Another Graduation...your turn Stephen

There's no telling how many times I'm going to have to start and stop this so I don't soak my computer in tears but here's the first start...
Well, Stephen, I know you are much more ready for this than I am but honestly I don't know when I would ever be ready. I've told your sisters this and now I am so glad to tell you...when you walk across that stage next Thursday and graduate from South Aiken High School you will become my hero. I've always said that if you can graduate from high school with your morals intact and your belief system strong, you are my hero, and you did and you are.
I'm going to risk embarrassing you because that's a mom's right upon her child graduating so forgive me later. You have to know what an incredible blast you have been to raise!!! I always prayed that if God ever gave me a boy He would give me a boy who was ALL boy...boy oh boy did He ever!!! I don't think you moved or made a peep til you were 2 then look out. You took everything by storm and haven't stopped since. You made yourself at home on the beach under others umbrellas, you could talk to anyone, what a gift. You never needed sleep but had a mandatory rest time just so I could rest. You made us laugh constantly and your thinking outside of the box never ceases to amaze me.
Watching you play football, basketball, and baseball has brought so much fun to our family. I have never known ANYONE who works harder than you, has more determination than you, and gets down LESS than you. It's a joy to not have to push you and motivate you, you do it yourself. You are competitive down to the marrow. You put all of that together and there's no stopping you. Most of all, in every sport you played, you were all about TEAM. You never cared about individual garbage, you wanted your team to win. You cheered on your teammates and cared about them and how well they did. You can't beat that attitude. You have made me check my own attitude time and time again, how's that for being the example to your mom.
You have a heart of gold, more compassion than I could ever muster. God is going to do a mighty work through you because you allow Him to work in you. Don't close any door He opens for you because I know He has a great plan ahead for you. I can't wait to see how He takes your love for baseball and your love for people and your love for Him and puts it all together for His glory. It's been amazing to watch you and I know it will just get more and more amazing. I am so thankful that God chose me to be your mom, I tell Him every day that I know that it's His grace because I don't deserver a day with you. Love you more than you will ever know and am super proud of you and the life you lead!!

Monday Morning Perspective

We continued with our family forum yesterday at 11:11. Yay, we remembered to go back and answer the curfew question. We also dealt with discipline and everyone learned, if they didn't already know, that yes I am the strict one and Eddie is the fun one. Imagine that??? We had the heavy hitters of drugs, alcohol, sex and public vs private school choice. We talked movies, regrets, how Eddie and I met and that I did know he was going into ministry when we started dating. We also got a question on women being deacons and discussed that as well. Eddie even opened us up to questions from the floor...SCAREY!!! Thank you for being so kind and not hitting us with some deep theological on-the-spot question. We were asked what Eddie said to the boys after the loss in the state championship game and about our Christmas traditions.
We had a lot of fun sharing with our church family, you all are the best!!
You can catch all of this online as well as the sermon from the 9:00 service. Please tune in and watch the sermon if you missed it. My man hit a homerun as usual. Have a blessed week.
BTW...may not get a monday morning perspective next week. It's graduate sunday and I really don't know that I can post on that one...probably won't hear a word said.

Monday Morning Perspective

Well yesterday was a little different. The first of two family forums. It's hard for me to say it went well or not when you're a part of it so I'll just say "it is what it is". How's that??
I do want to say thank you to my kids for putting yourself out there, mainly for being real and honest and serving our church family. It is a fishbowl as we talked about and putting yourself in an even hotter spotlight yesterday took courage and I'm proud of you for your willingness to share a bit of life from your own perspective.
A quick recap:
The kids shared about their feelings of being a preacher's kid with the expectations and life in that fishbowl.
They also talked about the expectation to be at church functions and services.
We were asked about how we celebrate holidays so we all tried to answer that one.
We dealt with time management and schedules, conflict, and dating. We tried to answer thoroughly in a short amount of time. We did miss the curfew question so we will start there I promise. Several mentioned that that question wasn't addressed. It was part of a 2 part question and we just missed it...SORRY.
Next week turns to discipline, temptations of drugs, alcohol and sex, movies, and school choice. WOW!!
Trust me we are not practicing because we want it natural but we did want the kids to think through these so they can offer insight and not just off the cuff answers, trying to keep it conversational and natural without coaching each other.
Appreciate all the prayers and encouragement from so many. Have a blessed week.

One Big Day after Another

Do not know if we have ever had a busier spring. But it's been a good busy. We don't do boredom well around here. We're not about being all over the place 24/7, we're much more about being together and busy, but we definitely don't like sitting around watching one t.v. show after another. Needless to say we have been on the move. LOTS of baseball, a fabulous prom for Stephen and Kaylin, wedding planning, graduation planning, summer planning...just so much enjoyment and much to look forward to.
Baseball has been incredible. The boys are in the lower state championship tomorrow night at South Aiken vs. Brookland-Cayce. They have to beat us twice...ain't happenin!! Jess' new boyfriend's in town, Stephen's girlfriend is coming to town, John's girlfriend will be there. MIA...Michael Hux. Already texted him to tell him how much we will all miss him and tempting him to catch a cheap flight. A mom and I were talking just yesterday about what a great baseball year it has been: no cancerous attitudes, no big-shots, lots of family bonding, an all around great atmosphere. A huge part of me hates to see it all end although I am kinda tired of my head pounding and my stomach aching day after day wondering what if and who are we playing and who's on the mound, etc. It's been a year that I would hope every senior has the opportunity to go out on. Way to go TBreds!! Love my baseball family more and more, what a great bunch of families.
It's also time to order wedding invitations and start working on that and detailing flower arrangements. Busy shopping for the bridesmaids gifts and wondering if we've covered everything because it seems like we are at a standstill at the moment with not much to do. So excited about all of it.
Tomorrow is also Awards Day for graduates, that includes Stephen. Can't believe it. It's sorta creeped up on me probably because I have tried to keep it at the very back of my mind. As it gets closer to graduation, it gets tougher fighting the tears but I'm trying!! Much more on that later but can't handle it right now.
Summer is fast approaching and the calendar is filling up. I am so excited about this summer for lots of reasons but mostly it's going to seem more like summers I've been used to and enjoyed. Hoping for a lot of pool days and relaxing, grilling with friends and family, and of course BASEBALL and WEDDING stuff.
God is so good. I love Him so and trusting Him more and more every day because I know He's a God who can handle all of this much better than I can.

Monday Morning Perspective

We kicked off our series on the family...Extreme Home Makeover...with a great mother's day message.
It's rare but this time my favorite statements Eddie made came 1st and last. He started by saying the toughest part of being a mom is showing up for work every day. You think about how many people in the workplace or as students can say that they never missed a day, yet moms never miss work. Even if we are away from our children, we still talk to them or think of them or have made arrangements for them and most definitely pray for them which is a great work.
The last statement he made was that we can't take our "stuff" with us to heaven but we can take our children. So why do we put so much emphasis on our "stuff"? We need to pour everything we have into our families. We learned a long time ago that, especially in ministry, what does it matter if we are out winning everyone else to Christ but our families don't know Him?
I had a precious stay at home mom tell me that even though she knows what she's doing is important, it doesn't always feel like it. I KNOW that feeling, especially when they are so young. Stay at home moms don't always get the pat on the back, the paycheck, the feeling that they are making an impact. Please let me encourage you that you are doing the greatest work there is. Know that if noone else tells you good job, Jesus is smiling on you. If noone pays you for your work, you can't put a price tag anyway on what you are doing. You are pouring your life into the life of another person, that's the greatest job bar none.
Blessings to all on this Monday!!

Monday Morning Perspective

We wrapped up our series God's Lost and Found. I agree with Eddie, it would have been nice for it all to end at verse 24. However, it didn't and Jesus gives us a great lesson on the older brother syndrome. It was pointed out that older brothers never leave the Father's House. They stay in the right place with the wrong attitude:
They are sour.
They lack joy.
They are mean-spirited.
They react without knowing all the facts.
They can't be happy for others.
They don't realize their own sinfulness.
They don't realize how good God's been to them.
Nothing's ever enough.
Seldom do they recognize their situation.
Now who exactly wants to be like this person???
Conviction should fall hard on all of us because at some time or another we have ALL been the older brother! God bring it to our attention when we are and may we repent QUICKLY!!