Isaiah 9:6   "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

I hope your Christmas is filled with the joy that only comes from knowing the One who is the true meaning of this season- Jesus.

From my family to yours- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Bah Humbug

*Consider yourself warned: This post is not full of the Christmas Spirit*

Okay, with that out of the way,  I am most certainly not in the mood for anything Christmas!  While I did manage to get decorations done (as many as I am going to do),  I have no desire to shop for gifts.  For some reason,  it is this time of the year that people seem to lose all sense of common sense and courtesy.  This is not only for the general public.  This also applies to our home.  I have been really battling the "its all about me attitude"  from everyone of our children, and needless to say, its contagious.  I have found that in my desire and labor to battle this, I have bitten by the same attitude.  (Contrary to what you may think- I am not Supermom)  I have been asking myself questions like these:

"Why should I keep doing this when nobody even cares or is thankful?"
"Why should I even buy anyone a Christmas gift?  They don't deserve it!"
"Why do I even speak when I am in this house if nobody listens?"

Do you hear the problem with each of those questions?  They contain a whole lot of "I".   Just this morning I was talking to my mother on the phone (complaning- sorry mom), when I realized what I had allowed happen in this family.  Instead of leading by example, I allowed myself to be consumed in sinful attitudes.  The big kicker came when I heard the Lord wisper, "you didn't deserve what I did for you, ya know".  Ouch.  So, I am currently under renovations in my heart, attitude, and daily commitment to the Lord.  Here is the prayer that I offered up in laying it all at his feet:

Dear Lord,
     I am about to lose my senses.  You know this already, of course, but I am bringing this to you as a plea for your help.  I am truly losing it!

• My sense of sight-  I am losing the ability to keep my eyes on you in the midst of worldly attitudes and self-centeredness.  Instead of keeping my focus on you, I find myself allowing the contagious sinful attitudes to seep in.
• My sense of hearing-  I have allowed the worldly noise prevent me from hearing your voice telling which way to go and what to believe.    (Isaiah 30:21)
• My sense of touch-  Lord, I haven't felt your presence and love surrounding, comforting, and protecting me and my family.  I know its our own fault, but I miss the warmth of your unconditional love, unending joy, and unspeakable grace that only you can provide.
• My sense of smell-  I have lost the aroma of your Holy Spirit filling my heart so that it overflows with you.  Please allow me to clean up, clean out and make room for my heart to overflow with goodness and mercy.
• My sense of taste-  I want to taste the sweetness of your love and words roll off my tongue, instead of the bitterness that has been present lately.
• My sense of balance-  The biggest of them all, my life is out of balance.  If it weren't, I wouldn't be here losing all other senses.  I have allowed myself to put my time with you each day to the side and let busyness take over. 

I am ashamed that I have let things get this far.  I am blessed beyond all measure of human understanding, yet I have taken it all for granted.  I just ask that whatever each day holds, that you will uphold me with your mighty  hand and protect me from caving to the ways of the world.  Allow my children to be influenced not by my failures, but my ability to trust in you, Lord, to overcome.  Please forgive me.  Your humble daughter,

the view from where I sit

My favorite part of these cold nights??

Ahhhhh.  A crackling warm fire, the glow of lights on the mantle, and snuggled up with Big Daddy (or at least somewhat close).

Our Advent Tradition

A couple of years ago, my mother gave our family the book "Jotham's Journey".  It's a story of a young boy and his adventures leading up to the coming of the Messiah.  The story starts the 4th Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas morning. 

We missed our little tradition last year (sniff, tear).  This year, however, we are reading it as though we have never heard it before!  My kiddos cannot get enough and every night they ask to read ahead.  At the end of each night's section of the story, there is scripture and explanation about that time and how it relates to the Advent season as we celebrate.

I don't know if you have your own Advent traditions, but if you are looking for one, "Jotham's Journey" is certainly worth diving into!!

There are also two other books for the Advent season that are told from the poinof view from characters that are introduced in "Jotham's Journey".   They are  "Tabitha's Travels" and "Bartholomew's Passage".  I think we will look into these for the coming years.  All these books can be ordered here for $7.99 each or $21.99 for all three!!

What are your family's Advent traditions?

Thankful- Days 3 & 4 (alternately titled "I am already a day behind and its only Monday")

Oh dear.  I didn't write my thankful post yesterday.  I sat down to do it when we had some late, unexpected company.  Which happens to be one of the things I am thankful for!!  I love that I have friends, who are also neighbors, that feel comfortable coming over whenever the lights are on!  That's just how we roll.

I am thankful for Sundays.  Although many Sunday mornings I wish I could just sleep in, I always feel refreshed and full after corporate worship with other believers.

I am thankful that we are blessed enough to be able to offer meals to those who have a need.  A friend of mine (actually 3 friends of mine) have all recently lost their grandmothers.  I love that we were able to show love to some of them by providing a meal for their family.

I am thankful for hunting season when, on the weekeknds, I am home with the kiddos while Big Daddy is off doing his manly- whatever.  I guess I am not actually thankful for being alone with the kids, but read on.  You'll understand.   Yesterday afternoon and evening, our kitchen was turned into deer processing central.  While it is messy and time consuming,  I am thankful for the wonderful meat it provides our family which lasts all year.  Or sometimes even longer, depending on the kind of year Big Daddy has had  :).

Although I am not a morning person, I do love mornings.  Why?  I am so glad you asked.  Lamentations 3:22-23 says  "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,  for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."    I am overwhelmingly thankful for the Lord's mercies.  The past couple of days have been hard.  I have felt a little burnt out with my job.  I have let the mundane aspect of everyday life take over and let it get me down.  It's verses like these and a new Monday morning that bring me and my spirit a renewed joy- even in the mundane.

Which, by the way, is what I need to get back to- thankfully (I think).

Thankful Day 2

Today started out as one of those days when its hard to focus on the things to be thankful for, but thankfully, I chose to find the good!

I went to the gym today.  Its the first time since the Mud Run that I have done any exercise at all.  Yep, after I hurt my knee, I became complacent.  After visiting with our scales last night, I decided today was the day.  For the very first time, I tried Zumba.  Love it!!  It is so much fun- and who knew this girl had those kind of moves?  No one there. Trust me.  One thing I was very thankful for today is that Zumba is so fast-paced that nobody has time to look around at anyone else!

When I arrived home is when the trouble started.  My house was trashed.  I was not in the mood, as we just cleaned the house yesterday!   I mean seriously, what are these people thinking???  I soon became very thankful for my oldest son, J.  He realized how stressed I was getting and put his rear in high gear and started putting things back to order.  What he did today is completely out of character for him.  I just love that young man.

The third thing I am thankful for is music.  I love music.  I am not prejudice either.  I like music from just about any genre.  If you were to see the playlist on my ipod, you wouldn't be able to tell a thing about me.  Music is so emotional, it goes deep.  I don't know why.  Some things I am perfectly happy not knowing.  No matter what my mood is, I can find music to fit the bill!  We often- like tonight- have music playing quite loudly as we are preparing dinner.   We dance, sing and have a great time!!

I am thankful that tomorrow is the day we get to worship our Maker and Redeemer together with others- I love Sundays.

Aundrea.

Today is a good day.

As we are now on the countdown to my favorite holiday,  I have decided to post each day the things for which I am thankful!  No certain number, just what I am thankful for each day. 

I light of my recent post,  I am thankful for my husband.  He is my superhero.  By the standards of today's culture, he may not be the most G.Q., make the most money, be the most popular in a room, or even the most intelligent, but he is my man.  I have written about him before on this post.   I love the way we are commited to each other- even when the road we are on is wayyyyyy off road (pun very much intended)!

As I type this post, my yard is full of children all playing together in the awesome autumn like weather.  The ages range from 12 down to 4 and did I mention they were all playing together??  As a mother of 4 there are often days that I long for a day when all is a peace.  Well, right now I have 7 (or 8, maybe 9)  kids in my yard and there is peace.  There is also thankfulness.

Today, I am also thankful for a clear schedule.  Other than my kids doing school today, we have nothing pressing to do.  I was in my jammies until 3pm and will likely return to them shortly (I did get up and take a shower).  On days like this, I live for comfort.  I am thankful for comfort as well.  I think that's a biggie that we all take for granted daily.

Since I started thinking of what to be thankful for, I have come up with about 1000 things, but I will save them for another day.    Who knows- tomorrow I may feel a little less than thankful and in need of lots of reminders. 

But for today, I am thankful that today is a good day.

Commitment issues

I came across this article today that just makes my heart ache.  
 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_declining_marriage.   Seriously??  I mean,  if people cannot truly commit, why bother at all?   By taking the marriage vows, you are telling the other person that "I will fight for you and put this union first."   Maybe I am weird, but if Big Daddy would have told me that he loved me, but that he would just rather not go throught the process, I would have told him not to let the door hit his you-know-what on the way out. 

Has the selfishness in our nation reached a point where we cannot even promise to put another first??  What kind of legacy do we really want to leave the next generation?  That as long as we are personally happy, all other relationships are disposable?  That there isn't anything truly worth fighting for? 

Relationships are hard.  Marriage, in my opinion, is the hardest.  You have 2  selfish, independent persons coming together to vow to love, trust, take care of, and be faithful to for life.  The vows don't say "except for.....,  only if my spouse deserves it........,  if we stay the same people......".   The vows make a statement of convenant that I WILL- PERIOD.   My guess it that this is where the breakdown happens.  When one spouse is dependent on the other to keep their part of the promise alive.  Only willing to do the work if the other is doing theirs. 

Sad really.  I have learned in my marriage that its in those times that I put selfishness aside and loved Big Daddy when I thought he least deserved it, that did more strengthing of my love for him.  Even more is when I realize that I was the one being a selfish jerk and he chose to love me anyway.  Talk about falling deeper in love- WOW.

I guess the biggest part about this article that makes me so sad is that so many people are missing out on something so awesome.  They aren't even willing to make the commitment in the first place!  I am not even getting into the spiritual aspects of marriage in the way it was created- by God.  (Of course, with God in the center the word "awesome" just doesn't even come close.)  It's just that people don't mind working really hard for something when they know what the outcome is going to be.  Shoot, anyone can do that.  But someone who will make the effort to do whatever it takes (heartbreak, loss, loneliness),  that's true commitment.  So why is it that 40% of Americans seem to want to settle for less?



**Ok, so after I wrote this, I read another good post by MckMama about making marriage work!  Click her name to view**

West Virginia 2010

Trout fishing at 3800 ft. above sea level

Kids that don't seem to mind that is cold

A sweet little girl with her Grandma

An awesome Paw Paw that wades into FREEZING water to

get a fishing line unstuck.

Beauty on a mountain top farm

Jumping on hay bales for tons of fun

flying high

taking nose dives

A mother that thinks she is still young

and the captured moment of kids sitting still

True Autumn colors found only in the mountains

Watching my daughter climb the same trees as her

mother did as a child

cousins having a great time despite the age differences

Another "little girl" with her mother and grandmother.

Snack Time

                     Apparently, when my daughter asked for a snack,

I wasn't very clear

on what the snack could (or should) be.

                                  

The list is in........

My sweet friend Bevy over at It's A Golden Day has tagged me in joining in with several other women to list my favorite 15 authors.  WOW.  I thought this would be simple, but oh boy, was I ever wrong!!   I really do enjoy reading,  but at this season in my life, most of the books I read are not the ones I would choose for myself.  Now, if I were doing this post for my 4 year old, the list would be so easy.

Here's the list that I have come up with in no particular order.   All but number one are possibly subject to change as I continue to read in the future. 

10.   Frank Peretti    The first time I read This Present Darkness,  I was hooked!!  I am a true believer in spiritual warfare and while his books are fiction,  I could feel the weight of the characters as if the situations were as real as you and me.  Just writing this puts me in the mood to find a book of his that I haven't read which may be hard to do.

9.    C.S. Lewis    Let's face it- who hasn't fallen in love with the Chronicles of Narnia?   I still remember my 2nd grade teacher reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe aloud to our class.  I remember hanging on every word and being so mad when she had to stop for the day.  Since then,  I have enjoyed many of his other books,  and have loved watching my oldest son read his books as well.

8.    Theo Lesieg a.k.a Dr. Suess    Don't laugh- I am totally serious.  I have always loved all of the books he writes.  His books are full of creativity, simple wisdom, and children (and adults, obviously) LOVE them.  I can still recite over half of the book  One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish  from when I read it over and over (and over) to my little ones. 

7.    Beth Moore    Yes, I am a nut about this woman.  She certainly has a gift for being able to put into words what most of us often struggle to understand.  Many people shy away from her studies because of the amount of "homework", but that's my favorite part.  I love a good challange to dig deeper and really find the treasures of life that the Lord has for us.

6.    John Grisham    I will admit that I didn't read my first book of his until after I saw the movie The Firm.    Like Peretti's books, I love the suspense that draws the reader in.  While I still need to read several of his books, The Client is one of my favorites. 

5.    Mark Twain    I cannot think of books without thinking of my first favorites.   The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer were 2 of the first novels I read independently, and I would read them again (and again).   I hated to hear when many school libraries said they were taking it off the shelves.

4.    F. Scott Fitzgerald    I would choose him solely on The Great Gatsby,  but I do also love many of his short stories.  I love the era of flapper dresses and dapper dressed men.  I need to see the movie based on Benjamin Button,  but haven't found the time as of yet.

3.    Robert Fulghum    If you haven't heard his name, I know you have at least heard of one of his works: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten.   I just love the fun, feel good, simple way he writes abouts life.
        

2.    Monica Wells    Many of you may not have heard of this wonderfully talented woman.  She is a sweet friend of mine and the author of Monica's World, which I have mentioned on my blog several times.   She has the awesome gift of taking any old (even boring) story and telling it in a way that leaves her readers begging for more.  I have a feeling that she will one day be on every best seller's list.


1.    The Holy Bible    This is by far the best book ever written.  It is full of everything any avid book reader desires:  drama, action, suspense, heartbreak, trials, joys, laughter, epic battles, and things of the spiritual realm that makes any other wizard/vampire book pale in comparison.  The one thing though that this book has that no other book offers?  Life.  The word are not just on the pages, they are in your heart and soul.  One of my favs:  Hebrews 4:12-13.  If I cannot find time to read this one, I don't make time for any of the others either.

So, there you have it.  My top 10 (for today).   Yes,  I know I left out several good ones.  Obviously I am a reader that loves a good suspense/action book, or a good dose of reality.  I am just not a lady that loves the "girly" drama books.  I have tried though.  The next new book I want to read is Plan B by Pete Wilson.  He just might make the next list (if I ever do another, that is)!

Check out the list below, because if you are on it, you have been tagged to make your list!!!  (Yes, you are very welcome)  Have fun!!

Kinard Season
Blessings Abound
Table for Six
For Every Season
Apple Pie to Stir Fry
Seizing My Day

*** I failed to put on the original post that I only made my list 10 because I had such a hard time coming up with these.  I hope to in the near future to finish the last 5***

12

12 years ago today I woke up like any other day and went to work.  I liked my job and usually looked forward to being there.  This particular day, however, I felt a little different.  I wasn't sick.  I wasn't stressed.  I was pregnant and loved every minute of it.  I wasn't sure why I felt different, so I continued my work.  Then I realized that I felt like I urinated just a little in my pants.  Hmmmm.  Due date wasn't for another 19 days so I ignored it.  Heck, what woman doesn't leak a little when another little human in sitting on her bladder.  As the day went on, so did the leaks, so I went in to see Dr. S.  After a few tests I was told that it wasn't amniotic fluid, but that I was dialated 4cm and effaced 75%.  I was told that I would probably go into labor in the next couple of days.  So what's a girl to do?  I went back to work. 

Big Daddy and I made dinner date plans for later in the evening.  He had to work a little late.  I pulled up at our cozy little house first at 6:18 pm.  He wasn't due home for at least 30 min so I thought I would go in and take a shower for our date.  As I stood up getting out of the car,  something was very strange.  I all of a sudden had a little puddle of "water" at my feet.  Hmmmmmm again.  So I started into the house when I realized why I felt different. 

The pain hit- hard.  So what's a girl to do this time?  Home alone, can't hardly walk to get into the house, and I seem to be having a baby.  Big Daddy comes in just as I am getting into the bedroom. Poor guy.  He is greeted with a phone coming across the room aimed directly at his face.  He calls Dr. S, who luckily lives around the corner, and we are told to come there first.  We do, and after being checked, Dr. S tells Big Daddy to "drive as fast as you can safely".  Hmmmmmm.  Okay.

We make it to the hospital 15 miles away in about 9 minutes (but when you are in transition it feels like hours).  When we pull up to the ER, another doctor friend of ours is coming out, and immediately offers to start pushing the wheelchair up to L&D while Big Daddy parks the car.   Yes, in hind sight that was a little backwards, but I digress.

The nurse that checked me told me that I didn't need to wait for the doctor.  I could push whenever I was ready.  I love that nurse.  Dr. S did come in in time for the birth.

At 8:42 pm,  I gave birth to the most beautiful, perfectly pink, screaming, bundle of joy.  At that moment the world stopped and it was only me and him.  Unfortunately, when the world started moving again, it sped up.

This young man made me a mommy for the first time Nov. 6, 1998:

Happy Birthday J.  I love you more than you can imagine and I thank the Lord for you each and every day.  You are your own unique individual and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for you in the future.  Jeremiah 1:5   Thank you for making me a mommy for the first time.

(Part of our) Fall Fun

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of adventures for us!!  We have had more fun than we can express, been reminded of how blessed we truly are, and of course are exhausted (but in the very best way!).  I want to share on this post, however, about the latter of the last 2 weeks- this past weekend. 

I shared in the Spring about our familiy at the Spring Steeplechase.  This past weekend was the even better, less formal, Fall Steeplechase!  I prefer the Fall because it is much less crowded and we can just let the kids run, relax and have a good time!

Our weekend began with the Friday night Gala.  We went with our friends who you will recognize from the Spring, and also with some wonderful friends from N.C.  We had a great time laughing and dancing.  Here are the beautiful ladies from the evening:

On Saturday, the weekend festivites continued at the track (after T's early a.m. football game). We enjoyed good food, music, college football on the t.v., great friends (and family), and of course- horses!!

(um, yeah. Don't ask)

There is another picture I want you to see of a friend of mine that I am getting to know better and better all the time!  She is in my Sunday school class, we chat at the pool in the summer, we have boys the same age, and our hubby's are friends too.  However, the thing that seems to be bringing us closer???  Blogging!!   She is a wonderful lady with a heart of gold and I just fill with joy everytime I see her!  Please meet Bevy, author of It's A Golden Day!!

Check out her blog soon.  She is a much better writer than I, and shares lots of fun and interesting things from her life, family, and her faith.

I was also able to spend some time with Monica from Monica's World, who I have mentioned here before, but I didn't get a picture with her :(  Still, she is an amazing woman with an incredible (addictive) blog. Check her out too!!

As for me, I am going to round up the kiddos to get their school work going. Again.  I will be sharing about our other road trip soon.  That is when I get the camera. I seemed to have left it behind.  No applause needed. 

*The pictures on this post were not my original photos.  I want to thank my friends for letting me (ahem) borrow them to share*

Just "awe"some

Tonight I experienced something awesome.  I was in an arena with a thousand of my closest friends other people united in one goal- to glorify God.  Don't get me wrong, I have fellowshipped with others before and came away refreshed, but this was a little different.  This was a concert.

I have been to concerts before, I love concerts.  I posted about my last concert here.  It was a blast and the music also glorified God, but it was more of a show than what tonight was.  Tonight was not an audience watching and enjoying, but collectively being a part of something bigger than the concert itself.

This guy???  

He pretty much rocks the praise and worship music.  He has a gift that is unreal.  The bible says that "out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."  I am in awe of the heart of this man.  If you aren't familiar with his face, I am pretty sure that you have heard his name- Chris Tomlin.

The concert was awesome, but not because the stage and lighting were fabulous.  Not because he danced and put on a great show.  No, it was awesome because he made sure that the focus of the night was put on the only one worthy.  At one point I looked around the arena to just take in the sight:  the gathering of so many different walks of life coming together as one- one faith, one heart, to give glory to the One.  I wondered if all of his concerts were just as moving and raw as this one.  Regardless- I felt the presence of God and I was in awe.

more dirty pictures

Just thought I would share!!

So dirty and thankful

On Saturday, I did something for the first time.  It was hard.  It was hot.  It was dirty.  I ran with 3 amazing women in the USMC Mud Run in Columbia, South Carolina.  There were 3115 teams made up of 14,000 people.  The course is 4.5 miles with 32 obstacles.  All along the way there are Marine's yelling at the participants to get moving, go faster and harder. 

Most people train for several months to get ready for this test of team work and physical endurance.  I, however, had 2 weeks~GASP!!  My friend called me literally 2 weeks before the Run and asked if I could step in for one of their team mates that had an injury.  I couldn't resist. 

Before

Getting pumped

And then.......

there was after!!!

Did I mention it was dirty??

I'm not gonna beat around the bush- it was hard.  After the first few obstacles I wondered if I had made a huge mistake.  By the time we made it half way, however, we were hooked!!  I have never worked so physically hard for a goal in my life, but it was sooooooo worth it!!  I hope to be able to train properly and do it again next year!

We finished #1945 overall out of 3115, and #164 of 438 all female teams.  Our time was 1:48:31 which was, we think, pretty good for a bunch of first timers that included a "last minute chick"!!

I just love the way things work.  The way the Lord made things to work.  The harder we work for something, the more we appreciate it, and are thankful for the outcome, or prize.  When things seem to come easy without effort, we tend to take them for granted, we are less thankful and appreciate less the reward.

While that last statement could take me into a whole other blog post, I will just end with this:  Today I am very thankful for the times in my life I had to get dirty and work hard for the rewards in my life, and this past Saturday I am thankful for the ladies with whom I was able to get dirty.