Old Purple

Well I have been home over a week now and I am still putting it all together (my life, my experiences, all this new world I've been exposed to)

I am patiently waiting for more photos to share (my friend, the photographer took most of the pictures) . But I did have access to this one and wanted to share it.

This is Anand Bhaka, he's pastor Bishwa's 11 year old son. He's a typical boy and I enjoyed meeting him very much. I hope to take my son to Nepal one day so they can meet. He spoke English well. Here we are up on top of a building overlooking the rented church building for Inspiration Fellowship. I am always sneaking around and he led me here. I just love kids. That was what I found very interesting is that kids are kids in any culture. The Nepalese children were well behaved and sat on the floor in front of me for hours- praising, singing, praying, dancing, bowing on their knees and even flicking paper and getting into things. One little boy inverted his eye lids and turned around to the other kids to show them, I couldn't help but laugh. Kids are kids in any culture.

But since I am the tote girl I have to comment on the tote that carried my money (rupees ), my journal (I wrote a lot about everything I saw, ate, smelled and did), my encouragement notes, my precious Bible and blessed passport around. This is old purple, my backpack from high school and carring it on any trip is more tradition than anything. It's beginning to look a little worn out and dated. There are much better looking backpacks out there but none with the character old purple possesses and faithfulness- never has it let me down. It's gone all over the U.S. on every airplane ride and road trip, every single one. It's gone with me to Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and now Belguim, India and Nepal. I am forever grateful for it, it's been comforting and utilitarian. It is the tote above all totes in my house.

A new bag from the bride...

This is my dear friend Casey Smith, now Schneider. Isn't she beautiful in her mother's revamped dress? I was so honored to be in her wedding Oct. 17th 2009. We are very much alike and I am sad she's moved to TX but I know we'll stay close. I was so excited when she gave me this bag with my name on it!!! I have great uses for it and I love the colors.

Lessons from the Remodel

Okay so here is the tote in which I carry all the info- measurements, prices, pictures, samples, contractors- it's all in here. I had no idea about remodeling before this undertaking. It has been crazy fun. I will not miss this tote when this is done- it's been a lot of work.

I am blessed to find God in every possible situation I find my self in and low and behold he shows up on my kitchen floor. Well I had to dig deeper, the lesson was way at the bottom layer.

You see the home we live belongs to the church Cody pastors. And they have been so gracious to allow me to remodel. ( I already have an idea to send this to the Baptist Messenger because this has got to be a big deal)

Well for some reason we never really hired a floor person so that kinda fell into our lap so once the cabinets were removed we went to removing the old linoleum ( I thinK I may be finally spelling that right, you shouldn't have some thing on your floor you can't spell). We'll wouldn't you know someone was lazy and decided to just go over an exisiting layer of linoleum instead of taking the time to remove it. So the first layer came off well, then we began the 3 step process of removing the bottom layer because in order to tile (like every should do) we have to have even concrete. So we began. We rented machines, one got the vinyl off but not the paper and glue. the next one didn't do a thing ( a waste of 60$ ) then we were left with a razor blade to scrap inch by inch off (easily 150 sq ft) We clear maybe 6 an hour and Cody can only do it for an hour at a time because it's so hard and only about 3-4 times a day. Anyway it's laborious....

so what does this have to do with God?

Here's the deal in life, there are a lot of times when we just want to make things look pretty and we don't take the time to remove something or deal with an issue. So we just cover it all up. We don't want to deal with our sin, our pride, or our past and we just go on pretending it's not there. But down below the surface of cheap linoleum is stuff that just needs healing, needs be given to God, needs to be talked out with a trusted friend. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there and someday it'll need to be dealt with.

So here's my experience - deal with it when it comes up. Deal with your past, your issue or your sin. Confess it, Discuss it, Give it to God and leave it for the garbage man to pick up. Start with a clean slate because when we let our feelings or dreams or sin get covered up it's a pain to deal with later. I wish someone would've taken the time to rip up a little linoleum 20 years ago- I wouldn't have had to chisel away at it now.

Don't be lazy in your spiritual walk with Christ, keep a clean foundation with friends and family.

You know another take on the whole idea is- sometimes in our lives there are things that need to be changed and we may deal with it some but we get lazy and say" forget it, who does it really hurt?"

Read Isaiah 39 where king Hezekiah is reprimanded because he did something he shouldn't have done- because of his sin his grandchildren where going to be taken captive and he just put on the new layer of linoleum saying well at least I won't have to deal with it.

Sometimes we believe lies, we make up our own doctrines or make God in our images instead of taking seek truth. The way is narrow, few find it, but I have and it has made all the difference. Me and Robert Frost. :)

Don't take the easy way out. God will honor what you do for his glory and for his name. So that we may shine like stars in the universe- a reflection of him.

Merry Christmas

If you know me well you'll know I have sent out a Christmas DVD the last 4 years. Since I have stepped it up this year with myspace, blog, and facebook I didn't do one to send out but I did want to include a little bit of how we celebrate Christmas with those who may check this out

and of course a picture or two...

The drama queen and the family clown/entertainer, which we discoverd Charis looks much similar to Cady at this age

Getting ready to ride in the parade.

I'll do an after Christmas post as well - I didn't think I was that busy this year and I have done much better than last year in staying organized and together. It only took like 9 hours to get us 5 packed and to Tulsa. I am avoiding Walmart like you all...and am enjoying having the internet again. We haven't had it at the house for 3 weeks, I feel like I've fallen off the face of the earth.

You have to check my lorislessons blog (the link is on the side bar) I posted a video of me playing silent night on the violin, my new thing of the month this month.

Funny's - okay yesterday my daughter was in tears, the dramatic one, because I informed her there wouldn't be snow for Christmas this year, she can go from jumping up and down giddyness to all out sobs quicker than anyone I know

Charis loves Candy canes and hates shoes and socks. Cody is convinced she'll get married barefooted. Silas is still with us I promise, I realized I have nothing about him here. He's been pretty lowkey the last few weeks, proven a great hard worker bringing in fire wood and taking care of Charis. We are working on character issues. Graditude and Appreciation, Giving and Attitudes. He is doing well in school and his hair has grown out. I love it!!!!

Speaking of firewood it's been very cold here, but no moisture so no snow, bummer.

My laptop is sick, hopefully help is on the way. I think I got the facebook thing settled. What a pain.

What else??? As I look back on the month/year and think of what I did -does it really matter? The only real question is how many people did I witness come to Christ this year? I can think of several that have made movements toward Christ but time will tell if the seeds are taking root. My girls from camp, parents from school, students, my own kids- my hardest assignment. While I see definte questioning and seeking they still don't understand the power of being forgiven, of full redemption, of amazing grace and his favor. My prayer is that they will in his timing. and for so many others too, so many people just don't get it. I just try to help those around me. I really can't think about taking on the world at this point.

I am about to finish the Karen Kingsbury Redemption series- all 14 books- in 3 months . My mom'll be so proud. My own books - on the back burner so to speak.

I am working more now than ever, still watching the little girl and taking on as many lessons as I can. Letting some things go but I should let more go. These are precious years with my kids that I'll never get back.

I am rambling while I wait for this video to download, you'll be lucky if it makes it I am getting tired. Tomorrow the presents begin! 3 days of festivus. I think I did well this year for my family. Cody has no clue what I got him... last year we both guessed then he pulled off a sneaky thing at the last, getting me the complete willow tree nativity set and redoing my ring with the kids birthstones (since we added Charis). It's a beautiful ring. (my drama queen can't stand the fact her little sis's stone is pink and hers is green)

Dec. update

Well I've been hacked I guess, my facebook account. Merry Christmas from the post modern world. I will post some things soon but for now we are going to Tulsa for a couple of days. I can't believe it's Christmas already, we've been offline for a couple of weeks so sorry no new updates.

We've been partying and performing. I had 5 performances this season. I have lots of pics and video! Hopefully I can get the hacker thing figured out and get online again. Stay tuned....

Nov. 15th bout time for a post huh

My life is fast paced, so this will be short. Let's see what's in the bags this week-

we are redoing our kitchen and flooring throughout the house after Christmas (hopefully to be done by end of March) so I have been pricing, measuring, meeting with contractors, getting bids, etc . I am excited but this is going to be like moving- yikes

my kids performed for the first time on stage this morning- Cady would have a great career at stand up comedy if she knew how funny she was off the cuff but she doesn't pine for the stage. Silas loves the stage, he played an original piece on guitar and was a werewolf in a group act. This is all part of 4 H which is a new activity for my kids this year. It has proven to be a lot of fun.

Charis is into climbing onto everything. Cody had her 3 hours this morning and she wore him out. She's still into toilet water.

Cody is cooking chili for his man night of UFC with all his buddies. We've been busy in an exciting way at church with lots of salvations, new faces and renewing spirit of God moving in people's hearts. Our marriage has never been better, still laughing and having fun together.

I've begun Christmas prep. Hopefully I'll get it together this year...last year was a little weak.
I am really trying to keep it simple. All the while thanksliving this month.

Blogation, I have to fix dinner. Let me wrap this up while Charis is bonking her head for the 100th time....I am dreaming of art and theatre camps for the summer??? Lots of talent around here. I was inspired last week by a music therapist. Music is awesome! Speaking of dreams, I had such a disturbing one last night I had to check online to make sure it really hadn't happened. I know stange huh.

My Week

Let's start with with last Sat. Oct 25-

wake up to Charis coughing like a seal

5 calls to the three of our closest family for a get together for Charis' birthday

Burn CD for friends having to work the weekend

ice Charis cake and cupcakes

drive to Duncan, trick or treat on main street

take Cd to friends

birthday party with cousins

Walmart run with 3 kids- yikes

Oct. 26

Charis' 1st birthday! we made it! yea!!! still coughing

make a bow for the cute birthday dress

sunday school, coffee, nursery duty- cupcakes with toddlers????what was I thinking???

gifts from our church family, they are so precious to us

the first cake devouring with dad
nap for Charis, mom reads her new Kingsbury( I actually finished 2 books this week)

ga's, ra's women's bible study- I love my traveling buddies (week 5 stepping up, beth moore)

Oct. 27

Shyann here by 7:30,

kids out the door by 8

piano lesson by 9

on our way to norman for dr. apt. by 10:30

Dr. Fox affirms my diagnosis - Charis has croupe, gets on steriods - yeah

check on Cody's Christmas present, it's not going to work- argh!

head home , girls sleep, I council a friend about a family situation and a different friend about her daughters interest in heaven's actual place in the universe

3:30 kids home, lessons start preparing for a recital- calling all kids/parents/etc.

4:00 Shyann gone home

6:00 chips and cheese for dinner, dad's away at a conference

7:00 we are practicing guitar and reading books , no tv!!

8:30 time for some kingsbury- fame I think was the book

Oct. 28

with Shyann and Charis we hit duncan for a car load- envelopes for my dad, 30 pumpkins for Wed. night, walmart trip (of Course), all the while talking on the phone!

one lesson at 5, Cody comes home, not too happy to see a house full of neighborhood kids

make 6 dozen cookies for church the next night

I have visions of cleaning my house but my feet can't seem to move once I put the kids to bed

Oct. 29

meet other moms at 8:30 to unload pumpkins and set up for that night

work on info sheets for family night at church, we are sending packages to orphans in India, wrap a shoebox, find newspapers, knives, all the while on the phone (Kathy -sorry if the minutes go over this month, people are in need)

3:30- 6 students, 3 kids, 1 shyann, 1 husband at one time- what to come over???

5:00 last student, cook dinner (fish sticks and mac and cheese) while listening to the looney tunes theme song- she nailed it!

6:00 head to church for a family night and pumpkin carving

8:30 wow, what just happened? 25 families came and had an awesome time- parents and kids are getting saved- everything went smoothly

we go over it with the fam while watching the pumpkins shine

Oct. 30

Recital day, shyann's back (the almost 2 year old I keep)she sleeps from 7:30-noon, working all day on recital programs, putting youtube videos with the kids songs for a multimedia theme song recital

11am boy Charis is quiet- omg, the worst mess of all 3 kids- purple food coloring paste all over her and the kitchen floor! I'll laugh one day

at 2pm I walk with my favorite neighbor and we catch up over our lives (much to talk about)

3:30 kids are back for lessons

5:30 make shift dinner and parent teacher conference

6:30 hit the church for the recital to find many already there, so much for practicing before

check the technology agh, we had all the videos preset and had to refresh theme....5 guitars to tune, pre performance jitters, the people kept pouring in.....had a great recital! I love my students, thank you Cody for watching the kids

8:30 time for more kingsbury- on forgiven by now

Oct. 31

sleep in , day off? really ?

7:30 dad calls, when ya'll leaving? did you the envelopes? where are we going to meet

8:30 on the road to Cody's mom's surgery in Edmond ( north of OKC) reading kingsbury , it's getting good!

10:30 visit with nana pawpaw and their friends (ours too) kids get tired of the hospitol

11- lunch with my parents for mom's birthday (monday) dad finally gets those envelopes

12:30 hit lifeway, wow Charis is doing great, she's such a go with the flow kid

1- back at hospitol, chase Charis around the waiting room, get word nana's good head to Lowes, check prices on wood for a project we are sponsoring in the morning

then we check at a smaller store....

4:30 are home and Cody wants t o go to duncan and trick or treat at the churches- get kids dressed up, I guess we'll have candy for dinner....( boy did the hotdog at Bethel hit the spot)

fyi walmart on halloween is empty- great time to shop

8pm home boys go the the home football game, girls in bed, mom takes a bubble bath and finishes another book , I think I'm addicted

and then Saturday Nov. 1st

how did we make it though this week? only by the grace of God- I spend some time telling him how much I love him, he tells me about himself as well

cereal, cartoons, clean house? nah, we'll put it off another day

9 am head to a local widow's home to put in a porch- I organized it for our ladies Bible study mission project, we got the guys there and they did most of it , we painted, moved lumber, got drinks, food, supplies and put in an shower wall.....God bless Sylvia and all those cats...

2pm wow Charis is a good baby, done more mission work in her first year of life than most of our church members- oh our car wouldn't start, just an inconvience....

3-4 try to relax a bit

4- trick or treat party at friends house

5:30 trick or treating in our town- a big deal, hundreds of kids

7:30 the party moves to our house for some football, go sooners!

9 pm who would believe this kind of week? I must write it or I'll forget it all! I love my life, don't get me wrong but I need some r & r.....see ya

I apologize for the space but after this week and spending the last hour trying to upload the same pictures, I am fed up with blogger.com and publishing no matter what it looks like - argh!