Got this picture text msg'd to me during praise and worship yesterday ---

It was titled "Headed to Church"!

I have to admit, that even though it was a very pivotal time in the service . . . I did have to glance down at my phone in my purse and take a peek

It reminded me of how many prayers were offered up for this little lady this time last Easter. . .

Nana and Papa Sitting

Campbell wearing her momma's Sesame Street Live Shirt from 30 years ago

This little lady's mommy ran a half-marathon in Austin with one of her best friends - and she needed her Nana and Papa to come stay with her -- we were only TOOOO glad to oblige!!! 

The tornado/ severe thunderstorm Thurs. night caught us and we had to turn around and head back to Tulsa.  We got up EARLY Friday morning and headed to KC - I drove a large part of the trip and by the time I gave C her lunch I was pooped.

 Early Friday afternoon I left her with Papa to take quick nap (short refuel for the next few hours) -- I came back in to find that Papa was worn out from chasing our active little adventurer and had built barricades -- he was pretty proud of himself.

Mat was on a 12 - hour shift at the hospital and so we were not quite sure how the evening would go -- to keep things calm we thought we'd best keep to Bethany's schedule -- except for the fact that we did take Campbell out to KFC for supper -- (no problem -- we decided against the extra crispy crust on her's ;-)

Things went well through the night Fri. night and so with a morning nap accomplished we decided with the sun finally out to warm up the chill we'd head for the park with Campbell's daddy

Campbell is always on the move and does lots of exploring -- (the name plate on the wall was one of her curiosity pieces --Mommy had to take it off the wall over her crib --don't know how long it will last on the floor, either).


We all worked pretty hard to keep Campbell Hope happy so she wouldn't miss her Mommy.  I told Terry I didn't know how I could have done the weekend without him.  I forgot how much fun he always was for our kids and how many songs he entertained them with.  Here's my favorite of:
"Bee Bop a Louey"

Delivery Day

Remember those lap quilts my students finished in January -- well, we finally got them delivered today.

We arranged with a residential care facility near our school and they were thrilled for our students to come and make the delivery in person.  We arrived when they were all in the breakfast room and their hostess had decided that having a drawing for the quilts would make it more fun for the residents.  It was a special moment for all of us! One young lady recently lost her grandmother to Alzheimer's and was touched by whole experience.

First Thoughts

As I was preparing for my Sunday school lesson yesterday . . . I came across a web link of one the stories of Jesus last days I was researching.  It was a plea from a children's Bible teacher saying if that we don't teach them well these words of truth-- the message of God's love will die out with our generation.

He cited examples of other nations that because these lessons from Scripture have not been carefully taught.now only 1% of the country are believers in Jesus   He plead for each generation  to pass Jesus teachings to the next.

This was still on my mind this morning when I woke up and set out to complete today's lesson for my rowdy  4-5th graders (mostly boys) -  How do I present this story of Jesus last days on earth to help them get a grasp of how passionately he taught about the Kingdom, living a life of service, and loving God first and foremost?

Parts of several verses came to my mind

". . . a famine for hearing the words of God" Amos 8



I thought of the generations that will come after me . . .I want to teach them well --
my favorite is from Deuteronomy 5 --
showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

and also from the same book -- this was impressed on me this week
The LORD your GOD will circumcise (cleanse) your hearts and the hearts of your descendants so that you may LOVE him with all your HEART and your SOUL and your LIFE.   Ch. 30:6

It’s Not about Me –

There’s not time to wallow in who we’re not – continually apologizing for our shortcomings and slip-ups and misdeeds.  There is such a need and call placed on us to go and be His hands and His feet that we dare not spare the time for such self -pity and self-loathing.    Jesus wants us to repent of it and  get over ourselves because He has a world out there that needs re-claiming and re-connecting to His redemptive love.   

That happens  when we do what we’re good at – LOVING – in the special unique ways he has made us ---but It’s not ABOUT us – It’s about what he wants to do in, and through, and with us.

I like what was in this Friday’s post from “Meet Me in the Meadow”

Self-righteousness, self-justification and self-sufficiency   do not magnify the Lord’s sacrifice, redemption, and atonement for us on the cross. It is only through brokenness,        humility,  and repentance that we can fully magnify who the Lord is and what He has done in our lives.

For it is out of our poverty that we magnify His riches;

 it is out of our smallness that we magnify His greatness;

 it is out of our frailty that we magnify His power;

it is out of our need that we magnify His fullness;

 it is out of our flaws that we magnify His perfection;

 it is out of our deficiency that we magnify His abundance;

it is out of our unworthiness that we magnify His mercies;

it is out of our imperfection that we magnify His beauty;

it is out of our weakness that we magnify His strength;

it is out of our insufficiency that we magnify His grace.

It’s been a week!!!   I’ve heard the saddest stories of rejection from my students and I’VE HAD IT  with parents who launch their children – walk away from their families or toss their kids out of the nest --long before they can handle it.  I came home yesterday with “Friday Fatigue” that was tinged with the feelings of despair – “WHAT CAN  I DO TO MAKE UP FOR THIS SHORTFALL IN MY STUDENT'S LIVES???”  Every day I see teens left out while parents start new lives without considering their kids or have become over-involved in their careers  – I see the depression and  hear their despair in the stories they tell ---  These are Kids who’ve given up on their academic work this close to the end of the year because they no longer think it’s important.. . .they don’t think  THEY’RE ALL THAT IMPORTANT --and many make poor decisions that they reap harsh consequences for a long time.

BUT ON THURSDAYS . . . my hope is reborn. . .

70-100 kids crowd in my room for lunch – and I never quite know how where they or the Lord will take us– I thrilled to hear their stories last week of what they’d experienced with God during  their Spring Break mission efforts and where they’d seen Him work at home during this break in their busy lives.

This week 2nd lunch bunch decided it was time for a YA (Youth Alive) Praise Day --- seeing them get lost in the wonder of praise  --  one girl playing her djimbai – one girl’s sweet voice matching one of the guy’s – hearing another of my third hour guys on his guitar – didn’t know he was so gifted.  My classroom was different after they left -- The Spirit of God was there. . .

And then on my tired drive home. . .

God sent me a sweet reminder that HE's in His Heaven and loves ALL His kids SO VERY MUCH !!!

Okay --Okay--  I do HAVE to add the video clip -- (notice how "tuned in" to the other kids Campbell is.)

Dora -- no I mean--- Campbell, the Explorer

Now that Campbell Hope can get anywhere she chooses,  - she has begun exploring . . .  and found you can get your own snacks by rifling through the diaper bag. 

Campbell now knows  that when Momma puts you down for a nap -- there lots to do instead! 

She has emptied the little shelf at the head of her bed, by taking the
objects off it and putting them in her crib . .. .

Sunday she discovered that there's a whole big world outside her nursery by pulling herself to have a "look see" and stood for an hour -- not knowing how to set herself down and fall asleep.  She decided to yell for Mom.

Even busy little girls have to take a nap sometime.  She finally gives it up after sitting it out for quite awhile

Guess who's crawling now???  I got this video clip yesterday morn at school:

AND -----Guess who's momma is frantically childproofing EVERYTHING?

C's also trying to give up her bows!  Once she said the word, that was all out declaration of her intention to stop wearing them!  She promptly yanked it off her head.

Momma will get over it.

'Seems she is developing her own sense of fashion . . .

I so love the regeneration and resurgence of life that comes in Spring --- I've said that a lot here lately in various ways . . .

  I love lambs -- especially this time of year --if we were sheep herders we'd know it is lambing season----
This year I wanted  Campbell to have a stuffed lamb -- because I LOVE lambs --- they remind me  . . .

It's Passover and it's -- 

It's time for Celebration of the Resurrection

-- you can't do either without a lamb!!!!

In the days of Moses, Passover was celebrated with the sacrificing of the family's best, blemish-free, less than a year old -- lamb
            later . . .

John announced Jesus with the words,

"Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!"

BUT:

. . . . sheep stink.

   . . . sheep can be dumb and defenseless . .  hmmmm . . . . sound like they're needing a good Shepherd.

 but why a lamb?  . . . 

Where does this all fit into the Redemption story???   How can the Shepherd of our souls ... also be called the pure spotless Lamb, laid down for us???

That's what I like about HIS story -- HE gets in the middle of it with us -- showing us HE knows what it's like to be us . . . and going one further -- making the way for us -- by taking on our sins -- as the LAMB SACRIFICE..and the only thing we have to do is:

Our Good Girls Came to Town!

We captured Papa for our getaway to Hideaway Pizza  Friday Night

 Bethany and Campbell Hope arrived on Wednesday and we had a glorious  time getting to babysit and be Nana and Papa.  It didn't take any time at all for her to make up with us and we loved her squeals of delight when we would come near.  She is absolutely a monkey and  clearly loves people -- children especially.  She waits to catch someone's eye and shows her toothless grin -- at that she's "got ya!"  Bethany said people will stop in the grocery store after getting a Campbell smile and tell her that she gave them something they truly needed that day!   That's what our girls did for us!

Nana's gonna teach this girl to sew. . .

 



It was just last Spring Break that I was sewing feverishly for Campbell Hope's nursery and just 12 months later what a miracle we have received!!!!

I got to   sew ruffles and girlie tops for our little sweetie!

.

Playing with Momma's first Christmas toy!

Checking out Momma and Uncle Marshall's toys

Campbell is all about giving the "high five"!

Practicing crawling by working out on the stairs

She is really into feeding herself

She even recognized Nanna in her book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear"!

Teething on her favorite thing -- the remote!

C and her Papa are big buddies

.

Prettiest flower in our garden

Life is Good!

Now that Campbell Hope is down from the high elevation of Vail and back in Denver at her Grammy and Granddad Good's house,  Bethany says she's so much more relaxed. Evidentally, the altitude set off a lot of ear pain for our little lady and she had melt downs traveling through the mountains both ways.  At this point, she seems quite content making her music!

They've all done a great job keeping their Dad and I in the loop with lots of pics of their Ski Week in Vail

Snoozin' in Downtown Vail

These two look ready for some serious skiing. . .

Scanning the ipad for Baby updates!

Uncle Marshall, Read me a story. . . .

Colorado Bound!

Waiting to board at KC airport . . .

Every time we get an airport pic of this child she has this thrilled look on her face -- Campbell's already quite the traveler and her mommy and daddy say she loves the whole process -- endures safety clearance -- loves the flight and coos and goos the whole trip -- grinning at all the other passengers!  'Wish travel were that easy on the rest of us.

The kids are getting together for some "end of winter / bring on Spring" skiing --Katie txt'd yesterday to say how much she'll miss us.  Ooooooh how we'd love to be there in the middle of all their stories and the teasing I guess this trip we'll have to experience vicariously through their pictures-

So glad that Jim and Jan, Mat's folks will be able to spend the weekend with them-- Bethany's gonna be relaxing with Baby C at the lodge--  Mat & Marshall love the black slopes -- Katie loves to snowboard  -- Be safe --Don't forget to wear a helmet! -- you've got a lot riding on those two skinny boards you call skis.

Spring's re-creation . . . our renewal

This was an e-post I read this morn from "Meet Me in the Meadow" I liked it so much and think it is worth the re-post:

 

There will always be a grace that is sufficient;  

a mercy that endures; 

an atoning blood that cleanses; 

a hope that doesn’t disappoint; 

a love that never fails; 

a purpose that works all things together for the good;

a peace that passes understanding;

a joy unspeakable; 

a kingdom unshakable; 

a foundation indestructible; 

a High Priest who prays;

a Savior who lives;

a Spirit who comforts;

a Father who cares.

 Roy Lessin

Isn't that what the re-birth of Spring  is really all about -- reminding us that under the shifting surface of the present situations these concepts are the bedrock foundation stones on which we build our lives?

Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us .This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT

or my favorite for uncertainty: 

He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. Col. 1:17  The Message

This Week's Favorites!!!!

Campbell's getting everywhere scooting backward. 
Seconds after Bethany snapped this, C got tangled
in the lamp cord -Bethany caught it just in time.

Gettin' in the Gardening Groove

Erica and I got our groove on this morning and started the vegetable garden.  She was here for "Auntie Jan" time and I always think we have to do a project together.  I bought all the seeds, peat pots and soil and had looked at them for a week and done nothing -- I all needed was an inquisitive little seven-year-old to help me get this garden thing on the move!!!  We talked about scouts, her best friend, school and Taylor Swift (her new favorite).  It was just what this teacher needed after a week with high schoolers.

Kids can get so excited about putting  tiny seeds in the ground -- Do  you know how different seeds are??? Beet seeds are really weird -- don't even look like seeds -- well Erica and I had the best conversation about germination and growth and God's miracle that was gonna take place in the dirt and how many plants would come from all those seeds we put in our peat pots.   I think the  transformation of those tiny seed into flowers and then veggies is a whole life lesson itself in this garden process -- (don't know how much of that a little Girl Scout could take in at one setting).

You know, I think that's why I like Spring so much -- all the resurrection examples as my Winter ugly back yard  becomes a beautiful place to hang out this Summer.  It reminds me that we can have a "do-over" and get new life!!!

The Week at a Glance . . .

To be quite truthful -- I was sort of glad to get back to school last Monday -- even though it was really nice to spend the time catching up with lots of projects -- being snowbound can get a little old -- so it only took
the students and me about a day and a half to get our groove back on -- but by Tuesday noon--it was business as usual.
While I was on my 9-day snow hiatus -- a text message from one of my students made me realize that as soon as we finally got back into classes our calendar would resume and all the things I had scheduled pre-snow would come due.   Tuesday my Youth Alive students and I fed some 50-60 visiting French students, their teachers and some of their hosts  at a baked potato / salad bar.   These kids had just arrived at the airport on Monday afternoon, I'm sure were still in jet lag and culture shock, but they hadn't lost their appetites.  (Don't know if they serve chili-stuffed potatoes in their part of France -- but we do in Oklahoma)
Thursday it was time for another Pastor and Pizza day with Youth Alive during both lunches.  111 of us crowded into my classroom.    It's one of my favorite times as I watch them really tuned in and turned on to what the youth pastors are telling them.  One of my youth leaders has a goal of 300 kids by the end of the year -- He says it's gonna happen.  They're raising funds to buy goats for families in a third world country.  The family will be able to build a herd, use the milk and become more self-sustaining.  They want a Youth Alive Herd somewhere in Africa and want to think up names for all their goats (I'm suggesting the weirdest names they can find in the Bible!)

Yesterday -- was all about celebrating the rites of Spring in my backyard -- Wasn't it just last week I was posting pictures of the snow berm halfway up my dining room window?  

This week I am clearing out the dead plants to welcome the daffodils that are about to spread.  

Terry and I are starting  some seedlings in our garden room to transplant mid-April.  I am determined there will be no more snow days!!

Enough of this cold weather -- Jan Bell is ready for cook-outs and flower beds!


Our Baby James parenting support group today was all about family fun -- and building those special moments together.  The group shared ideas on what they like to do with their children for fun times. I slipped in some slides of our family growing up -- (Pulling out the pictures yesterday, Terry and I would ooooh and aaaah as we remembered those days when our younguns were still at home.) 

Aren't they sweet???

Trailer camping at Niagara Falls -- We pulled that old airstream all across the country.

     
Lunch with our parents' group was like a BIG family reunion. We did a build-your- own-pizza lunch which was a little chaotic and then I let the kids decorate a cookie cake.  We had about 20 bazillion kids ages 15 months to 13 years and  40-eleven adults (not really ;-)   -- I found us running out of food -- should have made 5 big pizza crusts for that crowd instead of 3 -- sent Terry across the street for frozen pizza and pizza rolls.   My man is awesome -- he just sees what needs to be done -- does it and finds all the folks who need visiting with and makes them feel special.


Last night at Winter Jam -- (Thanks Denise for the invite to sit in the special suite) -- it was awesome to see the BOK center packed with kids on their feet praising God. 5000???  -- don't know ---but it was an overflow   ---As one speaker termed it "Enjoying Jesus Together".  I like that -- wouldn't that be a great way to describe what happens at Church???


I like something else he said -- We're children of the King and the physical can't dictate the Spiritual.  Hmmm . . . . .that's something I'm gonna think on and apply to lots of my concerns and deadlines this week!

Snow Day #11 for my Nana -- at this rate she'll still be in school and miss  my birthday!!!

Snow Day # 10 -- Florida Here I Come!!!

I think it's time to put the snow village away, take the snowmen off the front door and next winter decorate with pink flamingo and palm trees for the holidays