Prayer Needed

Trace came home early from work today. He explained to me that there had been a murder/suicide at work. The secretary in his department had been killed. She was working and her ex-boyfriend entered the building, brought her outside, shot her, and then himself(although it was not a fatal shot). Thankfully Trace had left and gone over to some other CBI office buildings across town. He was across town when this happened and when he received word. He drove back to work to find that everyone had left for the day. They have closed the office until Monday.

Please pray for this woman's family. She was a single mom to a 12 year old little girl. She was originally from England so as far as Trace knows she has no family here. Also please lift up the staff at CBI. I can only imagine how difficult it will be for them all to return to work. Many of them, Trace included, had just had conversations with her that morning. It is terribly tragic for everyone involved. Lastly, I would like to ask you to pray for the man who shot her. He was helicoptered to the hospital and is not expected to die. As we all turn our minds to those we love and are so thankful for, may we be mindful and prayerful of those who are suffering so deeply. Thanks for praying!

I'm Still Here

Wow, I have been a very bad blogger! Life has been so busy that I have not had time and honestly I have found myself in a very strange place spiritually so I have not known what to write. I have so much to process and pray through so every time I get a few minutes where I could sneak away to the computer to write I feel like I need to just stop and be quiet. I have felt the Lord pulling, pressing, and pushing me in new ways. It can feel a bit overwhelming to me at times, but I am so thankful to know Him and to Know that He isn't finished with me. I would love to share more about what is going on with me but right now I simply do not feel like I have the words or the time to communicate what I am experiencing. Hopefully in the next few days I will be able to sit and write more.

However, for now I will leave you with a few pictures that I have been meaning to share:

Aidan had his Thanksgiving feast at school last week. Here is a picture of my little Pilgrim. I so enjoy going to his school and being in his classroom and I think he appreciates it also.

This is a picture of some of his buddies at school.

We also had an end of the year soccer party for Aidan's team at Chucky Cheeses. It was fun to get together and let Aidan play. This is his coach who was wonderfully encouraging and patient with with boys all year long. He was fantastic and it made for a great team to be a part of. Go Hurricanes!

And finally, this picture is of Becca. We had run errands in the morning and only had about 45 minutes before we had to get ready to go get Aidan so I told her she could skip nap time as long as she rested and was quiet. She got her umbrella, made a little tent, got some books, blankets and a pillow and next thing I knew she was out. I felt the exact same way that day...I didn't really have time for a nap but my body was crying out for one. It has just been that kind of week or two for us around here.
I hope you have a very restful and relaxing break. We are sure looking forward to slowing down a bit (at least for the next week or so).

An unexpectd answer to prayer

***Updated to add - This has been postponed due to an unplanned conflict. Maybe it will happen next week. Please pray for God's perfect timing.

I was working on the computer this afternoon trying to take care of a few things before getting Aidan and the phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but I picked it up anyways and was shocked to hear the man introduce himself as a member of the CBS local news team. He asked for me, of course I thought he had the wrong number or something, but then he started talking about the Moms in Touch prayer group that started out here this year. I realized he had the right person so I listened to him ask if I would be willing to do an interview. Knowing that I have specifically prayed for direction in how to advertise MIT so that other moms will hear about the ministry, I felt like I had no choice but to say yes. I mean how do you ask the Lord something in prayer and then say no when he answers so obviously? I guess I could justify saying no because He answered in a way I would have never imagined and one that I am not all that excited about being a part of, but I know that would be disobedient and so I said yes. I am very nervous about this. I am worried that I won't speak clearly and that I won't look very intelligent, but those things are truly more about me than the Lord. I know that He has ordained this and that He will provide all I need. Please pray for me. Pray that I will boldly proclaim His goodness if I get the opportunity and that the Lord will be glorified.

I was told that they will be here about 7:30 am. so they can get some extra footage of us getting ready. Please pray for a peaceful home and children! You all know how mornings can go and we need tomorrow to not be one of "those" days. Our group meets at 8:15 in the morning so they will follow us there to get some more footage and somewhere during this time they will interview me and possibly the other moms. As long as all goes as planned they said it would be on the 6:00 news on CBS 19 and then it would be on the website for a while. Please also pray that other moms see this and that the Lord stirs in their heart a desire to be a part of this ministry.

If you have kids in school I cannot encourage you enough to be a part of one of these groups. Prayer is such a gift and this is such a well developed ministry with very wise leaders and wonderful materials to help you start or join another group. GO read more about it. Friday mornings truly are my favorite mornings of the week since beginning this group.

Bambi Run

My sweet friend Maureen decided that she has a goal to run a marathon in the next year. She started training and already has completed a half marathon. She is a very disciplined friend. She has been a huge encouragement for me to start running again. It is my favorite form of exercise, but having children can put a damper on that. So Maureen found out about a 5k in Tyler at Faulkner Park and invited a bunch of us to join her in the race. It was a lot of fun! It is always better to have others join you in your misery (I meant fun, did I say misery). Here is a picture of some of us before the race.

Me, Jennifer, Andrea, Maureen, and Kristen (wow, do I look short in this picture or what)

It was a very small race, but being in a small race has its advantages! Several of us got a medal. Andrea got a small trophy for getting 3rd overall out of all the women. Maureen came in right behind Andrea and was the winner in her age division and I followed behind them (by about a minute) but I managed to get second in my age group. It was fun to show Aidan that mommy got a medal after he finished his soccer game. He thought it was pretty neat and I found it to be quite humorous...I sure was not expecting that. So I guess the Azalea 10k is next in the Spring. Would anyone else like to join us?

Seven Prayers of Day

This is such a great idea! I will be doing it, care to join me? Our kids can never get too much prayer and praying scripture is praying power over our kids. Go, check it out!

Giving Thanks!

Aidan had to make a feather to go in a giant kindergarten Turkey. The only directions we received was to decorate the feather with the thing he was thankful for written on the feather. I asked Aidan what he wanted to write, I gathered some paint and craft supplies we had, and this is what he created...



It brings tears to my eyes! Lord, you are so faithful to answer our prayers. You are captivating Aidan's little heart. Lord hold Him tight! May he walk closely with you in righteousness all the days of His life. I pray that He grows into a young man who lives a life radically sold out for Jesus Christ!

Skunks, Knights, Princesses, and a girl hero plus a few animals to boot

Our Halloween Festivities were full this year. First, I was in charge of snack for Aidan's class on Halloween. I decided to make these super cute spider cookies. I used licorice to be the legs and jelly beans cut in half as eyes.

I also sent these popcorn hands to school. They were more time consuming than I expected but they were cute.

Then that night we had a little get together with friends. Not sure you can tell but we have peanut butter balls as spiders and witches hats.
The kids also ate mummy dogs for dinner and parents had chili dogs.

and I made this pumpkin shaped Pumpkin cake for desert.

We played a mummy relay game that I thought was cute

and then headed out to trick or treat.

Here is super girl pulling her friends along.

My little Stinker - Andrew the skunk
Super Girl
And the Heroic Knight



Hope you had fun as well!

The joys of being a mom to a boy

My shoes have important purposes...They become boats.

This Election

Election Day is tomorrow. I am actually ready for this to all be over, but this year I have realized that there seems to be a sense of panic about who will win the election. People on both sides seem to be living in fear. I have even heard that certain cities are preparing for rioting just in case Barack Obama does not win. It really is madness.

I participated in early voting. I have a voice in this election and now I am done. The results are out of my hand and I am at peace. I know that the reason I am at peace is because my hope is in Christ, NOT America and NOT in our President. So whether Obama wins or McCain wins, my hope will remain in Christ. I ran across this article by John Piper that I thought would be good to pass along for all to read. I know that I enjoyed it and agree mightily with what he has to say.