Family Update and Friday Fill-In

Mercy! An entire week has flown by! I had a fantastic time at the Women of Faith conference. As I hoped, my mind was renewed, my spirit refreshed, and friendships deepened. The biggest surprise for me was Marcus Buckingham! What a fantastic speaker with a fantastic message.
He was not familiar to me when I looked at the speakers when I bought my ticket, so I looked him up by googling him. (love technology!) I was a little curious after reading about him, still not quite sure why he was invited to Women of Faith. What a delight! Check him out here. I could probably write an entire post about what I learned from what he said. And maybe I will. :)

In the meantime, my daughter started school as a Junior in High School! My computer caught a virus and my husband doctored it back to health. We had 107 degree high one day, and 89 degree high the next. I am in my second week back to cycling after surgery and then an injured husband. I cooked dinner every day except one and on that day we went out to dinner with our best friends to Fuzzy's Taco Shop. I think they (the Taco shop, not the friends) are only in the great state of Texas, but they are moving to other areas soon. You should check them out if you ever have the chance. Other family news, our son, Aaron started his internship with the U.S. Marshal's department. I can't say much about that, since it is "top secret". ha ha! But, he is working for them and he started his final semester at University North Texas this week too! In December - he will graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice. Adam and Thien are settling nicely into their Texas routine and life is just good!

For fun...another Friday Fill-In!


1. You do your thing; I do mine and sometimes it might actually be the same thing.

2. Mexico is what's been on my mind on and off all day. (We re-booked the cruise we missed!)

3. Remember when ...that is what we were talking about with our best friends when we went out to dinner the other night. We have been friends for 20 years - we start a lot of our conversations with "Remember when...".

4. God, family, and fun are three of my favorite obsessions :-)

5. During the last year I have had a lot of change!

6. Thinking of going on a cruise puts a smile on my face. (Didn't we have this one last week?)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the first football game - even though it is a scrimmage, tomorrow my plans include cycling, maybe a little swimming, shopping, and seeing my kids (the ones who don't live at home anymore) and Sunday, I want to worship at the Village Church, finish the last class of the Christian Counseling Class I am taking, and spend time with my Home Group friends!

Friday Fill-In

Well, it has been a while, but here is a Friday Fill-In!

1. Laughter really is the best medicine - for most things!

2. "Would you re-send..." are the three words that started off the last email I sent.

3. What I'm most looking forward to today is WOMEN OF FAITH and hanging out with some fantastic friends.

4. Being with my family puts a smile on my face.

5. Where in the world do people come up with these things?

6. I am thinking that this weekend will be just what I needed!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Women of faith and time with some of my favorite friends, tomorrow my plans include the same thing and Sunday, I want to worship at The Village Church, and hang out with my family after a weekend full of fun, faith, encouragement, and growing!

I hope your weekend is great too!

Click here for more Friday Fill-Ins

Hot - in more ways than one

I have to say it,

I will be glad when this summer is over.

For one thing, it is insanely hot in Texas this year.

Yesterday was the 16th day of temperatures over 100 degrees in Dallas.

We are not approaching the record of 42 straight days from the 1980 heat wave yet, but, ?

It’s enough to kill even the most heat hardy plants.

And my having a positive attitude is struggling to stay alive too.

Summer 2010 will not be forgotten.

Major events will mark this season; some good memories, and some not so good. But throughout this summer, the biggest thing that I will remember is what I have learned through it all.

I cannot control anything or anyone except myself.

Now, this is not really a new concept for me, in fact, I have been aware of this for many years. But this summer’s events took me to a deeper understanding; an understanding that grasped me by the shoulders and shook me until I cried, “Uncle!” (which means: To indicate a willingness to give up a fight or surrender)

Actually, the name I cried was “Father”, as in my heavenly Father. And He answered me.

I cried aloud to the Lord and He answered me from His holy hill. Psalm 3:4

Some of His answers have been difficult one’s to hear. They have required pain and brokenness. But the lessons have been big; so big in fact; they rally in competition with my original surrender to Christ 23 years ago. There is new meaning to what it means to be “in Christ”, I have discovered that I really do have the gift of mercy, (for years I thought I didn't) and I have finally truly forgiven some people who hurt me years ago.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I nowlive in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galations 2:20

So, I am ready to see a new season. The heat is exhausting, but so is the journey that I have been on. I am ready for this summer to be over.

...be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Eph 4:23-34

Rejoicing!!!

Today is finally here! Our family has been waiting for this day for weeks, months…really, years!

When our family moved from Virginia to the state of Texas in July 2005, we left Adam at Virginia Tech. He was only half way through his engineering degree and after much thought and discussion, it was decided that he would be best off remaining there and completing his degree. (As opposed to transferring to another university) It was a decision that tore chunks out of my momma’s heart. It was difficult when my husband and I walked down the hallway of his freshman dormitory room and left him 6 hours away, but to move half of a country away…leaving him there…??? It was almost too much to bear.

We almost changed our mind after that first Christmas (2005). School was intense for him, his Grandpa Ron passed away that fall, and his Grandma was recovering from some serious injuries. He really wanted to come home. We wanted him to come home. But, again, after much thought and discussion, it was decided that he would go back after Christmas break and finish his degree.

Graduation finally came in December 2007 and we all hoped and prayed that he would find a job in Texas. But that was proving to be a challenge since the recruiters that were available to him were filling positions on the East Coast. So, he found a job with a fantastic company – in Fairfax, Virginia. Oh well. A good job is a good thing, even in Virginia.

And It is a good job and he loves it. So we flew back and forth as often as time and money would allow. But there was a girlfriend involved now too, who was still in school, with a family who lived in Virginia.

So, we waited, and prayed – hoping that somehow he (and she) would make Texas their home.

She decided that Texas would be a great place for her to obtain her Master’s degree! (answered prayer) She moved here in April to establish state residency.

And Adam began looking for a job. He looked. And interviewed. And even had an opportunity to be hired. But he loves his current position. One morning, he approached his boss and asked if he could move to Texas. By the afternoon, he had an approval to work remotely – from Texas!

Today, he arrived! An apartment is waiting for him just 15 minutes from our family home.

HOORAY!

It is the first time since my husband and I walked down the hall of that freshman dormitory that our entire family will be within an hours drive of one another. And that was August, year 2000!

What a happy day!

Feeling Blessed!