch it with us run this laundry upstairs first."
She did.
She came back and the three of us sat down. Todd turned to the movie page and started to press the button for "Martian Child".
I said, "What are you doing?"
He said,"Starting the movie:"
"I thought we were watching Sarah Cane?
and then it happened......
Katey said, "SO DID I"
we replayed the whole conversation for him and he said, "Well that does sound vaguely familiar. (vaguely familiar? it was 5 minutes ago!)
and then I did the thing that therapists say you are not supposed to do. I brought up the past. Ah ha, and we probably never agreed on white chicken chili either. ( OK so in both cases we picked my choice...but that's a whole other blog.)
But then another amazing thing happened, he said, "This is the first time I remembered the past conversation and realized that I did this." We ended up not watching a movie, I decided to go upstairs and he decided to watch tv instead.
I felt vindicated, until the thought came to me. How often do I do that to God? He says one thing and I hear what I want to hear and then do my own thing. WOW. How can I be upset with Todd when I do that all the time?
So it came full circle. I realized that I have a lot more giving in to do with Todd and a lot more really listening to do with God.
On our next free evening I think I'll suggest we make white chicken chili and watch "Martian Child".

Mean People

My hope is that our neighbors are nature worshippers. My hope is that they believe that when they die (and they are old) they will be one with nature. Obviously that is not what I believe, but it would explain their behavior. It would explain to me why, after they moved in, they started yelling at the neighborhood boys when the basketball accidently rolled on their lawn.
It would explain to my son, who comes in the house crying, why they threaten to call the police for stepping in their yard.
The thing is, Todd and I have been out there. The boys are not running amuck in their yard. They are just playing basketball in the street, with a hoop that is 100% in our yard.

The husband came to the door the other day just furious that the ball rolls in their yard on occasion. Going out of our way to try and be neighborly we offered to consider moving the hoop to the other side of our house.

In contrast, we went to the neighbors on the other side, and they were amazing. We thought we'd ask what they thought about us moving the hoop. They said yes, yes, yes please feel free to put the hoop on this side of your house!

After we moved the hoop, we saw the mean old couple walking down the street. Not only did they not say, "thank you for moving the hoop", they said nothing. The next day a sign went up in their yard, near our house, that says NO TRESPASSING!

We are not going away, the neighborhood boys are not getting smaller, the weather is starting to get nicer and the days longer, so I really need to spend some time in prayer over my attitude. Obviously the cookies we delivered at Christmas did no good. Maybe I'll deliver a brochure for a 55 and older community. I don't expect them to be any happier, but at least there would be no basketball hoops.

Gigi- our new baby

What a week and it is only Tuesday!! We got to Nemacolin on Monday and the place was nicer than we could have imagined.
aw heck there is so much to tell, from me getting an ipod nano for my birthday to a 4 wheeling hummer ride. but can we please get to the unexpected news that we have adopted a dog. we named her Gigi. we are so excited.

stealing Todd's very funny blog- how's that for lame

We left a kid at church- but so did Jesus' parents!!

You may have heard the story; it is found in Luke 2.

"Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

On Sunday a similar thing happened to us. I told Todd I was going home. Now, granted I almost always take a kid with me. But, in my defense, I always send them in to say, "I am going with Mom".

Todd had brought all the kids with him when he went in early, so last that I knew they were all in his possession. In his defense, he does have a lot on his mind on Sunday mornings.

So he calls me after church, they are headed to McDonalds, did I want something. At this point I have NO reason to believe he does not have all the children.

Then he calls back, someone just called from the tear down crew at church and we left Emily. I raised my voice at him a little. It turns out Emily was fine, not even really upset. The family that called ended up driving her home to me. When Todd got home he had McDonalds for her and he told her he was very sorry.
I hugged her and told her that she was in good company, even Jesus was left at the temple.
Then I deposited another $50.00 in her future therapy fund.

Cletus Take the Reel

Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" has got nothin on "Cletus Take the Reel". Enjoy my new favorite video...

Book Review

I just finished reading My Grandfather's Son. You can read all about the book on line and read all about its political implications, but that is not why I read it. I read it out of interest in Justice Thomas' life. And it served me well. It was a great picture of overcoming hardship. It gave me an enlightened view on race relations. It granted me insight to why he is conservative.
It contained great quotes and life lessons. Throughout the book he told who was a man of their word and who was not.
I want to be a woman of my word. Anita Hill tried to ruin his life. And if you believe his side of the story, none of what she said was true. May I never do to someone's life what she did to his. It was a coincidence that i read it at the start of black history month, but it did more to affect my views on black history than any book I have read thus far. Whatever your reason for deciding to check it out, let me tell you I highly recommend it.

So Happy Together

Today is my 20th wedding anniversary. We got married 1 day before the Redskins won the Super Bowl against Denver. A wedding on Jan. 30, 1988. It snowed. Honeymoon included skiing in West Va. We lived and worked in Manassas, Va. Volunteered at our church with the youth. Went to Guatemala. Todd came home wanting to go to seminary. Moved to Dallas so he could go to Dallas Theological Seminary. Went on Young Life Staff. Went through infertility. Finally got pregnant. Moved back to Va. Still on staff with Young Life. Had Katey. Had Clay. Got pregnant with Emily. Moved to Loudoun County. Had Emily. Todd still on Young Life staff, me teaching 5th grade at Christian Fellowship. Got breast cancer. Todd went off Young Life staff and on staff with Destiny Church. I celebrated 5 years cancer free. Still teaching 5th grade at CFS. We celebrated 20 years by eating out at Magnolia's in Purcellville on Saturday night. We took stock of our 20 years. Three awesome kids, a ministry, growing in our walk with the Lord. And even thru the ups and downs of daily life we ultimately love each other so much more than ever before. Then we discussed the next 20 years. High school graduations, college, maybe marriages and grand kids. Or not. But whatever happens, we are in it together for another 20+ years. When I think of Todd I think of Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God every time I remember you."

Brothers Forever

Here it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

You are my brother

You are singing it, everybody is singing it, "You are my brother, my best friend forever" Renaldo Lapuz (pictured here) penned this little tune for Simon. It is annoyingly catchy. In the song, “We’re Brothers Forever,” Lapuz belts out, “I am your brother, your best friend forever. Singing the songs, the music that you love” and he then goes on to sing, “Brothers ‘til the end of time. Together or not you’re always in my heart.”

if you saw it, you are laughing. If you were spared, you are grateful and if you are singing, join the crowd. It is a catchy little tune.

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

Emily came to me this morning and told me she wrote a note to God. That is all I will say, the note says it all.....

"Dear God,
Hi God. Thanks for all you have gave us like a christian school. I love it and for sending your son to die on the cross for us and being 'thare' when we are down. I love you God. Love, Emily"

Life Changes

This fall I was at Safeway and the cashier asked if I wanted to donate to breast cancer. I told her I had donated thousands of dollars and a breast and I thought that was enough. Clay, who was there, was embarrassed, Todd (when he heard about it from Clay) was shocked. I was proud.

I went to see Dr. Simms, my oncologist, today. She's an older, nurturing woman. My visit was a few months over due. She asked me if I had gotten the reminder post card. I told her I had and she smiled.

I ended up telling her what happened at Safeway and she said she thought it was great. She felt the same way at Safeway right after her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Her words were music to my ears. She said going through something like breast cancer changes your life forever. I am grateful that I am in good health now. I am grateful that I can be a few months overdue on my appointment and not have it affect my health. But even now, not a day goes by that I am not reminded of what I have given.

Bookstore

Last night Katey, Clay and I spent three hours at Borders bookstore. We had the best time. It all started after we ate out as a family. We had driven 2 cars and I said, "I think I want to stop at a bookstore." Clay said, "Yes!! 'cause there is a book I want to get." This caused Katey to jump out of Todd's car, "I'm riding with you if you are going to a bookstore." That left Emily in Todd's car with the sentiment, "I don't want daddy to be lonely."

My sister-in-law, Lee told me once that she never said no if her kids wanted to buy books and I have adopted that same philosophy. The book I really want to tell you about is the book that Clay bought, The Encyclopedia of Immaturity. If you know a kid anywhere from 4th to 8th grade then run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and buy this book. My eleven year old son cannot put it down. I asked him what he would say was in it and he replied,"It is full of tricks, facts, formulas to see how tall you will be, and stuff that will have you never grow up." That says it all right there.

Let me give you an example; I was in the education aisle looking at books when he says to me, "If you say gullible really slowly it sounds like green beens." So I started saying it, gull-i-ble, guuulllliiibbbble, over and over again as slowly as I could. And just as I was about to say that it didn't sound anything like green beans, I see Clay falling over with laughter. When I realize how gullible I had been, I fell over with laughter and we were both sitting on the floor of the bookstore laughing. I mean really, how good is a trick if it doesn't work on your own mom.

I even bought him a book light so he could read in bed.

Can I Brag?

Ever have one of those days, weeks, months where you wonder if you are even making a difference? I do. And then a kid from our youth group where we did a mission trip to Guatemala, when we were only volunteers, pre seminary, finds us on facebook and writes something like this....

Not a day goes by that I don't have reminders of you and your AWESOME wife. I am a youth pastor... My passport is FULL of stamps to and from Guatemala. My precious baby girl...well 4 yr old...is from Guatemala. You both are on my hero list for sure. Thanks for pouring yourself into my life. It mattered. I am so happy to...well sort of see you...through Facebook! :-))

To God Be The Glory Great Things He Has Done.