Parades

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.

Biblical Counseling

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!

Forgiveness - what does it really mean?

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 reconciliation aspect of forgiveness. The lie that you can forgive someone, specifically another Christian, and choose to not be reconciled is not Godly, true forgiveness. Not to say that unhealthy relationships should not change, but to choose to not be in fellowship with another believer who has confessed and asked forgiveness is sin. Plain and simple.
Whew! This is difficult stuff. But Jesus did not example forgiveness by telling us that He forgives us but does not trust us to not hurt Him again, to not dishonor Him by sinning against Him again and therefore He does not want to be in relationship with us. No, He forgives us and loves us with an unconditional love that says, "Your sins are forgiven and I want to spend all of my time with you....I love you...even though I know you will do it again."
What causes us to believe that our forgiveness of our fellow brothers and sisters is any different, that our forgiveness has conditions? Words like, "I forgive you, but I can't trust you", "I forgive you, but I don't like you." or "I forgive you, but I don't have to be your friend." These are not true, biblical statements.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Forgiven and forgiving.

This is a great book!

Happy Halloween!

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

The Year of Lasts

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 the mom of a graduating senior, and the last of three children, and I am barely able to think of anything other than the year of lasts...it is most fitting that I post some photos of the last Homecoming that I will participate in as a parent. In Texas, Homecoming is huge! As you will see with the Homecoming mum photos that I will post. (and also the photo that captured the comment of my blogger friend, Pam!)

The traditional (to Texas) Mum and Garter

Jeremy directing from his favorite spot!

Adam and Thien joined us!

Even Grandma came for the game!

The half-time performance!

Time for Homecoming Dance

Work

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

Workin' too much!

Senior Sneak #2

Senior Photo Sneak Peek!

Our lovely daughter.
So proud.

Crazy,Senior, Band Mom

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 our home, and soaking up every moment before the empty nest hits next year.
Today, we spent a couple of hours on a senior photo shoot! How much fun it was! I can't wait to see the proofs. I can hardly believe that my "baby" is a senior in high school and what a beautiful woman she has become.

I am a crazy, senior, band mom. No doubt.

Our daughter and her boyfriend

Powerless

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.

Wednesday's Wonderful Word - GLORY

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 again, I fail), be perfect at work (oh, I can't be perfect at work), be a good friend (oh no! I forgot to call her back!!!!!!!) Cook dinner...(does Taco Bell count?) On and on and on.
Somewhere along the day, a ball is going to drop.

Especially if I am trying to keep them up in my own power. No can do.

When I communicate with my husband -(Lord) don't let me think it's so that he will understand MY point of view. Let it be so that God is glorified.

When I talk to my kids...cook for them, be there for them, help them (with weddings, apartments, etc.), let it be about honoring God and they receive the blessing. Not my own desire to glorify my abilities as a mom, but to bring Him glory because He is love, therefore I love.

When I work, and even if I goof up (I forgot to approve payroll for my employees yesterday! My CFO had to do it for me...and it was okay!) God is glorified. He is glorified because I apologized for my mistake. He is glorified because sometimes I do it right. He is glorified because I allow His love to be lived out in my life...even at work.

I might have been a "bad" friend, but He can teach me to love like He does. I might not have made good choices with my money, or my food choices, or how I spent my free time, but He can show me how to be more like Him.

WHATEVER I do....I weigh it against what would bring Him honor and glory.

Tough. Yes, but not as hard as we think when we let Him do the work.

Hoping to glorify Him ....
whatever,

A wedding and a funeral

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 father even though I didn't know him well. The time I spent with him, I remember his smile as big and genuine and his eyes as soft and understanding. At our first meeting several years ago, he pointed to my son and said, in broken English, "Your son?" I nodded "yes". He said, "My son too." I knew he loved my son and accepted him as his future son-in-law. I will never forget it. This man survived 8 years as a prisoner of war, held captive in his own country, was finally freed, and moved with his family to the United States just over a decade ago. He survived a battle with cancer, until it returned with a vengeance. He was laid to rest on Saturday.

My son and his future wife made it from Texas, to DC, to see him before he passed and remain there today to help his widow mourn and plan the next few weeks.

I know that there are questions and sadness in the minds of those who are left here; especially his young daughters who didn't have him that long. And I pray that the anger passes quickly, and that they forgive - God, physicians, war - for "taking" him from this life.

My thoughts ponder on forgiveness and why, for some, it comes easier than for others. I remember when I would have been hurt and even resentful if a friend asked me to do a book study and then bailed on me for three weeks. And I haven't lost a parent, but if I get angry about a busy (neglectful?) friend, how will I take the loss of someone I love so dearly?

It doesn't seem that there is much I can do to help my son and his fiance's family - except love them, comfort them and pray. But, I can learn from my friend about forgiveness and rest in knowing that God continues to grow me.

Let me not forget how much I am loved and continue to love those who God has given to me, well.

Wordless Wednesday - Vacation

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 illusions in the mirror in the hotel lobby. It entertained us for longer than I care to admit, but it was SO fun and funny!

The hotel staff got used to our shenanigans!

Last supper.
:(
We had such a good time!