Liz's Letters

Parades are fun. They are especially fun when you know people who are marching in parades. We recently had the joy of watching our daughter march with her high school band in our community's Christmas parade; yet another "last" in our lives. We had a lot of fun because our community is fairly small even though we are a suburb of the Dallas Ft. Worth metroplex. Our town (and it is called a town) only has 2 high schools, both of which were represented in our parade, along with every Boy Scout troop, city official, and club. It is like one big Flower Mound party - attended by friends and neighbors - one happy community. I left the parade feeling blessed to be part of a small town community, and really proud of our daughter as she represented her school in the festivities.

I took a ministry position with my church some time back that I felt ill-equipped to really do. I was assured that I would be provided training. True to their word (staff at my church), I got the details of the training. In a few weeks, I will begin a 26 week training with The Association of Biblical Counselors My mind is still trying to grasp what I have gotten myself into! Haha! While doing so, I am mentally preparing myself for going back to school, since that's pretty much what I will be doing. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am also in awe at how faithful God is. Eager to see what He has in mind!

Talking to a counselor and friend today, she made a comment regarding how most people view / understand forgiveness. I agree with her thought that most people, even Christians, don't really understand how to forgive. I know that I didn't. For many years, I thought I had forgiven people because I made the choice to. And I was told that the "feelings" would follow my decision. As a result, I have walked through many years of my life with unforgiveness and therefore, bitterness, holding me back from living life as God would have me live. I have spent the last three months studying and reading much about forgiveness. One of the most powerful books that I have read is The Gift of Forgiveness by Charles Stanley. I believed a lot of untrue things about forgiveness, much of which was taught to me by "the church", some I have witnessed, and some I have personally experienced from the receiving end of this non-biblical view of forgiveness. One biggie for me is the re...

One last trick or treat! Link and Zelda Any true video gamer would know that!

My blogging friend, Pam, at Abiding With Love made a comment on my Facebook status a week or two ago - calling the time period I am in "The Year of Lasts". I haven't forgotten it because it is totally what I am feeling. Our baby girl is a Senior in High School...she is the last of 3 children. And everything, every little thing she does, I am fully aware and thinking, "This will be the last time I ______________." It is bittersweet - after all, I do turn 50 in a few weeks, and seriously, all this stuff is making me tired. Chaperoning these away football games on the bus with however many band students, staying out until 1:00 a.m., those days REALLY kick my hind-end! Selecting Senior photos has been an excruciating chore - I want every, single photograph. And it pains me to miss anything, like right now she is at a band competition that I was not able to attend due to a workshop I was committed to. I am obsessed. So, since my mind is occupied with being t...

I apologize in advance for anyone who I might offend... but sometimes you just gotta say what's on your mind. Workin' too much!

Our lovely daughter. So proud.

Life is FLYING by! A friend of mine texted me yesterday and asked if I was going to make a girls night out in honor of a dear friend who recently finished treatments for breast cancer. I had to tell her "Very sadly, no." I went on to say that I wasn't going to be able to attend the Ladies Bible Study meeting either. My last text to her was, "I am a crazy, senior, band mom." That's the truth. That's me, alright. I had no idea that having a senior was going to take so much time. (and money) and that having a senior in the band was going to take even more time (and money). But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I only get one more Senior year (as a mom) and I am making the most of it. Likely, I will drive my daughter crazy because I plan on attending every football game - even chaperoning the away games (unless I am out of town - like this weekend for work), plan on wearing obnoxious band mom t-shirts, framing gigantic photos and putting them up in...

Powerless. I am reminded of this again and it is mostly due to the fact that I continually think that I have power - even if ever so slight. I returned yesterday from a retreat for women in recovery. It is a weekend that I have gone to every year for the past six years. While there, I am very aware of my powerlessness. Powerless against the effects of alcoholism, powerless against loss, powerless against anything, really. And I know that God is the One who is all powerful. But the very next day, I think I can control the universe. I know it is a ploy. The devil wants me to believe that I am stronger. But, I believe him, and regret it. But, progress, not perfection. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Yes, I do believe that.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 I don't know about you, but often, this passage is so familiar to me that I just read over it. You know what I mean...read it and not really HEAR what it says. But it says "whatever you do". Whatever I do? Yes! Whatever. To me, that means everything. Everything? Yes, everything! Wow! That is SO difficult. I do a lot of things in a day! And in any given week...I do a TON of things! Granted, I am one of those annoying people that do too much. Yes, I admit it...I do TOO much. One of my greatest weaknesses is trying to do everything. But God does say to do "everything" to the glory of God. But I try to do everything to the glory of Liz. Ah. But it just does not work. Nope. Does not work. Never has. Never will. I can wear myself out keeping all the balls in the air. Keep my husband happy (I so fail), keep my kids happy (yet ...

This evening, I sent a message to my friend. She and I have the kind of friendship where we might go weeks or months without having a conversation, but she is often on my heart and in my prayers. I invited her to do a book study with me this summer and have totally dropped the ball. My message said, "Can you do lunch this week? Crazy busy here with weddings and funerals." My next message will be an apology for my neglect. And she will forgive. What I know is my friend will forgive me and we will meet, catch up, laugh, maybe even cry a bit...because my life has been busy with a wedding and a funeral - since my friend and I were together a little more than 3 weeks ago. The wedding, I knew was coming (although it came quickly!) but the funeral, not the case. I didn't actually attend the funeral since it was in Washington DC area (a good distance from Texas), but I was there in heart and spirit with my son and his fiance' - the one who lost her father. I loved her ...

Recently, our family enjoyed a little vacation time at the Florida Gulf coast. Some long time family friends joined us and we had a fantastic time! Here are some of our favorite memories! Just arrived The view from our room Fun in the Ladies Room Oh, NOOOOO!! Sand Castles A fun Mother/Daughter moment Let's go fly a kite Okay! Alston having too much fun torturing the girls! The girls having too much fun being tortured! Good Grief! They act like they have known each other all their lives! Wait! They have! haha Escape Victory! Raring to go! Some, a little more sure than others! Bye, bye! There's our kids! Waiting parents All safe and sound Another day at the beach Lessons on how to canoe They got it! EWWWWW! Family Jim and Nancy Fred and Liz Rebecca and Ashley They think they are in charge While shopping, Nancy found my eyes in a pickle jar! (my nickname is Lizard - and Nancy ALWAYS calls me by my nickname) This one is a little hard to explain, but we could make optical illusio...