School is almost over for this year! I am excited about having some time off and being able to spend some time with Callie (and Andy too, I guess! LOL!). She grows a little bit every day, both physically and mentally, and I feel like I miss so much of her while being at school.
She's had a pretty good school year. She's been in the same room all year this year, and she's really gotten to know her teachers and little friends pretty well. She has also been potty-trained (thanks to Tammy and Vickie!) for a while now, and she's learned SO much this year! She is so smart. We are constantly amazed at what she says and does.
I have had a pretty good year too. I pretty much know what I am teaching next year, and it looks challenging, but I will do the best I can!
Here's a funny little story about Callie...
She and I were talking and she mentioned her leg hurt (she barely bumped it getting out of the tub!). I told her to ask God to heal her leg, and I told her what to say. She asked God to make her leg feel better, and then she started talking about Him. She said He was coming to her house and that He had a black car, with many seats. How funny it was to me that she said this. A few days later, she said the same thing.
Also, every time she sees a cross, she makes it a point to tell me that she sees it and reminds me that Jesus died on a cross. Then, she talks about the hammer and the nails. She says "I don't want Jesus to hammer me," and other times she'll say "God's not going to hammer me."
The first time she said that I just could have cried. I told her (even though she probably didn't understand it) that Jesus would not hammer nails into her hands, but He took the nails so she didn't have to. It tore me up inside knowing that He did that for me, and it was ME who put Him on that cross! I can't imagine the pain and agony He suffered, but I'm so thankful He did it for me. I'm so glad "God's not going to hammer me!" Thanks to Jesus! Jesus took those nails for me! Aren't you glad!?
There's nothing like it when a child can bring something like that to light. I just love Callie, and I'm so thankful that God has given her to us.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
God in the Garden
This week I have been doing a lot of work outside in the yard. I enjoyed it for the first 2 days, but after this last day, I believe I've had my fill for a little while!
While I was hunkered down pulling up the weeds and grass growing around some of my plants and bushes outside, I starting thinking, and for a blonde, well, that can be dangerous. :)
Some of the weeds and grass were growing around my plants (hydrangeas mainly) and some even had blades of grass poking out of the middle of the plant. Some of those weeds and grass blades/roots were easily pulled from the ground, and others were very hard to pull out. For those hard-to-pull-out bunches of grass, I just pulled the blades off (mostly by accident) because the grass's rots were already well established.
I was angry at myself for letting these plants go and not paying them any attention until now. It was hard work bent over pulling those weeds and grass from the ground. It wore me out; I realized I might need some weed killer too because some of that grass wasn't coming out in my own strength.
My beautiful plants could have been overtaken by these weeds and withered away had I not paid them any attention. If they had not been overtaken, then their true beauty would have been camoflauged so much that maybe they would not have even bloomed or bore any fruit.
You who are saved already know what I am alluding too. I got to thinking about how those weeds and grass are like sin in our lives or just un-Godly habits that we allow to become a part of our every day life. If we let sins fester in our lives or pick up habits that keep us away from God and church and fulfilling our ultimate (and only) purpose as Christians, then we are going to have some hard work ahead of us to get back to where we need to be.
The devil loves to plant weeds in our lives. He loves to introduce us to things that seemingly look more appealing to us than what God has to offer. This is a trap! These sins and habits will eventually overtake us and hide our potential and true beauty we have in Christ if we let them. Sometimes, if the Holy Spirit convicts you about something and you actually heed to it, you will repent quickly. That's like those weeds that are easily removed from the ground of your heart.
But, if there are sins and/or un-Godly habits that are continual in your life, and you do nothing about them, those things become well-established in your life. If God finally makes you realize you need to stop doing these things, you may try to fix the problem yourself, but that's like pulling those blades of grass off the tops of those well-established root balls of grass. You can't do it in your own strength. You can try to remove it yourself, but you need help. That help is God. He can come along and extinguish those sins and help you overcome those bad habits. If we aren't careful, we can all get these types of weeds and grass growing in our lives and hearts! I know I have!
So, take some time to pray each day. We need to confess of our sins as soon as the Holy Spirit convicts us that we are doing something wrong or have done something wrong. We need to make sure we do not have any other gods before our true God and that all of our habits are only leading us closer to Him! Habits such as praying daily and reading your Bible daily are great habits to have. Not all habits are bad!
We need to call on God for His forgiveness and for His help of helping us overcome any bad habits we have started. His power is the best "weed killer" I know, and His mercy endures forever!
Next time, I'll write about mildew if I have time. The Lord's really been speaking to me through my hard work outdoor this week! :)
While I was hunkered down pulling up the weeds and grass growing around some of my plants and bushes outside, I starting thinking, and for a blonde, well, that can be dangerous. :)
Some of the weeds and grass were growing around my plants (hydrangeas mainly) and some even had blades of grass poking out of the middle of the plant. Some of those weeds and grass blades/roots were easily pulled from the ground, and others were very hard to pull out. For those hard-to-pull-out bunches of grass, I just pulled the blades off (mostly by accident) because the grass's rots were already well established.
I was angry at myself for letting these plants go and not paying them any attention until now. It was hard work bent over pulling those weeds and grass from the ground. It wore me out; I realized I might need some weed killer too because some of that grass wasn't coming out in my own strength.
My beautiful plants could have been overtaken by these weeds and withered away had I not paid them any attention. If they had not been overtaken, then their true beauty would have been camoflauged so much that maybe they would not have even bloomed or bore any fruit.
You who are saved already know what I am alluding too. I got to thinking about how those weeds and grass are like sin in our lives or just un-Godly habits that we allow to become a part of our every day life. If we let sins fester in our lives or pick up habits that keep us away from God and church and fulfilling our ultimate (and only) purpose as Christians, then we are going to have some hard work ahead of us to get back to where we need to be.
The devil loves to plant weeds in our lives. He loves to introduce us to things that seemingly look more appealing to us than what God has to offer. This is a trap! These sins and habits will eventually overtake us and hide our potential and true beauty we have in Christ if we let them. Sometimes, if the Holy Spirit convicts you about something and you actually heed to it, you will repent quickly. That's like those weeds that are easily removed from the ground of your heart.
But, if there are sins and/or un-Godly habits that are continual in your life, and you do nothing about them, those things become well-established in your life. If God finally makes you realize you need to stop doing these things, you may try to fix the problem yourself, but that's like pulling those blades of grass off the tops of those well-established root balls of grass. You can't do it in your own strength. You can try to remove it yourself, but you need help. That help is God. He can come along and extinguish those sins and help you overcome those bad habits. If we aren't careful, we can all get these types of weeds and grass growing in our lives and hearts! I know I have!
So, take some time to pray each day. We need to confess of our sins as soon as the Holy Spirit convicts us that we are doing something wrong or have done something wrong. We need to make sure we do not have any other gods before our true God and that all of our habits are only leading us closer to Him! Habits such as praying daily and reading your Bible daily are great habits to have. Not all habits are bad!
We need to call on God for His forgiveness and for His help of helping us overcome any bad habits we have started. His power is the best "weed killer" I know, and His mercy endures forever!
Next time, I'll write about mildew if I have time. The Lord's really been speaking to me through my hard work outdoor this week! :)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Still here
We are all doing well. Basketball season is over, Callie is growing like a weed, and we are ready for Spring Break and then the summer!
Not much to say other than I'm sorry I don't update my blog! :( I have so many other things that require my attention, so I've let my blog sit on the back burner for a long time!
Hope everyone is great!
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