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.