New Grandbaby!!!

Tonight was the Gender Reveal Party.  (What happened to the days when you found out what you were having when you delivered.  Smile.)

Baby Cameron is going to have a little sister in February.  They will be 14 months apart so pray for them.

We are super excited!!!  We LOVE having a grandson, Cameron and now we get to experience the joys of a granddaughter.

Confused Young Man

FYI....Our daughter is a HUGH Alabama FAN....notice the Alabama bib.
Our son-in-law is a HUGH Florida FAN....notice the gator.
The babysitter is a Vols FAN........I think the she may have converted our grandson.  He LOVES "Rocky Top". 

Not sure at the age if he will even like football....but he sure does appreciate the bluegrass music.

We have told them since he was born that he would probably be a Vols fan because he would not be able to choose between mom and dad.

WAITING

BE HAPPY

Labor Day weekend, we had our annual Family Reunion on my mother's side of the family.  One of my younger cousins was talking about how sad and depressed she was because her youngest was graduating from high school this year.

Later, I got to pondering on her sadness....and thinking about, quite a few years ago, when I was facing the same thing.  In fact, the first weekend of May 2007, our daughter graduated from college.  The second weekend of May 2007, our son graduated from high school.  And, the third weekend of May 2007, our daughter got married.  WHEWWWW.  What a BUSY month.

• I LOVED when my two children were babies.  Nothing like the smell of baby lotion and the chubby little hugs.
• I LOVED when my two children were school age and learning and growing every day.
• I LOVED when they both played sports and every minute was spent carpooling them to and fro.
• I LOVED when they were both playing instruments in the high school band.
• I LOVED when they both playing high school ball.
• I LOVED when they became young adults and were in college.
• I LOVED when they both got married and started their own homes.

In fact...........I LOVE EVERYTHING about being a MOM.  (Now, notice....I DID skip some of the stages........but I even loved those too because they made me appreciate the better stages.)

I remember when our daughter was moving away to college and we were both crying.  She said, "Mom, it will never be the same again."  It broke my heart.  BUT....she was right.....it was never the same again.  We had begun a new stage of life.

We did not lose our children when they got married.......we gained another son and daughter.

I guess I am writing all of this just to say.......things WILL CHANGE.  Don't waste your time dwelling on the PAST......enjoy NOW and look forward to the FUTURE.

Heart Break

I will NEVER understand how ANYONE, much less a Mother can sit back and allow someone to brutally abuse and murder your child.

This is what our county has been dealing with all week. A week ago Friday, the police were called to a home, where a 5 year old boy had died. It was apparent that he had been abused for several days and had lain on the cot, dying for 2 or 3 days. The mother and the boyfriend were arrested for first degree murder and child abuse. There were two younger siblings in the house and they had been abused also.

We live in a tight-knit county and everyone is pulling together trying to help with the funeral costs and trying to help with items for the remaining sisters.

Of course, everyone is wondering how THEY could have helped.  Was there any signs?  How can things like this happen in our backdoor without us knowing it?

The detective said that this is the worst case of child abuse that they have ever investigated in Rhea County.

This is just another sign of the end of times.

As citizens, as teachers, and as churches.........we are REQUIRED by LAW to keep our eyes OPEN and REPORT ANY SUSPICIONS.  Many times we are guilty of trying to ignore things to keep from getting involved.........but we need to STOP. 

Please keep your eyes open, your ears open, your hearts open and report ANYTHING suspicious.  It is better to be safe than sorry.

It's Football Time in TN!

Growing up, my dad always watched sports and followed a couple of teams, but I never would have called him a die-hard fan on any one team. But when I married my main man, I knew that I had married a Vols fan.

Wally is really great about how he follows his team. He wants the football team to win, but doesn't allow the athletic performance of a bunch of 18-22 boys dictate his mood or shape his whole weekend. He does read the blogs and knows the players' names, but he doesn't worship University of Tennessee football.

Right now, the game is on and Neland Stadium is packed. Fans came dressed in their finest orange and regularly break into the song, "Rocky Top." The players are cheered and jeered as they run, tackle, pass, and score. Without a doubt, most of those in attendance would proudly own the fact that they do worship UT Football.

Sports and teams and athletes of all sizes, ages and locations become idols of various importance to even Christians all over the world. This probably doesn't surprise anyone. God created us to worship. We easily become emotionally invested and soon find ourselves worshipping the creation instead of the Creator.

For us ladies, we may or not be so drawn into the temptation to worship a team or an athlete as an idol, but we do need to guard our hearts and not let Satan sneak in and make us trip up over something that started as a little innocent fun. Whether it is a tv show, a book series or an actor, our idols can start small and then their influence over us can slowly but surely, gain momentum in such a way that we don't even realize the influence that they have over us.

My prayer is that God will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus and that He will reveal any offensive ways in me and lead me into the way everlasting.

How do you seek the Spirit's revelation of the idols in your life?

Just One More . . .

Ladies,

Do you ever feel like if you can just get through the next thing then you will be ready?

I feel like this whole pregnancy of mine has been like that. It is as if I haven't marked it by how many weeks or months along I am, but by the next focused event on my calendar.

Through the summer, it was VBS, then camp, then a wedding shower I was helping to throw in Ohio.

By August, it was the start of school, the start of work, piano lessons and then the wedding to go with the shower.

Now that September is upon us, I am waiting for my friend's consignment sale (I have a ton of items to sell!), for dance lessons to begin and a nursery to put together.

Then, I will be ready . . .  or so I think, I will.

God has been so graciously good to me not to overlap these things that I have commitments to and responsibilities for. However, I do realize that He has the right and the authority to change my plans at any time.

My third baby really could come any day now, whether the crib has been assembled or not. With this pregnancy, God has been gently reminding me on a regular basis that He is in control, not me. The "just one more" thing I want to accomplish or see through may not happen, but He has this. He knows my days. He is in control . . .

How has God reminded you lately that He is in control?