A friend shared this youtube video with me. Less than 30 seconds into watching it, I had tears streaming down my face.
My cardboard testimonies:
Born a sinner and destined to spend eternity in hell; Redeemed through Christ's infinite mercy now will spend eternity with Him.
Three years of infertility; three babies in less than three and a half years.
Loss of a marriage and a lifetime of dreams ... still trustfully waiting to see how God will bring beauty from these ashes.
The love and grace of God is overwhelming. That He would take someone like me and love me as I am is simply astounding.
I would love to know and rejoice in your cardboard testimony. I hope that if you have one that you will share it with me. If not, then I would love to have the opportunity to tell you more about the amazing grace and love of Jesus Christ.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The Dancing Queen
June 7th was a special day for J4. It was her first dance recital, and she did an outstanding job. She performed 3 routines: a ballet, a tap and the finale.
She danced so well in all 3 of her dances, but you could tell she especially had fun dancing the tap routine. It was called "Shake Your Tail Feathers." I have to admit that I was a bit worried about the title of the routine, but it turned out to be mostly just the little girls shaking a feather boa and doing "the twist." Very cute!
J4's ballet routine was called "I Dream of You." They danced with baby dolls. It was just a precious little dance number. I especially liked the pictures of J4 doing that dance routine.
The finale included all the dancers from the dancing school. J4 had a great time skipping up the center aisle and then twirling on the stage with about 60 girls. She was obviously having the time of her life.
I have to say that I think J4 was THE BEST DANCER ... however, I never took my eyes off her to even begin to see how she might compare to the others. Fortunately, everyone else seated around me (my parents, my sister, my aunt and the boys) totally agreed with me.
As for J4 ... well, she just ate up being on stage. She's never really been on stage before and I was a bit apprehensive about how she might respond to the bright lights and big crowd. She wasn't the least bit concerned about it. At the end of the finale and awards, J4 didn't want to come off the stage. And when I was trying to change her clothes, she didn't want to take off her little costume. I think she rather enjoyed her time in the limelight. After yesterday's recital, I think it is safe for me to continue to make room in the budget for J4's dance lessons.
Enjoy the pictures of my little dancer!
She danced so well in all 3 of her dances, but you could tell she especially had fun dancing the tap routine. It was called "Shake Your Tail Feathers." I have to admit that I was a bit worried about the title of the routine, but it turned out to be mostly just the little girls shaking a feather boa and doing "the twist." Very cute!
J4's ballet routine was called "I Dream of You." They danced with baby dolls. It was just a precious little dance number. I especially liked the pictures of J4 doing that dance routine.
The finale included all the dancers from the dancing school. J4 had a great time skipping up the center aisle and then twirling on the stage with about 60 girls. She was obviously having the time of her life.
I have to say that I think J4 was THE BEST DANCER ... however, I never took my eyes off her to even begin to see how she might compare to the others. Fortunately, everyone else seated around me (my parents, my sister, my aunt and the boys) totally agreed with me.
As for J4 ... well, she just ate up being on stage. She's never really been on stage before and I was a bit apprehensive about how she might respond to the bright lights and big crowd. She wasn't the least bit concerned about it. At the end of the finale and awards, J4 didn't want to come off the stage. And when I was trying to change her clothes, she didn't want to take off her little costume. I think she rather enjoyed her time in the limelight. After yesterday's recital, I think it is safe for me to continue to make room in the budget for J4's dance lessons.
Enjoy the pictures of my little dancer!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Pieces
It's been nearly a year since my life dramatically fell apart. Since that time, I've often thought or even said that my life was "shattered" or that I was trying to "pick up the pieces." Not an hour goes by that I don't in some way think about all those shattered pieces ... wondering if there is anyway to put all the pieces of my life back together again, so that I feel whole and useful and unbroken once more. The cracks and chips and missing parts bother me greatly, and most of the time I feel so ashamed of me in this current state.
Pieces ... that word alone goes a long, long way to describing how my life feels. It's been defining me for almost a year.
A couple of days ago I read a blog that is written by the wife of a successful Christian artist. Back in April, this woman gave birth to a stillborn baby girl. I've never been in her shoes and I pray that I never ever have to experience the tragedy of losing a child. However, I'm quite sure that her life feels shattered into a million different pieces, and I do know how it feels to look at all the broken parts and wonder if they can ever be put back together enough to be of any use again.
Her beautiful essay on be broken and shattered speaks loudly to my heart. For you see, God is picking up all the pieces and putting my life back together again, too. Each day I look at myself and see how I'm beginning to heal. I still don't like all that I see, for mostly I end up noticing the very visible cracks and imperfections. They bother me because I want to feel whole again. But amazingly God says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
I encourage you to read this inspiring blog for yourself: http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008/05/past-and-pitcher.html
As for me, I'm going to break a teacup, scoop up the pieces and spend some time with God ... weeping, gluing and remembering. And I'm going to be thankful for the cracks in my life because through them Christ's love is able to seep out of me and into my little corner of the world.
Pieces ... that word alone goes a long, long way to describing how my life feels. It's been defining me for almost a year.
A couple of days ago I read a blog that is written by the wife of a successful Christian artist. Back in April, this woman gave birth to a stillborn baby girl. I've never been in her shoes and I pray that I never ever have to experience the tragedy of losing a child. However, I'm quite sure that her life feels shattered into a million different pieces, and I do know how it feels to look at all the broken parts and wonder if they can ever be put back together enough to be of any use again.
Her beautiful essay on be broken and shattered speaks loudly to my heart. For you see, God is picking up all the pieces and putting my life back together again, too. Each day I look at myself and see how I'm beginning to heal. I still don't like all that I see, for mostly I end up noticing the very visible cracks and imperfections. They bother me because I want to feel whole again. But amazingly God says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
I encourage you to read this inspiring blog for yourself: http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008/05/past-and-pitcher.html
As for me, I'm going to break a teacup, scoop up the pieces and spend some time with God ... weeping, gluing and remembering. And I'm going to be thankful for the cracks in my life because through them Christ's love is able to seep out of me and into my little corner of the world.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Less Like Scars
My sweet friend, Elysa, shared this youtube video with me. It's Sara Groves singing "Less Like Scars." If this song doesn't perfectly define this past year for me, then I don't know what does.
I hope this blesses you as much as it has blessed me tonight. (I'm copying the lyrics below in case you want to read them as you listen.)
LESS LIKE SCARS by Sara Groves
It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's
Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character
Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
Just a little while ago
I couldn't feel the power or the hope
I couldn't cope, I couldn't feel a thing
Just a little while back
I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping
You would come
And I need you
And I want you here
And I feel you
And I know you're here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
And more like
Character
I hope this blesses you as much as it has blessed me tonight. (I'm copying the lyrics below in case you want to read them as you listen.)
LESS LIKE SCARS by Sara Groves
It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's
Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character
Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
Just a little while ago
I couldn't feel the power or the hope
I couldn't cope, I couldn't feel a thing
Just a little while back
I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping
You would come
And I need you
And I want you here
And I feel you
And I know you're here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
And more like
Character
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Summer Adventures begin ...
School is already out for the summer vacation. The boys are excited about that, though I'm not sure what wonderful adventures they have planned for themselves. N6 calls himself a "Firstergardener" since he is already through with kindergarten (and therefore no longer a kindergartener) but not yet in the first grade (and so officially not yet a first grader). J8 says that he is a First/Second Grader. It's all rather confusing!
J4 is looking forward to beginning Kindergarten next fall. Hard to believe that I'll have children in 2nd, 1st and Kindergarten ... all back to back grades! I'm already praying for how I'll manage when they are in high school.
Some of our summer activities and plans include: Summer Reading Program at the Library (and J8 hopes to volunteer there again this summer as he really liked organizing the books on the shelves last summer), FBC Boot Camp (a weekly kids' program that our church offers), VBS, swimming in Aunt S's pool and lots of other things. J4's dance recital is June 7th and sometime in July she will attend a cheer day camp (which she is totally excited and thrilled about). I'll have to throw in a week at 4-H University on the LSU campus and another week at 4-H camp. Fortunately, my parents are able and willing to stay with the kis during those times.
As you can see, it is shaping up to be a busy summer. I'm sure before we know it, summer will be drawing to a close and we'll be scrambling to buy school supplies and clothes. I believe school starts again on August 15th.
Happy summer!
J4 is looking forward to beginning Kindergarten next fall. Hard to believe that I'll have children in 2nd, 1st and Kindergarten ... all back to back grades! I'm already praying for how I'll manage when they are in high school.
Some of our summer activities and plans include: Summer Reading Program at the Library (and J8 hopes to volunteer there again this summer as he really liked organizing the books on the shelves last summer), FBC Boot Camp (a weekly kids' program that our church offers), VBS, swimming in Aunt S's pool and lots of other things. J4's dance recital is June 7th and sometime in July she will attend a cheer day camp (which she is totally excited and thrilled about). I'll have to throw in a week at 4-H University on the LSU campus and another week at 4-H camp. Fortunately, my parents are able and willing to stay with the kis during those times.
As you can see, it is shaping up to be a busy summer. I'm sure before we know it, summer will be drawing to a close and we'll be scrambling to buy school supplies and clothes. I believe school starts again on August 15th.
Happy summer!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Math Bee Winner
I am the proud mother of a math champion! J8 is the school district's 1st grade Math Bee Champ!
On May 2nd, J8 represented HES in the parish Math Bee. He was a little nervous that morning. But as he sat and watched the 3rd grade competition, he realized that he knew all of their math problems. Then he watched the 2nd graders compete and again realized that he could answer all of those math problems as well. So by the time the first graders were called to the stage, J8 was practically dancing out of his skin.
Sure enough, he got every problem correct on the stage. There were 5 students left, so they all went back to take a timed test. Whoever worked the most problems in 1 minute would be declared the winner. I wasn't sure how well J8 would really do on a timed test. I knew he would know the answers, but would he stop daydreaming, humming and tapping his pencil long enough to write them down?
Apparently so, for when the winners were announced, J8 was the first grade champion! I extremely proud of him, for when it comes to math, J8 is definitely not his mother's son.
On May 2nd, J8 represented HES in the parish Math Bee. He was a little nervous that morning. But as he sat and watched the 3rd grade competition, he realized that he knew all of their math problems. Then he watched the 2nd graders compete and again realized that he could answer all of those math problems as well. So by the time the first graders were called to the stage, J8 was practically dancing out of his skin.
Sure enough, he got every problem correct on the stage. There were 5 students left, so they all went back to take a timed test. Whoever worked the most problems in 1 minute would be declared the winner. I wasn't sure how well J8 would really do on a timed test. I knew he would know the answers, but would he stop daydreaming, humming and tapping his pencil long enough to write them down?
Apparently so, for when the winners were announced, J8 was the first grade champion! I extremely proud of him, for when it comes to math, J8 is definitely not his mother's son.
Six Year Old Boys and Fairies
N6's been in the business of losing teeth ... so much so that the tooth fairy has been a frequent visitor in our home. I guess all that teeth losing/tooth fairy excitement rubbed off on J4.
One recent morning, J4 decided that she was a fairy. She was flitting around the house, cheerfully annoying everyone else, while we busily tried to get ready for the day ahead. After a while, N6 had had enough. He turned to J4 and said in a grumpy way, "I wouldn't want to be a fairy! Fairies are just insects."
Of course, J4 was devasted and immediately began to protest. But N6 stood his ground. With his hands on his hips, he said, "Fairies are too insects! All insects have wings. Ladybugs have wings ... insect. Dragonflies have wings ... insect. Grasshoppers have wings ... insect. Fairies have wings so it must be an insect."
So perhaps his logic is off just a bit ... I still thought it was a pretty good arguing point for a 6 year old.
One recent morning, J4 decided that she was a fairy. She was flitting around the house, cheerfully annoying everyone else, while we busily tried to get ready for the day ahead. After a while, N6 had had enough. He turned to J4 and said in a grumpy way, "I wouldn't want to be a fairy! Fairies are just insects."
Of course, J4 was devasted and immediately began to protest. But N6 stood his ground. With his hands on his hips, he said, "Fairies are too insects! All insects have wings. Ladybugs have wings ... insect. Dragonflies have wings ... insect. Grasshoppers have wings ... insect. Fairies have wings so it must be an insect."
So perhaps his logic is off just a bit ... I still thought it was a pretty good arguing point for a 6 year old.
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