My Favs from the Week

Breakfast with my favorite Uncle this morning in Denver.

Heart Stuff

 Yesterday was a full day -- Youth Alive -- no planning period and launching Kids' Univ. at Life Park last night.  I felt overwhelmed as I started the day.  .  so I prayed -- prayed for ALL KINDS of help and creativity b/c I knew I was going to NEED it.  Here's what HE gave me--

First lunch, one of our  young ladies with lots of challenges asked to share her testimony . . . I was hesitant -- not sure what she would say, yet  knowing we really didn't have much planned, I told her to ask our student leader who was in charge.

In her message, God had one for me -- 

She had brought several of the members of her class with her (they all love to come eat in my room and buy all sorts of things that I sell for lunch)  They got a table together by the door with their student Mentor and were there to support her.  She started, realized she had food on her face asked for a napkin and they rushed to help. 
She spoke about her conversion -- she told us that she'd been listening to a preacher on her computer last April and said his words made her cry -- so she asked Jesus into her heart.  She said she knew she was saved.   She then mentioned how watching the Passion of Christ later touched her heart.  She beamed because of her salvation.  Her friends were so proud!!!


She had bravely witnessed to 43 people. 
 
 I was reminded of Jesus words, "except you become like one of these you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven."  I know God grinned -- NO --beamed with pride at one of his precious ones.

Had I put her off until next week or later -- I would have missed something so powerful that HE wanted to remind me --  "Hey  -- that's the heart I'm looking for!"

Then during 2nd lunch one of my Youth Alive gals who lives her name "Sterling" shared with the teens there about finding our purpose  from Jeremiah the prophet-- How many kids today know where the book is in the Bible or even connect with this man -- the weeping prophet -- not somebody that most young people today are drawn to.  She talked about how he was called from his birth and related that most people who did great things for God were called and began to be used by Him at an early age like their's.  
A young woman very much in love with Jesus, she said her recent week had been spent looking for God's purpose amid all the senior projects and deadlines.  She didn't feel like she'd been hearing as much from God in recent days, and then went on to say that she realized that when she's not hearing from Him, she needs to look at what she is  listening to.  ( i.e. music, the message of the movies or books she reads.)

She quoted a verse from Jeremiah 15:19 & 20  that struck a chord with me --in her words,  "extracting the precious from the worthless". 

 In other words, I might add,  turning away from what doesn't feed our souls. Looking for truth in all the noise of our day.

Launching Kids' University was a testimony of God's faithfulness.  Everything that could go wrong did -- lost phone thought I might have to drive back to Owasso -- slow checker at Wal-Mart -- every one running late -- BUT GOD --

         Sent the best interns to assist,
                Sent just the right number of kids for the pilot project's first night
                     Gave just the right words 

HE does good work!!!!

 

Getaway Time in KC

It was an easy decision a couple of weeks ago, to take this weekend off, and head up to Kansas City, since none of us really got to spend much quality time together during the Christmas Flu Scourge.  We mentioned to the kids we'd like to give them a whole 24 hours away -- to which they gladly accepted and started making plans.  We hurried to get there Friday night before Campbell went to bed so we could enjoy some quality time with her and stretch out our visit as much as we could.  She had been waiting at the door for 10 minutes in her green rain boots and been looking for her beloved "Pappa" all day long. 


 She puts everything into sentences and chatters non-stop, sings her favorite songs and dances up a storm.  In fact "Dance Party with Daddy" is a major hit of the day we discovered.


I have learned I take second place to Pappa.  I walk into a room without him and she looks at me and emphatically asks, "Where's Pappa?"  All of us in the family have come to accept the fact that next to him, we're all chopped liver.

Don't get me wrong, I had my sweet times with C, too -- she loves to cuddle after a nap on my lap with all her bed buddies, and two blankies . This morning she came in the bathroom, pulled back the curtain plopped in the dry tub, threw in her toys and played while we chatted and sang for the longest time.


She knew she was with two doting g.p's (grandparents) so she sort of taught us the ropes -- she doesn't like to have to sit in her high chair to eat a meal -- And She loves the dining room table top -- it's a great view 

and when she can sneak it in, she pushes buttons on the tv and plops down to watch  She'd love to do it ANY time she chooses BUT (Mommy has limits of only a very short time of Dora once a day after nap) --

"Dora Time"

An especially sweet time for me was sitting with her at her little table yesterday after her nap snacking on an apple and singing to her.  She looked up at me with this beautiful little face and sung back  this precious little song in syllables I couldn't understand and a tune I didn't know but a perfect little melody -- It was the song of an angel!!!

I came across this reading through the notes on my iphone.  I don't know where I read it -- but I want to pass it on,

'Just give me Jesus and the light from HIM gets me home.

Too Good to Miss . . . .

Campbell now has a new bedroom because her's became too drafty this winter. This weekend they finished the move as her Daddy got her bed set up.

My Favorites from the Week

"Whew! I thought I'd never get outside -- I can't believe Mom was insisting I put my shoes on first -
After 15 minutes--she won"

A Facebook status I read by Angela Murray, "I wish Heaven weren't so far away -- I'd love to take the kids and go for the day!"

A Youtube link that one of my YA gals shared with us yesterday by Eric Ludy  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHJ6-YhSYQ  It redefined my mission for the coming months and years!

Something I found in my morning e-mail a few days ago from Women of Faith that spoke to my heart in this stage of life --I'm putting it here on my blog to remember (and so I won't lose it :-) 



Finding Perspective
by Dale Hanson Bourke
Here’s what I am learning: God wants us to spend the second halves of our lives worrying less about what we do and more about who we become. He wants to turn our lives upside down and use us in magnificent, unexpected, world-changing ways.


He is calling us to step up to the challenge and to leave the past behind.
God is calling you to build spiritual muscle, to develop a resume of soul work, to find peace and joy like you have never known. God wants to take you on an adventure unlike anything you have ever dreamed.
A second calling isn’t about something you do but about someone you become, it is the belief that the best is yet to come, and it will probably look very different than anything that has come before. It is faith that God’s call is not just for the young but for the faithful. It is the confidence that what we can do through God is more than we can imagine accomplishing on our own. Your second calling doesn’t necessarily build your resume, but it builds your soul.

 Shopping is so much more fun if Mom lets me stand in the cart and flash my gorgeous smile at everybody!

 Can't wait to give the kids some time away and keep this little shopper -- don't think we'll brave Target, though.

My Man

One of my students, an office aide, walked in grinning during the last class period today with a beautiful plant from my hubby -- I was caught off guard -- totally surprised.  Terry drove all the way up to Owasso to deliver it himself to my school.  He'd already left a couple of gifts in my car last night that I found this am.

Reading the card I explained to my students that today was our 39th anniversary - they uttered such phrases "uh that's a long time" or "39 years??" -- twice their age -- you could tell they wondered how or why people  stay together that long when their dating relationships last only 6-10 months at best.



One word -- G R A C E --


or maybe that word is . . .                         

R E S P E C T --

or --

U N S E L F I S H N E S S             

or --

A C C E P T A N C E


  or --


K I N D N E S S -- or ---

Anyway, my man exemplifies all of those.  He's the one who gives me the benefit of the doubt -- who excuses away my crankiness -- or unpredictability.  He looks out for what I'm going to need next -- and does the little things -- that go a long way.  He's the one who believes I can do anything -- and encourages me to do so.

 He's the one who comes up with the most unusual gift ideas -- like the time he went to a recording studio and recorded our favorite song for our anniversary one year.  He makes me videos for special occasions -- and creates  the most wonderful anniversary celebrations when it's his year to do the planning.

When he shops for gifts,  he always buys something I wouldn't dare buy for myself -- but I end up liking ever so much.


He puts my needs ahead of his own and works so very hard -- despite the discomfort from his rheumatoid -- to make sure that I am well taken care of.

Wedding Day 1-20-73

Terry Bell -- you're God's answer.