Say It Isn't So

A few weeks ago Erin's preschool had their "end of the year" celebration. We were thankful the rain held off long enough for the kids to jump, have their faces painted, and squirt each other silly with water bottles.

The "strong man" in the picture is Bryton. He started school after the school year officially began and he cried the first day. When Erin told me about it, it broke my heart. I said "Sweetie, you have to be his friend so he's not afraid." I think that she made an impression on him he won't soon forget. I hope Erin learned something from the experience too.

Tonight, my baby girl graduated from preschool  in spite of my efforts to stop her from growing. But if you have the potion, it may not be too late!

Erin's class performed a reggae version of "Baa baa black sheep" (which I hope to post later). She was by far the most beautiful black sheep I have ever seen.

They also sang "He knows my name". There is nothing more sweet than hearing children sing these words.

I have a Maker

He formed my heart

Before even time began

My life was in his hands

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me

No matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call

Erin & Mrs Rae, her teacher this year. We were not out of the parking lot tonight and Erin was wanting to come see her again, and go play at her house. Thankfully, she will teach VBS this summer and Erin will be old enough to attend.

Erin, Luke & Granny. What is it with my children and group pictures?

I had to hold them down.

There was a reception following. But I rarely saw Erin, she was too busy socializing.

Baby girl, we are proud of you!

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These Are Some Good Times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

He's Got My Back

Sometimes the more I read my bible, the more I come away with questions than answers. But the questions I have are about the details... I  do not question His love for me. I know who's got my back. I know Who has the answers.

Psalm 56

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands. A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;

Fighting all day he oppresses me.

2 My enemies would hound me all day,

For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

3 Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You.

4 In God (I will praise His word),

In God I have put my trust;

I will not fear.

What can flesh do to me?

5 All day they twist my words;

All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather together,

They hide, they mark my steps,

When they lie in wait for my life.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

8 You number my wanderings;

Put my tears into Your bottle;

Are they not in Your book?

9 When I cry out to You,

Then my enemies will turn back;

This I know, because God is for me.

10 In God (I will praise His word),

In the LORD (I will praise His word),

11 In God I have put my trust;

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

12 Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;

I will render praises to You,

13 For You have delivered my soul from death.

Have You not kept my feet from falling,

That I may walk before God

In the light of the living?

~Young & Tender~

This Ain't Hallmark

The morning started off well enough. Erin slept until 7:22, climbed into bed with me and snoozed a few minutes more. It gave me the quiet chance to pray for patience. A breakfast of waffles and a swept floor, I was ready for a morning jog. Erin wanted to stay home with her Dad & color, Luke was willing to come along on his bike.

He wanted to be the line leader. Fine enough, until I started jogging... and he did not keep up. Which meant I was the line leader. Who knew a nearly 3 year old could scream & cry for .7 miles? Well, I know and so does our neighborhood. The man outside watering his freshly planted tree must have wondered about us. We finally made it home. Straight to his room he had to go. I was greeted by the most beautiful sunshine coloring page and a smiling face.

While getting dressed for church, Erin asked to see the singing bunnies in the Christmas shoeboxes. Sounds of "Jesus loves me" filled the small bathroom.

Later, more cries..Smears of snot on church clothes...Claims of  "I'm bigger - I not little." Apparently not too big to stay home with Dad to get a much needed nap.

Erin and I had a chance to check out the new flowers that bloomed. Her sunflower we have been anticipating...the first daylilly of the year.

A nuzzle.

A kiss.

We ventured off to church. It was my turn to teach her class. Thank the good Lord the other mom assigned to my class showed up. Ten children are fine on a good day, but there are always a couple of boys in there who are not on their "good day" to say the least.

We made it back home and had time for lunch and a little playtime break before visiting Mom. Also time for more meltdowns, this time from Erin who was clearly disappointed that we would not be purchasing frozen confections from the ice cream man. Must he pass every day and stir up my children? Apparently, he does.

I must say the visit to Mom's went very well. Everyone was on their best behavior. We walked in the woods, spotted a snake, some turkey tracks, and got our feet quite dusty.

Back home to cook a quick supper of chicken fettucine, more bike rides, the smell of boiling crawfish, baths and bed. It's after 9:00 pm and all is quiet.

And with God's grace I will get to do it all over again tomorrow, hopefully with improvements.

This is mother's day. Every day.

Mothers Day

Wonderful Mother

God made a wonderful mother,

A mother who never grows old;

He made her smile of the sunshine,

And He moulded her heart of pure gold;

In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,

In her cheeks fair roses you see;

God made a wonderful mother,

And He gave that dear mother to me.

Pat O'Reilly

As I Look Back...

As I look back on my life

I find myself wondering...

Did I remember to thank you

for all that you have done for me?

For all of the times you were by my side

to help me celebrate my successes

and accept my defeats?

Or for teaching me the value of hard work,

good judgement, courage, and honesty?

I wonder if I've ever thanked you

for the simple things...

The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?

If I have forgotten to express my gratitude

For any of these things,

I am thanking you now...

and I am hoping that you've known all along,

how very much you are loved and appreciated.

Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day Mom.
At least I never went to prison.
I love you!

~Right This Way~

Special Guest

Our church's student ministry Global Impact was this weekend. I have to say this is probably the only time I wish I was a 6th - 12th grader again, because it seems like they have a great time in the Lord. The youth choir sang & danced. Then the rest of us "old folks" got a sample of what they had heard from their musical guest.

He introduced himself as Big Al. He said he was a rapper (not a sandwich wrapper). He said he sings hip hop for the Lord.

Big Al gave an awesome testimony. He grew up in North Louisiana. His Mom remarried when he was young, to a verbal and physically abusing man. At the age of 9, Big Al became an alcoholic. When he was 12 years old, he began working jobs to pay for the electrical and water bill for his family. His Mom had squandered all of their money on gambling. All the while, he maintained a 4.0 GPA. When Big Al was 16 years old he attended a youth ministry camp and surrendered his life to Christ.

He went on to attend a couple of different universities in Louisiana, and graduated with honors from Grambling. He now teaches calculus and geometry at a high school in North Louisiana and is surely a witness to his students every day.

He was called by God to minister to the youth. Big Al is truly a great example of how someone can overcome anything when you have Jesus backing you up. He rapped "Get Low" (and explained that means to humble yourself) to a crowd of "less than tan" individuals. I couldn't find that song on youtube, but this morning I was yet again was wishing I had my camera in church.

Here is what I did find...



I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13