Keep You Forever

Today I had a rough day with Princess - we were in the trenches together for over an hour, so to me it feels like a day, but it was only an hour of very rocky rough riding, nothing smooth at all going on. She can be very stubborn and strong willed. I guess I can be too, when I am dealing with her, but I'm not sure that it is my inherent nature. Today I was headstrong in that I was going to "win" this battle with her. It didn't exactly work that way after several time outs, spankings, and constant back and forth battles. I finally had to stop and let daddy take over before I got absolutely too frustrated with the situation. Although I did not see anything wrong with the request I made of her, I assume that it was the way I communicated with her that caused her to be so stubborn and defiant. However, defiance is never okay. I cannot believe how incredibly patient I was with her until it was time for daddy to take over.

But at the end of the day, when it is time for bed, on special days, Princess melts my heart and there is no way I could ever hold these indiscrepancies against her. Daniel and I take turns putting each one of our precious babies to bed. Tonight it was my turn with Princess. Tonight was one of the special nights. Tonight was one of those nights when she grabs me and hugs me tight and says over and over, "I will keep you and keep you and keep you forever." It is perhaps the sweetest, most precious thing I've ever experienced. On these particular nights, she doesn't want me to leave the room. She holds me tight as long as she can. The only way I can leave is if I tell her that she can keep me in her heart forever. I cherish these nights because I know one day soon, she will not have such a warm response for me and it will not be cool to hang tightly to momma. But, oh, how I love looking at her sweet face so close to mine and hearing her sweet voice say over and over again, "I'll keep you and keep you forever," and I think to myself, "If only I could keep you and keep you like this too forever, my sweet, precious girl. If only time could stand still for a few more moments."

How we Celebrated Thanksgiving

We went to Daniel's extended family in Springville to eat and eat and eat on Thanksgiving day. :) Princess was feeling a little icky, but otherwise the kids played in the grass, and Pea ate too much, and everyone had fun. Daniel and I got lost in Springville, but apart from that, it was an all around fun day.

On Friday, we went to my mom's house in Cordova. My sister and her husband were there, and again we ate and ate and ate. Joy (said in a mixture of both joy and sarcasm)! Then the day was long and full. We visited my PaPa. Princess was quite entertaining - in rare form and made his day. He was sad. He was without my Granny for the first time at Thanksgiving, and it was the first time he was unable to participate in the activities with us, so our visit brightened him up a bit.

Then we visited my Grandmother and Pa (my dad's parents), and Princess again entertained. Pea stayed at my mom's with Daniel to take a nap, so he didn't get to visit or entertain anyone. :( Princess's birthday is Tuesday, so she got a birthday gift from my Grandmother - money. You've never seen someone so excited to get some money - it could have just been a penny, and she would have felt the same - something to put in her fairly new piggy bank. I hope she stays thankful. She already has too much - so this is a difficult feat.

Then we came back to mom's, ate again, and then went to the mall - left the kids with Nana, and then after shopping, we all came home late that night. I only bought books, one of which I aim to blog about, so look for it in a couple of weeks.

Every since my dad died, we no longer celebrate anything with his side of the family. We only get to visit. My sister and I are tremendously sad by this. I think it has more to do with the fact that she and I and my cousin are all grown up and each of us have our own married families to see about too, but we feel disconnected from them in a way that we wish we could change and associate it with the gap dad left. I know Daniel misses seeing his cousins regularly too, and there has been no death in his family - just kids growing up. I would happily have a celebration at my house for everyone, but no one wants to drive to Birmingham, and my house is small besides. Nonetheless, a little part of me grieves for my family at every family gathering. As Anne of Green Gables says, "Why do we have to grow up and change?"

I know it is just life, but how do you connect with your family? How has your family life changed over the years? Got any advice?

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for God the Father, who created me in love and without Him I would be nothing.

I am thankful for Jesus, the everlasting Prince of Peace, love in human form. I stand in awe of a Love so deep, so wide, so long, so high, that God would humble Himself to become human, and then if that was not enough, give Himself up in death to show us all His love. I am humbled as I think of the image of Him as a helpless little baby that as Great as He is, He did that awesome thing.

I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, leading, guiding, and directing me - His gentle whispers into my heart.

I am thankful for my husband, for marriage, because it shows me just how selfish I am and keeps me hungering for the Great I AM, and because our partnership, when we even a tad bit live out the way were intended to live, is an image of Him. How utterly awesome and incredible that He uses us to do anything.

I am thankful for Princess, because she tests everything I know about parenting, which is not often much, and again, I come before the throne room.

I am thankful for Pea, because he keeps me moving, and along with Hubby and Princess, shakes things up and makes life interesting.

I am thankful for my brother in law, Robby, because he has been saved from certain death, and I cannot wait to see how he responds to God and is used by Him.

I am thankful that God hears and answers - that Granny is at home with Him this year.

I am thankful that God heals as I know He is working all things for His glory in my sister's life though she cannot see it yet.

I am thankful for the body of Christ - that I am encouraged to grow in Christlikeness by my other brothers and sisters in the faith, for growing friendships and food and fellowship that we share.

I am thankful that I have a place to call home and clothes to keep me warm and that I can bless others in a similar fashion.

I am thankful and incredulous that God calls each one of us to share His truth with those who do not yet know Him.

I am thankful for those that go to foreign lands to share this truth. I am thankful for those of us who stay where God has planted us to share this truth too. I am thankful that truth is not relative.

I am thankful for so much more because I have been given so much more. My prayer is that my heart swells with gratitude and that others are able to see Him in me and not me in me.

Valleydale's Big Give

We go to Valleydale Church, and I have been so extremely proud to call myself a member of this church the last few weeks. I have got to admit there have been times that I did not know what I was doing there but kept plodding along because God told me to. God is truly using our pastor to speak to us, and the culture is truly changing. We are about the truth of the gospel being lived out, and I am so excited and proud to be a part of this. Every Sunday I get so excited about how I will be encouraged to be Jesus to someone. I no longer just know but feel and see that I am a part of the body of Christ reaching out to others, and I feel connected.

This past Saturday our church participated in the Big Give. Our class went to a fire station, an assisted living facility, and passed out gift cards at Wal-Mart. The response from our church family and from those who were blessed has been overwhelming. I am again so proud and so encouraged. :) This is from an email from our pastor which summarizes what we did during the Big Give on Saturday.

Last Saturday (Nov 22nd) at our "Big Give" over 300 Valleydalers saw first hand how truly happy Thanksgiving could be.

Imagine a total stranger bringing you a washing machine when you knew you couldn't afford to replace your broken one. Or wondering how you were going to pay your day-care bill because your husband had just died - only to find out it had been paid by someone you didn't even know.

Our folks raked yards, thanked firefighters, and provided gift cards, groceries, home repairs, a new roof, a handicap ramp, clothing, bedding, and shoes to people in need. Visits were made to assisted living and nursing homes, Bibles were given during visits with inmates and parolees, and Christmas gift-wrapping paper was distributed at an area store.

The "Big Give" was a big success! Thanksgiving has a new meaning around here; we're changing our culture. "Give and it will be given to you," (Luke 6:38).

I am so glad to be a part of the body of Christ and proud to be united with
Valleydale.

The Truth about Santa & Christmas?!

A friend of mine, Ms. Abby Hogelin, posted this on her facebook page. I liked what she had to say and asked if I could post it here. She said yes. Thank you, Abby. The message could be controversial if you've never thought of this aspect of Santa Claus, but I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Do you agree or disagree with Ms. Abby? Can anybody give me a scriptural reason to "believe" in Santa? Personally, we are still working out what to say to our kids about Santa. Princess will be 3 this year, and we will probably need to say something more about it, but Santa doesn't visit our house at Christmas. The kids know the gifts come from us. What do you do in your family?

Enjoy Abby's thoughts...

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I work retail, where Christmas seems to start right after Halloween. In fact, Academy's been playing Christmas music since the beginning of November (not non-stop thank goodness). While on a break there today, I heard a song that said something about being "good, extra good" so that Santa would reward you. And it struck me how the mainstream "Christmas" message is completely opposed to the idea of grace, which is what Christmas is supposed to be about.

Unlike most kids, I grew up not believing in Santa Claus. My parents never told me to believe in him, so I never had to face that terrible realization that my parents lied to me. I was exposed to the usual Santa Claus songs at school, though, and it never really bothered me that some people considered him to be a vital part of the Christmas season. After all, I knew that Christmas was really about Jesus being born in a manger, so why shouldn't other people have their fun with this Santa Claus myth? But my realization today has made me rethink my views on Santa Claus. I now see the myth as something much more sinister than probably many people realize.

It's not just the greed and the selfishness of wanting presents that gets me anymore. It's not the lies and deception that parents perform against their children. The whole culture that produced the idea of Santa Claus is warped. Our culture teaches that if you are a good little girl or boy, Santa will reward you with toys and gifts. This is a works-based worldview, training people from childhood to expect their good behavior to pay off, to count for something. It's a worldview that continues on into adulthood, long after people stop believing in Santa Claus. How sad and heartbreaking is it then, that this message should be broadcast across our airwaves and brainwashed into our minds during the same season that we celebrate Jesus's birth?!

Jesus was born so that he could die for our sins and offer us grace-- giving us the free gift of eternal life when we didn't deserve it because of our sins. I think many people lose sight of the fact that the Christmas season looks forward to Easter and the cross. There's a great Christmas song by Chris Rice called "Welcome to Our World." In it, he sings, "Tiny heart whose blood will save us / Unto us is born." This should be the message of Christmas-- that through Jesus's birth, death, and resurrection, we can have life by believing in his name!

It has been pointed out that Santa is an anagram for Satan. Before today, I just laughed off this comparison, but it might not be far from the truth. What better way to distract people from the message of grace than to present them with the myth of Santa and works-based rewards? Isn't it usually the case that evil masquerades as something appealing? Think of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Didn't Adam and Eve think it looked good to eat? Likewise, people everywhere want to believe in this works-based system, which Christians know is a lie.

Why don't we share with them this Christmas season that God is not like Santa Claus, rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior? God isn't someone to approach with a list of things we want, either. Instead, He loved us fully and completely in spite of what we have done. He sent His son Jesus to die for us to give us eternal life. Please join with me in sharing the message of grace this Christmas Season.

Christmas Conspiracy

Every year at some point, I say the words, "I hate Christmas!" and what I really mean by those words are that fact that I hate the shopping, the commercialism, the taking of Christ out of Christmas. This year early on, I threatened to say those words because I have a family member who is big into buying a crazy amount of things for the kids. I love to give gifts, and I put a great deal of thought into my gifts most of the time, but I hate making gifts that no one appreciates and buying gifts that no one needs and are unwanted. I get frustrated knowing that my house is overflowing with things we do not need, yet there are those who do not have clothes, food, or a place to live. I do not mean to sound ungrateful, I just do not think Christmas should be about giving to those who have too much, but about the fact that God sent his Son in the form of a helpless little baby. How wonderous and special that is! If our family had a definite need and someone was able to meet that need, how very grateful we would be and special that gift would be. Giving to the needy and less fortunate are the kinds of gifts we should be giving.

Christmas is about the birth of Christ, and I intend to let this Christmas be about Christ - to wonder at the miracle of His birth, to recognize that He was born of a virgin, that He was God in a baby's body, that He took on a wretched body in order that He might one day die and save us all from the certain death we would each face. He died so that we may live - isn't that awesome? Is there any greater gift?

I read an article on the Advent Conspiracy webpage about a man who gave his dad some coffee beans. Do you know what the coffee beans were for? They represented time sharing life stories while drinking coffee together. This year I hope you give one another some "coffee beans," and please know that I do not intend to say this year, "I hate Christmas!" It is going to be a simpler time for me. I bought my gifts, and I am excited to see everyone open them. While some are toys, I've tried to remain simple. I came across this commercial from Advent Conspiracy, and it really clicked for me, so I wanted to share. You may not want to give the gift of water, but I encourage you to give in the way that is meaningful and real. I hope you enjoy. I LOVE Christmas - no shopping stress for me this year.

Eating Pizza in Christmas clothes

PS. I am back posting some blogs to reflect the date in which things happened, so please check my archive list to see all my posts. When I get pics from the Big Give which our church participated in today, I will post those later under today's date.

Blogging Break?!

You may be wondering why I haven't blogged in a while - after all, it has been almost 2 weeks, and it is a little odd since I was blogging almost everyday. Well, one reason is that our computer is experiencing slowness, and we have yet to really diagnose the problem. Another reason would be blogger's block. I mean I've had things to tell you about but often times I couldn't figure out what or how to say them. Sometimes all I had to do was post some pictures, but I still didn't do it.

What have I been doing with all the extra time? Well, I have been in super home organization mode. I've been doing Christmas errands - I only need a couple of items now. I didn't use nap time to blog, but to work, and in the evenings, I was too tired to sit down at the computer and blog. Despite the fact that I haven't been writing about my thoughts, I've been using this time to think - a whole lot. In one of my last posts, I talked about how I was not being intentional with my time at the race track. This seems to be the case across the board of my life. I've just been floating along - which is a little rare for me, but I've let the kids become my excuse for just floating. At times, I have attempted to use my time to catch up with friends, which I realized that I had been neglecting, which could explain why my friendships are at times lacking. My friend, Lindy, and my sister, Jenn, would be glad to tell you that my weakness is definitely keeping in touch. At times, I will go into super friend mode and keep up with everyone for a while, and then I feel like I am doing all of the work, and I stop doing anything all together.

Have you ever read the "Parable of the Talents?" Do you remember what it says? You can read it here in Matthew 25:14-28. To sum it up, a servant master entrusted some of his property to three of his servants. Two of the servants invest their "talents", and one of them hides his "talent." The two that invest make more talents and are called "good and faithful servants." Verses 24 and 25 say, "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." Well, I am this servant. I am not purposefully hiding the talent God is giving me, nor am I afraid to use my talent, but I have been lazy with it, which may be a far sadder statement.

So what do I intend to do? My life motto is love God, love people, so I intend to do that which will act out my motto.

• finding ways to have dates with my husband
• continue spending quality time with my children
• pray faithfully for friends, family, and those who need a relationship with our blessed Savior
• call or email friends
• make cookies for my neighbors during the holiday season or do a cookie swap and then follow up with new relationships
• reconnect with a new neighbor friend
• use the time I've saved by shopping early to be intentional with my conversations with family members and friends
• doing my house chores as one working for the Lord

I list these things here, so you, my readers - those of you that are part of the body of Christ, can hold me accountable, so that I will be faithful, and I can eventually be called "a good and faithful servant."

I just love the way that the Holy Spirit works in my life and how He will not be quiet until I act in the way He desires. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to me despite my faithlessness to You and Your body.

What are some things that you believe God wants you to be intentional with or about?

Just Hanging Out

Pea's Firsts

Pea got his first haircut today. Actually that is not true. Last week he got a wiki-stick stuck in his hair, and we had to cut it out. But the pictures show the result of his first official haircut. We went to Sweet & Sassy.

I didn't take pics while he was getting it cut, but these show you the finished result. It was getting long in the back and on the sides. Princess was already getting hers cut, so I thought, "Why not?" As soon as the stylist started cutting, I thought, "Oh no, he's going to look like a little man not a baby anymore." Luckily for me, he still needs some more in front, so all is well. Perhaps I am a bad mom - I'm not big into giving lots of candy, but since Princess had hers cut and had gotten her sucker already, Pea also got to eat his first sucker while he sat in my lap and got his hair cut. He really thought that was awesome - I guess next time I need him to be still, and it is not for a picture, I'll pull out a sucker.

CE's Birthday Party

Princess got to attend her first "friend" birthday party today. It was her bestest friend, CE's birthday. Her party was at the Galleria, and all of the kids got unlimited carousel rides. How much fun! They had popcorn, candy, McDonald's happy meals, cupcakes, and fun playing ring around the rosey with friends. What more could a girl ask for?

A new game

Princess often invents games in the car - one is called "foot" and I am blanking on what the other one is called, but it is where they make each other laugh.

Today, Pea invented a new game - riding in the laundry basket. I think Princess is too big for it, but it is totally hilarious. I doubt it is very good for the floors, but since I have tile in the kitchen maybe it's a little more durable. :)

Do any of your kids make up games? If so, what are some of the best ones they've created?

When I Turn Three..

According to Princess...

When I turn three, I will be able to

• drive a car
• drive a motorcycle
• drive the motorhome

She probably believes that she will be able to cook & bake on her own too as well as meet her prince and get married... Can you believe she is already looking forward to these things? *sigh*

Daddy explained to her that perhaps when she turned three, she might be able to learn to read, count higher, and ride her tricycle better, among many other things.

I know He's alive

because He nevers fails me when I cry out to Him. In the course of my life, I have seen God work many times in the small things of life. I don't always see His work in the big picture or bigger things of life, but I know He's working for how He answers the "small" things.

Today I had to go down to Children's Hospital. My mom is having a yardsale on Saturday, so I've been cleaning out my house deciding what to sell and do away with. I had not gotten rid of my old Thirty-One items yet, so I decided to sell them to other consultants. One of the ladies who purchased some of my items works at Children's. We had finalized a price, and I had emailed her about meeting, and then today she just left me her number to call her when I got there. Well, I rounded up the kids, tucked them into the car and began my drive downtown. Very early into the trip, I decided to call her to tell her that I was on my way, so she would know that it would be roughly the same time I had emailed earlier. So I stayed on hold for 15 minutes and was going around Red Mountain when I was cut off. I called again and then preceded to wait 10-15 more minutes, and by this time, I had made it to Children's. A second time, I was hung up on. So, before I called a third time, I said, "God, please let someone other than the answering/waiting system answer - a real live person. I am downtown in front of the building, and I don't want to wait here all day with the kids in tow." So ring-ring, and yes, a real live person answered. Praise the Lord!! I always see the results of this type of prayer, and I believe He wanted me to share with you.

The Storyteller

Princess has become a storyteller. While she is eating, she usually sees something in her food in the shapes that it makes. Yesterday, her raisins were bunched together, and she saw a house. Today, it was a triangle corner of her bread, and she saw a house. But today she told me a story about it, and this is my retelling it to you, because I thought it was fascinating and incredibly insightful for her age. I don't even think I will tell the story as well as she did, but the details I give are the details she gave me.

There was a house, and no one ever went in because the doors were closed. But one day there came a storm, and it was a great big storm, and then there came a big rain cloud. The rain came and it rained and rained until it flowed out of the great big windows of the house. Then the house went away to God (she lays the bread down as if the house died). And in the sky came a rainbow. Then the house came back, and this time the doors were open!

Isn't that a great story - I think so!

Writing, Blogging, and Such

Since I have started blogging, I have started taking the art of writing itself more seriously. Writing helps me to wrap my arms around my thoughts and emotions, instead of letting it all swirl around and around in my brain and never letting them get fully processed. If you've been following my blog for at least a month or so, you know that I entered a writing contest, of which I did not win. So I asked for feedback - I am happy to know that it was just the mechanics of my writing that held me back, but I am also sad that this is the case too. I was very grateful to receive any feedback, but also slightly embarassed about my mechanical errors. Do you think I write engaging pieces? Why do you, my friends, keep reading this blog? Is it because you are intrigued by my life? Are you emotionally attached to me in some way already? I would actually like to capture new readers and therefore, write to the best of my abilities.

Actually, in another life time, I was a bit of a perfectionist, so I would not have posted anything until I had read and reread it 50 times at least, but as a mom, I just have a few minutes to work on a post each day, and I want to give you something to read, so I post what I've got even though it doesn't always flow like it should or is not always grammatically correct. Anyhow, since I'm practicing, I thought I might from time to time take posts and rewrite them. If you see the same thing written differently, please let me know which post you prefer. Thank you for reading my blogs, and please accept my apologies for lack of time to give you the best posts. I plan to rewrite my contest entry one day, so please give me feedback.

Karting and Caring at Road Atlanta

For those of you who did not know, my husband races go-karts as a hobby. Every year, there is a race in Braselton, GA, at the Road Atlanta track the first weekend in November. This race is usually put on by Big South Road Racing series and my father in law. So this year, we loaded up and went again. I do not love the race track and every thing about it, though I wish that I did. It is not especially fun to take the kids and care for them alone in an uncontrolled environment -only a few minutes of napping, etc. is just stressful for me. It is supposed to be family fun and togetherness, but I'm not there yet, though this was the best trip to Road Atlanta I've ever had. The kids however, are starting to really enjoy being at the track and all that goes with it. Pea pretended to drive every vehicle there - a go-kart, the motor home, the golf cart, and anything else he saw with wheels (he made the motor sounds himself). Princess also likes it and begged to go back to the tower when we would take a nap break.

There are a lot of nice people that race go-karts in the series that my husband and his family race in. Mr. Lamar basically feeds all of the Harper clan, which is a lot more than just us Harpers - its Alan from MS, the Farrs from Michigan, Kenny from Indiana, Katie and her family from NJ (I think), the Stoneys from Trussville, and the list goes on. He stocks up his motor home with deli meats, bread, cheese, sodas, waters, other beverages, and pretty much anything anyone would want. Friday night he had a BBQ and all of the fixings for all of us. The kids went trick or treating in their costumes at the track. Then on Saturday night, Mr. Lamar swapped out with one of the other guys and together they had crab legs, grilled chicken, grilled steaks, potatoes, etc. for all of us. Though people donate funds now and again, Lamar & company do this just for free. He also opens up his motor home to any of us to get out of the weather at anytime - I've spent as much time in that motor home as anybody. I've nursed both my kids in there. I've put both of them down for naps. I've watched TV. The motor home is a refuge at the race track, though not a private place. To my knowledge, he is not a believer. He is a nice person, but niceness does not take you to heaven. There are lost people all around me at the racetrack, and I don't know that my heart is fully devoted to sharing the message of salvation to them.

Somehow in the mix of life, I am working at being a mom, and don't find myself caring about the lost people all around me, and believe me, if God has given Daniel and I a missions opportunity, it is at the race track. I feel like I am the missionary who goes to Africa, but only has time to care for my kids and never builds relationships with anyone else. What would the point of being there really be, right? I don't feel as though I accomplish anything other than caregiving for the kids. Perhaps, people are able to see Jesus in me through this, but my intentionality is not there. Luckily, God still speaks to me in the midst of my sin and self focus and sheds light on this problem. Luckily, he uses sinners despite of our sinfulness. Why God ever chose to do this is a mercy that only God could bestow! I know that God can give me a heart overflowing with love for the people of the racetrack - I just have to choose and recognize this place as my mission field for now, and pray, pray, pray. I know He will answer because He has placed me there. Sometimes, you have to open your eyes to see the land God has blessed you with, and enter in, and obey. I am blessed to say that people do see a difference in Daniel. Perhaps he has always been different, but now as a Christ believer, he is being recognized as such, and I am so proud of him. Hopefully, this difference will give way to opportunities to share the good news of Jesus in his life.

PS. sorry I do not have kart pics.