A Week away from the computer ...

Can I survive? It will be a challenge, that is certain!! :) Scott is leaving tomorrow for Alabama and taking the computer with him. Casiday & I are leaving Friday when she gets out of school to meet him there. We'll be there for Labor Day weekend - back home on Monday (late!). So, it will probably be Tuesday night or even Wednesday before I'm back on the computer. I'm already dreading the lack of contact with so many people whose faces I have never seen but the connection I have with them through this great big world wide web has become a significant factor in my life. However, I know that it will be good to take a break. So, until next week

From my "real" journal this morning ...

Scott and Chu (Casiday) are cuddled up together in his chair sleeping. It's 6:11 a.m. and the only sounds in the house are the soft snores of my husband and daughter, the gentle hum of the ceiling fan, and that comforting drip of my coffee maker. I am curled up in my favorite corner of the couch with my Bible, this journal, and my Bible study book, wearing my favorite robe. And my only thought is this - God is so good!

Lord, You amaze me. Your protection and provision. Your mercy and grace. Your love and comfort. Your joy and peace. My life is rich and full - and I praise You! Forgive me for the many times I ive without a grateful heart. Change my eyes, O Lord, to see what You see - beauty and blessing. Give me a heart like Yours - to comfort others in sorrow, to share in another's joy without envy, to love deeply and sacrificially.

Father, my Adonai, You are the one true God! Jehovah Nissi - my Banner who goes before me. Jehovah Jireh - my provider who knows my needs and cares for me. Jehovah Rohi - my sweet Shepherd who gently guides and corrects me. Jehovah Rophe - my healer of broken body, broken heart, and broken spirit. Oh God, You are MY God and I will earnestly seek You, passionately praise You, faithfully serve You. I will praise You, my Rock, my Stronghold, my King! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

I am the coolest mom!!! LOL

The HSM2 party was a HUGE success. All the girls LOVED it (and so did their moms >wink<)! We had the high school dance look going and it was so cute. When the girls arrived, they came in on a red carpet (made from the $1 red plastic tablecloths) that covered my sidewalk up to the front door. I interviewed each girl - asked about her dress and what she was excited about in the movie, etc. They loved that.

Then we took their pictures next to a poster of Troy (everyone should now sigh .... aaahhhh!). Then they did their talent show which was so fun. I videoed all of it, of course. After that part, we cranked up the HSM music and Hannah Montana music on my iPod which was hooked up to this really cool disco ball that spins faster when the music's tempo is faster and gets brighter the louder the music is. They were having a blast! All of us were dancing and laughing.

Then they changed into their pj's and got their food ready (a true kid's dream - popcorn and candy!) so they could watch the movie. They LOVED it all. Afterward, we watched the preview of Ashley Tisdale's new cartoon and the Hannah Montana episode with (yes, sigh again ...) the Jonas Brothers. By that point, the girls were exhausted but very hyper from the candy and adreneline .... so we said good night and sent them home. One of the moms stayed to help me clean up and we sat down to talk at the kitchen table while our girls were completely GONE on the couches. I got pics and video it all. Once I get the pics back, I'll post them - and if I can figure out how to post a video of them dancing, I'll do that too.

It's finally here ...

Tonight's the night!

High School Musical 2!!

Yea!! We're having a "World Premiere Party" for DD and some of her friends. My house will look like a high school dance - streamers everywhere, homemade "Wildcats Rule" posters, etc. I hope they have a blast.

I'm not sure who is more excited! (Okay, I do know - I AM!!)

First day at new school ... whew!

Casiday loved it!!! I am so thankful. She had a great day and is looking forward to tomorrow. A wonderful answered prayer.

School starts tomorrow!!!

I am so excited! Casiday is so excited. It's been a LOOONNNNG summer for us. Busy but long. She's going to a new school and she's not the least afraid. We had one moment of anxiety on Sunday afternoon before Open House but since then she's been great.

I have a coffee date at 9 a.m. with my neighbor across the street who I have not spent any time with this summer. Sad but true.

The rest of my day will be filled with a few errands, planning a menu for the next two weeks, and finishing up some cleaning. All without hearing any of the following ...

"I'm bored."
"Can I watch my shows?"
"Can I go outside?"
"Can I go see if Emily is home?"
"I'm hungry."
"Can I have a snack?"
"When is lunch?"
"Where is Daddy?"
"What are we going to do today?"

Silence never sounds so good as on the first day of school!!

Feeling lonely!!

I can't believe the Fishbowl is down!! I didn't realize how much I depend on "checking in" with these sweet sisters traveling along the PW road! So, girls, if you are reading this little blog ... I miss you!

How's your mouth?

I've been studying the book of Judges for the past couple of months. And right now I'm reading in chapters 10 & 11 about Jephthah. Lots to learn there but one thing has really stood out to me.

Jephthah made a rash vow - for those who haven't read this particular section of Scripture, here's the gist...

Jephthah went into battle and promised God if he won, he'd sacrifice to God the first thing he saw upon returning home. Well, he won the battle and when he arrived home, it was his only daughter (his only child!) who was running out to greet him. And so he kept his word to God.

Now there is some debate about whether he actually sacrificed his daughter or if she was just never allowed to marry and therefore Jephthah had no heirs. Regardless of which is true, for me, the issue is that vow.

Did he really need to make the vow? I believe it was a rash promise to God - trying to make a deal. And, while I would love to say that I've never done such, deep inside, I know I have. I've promised God so many things - because of emotion or situation. I think we all do that at times. But I'm wondering, how many times we just say things that we shouldn't. We make promises we can't (or won't) keep. We speak with so little thought about the significance of the words we say.

Yesterday I was talking with a wise friend and we were sharing on this general topic. She mentioned that Elizabeth George talks about our words being like feathers released from a pillow - they can never be all put back. (See "A Woman's High Calling" by Elizabeth George) I've been thinking about that since we talked. There are just countless verses in the Word about our mouth, the tongue, speech, etc. Why did God have so much to share about this area of life? I believe it's because it is such a real area of struggle for all of us. Whether you are like me - lacking that filter that keeps you from saying things you shouldn't - or have another issue - such as coarse language or gossip - learning to "bridle the tongue" is a big deal in the walk of a Jesus follower.

I'm still sorting through what God is showing me - and how He wants to change me through this process. But one thing I've certainly begun to grasp - I don't want to be like Jephthah and just speak. I want my words to build up, to encourage, to minister, to serve. My life verse is Psalm 19:14 - May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. My heart's desire to that the words I say and, even more, the heart behind what I say and what I don't, will be pleasing to my Father.

So, what about you? How's your mouth?

One more week ...

Just one week left until school starts! Yea! Maybe I'm not a good mom, maybe I'm too selfish, maybe my child drives me crazy sometimes, maybe a lot of things .... all I know is she's ready to go back and I'm ready for her to go back! One week from tomorrow is the first day of school and everyone in our house is very excited.

Second grade ... how did that happen? Seems unreal to me that she could already be in 2nd grade. Of course, she acts like she's going into high school. She's obsessed with High School Musical 2 and all things Disney Channel. She's a part of the "Hannah Montana Club" she and her friends have started. Each week one of them is "Captain Hannah" with all the honor and duty that entails. >grin<

Dance also starts back next week. That's a partial yea. She loves it and I love that she does it; but, it's a pain at times. I'm afraid I'm not a good dance mom. I hate sitting there listening to the mundane conversation about absolutely nothing significant between the mothers while our children dance. I usually leave the studio and go do something - anything - else. Unfortunately, the only real place to go during that timespan is Big Lots - which is not always very exciting. This year we are adding Jazz class. She took a combination ballet/tap class for two years and last year did just ballet. She loves Ballet. But, I felt like it was time to add a little more. So, since she hates Tap - Jazz it is. We'll see how it goes. First semester is all about "The Nutcracker" anyway. So, the focus will be on Ballet, I'm sure.

Home again ...

Home sweet home. It is so good to be home. Yes, we enjoyed all our time with family. But it sure is nice to sleep in our beds and go to our church. Dance starts this week, school starts next week ... and we are no where near a school-year schedule! Bed time is a joke here. Methinks this week will be a little tough.

I cleaned out my laundry room today. I know, weird thing to do on a Sunday afternoon; but, I didn't want to take a nap and it was actually kind of therapeutic to get a room in order. :) So, now I feel like I'm ready to get busy with the rest of the house. I also made a LONG list of the things I need to do this week. Everything from finding out when Casiday's jazz class is to taking all our extra uniforms back to her old school so someone else can use them. I also need to go to the cleaners, buy dance shoes, and finish getting school supplies. And we are starting our "eating better routine" (others might say diet but we don't like that word!) tomorrow.

Busy here - all good things, of course. Normal, simple, just a part of life things. It's good, really. I'm thankful. After all this year has held for our family, a touch of normal and routine is a real blessing.