Mommysmart

Football on our Wall in Fall y'all

2010-10-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

Panther Football Schedule 2010

2010-08-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Pics of the house

2010-07-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

We are finally getting closer to completion on the facelift to the new house. Please say a prayer that all will go well with our closing. It is scheduled for Friday. Hopefully then we can move in and turn this from a great house to our home!

Please forgive the mispellings (whtie instead of white). It is just a thing that I do, which you know if you have been reading this blog. They should put spell check on adobe photoshop....it would help me a ton!

Eisegesis VS. Exegesis

2009-10-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

I recently came across these two words in a fantastic book that I am reading and because I am certainly not a theologian I had to dig further into just exactly what this means. I know that I have at times been guilty of trying to fit God's word into my point of view. I just felt the need to share this in case I am not the only one who needed a "heart conviction" today! What are your thoughts?

2 Chronicles 27:1-2

“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD.”

EISEGESIS
First, the interpreter decides on a topic. Today, it’s “The Importance of Church Attendance.” The interpreter reads 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 and sees that King Jotham was a good king, just like his father Uzziah had been, except for one thing: he didn’t go to the temple! This passage seems to fit his idea, so he uses it. The resulting sermon deals with the need for passing on godly values from one generation to the next. Just because King Uzziah went to the temple every week didn’t mean that his son would continue the practice. In the same way, many young people today tragically turn from their parents’ training, and church attendance drops off. The sermon ends with a question: “How many blessings did Jotham fail to receive, simply because he neglected church?”

Certainly, there is nothing wrong with preaching about church attendance or the transmission of values. And a cursory reading of 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 seems to support that passage as an apt illustration. However, the above interpretation is totally wrong. For Jotham not to go to the temple was not wrong; in fact, it was very good, as the proper approach to the passage will show.

EXEGESIS
First, the interpreter reads the passage and, to fully understand the context, he reads the histories of both Uzziah and Jotham (2 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Kings 15:1-6, 32-38). In his observation, he discovers that King Uzziah was a good king who nevertheless disobeyed the Lord when he went to the temple and offered incense on the altar—something only a priest had the right to do (2 Chronicles 26:16-20). Uzziah’s pride and his contamination of the temple resulted in his having “leprosy until the day he died” (2 Chronicles 26:21).

Needing to know why Uzziah spent the rest of his life in isolation, the interpreter studies Leviticus 13:46 and does some research on leprosy. Then he compares the use of illness as a punishment in other passages, such as 2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chronicles 16:12; and 21:12-15.

By this time, the exegete understands something important: when the passage says Jotham “did not enter the temple of the LORD,” it means he did not did not repeat his father’s mistake. Uzziah had proudly usurped the priest’s office; Jotham was more obedient.

The resulting sermon might deal with the Lord’s discipline of His children, with the blessing of total obedience, or with our need to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than repeat them.
Of course, exegesis takes more time than eisegesis. But if we are to be those unashamed workmen “who correctly handle the word of truth,” then we must take the time to truly understand the text. Exegesis is the only way.

Poem by Wilbur Rees

2009-09-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please - not enough to
explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of
warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of him to make
me love a foreigner or pick beets with a migrant worker. I want ecstasy,
not transformation; I want the warmth of a womb, not a new birth. I want
a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I'd like to buy $3 worth of God,
please."

Question?

2009-09-07T08:52:00.001-07:00

In a conversation about church attendance, I heard this......."Like most young people these days, they just aren't very faithful".

Have we missed the meaning of the word faithful in this context? What are your thoughts?

TREY MORGAN said...
Sadly, in the past preachers have preached that attendance is equal to faithfulness. If you attend enough and stay away from the bad things, then you're good to go with God. It's what I call AA religion. Abstinence and Attendance.

As much as I like people being there every time that the door is open, it's not attendance that will get you to heaven.

Sadly I heard a 98 year old man say one time, "Pray for me so I can be faithful, I just don't feel well enough to come to church." I was sad because this man who lived a life as a Christian was thinking he might go to hell because he was too sick to make it to church.

NOW, let me also say there are some young that I really struggle with because they put church on the back burner. The don't see the importance at all and rarely attend, or put everything else in front of it. God did say that Christ and the church go together, you can't have one and not the other.

Somewhere we need to draw a line between AA Christianity and the attitude that "church doesn't really matter."

Oh, that's what I have been doing......

2009-09-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

I am putting together my resume for a job possibility. I am working on the “chronological part” and really thinking through what I have been doing over the past several years. I started jotting down quick snippets of an answer to the “tell me about yourself” question. It looks funny to see our past 16 years packed into 8 sentences.

I was born Monica Pierce. I grew up and graduated high school in Childress. I met Rocky while attending Texas Tech in Lubbock. We were married in 1996 and moved to Abilene where he began playing football for Hardin Simmons University. I attended and graduated from Texas College of Cosmetology in 1997. Since 1997, I have worked, attended online college, and managed a household with two children while Rocky completed both his bachelors and masters degrees. He has successfully worked his way up into an Athletic Director’s position in a great school district. Finally with Rocky at the height of his career and both children in school, it is time for me to figure out where to go from here.

So there you have it, all you never wanted to know about me in one paragraph.

Back to School

2009-08-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Well we survived taking Rylan to kindergarten and Ashlynn to Jr High (5th grade is in Jr High here) without too many tears. I really can't believe how quickly time passes and how grown up they both looked today. I just noticed that we all wore black....I guess that was our "back to school" mourning clothes. Anyway, they both had great days and we are looking forward to a great year in Seymour Texas!!

Let’s just call this post…..FINALLY

2009-06-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have decided to re-visit one of my many loves in life….writing on my blog. I would like to blame my absence on a bad case of writers block, but truthfully it has been a bad case of heart ache, questions, and at last healing (not complete healing but at least the ability to breathe and smile at the same time). Here is the story in its entirety with all of the detail, raw emotion, and honesty that I can muster to put out there for all of the free world to read.

Until today at this very minute, I have been very reluctant to post anything about this past 6 months on my blog. I have struggled with “political correctness”, protecting others that I love, and politeness for long enough. This is my story of how God moved me….literally ;)!

Nazareth is perhaps one of the smallest towns in Texas and a place that I called home for almost two years. I was “bathed in blessings” during my time there. Nazareth is a German Catholic community with a small population of students that transfer into the school due to its phenomenal academic success, especially compared to the schools surrounding it. The students there excel in everything! They have unbelievable work ethic and discipline. Most come from two parent homes where high expectations and respect still rule the home. As a former “city girl” with limited experience around anyone other than conservative Protestants, Naz offered me 22 months of vital life lessons. I was able to open my mind to so many things that God needed to show me about who he is and how he works. I was also blessed with many friendships that nurtured my spirit and encouraged my heart. You can imagine my pain when God planted on my heart the knowledge that we would be leaving. This was not a shout, but a subtle whisper in my quiet time. I didn’t understand at the time, but I began to wait for God to reveal his plan. Only a couple of weeks later did I find out that Childress (my hometown) would be hiring a new athletic director. I was instantly convinced that this must be what God was showing me and never once considered an alternative. I later asked God to forgive me for my abruptness in “planning my own course”. In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I was raised in Childress and have loved it like a dear friend for as long as I can remember. The day that Rocky got an interview my mind went into excitement overload and we began to pray. We prayed with more conviction about this than perhaps any other life turning point that we had ever prayed for before. We had all of our friends and family on their knees. We asked God to deliver to us only what was in his plan for our lives, but really with no idea that his plan and ours weren’t exactly the same. We begged him to take us home, but continued to ask for his guidance and direction. I never imagined that praying for his “guidance and direction” was actually not the same as my prayer to go home. I began to imagine my kids spending more time with their grandparents, Sunday church on the same pew as my many family members that live in Childress, and most importantly I visualized my kids growing up in this town full of people and memories that I love. The day that Rocky got the call that he did not get the job may have been my lowest moment to memory. Disappointment, anger, and questions flooded my mind. Had God not heard my prayers and seen my heart?

I quickly assured myself that perhaps God needed us to stay where we were. Our lives had been so enriched by our time in Nazareth. But still my heart revealed Gods truth which was that we were needed somewhere else. I waited more impatiently than I should have for what seemed an eternity for all of this pain to make sense.

In early April Rocky received a call asking him to interview for an AD job in Seymour. It was Mothers Day that we moved our things south to make our new home. I still don’t know what God has for us here. Maybe we have a job to do, a lesson to learn, a blessing to give or receive, or maybe we will never in this lifetime know. Whatever it is, I trust that he still reigns on his throne just the same today as he did 6 months ago. I am completely convinced that my prayers were answered exactly as they should have been for all of HIS reasons. I continue to pray for joy in my life and ask that you will pray that for me too. I pray for joy in your life and against Satan’s weapons like discouragement.

Hebrews 11:40 has always been a special scripture to me and it is my encouragement when I don’t understand……
God having provided something better for us that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

This is how you get Swine Flu....

2009-05-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

So as long as you aren't french kissing pigs....you're safe! Now can we please move on!

Giggle

2009-04-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

don’t try to hold it in ~ it’s a hopeless cause. just go on and giggle! and why would you want to hold back your giggles, anyway? a giggle is audible joy. it’s the music of an abundant heart and an ecstatic soul. a giggly heart is one that is loved well and cherished completely. so ~ don’t ever hold back your delightful giggles. instead, celebrate them! giggle!!

More great Maggie Lindley poems here!

2009-04-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong......

I'm movin' on.

I know there's no guarantees but I'm not alone!

Rascal Flatts

Satan called a meeting

2009-04-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, “We can’t keep Christians from going to church.” “We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles, and knowing the truth.” “We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior.” “Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.”

“So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don’t have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.” “This is what I want you to do,” said the devil: “Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”

“How shall we do this?” his demons shouted.

Satan answered, saying, “Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,” “Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.” “Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.” “Keep them from spending time with their children.” “As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!” “Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.” “Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive.” “To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.” “This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”

“Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.” “Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.” “Invade their driving moments with billboards.” “Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.” “Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives.”

“Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God’s creation.” Keep them so busy they pray as little as possible. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.” “Keep them busy, busy, busy!” “And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.”

“Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.” “Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.” “It will work!” “It will surely work!” Satan Exclaimed.

“It is quite a plan!” shouted the demons. The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy, and more rushed, going here and there. Having little time for their God ,or their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme?

“But as for me and my Household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 )
Author Unknown -

Well....

2009-03-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

this girl has got to pay for her candle habbit. So, I joined with Scentsy. I LOVE the stuff so much that I had to start working for the company just to afford my habbit. If you feel the need to enhance/cover/rid/change the smells in your home then please throw your support to this here mommycandleaddict!

www.scentsy.com/joye

Thanks!

Is God still in our United States?

2009-03-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you search with all of your heart!

Top 10 lessons learned when things just don't go your way....

2009-03-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

10. This too shall pass.

9. There is someone, somewhere in much more justified pain making you look like a giant baby for blabbing on and on about your misery.

8. Chocolate…..need I say anything more?

7. Fit throwing is just as annoying from adults as from children….okay more annoying.

6. Whether you believe the world is fantastic or terrible….you are right. Once you've got an idea in your head, you'll begin to look for and notice behaviors that reinforce that thought.

5. Good friends shine in the worst and the best times.

4. What you see is not as important as how you see it.

3. Taking the focus off of yourself by doing something great for someone else is great therapy.

2. Just build a bridge and get over it!

1. Let go, God’s got it!

Name Dropping - RE-POST

2009-03-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

So I learned from Lisa that the definition of name dropper is : One who begins throwing out the credentials of someone he knows, "Doctor so-&-so from such-&-such university, who also has a PhD in yadda-yadda, was having lunch with me one day and we were discussing ..." and ends up rambling about nothing related at all to the topic.

For a moment just humor me with this name dropping session!

Rocky was having dinner with Herschel Walker on Monday and....

Gotcha!

He did attend a dinner and Hershel Walker was there speaking. I think that he has a book about his life coming out. They took their football team over to hear him speak. He didn't talk football or career. He talked about God and his life. Rocky was very impressed. Rocky said that he told a story that his dad used to tell him about a negative and postitive boy.

The negative boy constantly whined and complained and the positive boy was happy not matter what the circumstance. Growing tired of the negative boy's attitude, the dad decided to do a little experiment. On Christmas morning he placed all of the toys in the room with the negative boy and filled the positive boys room with horse manure. Christmas morning came and Dad went first to check on negative boy. He was grumbling and complaining because none of this was what he wanted. Dad told him that nothing in life would ever make him happy. He started towards the positive boys room and was amazed to hear him giggling. He stepped in to see the boy frantically shoveling the manure. He asked him just what in the world he was doing. The boy replied, "with all of this manure, there has to be a horse in here somewhere!"

I posted this a little over two years ago, but thought that it was fun to bring out of the vault considering that Herschel Walker is now on the Apprentice (which you know that I love and a huge fan).

Are you a Carrot, and egg, or a coffee bean?

2009-03-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. The mother filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots.In the second she placed eggs. And the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

About twenty minutes later, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they felt soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "So, what's the point, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?
Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.

Thank you Rick Warren...just what I needed today

2009-02-17T06:57:00.000-08:00

I get "Purpose Driven Life" devos delivered to my email box and here was a snipit of today's.......

Surrender:
Let Go and Let God Work
by Rick Warren

Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 (GWT)

Surrendering your life means:

· Following God’s lead without knowing where he’s sending you;
· Waiting for God’s timing without knowing when it will come;
· Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide;
· Trusting God’s purpose without understanding the circumstances.

You know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work. You don’t have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more.

You also know you’re surrendered when you don’t react to criticism and rush to defend yourself.

Dear God...you're invited to Coffee....my house!

2009-02-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

I understood something today! I can't say that I learned it because to learn means.....get to know or become aware of, which I had already done. To understand means......know and comprehend the nature or meaning. Today I understood that there is tremendous power in prayer with friends.

I had a very dear friend over this morning for coffee. She prayed with me before she left and I felt God's presence in a way that gave me such comfort this morning. I believe that knowing God is with you and feeling God's presence are different ideas.

So go find a friend to pray with 'cause God needs no other invitation.

A game of Hope

2009-02-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

I am sure that you remember hearing this story, but it is very powerful to watch. My "coaches wife friend, Michelle sent me this link and I had to share. This "football coaches wife" cried like a baby through this video.

Invasion

2009-02-04T06:13:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA– Rain-battered residents in northeastern Australia were on alert Wednesday for snakes in their bathrooms and crocodiles in the road following repeated storms that have sent local wildlife in search of dry land or a safe haven.

Can you imagine finding a crocodile in the road? Or what if you kept the lights on to sleep at night because you were worried that you might wake up to a snake in your room. I don't want to live wondering what will be invading my home.....or my heart, let me explain.

You know, I consider myself a "glass half full" kind of girl. BUT lately, I have been wallowing in self pity. If you have ever wallowed before then you know how it works. First you just start to pout....poor me. Then you start to throw your arms around a little (like those kids you see in the grocery store having a fit)...it's not fair. Suddenly the kicking starts which makes it all feel worse until you find yourself in a full wallow....just thrusting around indiscriminately all the while looking like a total dimwit to everyone around you. Do you want to know what I found when I googled the phrase "wallowing in self pity"? Of course, you do......

Pity for oneself; especially exaggerated or self-indulgent pity where you believe that you are the victim who has done no wrong and is deserving of condolence from everyone. "Self-pity" is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality"

OUCH....and so true!

Proverbs 25:28 says, "Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control."

You know the "city walls" are down in Autralia. There are snakes and crocodiles invading their homes and their streets. I must tell you that as bad as that story sounds to me, I am allowing some invasions in my life, too. My lack of self-control is making me very vulnerable and while I am pouting and kicking around I am leaving down my "city walls". When I allow my walls to be broken then I have no protection and the enemy has an open door. And let me tell you, he will come on in and bring with him some luggage filled with a little gossip, a few lies, discouragement, and a lot of fear.

Today I prayed against invasion and for protection of homes and hearts. For the safety of the residents of Sydney and also that God will help me to overcome my self pity & lack of self-control which is breaking down my city walls. I thanked him for revealing the truth of what self pity really is. If you are wallowing then I pray that this will pierce your heart as well 'cause nobody really wants to watch you kicking around and pouting.

Tough Love vs. Spanking -- Good Argument

2009-01-27T07:48:00.000-08:00

Most of the American populace thinks it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk.

Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together.

Eye to eye contact helps a lot too.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.

People, this is just funny....I don't practice this and this is not my child. I got this email from my friend Emily today and really needed a good laugh.

Warning: Please don't try this at home. Much of the action depicted and/or described on this post is potentially dangerous. Virtually all of the riders seen in this photo are experienced professionals. Do not attempt to duplicate any stunts that are beyond your own capabilities. Always wear the appropriate safety gear.

'Cause a sister has a right to brag....

2009-01-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

Below is an article about Keith from the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I am so proud of all that he has accomplished. You can also check out Keith's blog here.
Cowtown Marathon champion Keith Pierce going for three-peat
By WILLIAM WILKERSON
Special to the Star-Telegram
http://www.star-telegram.com/376/story/1164129.html

And to think, Keith Pierce used to be a miler.

The 28-year-old Krum High School coach of all trades has become a prominent fixture in marathons nationwide since he turned his attention to running 26.2-mile races in 2003. It was a drastic change of pace from the mile runner he started out as on the Rice University track and field team.

The Krum boys cross-country coach, head boys track and field coach and the (breath) junior varsity boys basketball coach’s name is nowhere more well-known than at the Cowtown Marathon. Pierce has won two straight, including 2007’s dominating performance in which he won by 12 minutes. He’ll look to become the race’s first three-peat champion on Feb. 28.
"It would be something really special," Pierce said. "I’ve enjoyed running the Cowtown Marathon. It’s always fun to run a race that you have a chance to actually win. To win three in a row would be really cool, especially because no one has ever done it."

Ricky Cox is the only three-time winner, winning the race in 1982, ’83 and ’86.
Momentum certainly seems to be on Pierce’s side. He set a personal record of 2 hours, 23 minutes, 7 seconds at the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, Pa., in October, finishing 17 seconds behind the winner. He hasn’t run a marathon since.

Although the Cowtown remains the only marathon he has won, that’s not to diminish what he’s accomplished in his short time in the sport.

Take, for instance, his participation in the 2006 Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon (that year was the 110th annual running) and one of the most respected races in all the land. Competing in the race just three years into his marathon trials, he was rewarded with an "elite entry" for the time he submitted from the 2005 Steamtown Marathon (2:25.01).
"I was lucky enough to get an elite entry so I got to be right next to the great Kenyans, Ethiopians and even some of the great American runners at the starting line," Pierce said. "It was really special. The time I submitted gave me bib number 43."

The "elite entry" bibs were given out to runners who posted the 100 fastest entry times. With nearly 1 million people lining the course that traveled through eight cities and towns, and with 22,000 participants in the race, Pierce finished an astounding 36th.

"It was incredible. I didn’t have any great expectations of running a personal record or shocking anybody," said Pierce, who finished with a time of 2:27.17. "I really went up there for the experience. I mean, there were 20,000 people at the start."

He’s managed to accomplish all of this while coaching three teams and fitting in time to run between 60 and 90 miles per week.

"When I first met him I thought he was crazy," said his wife, Stephanie, a Krum kindergarten teacher he’s been married to since March. "I can’t even imagine running that far."
She’s gotten used to it now, just as he’s grown accustomed to finishing first at the Cowtown.

Life really boils down to two questions....

2009-01-21T08:03:00.000-08:00

Should I get a dog? Or, Have Children?

I got this email from my cousin BreAnn and LOVED IT!

The battle of the bulge....take 1,000,000,000

2009-01-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

I have been reluctant to post anything about my weight loss mission. I am not proud of my ability to "yo yo" in this area of my life. I would try to just “not talk about it” or “joke about it”. I had decided that I could be ok with this body because this did not define me. At one point, I had even “made peace with this” because perhaps God could use me this way or that he was showing me something from this perspective. Most of my attempts to overcome the mental and emotional side of the issue seemed to drive me deeper into frustration about it. Funny thing, everyone notices when you lose a few pounds. No one ever said, “Monica, have you gained some weight”. Probably a good thing, but you can see it in the faces of other people. It is not intentional and I am certainly not holding anyone else responsible. All of my life I have been a confident and centered person. When the weight started invading my confidence, then it became an enemy. One that must be defeated!

I began again the day that school started for the 08-09 school year. I actually went to the doctor so that she could run some tests. I was pretty sure that she would uncover some mysterious malfunction of my body that had been holding me hostage to this large frame. It couldn’t possibly be that I was eating too much and exercising too little. I had often “poo pooed” my little brother’s insight on the issue…..”It is just math, Monica, if you take in more calories than you burn then you will gain or if you burn more than you take in then you lose.” I had to be the exception. Other people make themselves overweight….I was certainly a victim. Weird thing….from those tests I found out that I am pretty darn healthy. So now I have nothing to blame, no magic fix, and not a chance that this will change in a couple of days. So it began….again!

To date, I have lost 22lbs. I still have more pounds to go and it seems to be coming off really slowly. I still struggle and some days are better than others. Thankfully, I am surrounded by inspirational people who fight this fight, daily. The two most influential people in my life are my best friend Stacy and my hubby Rocky. They have been wonderful and would probably like to choke me at the many failed attempts. I know that they would gladly do this for me, but this is a battle only I can fight. I wanted to tell you all of this so that I could share some of their tips for success. Some of these tips you have heard and others may be new. Either way they are tips that are put in practice by at least two people who have successfully lost weight and kept if off for a very long time.

1. Find your positive triggers – Stacy and I were talking one day about the things that seem to trigger snacking. I immediately realized that sitting at the computer drinking a diet soda always made me want to snack. Rather than focusing on eliminating a bad trigger (dieting already makes you feel like everything is taken away), she suggested that I add a positive trigger. She asked me what drinks helped me avoid snacking. I told her that coffee could only be enjoyed alone in my opinion. I don’t think that anything tastes very good with coffee. THERE YOU GO! A positive trigger. Since I do most of my computer work in the morning, it seemed the problem could be solved. I only drink coffee while sitting at the computer.

2. MINT GUM – If you know my husband then you have seen him with his extra green gum. It is an essential part of life. He may leave the house without his money, keys, or even shoes…..but he will always have gum in his pocket. I know that some people brush their teeth after every meal or snack. Both have the same effect…that mint flavor kills the taste bud’s desire for sugar or salt.

3. If you bite it….you write it! This is actually a weight watchers tip. It basically means being accountable for what you eat. Both Stacy and Rocky keep a running total of points (could be calories) every day. Stacy journals and Rocky tallies. Rocky keeps it in his head more now than on paper, but at one point he had a notepad with day #1036 (that is almost three years) with his tally marks on it.

4. Change the environment – Have you noticed that just going outside to stretch, pray, or take a walk around the block makes you less hungry? This one works for me every time. The sun is our best source for vitamin D and evidence from studies tracking the prevalence of disease by geography and nationality shows clear links between vitamin D deficiency and obesity. Vitamin D deficiency may be characterized by muscle pain, weak bones/fractures, low energy and fatigue, lowered immunity, symptoms of depression and mood swings, and sleep irregularities. That should get us all outside today for at least 10 minutes!

5. Sweat! This one is my least favorite, but probably made the most difference in my success. Rocky is on the treadmill every morning. That is actually what wakes me up each day (kind of pathetic actually). I have figured out that I prefer to exercise anytime other than the moment after rolling out of bed. Stacy pushes the stroller around the park and then stops for a picnic with her son before going back home. Whatever it takes….every day…..no excuses….no matter what….they both find a way to make it a part of the day. I have been walking and found that I LOVE the elliptical. Yesterday I actually ran every other lap of my two miles. Shocked myself!

So there you have it….my confession, my tips to live by, and hopefully my last time to post about how to get it off. Maybe next time I will be writing a “how to maintain” post. Thanks to all of you who inspire me with your good habits. So many of you are runners and I am in awe of your dedication. May you always be blessed with sunlight, sweat, and lots of gum!

Have you been "resting on your laurels?"

2009-01-19T07:25:00.000-08:00

A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the Bay Laurel, an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head. In ancient Greece wreaths were awarded to victors, both in athletic competitions, including the ancient Olympics, and in poetic meets; in Rome they were symbols of martial victory, crowning a successful commander during his triumph. Whereas ancient laurel wreaths are most often depicted as a horseshoe shape, modern versions are usually complete rings. In common modern idiomatic usage it refers to a victory.

The expression "resting on one's laurels" refers to someone relying on their past success to cover up their current inadequacies. Or to be so satisfied with your own achievements that you make no effort to improve.

To my girls....

2009-01-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE
When I was little,I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,and then I started to become a woman.

And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you’re going through things with your man.Another friend is needed when you’re going through things with your mom.Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say, “Let’s cry together,”another, “Let’s fight together,”another, “Let’s walk away together.”

One friend will meet your spiritual need,another your shoe fetish,another your love for movies,another will be with you in your season of confusion,another will be your clarifier,another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,on whatever the occasion,on whatever the day,or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself …those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman,but for many, it’s wrapped up in several… one from 7th grade,one from high school,several from the college years,a couple from old jobs,on some days your mother,on some days your neighbor,on others, your sisters,and on some days, your daughters.

Prayer for faith

2009-01-13T07:42:00.000-08:00

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at your command (Heb. 11:3), it was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because you took him.” (Heb. 11:5), it was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old (Heb. 11:11), it was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground, it was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down (Heb. 11: 29-30). How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. (Heb. 11:32-35). (NLT)

Dear Lord, creator of all life and my father,
Your design for my life is perfect. Give me faith like all these whose lives reflect your blessings. Gently break my heart so that I may see clearly what you need me to see. Put those people into my life that will hold my hand as you lead me and bless them as they obey your commands. Live in my heart and in my mind so that I will understand your will. Protect me from all harm not intended to fulfill your promise in my life. Give me faith! And Lord, though I may understand who you are, I am still learning who I am not.

Wow!

2009-01-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Oh, that's why.....

2009-01-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

Last night at the dinner table we were chattering about this and that when I became disturbed at a poor table manner by one of my children. I made the correction and then we began talking about table manners. I asked the kids what things that they knew about table manners. Surprisingly they knew more than they practice. Rocky and I took turns adding what we knew including keeping your elbows off of the table. Almost at the exact same time, he and I looked at one another puzzled. Why is that poor etiquette? Since I know that you would love to be dragged along on one of my obsessive "google research projects", I found the answer to that question plus a few others here........

History Of Etiquette
A historical analysis of etiquette.

We all grew up being told to keep our elbows off the table, to cover our mouths when we yawn, to shake hands with people, and to be polite to everyone we meet. Sometimes, we need to salute a superior office, sometimes we need to make a toast to celebrate an event with a friend. We know these things are polite, even expected of us, but what is it about elbows that are so inappropriate at a dinner table?

Most of these courtesies can be traced back to the Middle Ages of history, the age of knights and chivalry, kings and queens. Some of them were created to be courteous, some were meant to be symbolic, some were simply matters of logic.

To start with, we’ll take a look at handshakes. Most people know this one. An empty hand presented forward to another person was the easiest and most recognizable way to show someone that you weren’t holding a weapon. By the other man extending his own empty hand, it showed that he also was unarmed. Therefore, a handshake meant they were going to talk instead of fight.

The salute has similar origins. If you consider a knight in a full suit of armor, you realize he can hardly chat with a friend while wearing a helmet, so if a knight wanted to talk, he had to remove the barrier. The visor on a knight’s helmet was a lot like a visor on a motorcycle helmet: it lifted up. And when a knight lifted his visor, his hand ended up at his forehead, parallel to the ground. A salute, indicated lifting the helmet visor, so that the knight could talk instead of fight.

Making a toast, oddly enough, is a tradition that comes from the other side of the coin; Knights with fighting codes versus poisoning your friends. Making a toast, with the clinking of the glasses together, was originally done so that when the glasses clinked, the drinks sloshed together on impact. This meant that whatever was in one drink (poison, drugs, aphrodisiacs), had now been passed into both glasses. If you were going to drug your friend, you got some as well. This made it in your best interest to not let your friend drink an evil drink.

Covering your mouth when you yawn has two logics to it, both of which are more than sensible. The first was religious. When you yawned, with your mouth wide open, the Devil could reach right in and yank out your soul. No sense losing your soul just because you were sleepy. The second reason, much more practical and understandable, is that in the Middle Ages, cleanliness was next to nothingness. Bathing was considered unhealthy, so most of the peasants and nobility stank. Badly. And when yawning, people had a very real chance of swallowing one of the many flies that swarmed around them. It’s very bad form to choke on a fly at a formal party.

Finally, what about those elbows? Always keep your elbows off the table, it’s rude! But why? First thing to bear in mind; back in the old days, people sat down to dinner differently than we do now. It was more like a high school cafeteria, where people squeezed into a long table that was set into a row. This meant that each person was packed very tightly in between the people on either side of him, and simply didn’t have much maneuvering room to eat. The elbows weren’t allowed on the table because if you had an elbow on the table, the only place for it was in the middle of the next person’s plate. It was a courtesy made out of necessity. If someone had their elbows on the table, someone else couldn’t eat. Simple.

There are a lot of things in our lives we take for granted, without knowing why. Some things we did five hundred years ago because they were safety precautions, or physical requirements, are absurd now, but we do them because they’ve been passed down through the years. I’m sure if you think about it, you know a lot more things that you do without knowing why. Now, you’ll wonder.
http://allsands.com/Lifestyles/historyetiquett_ci_gn.htm

Well, let’s see if I still remember how to “write” on this blog……

2009-01-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Don’t you just love the way NEW feels?.........new clothes, new friends, new attitude, new kind of coffee creamer, and of course new year. I just wish that we could bottle this feeling and stretch out for the entire year. Usually by about February I have forgotten all of those self-promises and fallen back into old habits. However, after my 30-day “Bruce” challenge with the diet dr. pepper, I am feeling strong. The Smart family made some resolutions, but with a 30-day expiration so that February can be a month of empowerment as we make decisions to continue our new habits or not.

Here are some of what The Smart’s are going to be up to for this month…..

We finally got our “privilege” chart completed for the kids. We have been using this concept with them for a couple of months now, but were all over the place with it. I was feeling overwhelmed when the holidays hit so one day it finally smacked me in the head that our kids were old enough to do more around the house. I started giving them tally marks for chores completed, good behavior, manners, etc. They also can lose points if they get in trouble at school, misbehave at home, or leave messes. They can trade those “points” in for privileges like sleepovers, play dates, or dates with a parent. Anyway, now we have a system that we all agree on and we are looking forward to putting it in place.

Rocky and I always pray with our kids at night before bed. We talk about what we are thankful for; who we know that is hurting, or anything else that we want to talk to God about. We USED to get up before the kids every morning and pray together as a couple. We somehow got away from that this past year. We have re-committed to that again. My sweet friend Neva gave me a great suggestion that we will use. Each of the seven days of the week will be a day of special prayer for a different reason. Example: Monday – Ashlynn, Tuesday – Rylan, Wednesday – Friends, Thrusday – Extended family, etc.

The kids had some interesting resolutions, too. Ashlynn committed to less drama. All I will say is that if you have a pre-teen girl then you will completely understand why I LOVE this one. Rylan decided that he should go to the movie “featers” (theaters) more often. We added this to our privilege chart as one of the rewards. I don’t want the boy to not accomplish his goal…..:)

I actually love to read other people’s resolutions. I also love reality TV. Maybe because it makes me feel more normal or because it shows me what other people see as priorities. Whatever the reason, it is fun! What are your resolutions?

A Year in Review

2008-12-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

First let me apologize for not sending any Christmas cards. There are many explanations (excuses), but none seem to be "blog worthy" so I will spare you the list and instead give you a review of 2008 for the Smart Family.

Rylan turned 5 in May this year. He has changed so much and seems to be looking more and more like his daddy all of the time. He started pre-school in August and LOVES it. He continues to be a very social creature. He loves people (especially girls) and thrives in all social situations. After many trips to the Texas Tech games this year with Daddy, he decided that he was a Texas Tech fan (mostly a Jordy Rowland #38 fan) and has gradually turned his wardrobe into a black and red shrine. He told us that someday he wants to play for the Raiders (even though thanks to Mark he has already received his first recruiting letter to OU - there is still time, Mark :). He has so many great friends here in Naz. There are lots of little boys his age and all of them come from great homes with good parents. Like most little boys, he is a constant ball of energy from the time that he wakes up until he falls asleep (still in our bed). We are working on improving his manners which is really cute. He started karate and has found a love for it. He really keeps his focus and listens intently to his sensei. He really has completed our family. He is the fun, the energy, and the light-hearted reminder to the rest of us that life is too short not to play.

Ashlynn turned 10 this year. She went to many camps this summer....church camp, cheer camp, dance camp, basketball camp, and probably a few others that I am forgetting. I am starting to notice that her calendar is more full than mine now. She is half-way through her fourth grade year now and loving school. She is a good student! So far, she has yet to make lower than a "A" on a report card. She reached a mile stone just before Christmas when she hit her "100 point" marker for AR points. Once the student reaches "100 points" the reward is lunch with the principal. I think that her daddy was more excited about it than she is. Lunch with Daddy in front of her friends was not her idea of a reward. None-the-less she was proud of staying on track. She also got to choose an instrument this year and is taking beginning band. She is playing the alto saxophone. She absolutely loves it! Just recently she received the honor of 1st chair of the entire band. She too, is fortunate to be in a class of many great girls. In her class of 21, 14 are girls. I would venture to say that some days contain more drama than others and because our school is so small they are all in the same class together all day. I pray a lot for the sanity of their teacher. She is a sweet girl with a heart for others (even frogs). She is my constant reminder that we are blessed and fortunate.

Rocky is in his second year as the head football coach at Nazareth. He added principle to his duties this year and is enjoying the challenge. His knowledge and love for the game of football is still so inspiring. It is amazing being behind the scenes with him as he prepares for each week. He is so dedicated and leaves out no detail. My favorite times are around 10:30 each week night during football season.....he will be in bed watching "film" with the remote in hand playing....rewinding....sleeping.....playing...rewinding....sleeping.....playing.....rewinding....you see the routine. He works to complete exhaustion every night. I have also enjoyed seeing him in his new role as principal. When you marry a coach you expect windsuites and coaching shorts, but the suits and ties have been a bonus. Just as this year has been a blessing to him, it has also come with challenges. He lost his sweet grandmother in November just after Thanksgiving. She lost her fight with lung cancer. He has also been a spectator to his mom's battle with cancer. She just finished chemo and radiation for gallbladder cancer. Through it all we have learned that God is still in control, that good friends and family are life's greatest blessings, and that priorities often need re-adjusting when those you love are facing hard times. We celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary this year and I really do believe that the longer you are married the more blessings that God reveals through us as a couple. Rocky is my balance, he is the greatest daddy in the world, and he is who God intended that I take this life journey with through all of the ups and downs.

I just completed my fifth online semester. I finally hit a dead end to what I can take online so next semester will be a "time-out" for me. I am planning to take an online christian counseling program which will certify me to work in ministry specifically womens ministry until next fall when I can go to campus to finish my degree. I still don't know exactly "what I want to be when I grow up", but I know that God has been working on my heart. I am also working from home making custom gifts with vinyl lettering and decoupage. It has really been more of a hobby than a business until Christmas hit....WOW.....it got busy. I have enjoyed the work and it was great to pay for Christmas without stress. I try to balance my days with time with God, working out, playing with Rylan, working, and talking on the phone. Through it all I have somehow spent hardly anytime blogging here. Writing has always been my outlet and my therapy. I hope to spend more time in 2009 posting on Mommysmart.

I pray that your family will be blessed in 2009. Thank you to all of you for your friendships. We would never make it through our days without the wonderful support of friends and family. So from the Smart home to yours......Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Twelve

2008-12-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

What is the significance of the number 12 have (besides that it was the last date that I posted)?

The bible mentions….
12 apostles
12 sons of Jacob
12 tribes of Israel
12 spies to Canaan

Revelation 21:10-21
The city has twelve gates with the names of the twelve tribes on them. Twelve angels stand at the gates; the walls have twelve foundations garnished with twelve precious stones, and in them the names of the twelve apostles. The city is twelve thousand furlongs square, and the twelve gates are twelve pearls.

The number twelve is used here symbolically of Gods perfect government. Twelve is here nine times and the walls are 144 cubits = 12 x 12. If we accept the 144 being a reference to 12 then we have ten such in this passage. But also not that the length breadth and height are all equal, all twelve thousand furlongs. If we count this as three measures of twelve rather than just one, than there are twelve, twelves in this passage of twelve verses.

Also, there are…………..
12 days of Christmas
12 months in a year
12 zodiac signs
12 daytime hours in a day
12 nighttime hours in a day
12 function keys on a computer keyboard
12 buttons on a standard phone (1-9, *, #, and 0)
12 jurors on a US felony jury
12 stations of the moon and sun
12 inches in a foot
12 = a dozen
12 basic hues in a color wheel
12 pairs of ribs in the body
12 men have walked on the moon
And……
The minute hand of a clock turns 12 times faster than the hour hand. 60 seconds, 60 minutes, and 24 hours are all perfectly divided by 12.

So why, you ask, would I care about the number 12?

Sunday, Rocky and I celebrated our 12th anniversary so obviously I became obsessed with trying to find the significance of the number. Of course, after much research (that I didn't have time for) I discovered that the best news about the number 12 was yet to be discovered…..at least at the Smart house! :)

Is it really December 12th?

2008-12-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas....Are you ready? I am less ready than I have ever been in my life. Since I have been making gifts this year, I have found myself less than 15 days from "THE DAY" and hardly a thing ready. Yesterday, I spent the day shopping (more looking than buying) and now I feel more stress than the day before.

You know how God can work through all things, well I got a sweet reminder from my friend Tisha today that gave me back my perspective of what the holidays really mean and it goes like this........

The Night Before Christmas - Mommyversion

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode

only one creature was stirring, & she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

while visions of Play station 3 & Barbie, flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,

with a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

which made her sigh, "now what is the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,

she descended the stairs, & saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes & soot which fell with a shrug,

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "now I have to clean the rug."

"HO HO Ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."

"Your gift was especially difficult to make,"

"Thanks , Santa, but all I want is time alone,"

"EXACTLY!" he chuckled, "so , I've made you a clone."

"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young&Restless."

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "MY dream has come true!"

"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"

From the room above, the youngest did fret.

"Mommy?! come quickly, I'm scared & I'm wet."

The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "she sure knows her part."

The clone changed the small one & hummed her a tune,

as she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon.

"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you.

"The clone smiled & sighed, "And I love you too."

The mom frowned & said, Sorry, Santa, no deal.

"That's my child's love she is trying to steal.

"Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,

only one loving mother is needed here."

The mom kissed her child & tucked her in bed.

"Thank you Santa, for clearing my head.

I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,

when they'll be to old for my cradle & song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "it works every time.

"With the clone by his side Santa said "Goodnight.

Merry Christmas, dear mom, you will be all right."

Out of the mouth of babes

2008-11-25T10:32:00.000-08:00

Rylan just hugged me and said.....

"Mommy, you are smooshy like a marshmellow!"

Hmmm.....

A child's perspective is clear and pure, unclouded by "experience" and cynicism. If we allow ourselves, we can learn much from a child's wide-eyed view of life.

No More Bubbles.....at least for 30 days

2008-11-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

If you know me well, you know that I ususally have a Diet Dr. Pepper in my hand. I am not just a girl who likes to have one from time to time, but rather a "chain drinker". I have been known to make a trip to the grocery store in the middle of the night in my PJ's to make sure that I don't wake up without one. I barely have my eyes open when I take my first few drinks. Anyway, you get it....I have an addiction.Thanks to Bruce and his 30 day challenge.....I have been without the bubbles for 10 days now. I didn't replace it with another soda. I still have my coffee, but the rest of the day is water and tea. Here was his challenge.....

A WORD FROM BRUCE

A powerful personal growth tool is the 30-day trial. This is a concept borrowed from the shareware industry, where you can download a trial version of a piece of software and try it out risk-free for 30 days before you’re required to buy the full version. It’s also a great way to develop new habits, and best of all, it’s simple. Let’s say you want to start a new habit like an exercise program or quit a bad habit. We all know that getting started and sticking with the new habit for a few weeks is the hard part. Once you’ve overcome inertia, it’s much easier to keep going. Yet we often psyche ourselves out of getting started by mentally thinking about the change as something permanent — before we’ve even begun. It seems too overwhelming to think about making a big change and sticking with it every day for the rest of your life when you’re still habituated to doing the opposite. The more you think about the change as
something permanent, the more you stay put. But what if you thought about making the change only temporarily — say for 30 days — and then you’re free to go back to your old habits? That doesn’t seem so hard anymore. Exercise daily for just 30 days, then quit. Maintain a neatly organized desk for 30 days, then slack off. Read for an hour a day for 30 days, then go back to watching TV. Could you do it? It still requires a bit of discipline and
commitment, but not nearly so much as making a permanent change. Any perceived deprivation is only temporary. For at least 30 days, you’ll gain some benefit. It’s not so bad. You can handle it. It’s only one month out of your life.

To be perfectly honest, I waited to blog about this after I was past the "withdrawal" stage. I know that there are no scientific studies that actually prove that overdosing with diet sodas is a health concern. However, I have to say that I feel better than I have in a long time. I have more energy, I am less tired, and I have found that my mind does not feel so clouded. What would you change for 30 days?

The little things

2008-11-14T07:02:00.000-08:00

This has been a good year to live a hour and twenty minutes from Lubbock. The Red Raiders are having a football season like none other. Rocky has taken Rylan to three games this year and both have loved Saturday Night Football. Finally last week at the Tech vs. Oklahoma State game Ashlynn got to have a turn.

Most of you know that I aim to be a very supportive Coaches wife. I go to all of the games dressed in the right colors and can hoop and holler with the best of them (on occasion). I love watching young men whose lives so directly effect our lives go out and ram into others head on for the sacred prize of "champion". Now, when it comes to putting in overtime (scouting, college games, watching football on TV, etc.) vs. shopping, then we have a different story.

I am going to shop, people.

Ashlynn normally always wants to go with me. You can understand why I was hurt and betrayed that she would cross over to the other side. So I had to creatively encourage Rylan to be my shopping buddy last weekend in Lubbock. I bribed him with an evening at the mall with one rule. We would only do what he wanted to do, go into the stores that he wanted to shop in, and he could spend his $7.00 (hard earned) however he wanted. This is how our evening went........

1. First stop.....Clifford the Big Red Dog Merry Go Round.......$1.00

2. Next, Nursery Rhyme Ice Cream Cart (he almost didn't fit into this one).......$0.75

3. JC Penny - This one surprised me. We walked in all the while I am asking him, "why do you want to shop in this store?" He continued on like a man on a mission straight to the escalator. We went up and down....up and down....up and down.....finally at the fear of getting kicked out of the store, I encouraged that we move on.

4. Then, Stuart Little Car (notice the trend, every "ride" in the mall).........$0.75

5. Next up....Chick-fil-A. He told me that he wanted a Sprite. "A medium, not small, and you have to pay for it." Of course, I reminded him that we could do what he wanted, but he had to spend his money. Then he reminded me that he really likes Texas Tech Football games. I bought a Medium Sprite with humbleness that "I" was not the first choice.

6. We went into all of the sports stores, the candy store, a hallmark (until he noticed "girl stuff" to which we quickly excited), we watched hermit crabs (forever), and last but not least we spent 2 more of his quarters to buy one of those giant gumballs that rolled out and hit the floor which he swiped up and had in his mouth chomping before I could screech that you can't eat off of the floor.

So, if you ever wonder how much a wonderful date with a five year old boy would cost you.....it's $3.00 in rides and candy, the price of a medium soda, and likely a dentist bill for the NOT-sugar free gum that rolled on the floor.

Cancer

2008-11-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

According to an article in USA Today, about one in 26 Americans have had cancer. By 2020, roughly one in 19 will have been diagnosed with the disease. There are none of us who haven't been affected by cancer for either ourselves or someone that we love.

On October 23rd Rocky's mom called because they found cancer in her gallbladder after her surgery to remove it. Anytime you get that kind of news from someone that you love you find your mind swimming in a circle of questions and worry. Last week she had another surgery to look for any trace of more cancer. Thankfully everything came back clear. She will still have to have radiation and chemo for the next few weeks, but it looks like she is on her way to winning the fight. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and please continue to remember her and all cancer patients.

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.

Tech Vs. UT

2008-11-02T20:32:00.000-08:00

Rocky and Rylan may have had one of the hottest tickets in the state on Saturday night. They sat in row 4 on the 50 yard line as Texas Tech defeated UT in the final 8 seconds of play. Saturday’s attendance of 56,333 was a Jones AT&T Stadium record. I heard that tickets were selling on ebay for thousands of dollars by the end of the week last week. Rocky says that no amount of money could have been a worthy exchange for being at one of the most talked about football games of the year. Rylan loved it and says that he is going to play football for Texas Tech someday.

Rocky and Rylan took their turn down on the field (after time REALLY ran out) and got some autographs. Rylan got an autograph from Daniel Charbonnet (#10) and his younger brother, Taylor Charbonnet (#8). But he was most excited to get the autograph of Jordie Rowland (#38 of Naz) who is the older brother of the Nazareth Swifts quarterback, Nicky Rowland.

It was certainly an experience of a lifetime for a 5 year old boy (probably for a 32 year old boy, too).

Year of the Frogs

2008-10-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

www.yearofthefrog.org
www.amphibianark.org

Hi Everyone! I am doing something that is really foreign for me. I am soliciting your help on behalf of Ashlynn to "save the frogs". Sometimes I am convinced that she is not my daughter. I won't even begin to tell you what we did with firecrackers and frogs when I was a kid. I know that God gives us children who teach us important lessons for our lives. She is such an animal lover. She gets so emotional over any harm to an animal. This story really bothered her and so she is asking for the help of her fellow students and anyone else who will be a part of doing our part to save the frogs. Below you can read what she took to school on flyers......

This is the year of the frogs. Frogs are going extinct. So are toads, salamanders, newts, and the intriguingly unusual caecilians. Frogs and other amphibians are dying. After thriving for over 360 million years, 1/3 to 1/2 of the world’s 6,000 known amphibian species could go extinct in our lifetime – which would be the single greatest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs. The urgent danger is chytrid fungus, but other causes include habitat loss, pollution and pesticides, and climate change. Amphibians have long been referred to as the “canaries in the coal mine” – they are among the first species to be affected by environmental stressors, so when they show declines in the wild, it serves as a warning to other species, including humans. But there’s good news: You can help! 100% of funds donated to Amphibian Ark will be spent on ensuring a long-term future for threatened amphibians.

Thank you! 100 % of the money donated will go to Amphibian Ark with the Nazareth Elementary Collection

The More I Seek You...Kari Jobe

2008-10-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

I spent Sunday afternoon with some ladies here is Naz and left with such a full heart. We had a great speaker who talked about God's wonderful plan for each one of us and we were honored to have our very talented Kindergarten teacher lead us in some praise music. She sang a song called The More I Seek You. I had never heard it before so I had to come home and do a little google searching. This song is so beautiful. I hope that it will bless your day as much as it did mine.

God sent a bee.....

2008-10-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Rylan and I went to get gas before making the short trip out of town to buy groceries and run the weekly errands. As we were filling up a bee flew into the van. I worked to get it out (you know swatting and screaming). I never saw it leave, but I couldn’t find it either. So, I decided that it must have escaped my craziness out the other window.

We got about 1 mile out of town when “the bee” that must have grown because it looked to be about the size of a locust began swarming my head and buzzing (angrily). Now, my brain was telling me that a bee sting would not kill me, but my frantic driving could, however my inner girl was screaming and flailing as if I were being attacked by an entire family of bees. Of course, I pulled over and again tried to encourage the bee (by swatting and screaming) that he would be happier outside of my van. He flew down between the windshield and dash. Perhaps he flew through the secret passage from the dash to the outside (that I convinced myself existed), but I couldn’t stand to imagine that he could at any moment rejoin us so I drove home and got Rocky’s car.

When we got home from the grocery store I noticed that there was a giant puddle under my van. I looked under and saw a green fluid dripping from the van. Apparently, something (a hose, tube, valve, I don’t speak “CAR”) is not functioning properly. Rocky looked under the hood and noticed that there was no antifreeze in my van. I guess that if we had continued on our way yesterday in the van then we would have overheated and been stuck on the side of the road waiting for help.

Ashlynn looked at me with a very serious face after I told her the entire story and said, “God sent a bee”. It amazes me that my kids see God so much more clearly than I do sometimes. God is at work in our lives in ways that we so often never notice. So thank you God for sending a Bee….and of course for not letting the bee sting me.

Never a dull moment

2008-09-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Almost 12 years later and he still loves me!

2008-09-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

It is a tradition in Naz that the high school students graffiti the street in front of the school the week of homecoming. Here is what I found on the section of street in front of our house....proof that my hubby still loves me.

The roses blooming outside my window today...

2008-09-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

With the help of my brilliant friend, Stacy, I got some good pics of the roses blooming in my front yard. I couldn't think of a better quote than this one for my picture. I pray that you will find all of the roses in your own garden today!

Some stories need to be repeated

2008-09-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

Mon, 8 Sep 2008
Raider power (College Paper) - Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX

I was at the men's polo department (Dillard's) yesterday in Lubbock and saw a great selfless act.

A man and his wife were checking out, and when he turned around to leave, he noticed a young serviceman behind him ready to check out. The couple went out of their way to welcome him back. He told him that he was only there for a couple of days. Turns out, his grandfather had just passed away and he was home forthe funeral. He confessed that he had no clothes and that was why he was at the mall.

The man took the clothes from his hands and proceeded to pay for them when the soldier pleaded that he 'didn't have to do that.' The man turned around and said 'Just like you didn't have to defend my freedom. This is my pleasure, son.' The soldier was really grateful, and the sales associate was in tears.

I just thought this story needed to be shared. There really are trulygood people in this world, and in Lubbock , Texas . To both of these men.......... my hat off!

Rylan Goes to Preschool

2008-09-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

Just so you know....I cleaned that door after I posted this picture.

Here is Rylan with Daddy on his first day. He was so excited. You can hear his first day interview below.

I'm still here.....

2008-09-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I have not been blogging much lately! It is because of THIS and THIS and THIS!

1st Day of School

2008-08-25T07:25:00.001-07:00

Today I sent my fourth grader and my principal/coach off to start another year. They were excited and ready to go. Rylan and I are feeling a little lost, but we will be in our groove very soon. Rylan starts pre-school on the 8th and I begin school tomorrow. Hope that your first day was a good one!

The Smart Kids

2008-08-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

When your friend is in China.....

2008-08-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

then you should send your bloggie friends to her site. Because really here in the big "N", it is just the same-o-same-o.

http://thedarwinfamily.blogspot.com/

My Prayer

2008-08-11T05:43:00.001-07:00

Today this is how I feel!

8-8-08....The best day ever!

2008-08-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

As Rylan would say....THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER! I love the number 8 so this day is a hit! I wish that I had more interesting stuff rolling around in my head, but that is about it. I do want to tell you about two new blogs that may be of interest to you......

1. I am so proud to announce that the little bro now has his own bloggie home! He is a newly married teacher/coach that is an awesome runner. He is even credited for the success of the spira shoes with runners. You can read that article here.

2. I created a blog to cover all of Nazareth Athletics throughout the year. You can find it at www.nazarethswifts.net. Go Swifts!

QMCC 2008

2008-07-31T12:54:00.000-07:00

This year as most of you know, I was a counselor at QMCC. I first learned about QMCC as a kid (somewhere around 10) when I went as a camper. Lots has changed since those days, but so many things are exactly the same. There is now air conditioned cabins, indoor bathrooms, a new pool, and a lot more kids in one session. Many things are exactly the same as they were over 20 years ago. There is still outdoor worship, skit night, devo on the rocks in the mornings & devo under the stars at night, and of course many creepy crawly things.

Like most church camps there is so much evidence of the greatness of our God. The kids attending are exposed constantly to our God through activity and praise. There is still nothing more beautiful than the voices of 250 children in harmony praising God. So many times I had to just close my eyes and take it all in. Thanks to all of you who were praying for me and for the campers.

Here is a photo of Joni and I on the last day. We decided that we were getting pretty old for the fast and furious pace of summer camp. We were feeling TIRED at this point. It was such a blessing to spend the week with her. We don't get a lot of time together since we gained hubbys, babies, and responsibilities. We still giggled like we did 15 years ago. Each morning at 7:30 we climbed these rocks and spent some time in worship. It was beautiful!
From the top this was our view. They may look like small hills, but to a panhandle girl it was breathetaking.

Ashlynn and Kayla spent almost every day during recreation time doing crafts.

These are the sixth grade girls that were in my bible class. We had a great time learning twice each day. Trey put together a great series on parables that we taught in small groups.

On skit night we had entertainment from Hannah Montana (aka Emily Boucher).

Ashlynn's cabin did a crazy hair skit. There was a mess of backcombing and hairspray in her big hair. It was a cute skit.

Here are all of the girls planning their attempt to catch the boys on sadie hawkins chase. The goal is to chase and tag the boy that you want to invite to the banquet. Ashlynn went for a younger man and tagged Luc Boucher as her date.

These are the girls from my cabin. There were 24 of them ranging from 7-9 graders. They were a lot of fun. The only real challenge was getting them all through 3 showers each night (and occasionally avoiding minor drama).

And of course, we had a visit from Elvis. Thank you Trey and Nate for giving up your front row seats so that all of us first timers could clearly see the show.

Football Camp

2008-07-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

Rocky had football camp this last week for the future Swifts. We had around 55 (divided into three groups) come for camp ranging from ages 5-13.
Each day they anxiously awaited awards like "the hustle award" and "great attitude award".

They also played a little tag football. You can see that Rylan is close to a capture if Mr. Culwell doesn't beat him. I thought that it was cute that some of the boys were disapointed that they didn't get to wear pads and tackle.

I thought that this pic was cute with Rylan standing in front of Daddy in the huddle. I'm sure that there will be many moments like this one in our lifetime.

Notice how tall Rylan is (in the middle). These boys will all be going to kindergarten next year, but Rylan has been red-shirted. Also, don't you love the cows grazing in the background?

Still lovin' Adobe

2008-07-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

This is the before and after of a project that I did today with my Adobe program. LOVE IT!!! Just so that you know......I learned it all from Stacy - she is so darn smart!

And the winners are...

2008-07-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Blood Brothers - Stachia (when you are the only one to comment then you win, hands down)
Beyond the Night - Marley (random selection)

Thanks to everyone that commented and Happy Reading!

How is it already July the 9th?

2008-07-09T05:12:00.000-07:00

This summer is flying by. We have been so busy and gone so much! Here is a little review........ A couple of nights ago, Rocky planned a faux campout. Don't tell him that I used the word faux to describe his camping adventure. Anyway, we had a fire pit for hot dogs and smores. He set up the tent and he and the kids (I don't do tents....I know I am a snot) and they slept in our backyard. They kids had a blast and they all got the camping out of their systems. My idea of roughing it is not having internet access. :)
On the fourth of July we went to Childress to pick up our kids who had spent the week with Grandmomma and Dad. Here are my two and Brooke patiently waiting for their animal balloon from the man at the park. There are always several boothes set up in the Childress park on the fourth. We got hot pretty quickly so we were only there about an hour. The most fun was dunking cousin Casey in the dunkin' boothe. When Rylan couldn't hit that circle target with a soft ball, he just ran up and punched it. Thankfully she laughed.

Here is the family on a paddle boat on the Childress park lake. Rocky asked the man how long they could ride and he told Rocky that the limit was 15 minutes but no one could ever last that long. I think all that Rocky heard was "you darin' me, boy". They stayed out paddling for 18 minutes. Ashlynn was not having much fun after that long, Rylan was just along for the ride, and Rocky was determined to WIN!

We went the entire family to San Antonio at the end of June. No San Antonio trip is complete without a visit to Sea World. Don't you just love dolphins?

The kids enjoyed the penguin adventure. This may be the only existing photo of Rylan with any character to date. He is usually terrified of the costumed creatures. Don't even think about taking him close to Chucky Cheese! This, however, was his idea.

Again, we were surprised that Rylan wanted to get this close to Flash. We spent day one of vacation at Fiesta Texas. This was our first visit to this theme park, and it was a great park. It is much smaller than Arlington, but the kids had a blast.

P.S. I don't think that them are Flash's real muscles. shhh.....

Rocky and the kids rode the log ride 8 times. Unfortunatley my stomach does not allow for rollercoasters. I have tried several times and each time I leave feeling that I have been gutted alive. I remember my first experience.....I had a crush on an older boy. I was somewhere around 14 and on a youth trip to Six Flags. He asked me to ride the mine train (the mini one). I said yes at the oppurtunity to sit next to him. Sometime during the ride I clawed his arm to shreds enough that it bled. As soon as we got off, I threw up. I don't know why he never asked me out....hmmmm.?.

Here are the kids waiting in line for the tea cups. Thankfully they never waited too long for any ride that day.

And, of course, I celebrated the 4th aniversary of my 29th birthday on June 26th. We were already at the hotel so Rocky and the kids bought one of those tiny chocolate cakes at the store and put candles on it. We had all already consumed the cake when we realized the we didn't take a picture. Rylan licked the candles for us so that they wouldn't look "yucky" in the picture.

We are really enjoying a great summer and I pray that you are finding blessings in yours!

Take Two......Book Tour Giveaways

2008-07-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Summer is all about reading! I joined this summer blog tour so that you can have the chance to increase your library. So below you will find the second two book giveaways. You can read about the book and even hear a little about the author.

These are the rules for winning......

1. Decide which of the two (or both) that you would like to win.
2. Leave a comment on the post with the book (#1 or #2) that you hope to win.
3. Check back next Monday for a post with the two winners.

I will use a random number generator to determine the winner and ship on Tuesday after the winners send me an email with their address. Best wishes and Happy reading!

Book Giveaway....Blood Brothers

2008-07-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

Neurostim is a brand new drug that dramatically increases productivity and creativity. Developed from the seeds of a long-extinct Norwegian tree, Neurostim dramatically improves response time by allowing subjects to think and process information more quickly. The implications are staggering. It could help people in all walks of life, but could easily become a lifesaver for policemen, fireman, doctors and other first responders. But initial tests reveal a hiccup—some of the monkeys tested exhibited maniacal, homicidal behaviors. As the lead lab tech was approaching company authorities with the evidence, however, she was killed in a mysterious one-car accident.

Without any reported side-effects, the FDA authorizes human trials of Neurostim and the trials appear to go smoothly. Brothers Karl Bjornsen and Gunnar Bjornsen, however, are deeply embroiled in a bitter legal battle for control of the company—and Neurostim. Gunnar developed Neurostim while working as President of Bjornsen Pharmaceuticals and he’s the only one who knows the secret formula. When Karl ousted Gunnar as President, Gunnar took the formula with him.

What begins as a simple trade secrets case, however, quickly escalates and becomes more complex as Gunnar’s lawyer, Ben Corbin, discovers embezzlement and bribery with Karl as the prime suspect. When Ben and his team travel to Norway to investigate the accounting discrepancies with the company’s Norwegian branch, Bjornsen Norge, their very lives become endangered.Is Karl Bjornsen behind the Norwegian attacks that endanger Ben and his team? Is Neurostim safe? Can the FDA stop the human trials on Neurostim before its too late?
~~~Rick Acker Is Available For Interview~~~

About Rick Acker

Rick Acker does his best work while traveling, and he pecks out pages every dayon the commuter train to his “real job” as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. Rick’s other books include Dead Man’s Rule and the Davis Detectives series for tweens. He lives in Northern California with his wife, Anette, and their four children.

Q&A with Rick Acker, author of Blood Brothers

Q. Where did you get the idea for Blood Brothers?

A. Blood Brothers really sprang from three different ideas: First, I've had a ringside seat to several fights between former partners, and they were among the most intense and compelling cases I've been involved in. How much more intense and compelling would a case like that be if the partners were also brothers?

Second, the ancient Norse sagas are filled with fascinating stories that took place just before reliable historical records began to be kept in Scandinavia. Some of these tales are undoubtedly true, but which ones? And how might the lost knowledge behind them matter today?

Third, I've long felt challenged by Christ's admonition that it's easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The secular psychologist William James had some surprisingly similar observations. What does it mean to be a "rich man" in modern American society?

So, how do those three pieces fit together into a biotech/legal thriller? Read Blood Brothers and find out.

Q. What is your greatest inspiration as a writer?

A. Deadlines. There are lots of things that inspire me as a storyteller--unusual people I meet, compelling cases I litigate, interesting articles in the news and so on. But what actually inspires me to sit down, focus, and turn the stories running around my head into books? My publisher's deadlines.

Q. If Blood Brothers became a movie – who would you cast in the lead roles?

A. Good question. I have an unlimited budget, right? In that case:

Tom Cruise: Ben Corbin, the handsome but not particularly tall lawyer who tries the case at the heart of the book

Penelope Cruz: Ben's lovely wife--and reluctant forensic accountant--Noelle (This might be a little uncomfortable for Tom, but I get to make the casting decisions, not him.)

Adrien Brody: Russian-American detective Sergei Spassky

Uma Thurman: Elena Kamenev, FBI agent and Sergei's on-and-off love interest

Cilian Murphy: the vile cybercriminal George Kulish

I'm drawing a blank on who should play Gunnar and Karl Bjornsen, the brothers of the title. Know any six-foot-plus actors in their late fifties with weightlifter arms and faces like the Old Man of the Mountain (before he collapsed)?

Q. What was your greatest obstacle to overcome in writing this novel?

A. Self-discipline. This book took a lot longer to write than it should have, mostly because I didn't have a deadline at first due to a little contract mix-up.

Q. How would you suggest that aspiring novelists avoid similar obstacles?

A. Give yourself a deadline. Better yet, have someone else give you a deadline and hold you accountable. If you don't have a publisher (who will generously provide this service for free), have your spouse or a good friend do it and give him/her the right to fine you if you blow your deadline. It works.

Book Giveaway......Beyond the Night

2008-07-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

With music of the 1970s playing throughout, Marlo Schalesky has joined forces with Multnomah Books to release Beyond the Night, the first of three books whose endings aren’t what readers expect.

A wet road, the dark of night, and pouring rain become the cruel combination that forces Maddie and her husband’s car off the road. Now Maddie lies in a coma, her faithful and loving mate by her side speaking words of encouragement.

As she rests in the darkness of her hospital room, the life journey Maddie has traveled plays again in her mind. Scenes flash in between whispers of a voice she’s grown to love. “Maddie, remember with me. Remember the day I fell in love.”

A playful kiss igniting romance between friends, an extraordinary love, a universe of fear and darkness, a triumph over blindness in both eyes and soul. Maddie’s walked a hard road and succeeded against the odds.

But then came the night that changed everything.Marlo Schalesky delivers a powerfully emotional story that is certain to take both Maddie and the reader Beyond the Night.
~~~Marlo Schalesky Is Available For Interview~~~

About Marlo Schalesky

Wind Remembers, Cry Freedom, Freedom’s Shadow, and Empty Womb, Aching Heart. A graduate of Stanford University, Marlo recently earned a Masters of Theology with an emphasis in Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She also runs her own construction consulting business as well as an engineering firm that she and her husband own. Married nearly twenty years, she lives with her husband, Bryan, and their four daughters in California.

Q&A with Marlo Schalesky, author of Beyond the Night

Q. Marlo, you’re a woman full of surprises! What made you decide to work in the construction industry? Isn’t that a field normally dominated by males?

A. Well, something has to pay for my Starbucks venti white mochas! But seriously, when I met my husband at Stanford years ago (Note: A number of incidents in Paul and Maddie’s love story in Beyond the Night grow out of my story with Bryan . . . I’ll let the reader guess which), he was majoring in Engineering, and I majored in Chemistry. After graduating, he got a job in sales in the construction industry (roofing); I did chemical research. We discovered that there was a lot of chemistry involved in roofing. So, about ten years ago, we decided to open our own engineering firm that specialized in roofing and waterproofing. From the contacts and experience I gained there, in January of 2007 I opened my own construction consulting firm where I can use my left-brained skills (writing novels uses up all the rightbrained energy) to earn a few bucks and pay for those fancy coffees. And I have to admit, I enjoy doing something that’s so different from my writing.

It’s refreshing to deal with numbers and forms, caulking and chemicals, instead of only words and ideas. It makes for a nice balance in my life.

As for construction being male-dominated – it certainly is as far as actual construction workers and facilities managers. But there are plenty of women working in the administrative aspects of the business, which again makes for a nice balance. It’s fun to meet different kinds of people, and a number of them have also become my readers. Others just think I’m crazy – trying to run a business, writing novels, and take care of my four little daughters. But, hey, with God all things are possible . . .

Q. How did you decide to write a series of novels with surprise endings?

A. It was all God’s fault. And it started with a dream. Not one of those “I have a dream” kind of dreams, but a real, honest-to-goodness, it’s-3am-and-I’m-asleep kind of dreams. I dreamt Paul and Maddie’s love story. And when I woke up, I couldn’t get the two of them out of my head. I thought about them in the shower, on the way to seminary classes, in the grocery store. Everywhere! For weeks, I found myself replaying tidbits of their story in my mind, until I finally figured out that maybe God wanted me to write their story.

“But,” said I to God, “there’s not enough here. It’s not compelling enough.”
“Yes,” said God to me, “but Maddie’s going blind.” (Well, maybe it wasn’t so much in those words, but just in the revelation of what was going on with Maddie.)
“Oh,” said I, “That’s very interesting. But it’s still not enough. Not quite.”
Two more days went by, and Paul and Maddie’s story still kept teasing my mind. “It’s not enough,” I kept saying to God. “There’s got to be more.”

And then I saw it – the big twist. The incredible truth that I had no idea about before. It took my breath away. So, after I finished picking my jaw up off the floor, I sat down and starting working on the proposal for Beyond the Night.

As I fleshed out the story, I realized that this is exactly the type of book I’d like to keep writing – something with the poignancy of a Nicolas Sparks love story (without the sap!) matched with the knock-your-socks-off twist of a M. Night Shymalan movie (without the horror!). That kind of story excited me, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. And I figured that there had to be more people like me out there – people who want to be both moved emotionally and surprised and delighted intellectually. People who want to be changed, challenged, and caught with wonder by a story. People who just want something more in their stories, because the typical story is just not quite enough.Happily, Multnomah agreed. When my agent sent them the proposal for Beyond the Night, they asked for two more ideas in one week. But how could I come up with two more stories like that in such a short time? It usually took months, even years, for me to find the right story. But God was faithful again. Onthe first day of that week, the storyline for Book 2, Faces in the Sand, came to me. And on the last day of the week, I got the idea for Book 3 (with five very nervous days in between). Multnomah contracted all three, and now I’m pressing forward, writing these books that God has given me to write, and prayingevery day that I’ll see the story as He has dreamed it. And I’m hanging on to the belief that He who gave me this mission will be faithful not only at its inception, but in the execution and beyond.

Q. You’ve been in the publishing industry for a while now with four previous novels and a nonfiction book to your credit. How has your publishing experience lined up with expectations? How has it not?

A. You’ll find that most of my books include a theme about life not turning out the way you plan or expect. That’s because God has given me the equivalent of a PhD in “My plans are not your plans, saith the Lord . . .” And my publishing experience has been a significant course in that learning process.

Nothing in my experience with publishing has gone according to expectation. At first, that was just because I was naïve. I thought I just had to write some good stuff, and I’d get a contract for my first books, which, at the time, was an end times series (this was before the Left Behind craze). So, I went to conferences with my proposal and heard from all the editors, “We aren’t interested in this type of futuristic fiction.” What they meant, of course, was they weren’t interested in that type of story from a newbie like me.

So, I tried historical fiction. And got a contract just as expected. Except the contract was canceled . . .that was unexpected. And it hurt.

Eventually, another publisher contracted that book and it became my first published novel. I received a few other contracts, had those books published, and then came another rude awakening in the form of sales figures. I expected to write a good book and have it do well. But that’s not how it worked for my third novel. Because of internal publishing house changes, sales went badly. And there wasn’t anything I could do about it. That was hard because I’d written the story as an act of faithfulness to God’s call, I felt He was pleased with it, I’d done everything I could in promotion and marketing, and still it “failed.” Ouch!

At that time, I was told to expect the numbers for that book to prevent other publishers from wanting to publish future books of mine. “It would have been better for you if that book hadn’t even been published,” they said. But God was about to crush that expectation as well.
A publisher contracted my next historical novel, I wrote it, and then just before it was scheduled for release, the company went through a large restructuring – they cut fiction, most of the members of the PR department left, the fiction editor left, and my book was stranded. I hadn’t expected that either.

But God was up to something in the meantime – a new story idea that I simply had to write. A story that so moved the Multnomah team, even in its synopsis form, that they wanted to publish it despite my previous sales numbers. They wanted that story, plus two more. The story was Beyond the Night. It came as an unexpected gift from God.

And just like everything else in my publishing experience, it has taken me by surprise. Pre-readers are calling me and emailing saying how the story has moved them, impacted them. But it’s not because of my great planning. It’s because God has again done something that I didn’t foresee, didn’t expect. And I thank Him for it.

And the winners are......

2008-06-30T21:26:00.001-07:00

Along Came A Cowboy - Cherise

Sweetgum Knit Lit Society - Stachia

Thanks to everyone that commented!

The Book Tour Giveaways.....

2008-06-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

Summer is all about reading! I joined this summer blog tour so that you can have the chance to increase your library. So below you will find the first two book giveaways. You can read about the book and even hear a little about the author. These are the rules for winning......

1. Decide which of the two (or both) that you would like to win.
2. Leave a comment on the post with the book (#1 or #2) that you hope to win.
3. Check back next Monday for a post with the two winners.

I will use a random number generator to determine the winner and ship on Tuesday after the winners send me an email with thier address. Best wishes and Happy reading!

Book #1

2008-06-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Along Came A Cowboy
Barbour Publishing
ISBN 13: 978-1-59789-896-6
Paperback; $9.97; 288 pages

From the outside looking in, local Chiropractor Dr. Rachel Donovan seems to have it together. She’s returned to her hometown of Shady Grove and runs a thriving Chiropractic practice. She’s be nominated as Shady Grove’s Citizen Of The Year, and appointed to the committee planning the town’s major centennial celebration and rodeo. Unfortunately, on the inside everything is not as it appears.

The committee duties come with baggage—cute, cowboy baggage to be precise. Jack Westwood is the epitome of the stereotypical cowboy; rugged, handsome and bull-headed. While he makes everyone else swoon, Rachel is determined to not get involved any more than necessary. She knows his type—T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

Unfortunately, the fallout from a mistake that Rachel made fifteen years ago still echoes today threatening to ruin her sterling reputation and bring the whole façade tumbling around her . She thought she had buried it deep in her past, but while she’d moved on she never really moved past that summer. Even though she knows that God has forgiven her, she’s having a harder time forgiving herself.

Can the woman who has devoted her life to healing others allow God to mend her own hurt? Will she seize the opportunity to reconcile with her past and open her heart to love again? Will she come to terms with her mistake and forgive herself before her opportunity at love fades into the sunset?

~~~Christine Lynxwiler Is Available For Interview~~~

About Christine Lynxwiler
Award-winning author and past president of American Christian Romance Writers, CHRISTINE LYNXWILER has numerous novels and novellas published with Barbour, including Arkansas, Promise Me Always, and Forever Christmas.
She and her husband, Kevin, along with their two daughters, four horses, and two dogslive in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains in their home state of Arkansas.

Q&A with Christine Lynxwiler, author of Along Came A Cowboy

Q. In Along Came A Cowboy, the lead character struggles with forgiving herself for a past sin that has had a major impact on her life. Why do you think it is easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves or even to accept forgiveness.

A. I don’t know the answer to that, but I have a few ideas. First, I think we hold ourselves to a higher standard than we do others. Or we might feel, like Rachel did, that if we beat ourselves up enough about the past, then we’ll feel worthy of forgiveness. Also, it’s much easier to give than it is to receive. Same goes with forgiveness. Maybe because our pride isn’t battered by forgiving someone, but being forgiven implies owning up to sin and recognizing that we can’t fix our mistake on our own.

Q. What would your advice be to someone who is struggling to come to terms with a past indiscretion?

A. Obviously, if you’re a Christian, I’d advise giving the past to God and once you’ve repented and asked His forgiveness, forgive yourself, forget it and move on. But that’s a little simplistic for most of us. I think many of us tend to do what Rachel does in Along Came a Cowboy and magnify our own sins. What seems like an unfortunate little stumble on someone else’s path can appear to be a plunge to certain death on our own life’s road. So consider how you’d feel about a friend or loved one if they’d done exactly what you did. If the answer is, “I’d forgive them” then forgive yourself. You deserve no less kindness and mercy from yourself than anyone else does. If that doesn’t work for you and you have children, ask yourself how you would feel if your child did this thing. Would you still love them? If they turned from this sin, would you forgive them? If the answer is yes, then your Heavenly Father still loves you and forgives you too, so it’s time to let it go and forgive yourself. If the answer is no, then maybe your current sin is an inability to forgive others and that’s a whole ‘nother problem.

Q. When you’re writing, what do you use as your inspiration?

A. Inspiration and ideas come from everywhere. But as I said in an interview recently, I’m an Arkansas country girl, born and raised on a farm, and currently living in the most beautiful small town (in my opinion anyway) in the Ozarks. So these are the places and people that inspire me to write. My books are almost all set in small town Arkansas. My characters are rarely ever patterned after one specific person. Instead each one is a conglomeration of people I meet and interact with every day. I get inspired when I ask “What if?” That’s the neverending question and asking it usually will bring more stories than one person can write in a lifetime.

Q. What do you enjoy most about writing Christian fiction?

A. One thing that I used to complain about that I’ve now come to enjoy is the fact that all my books have a common theme—God is in control. Sometimes it’s the main theme, sometimes it’s just an underlying thread. Each story line is very different from the last one, but the theme is always there. As this theme emerges in a new story, it brings me joy and sometimes even laughter because I know that this is a lesson God is patiently teaching me. I told someone recently that around book seven I began to look for a new theme. “I’m going to get boring,” I wailed. But apparently, even now on book fourteen, I haven’t quite mastered this “God is in control” concept, because inevitably by the end of the book, my character is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she is not in the driver’s seat of her own life. Now when I start a story, I look forward to seeing how this particular theme is going to show up.

On a more serious note, I enjoy knowing that the stories God allows me to write not only entertain, (which is why I wanted to be a writer) but that they also touch readers’ lives in a deeper way than I could ever imagine or take credit for. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.

Q. As an award-winning Christian romance writer, do you have any advice for novice or aspiring writers?.

A. Never give up. And once you’ve decided that you’re not quitting, join American Christian Fiction Writers. The annual fee of $50 will be the best money you ever spend on your writing career. And don’t just pay the dues and not get your money’s worth. Join a critique group. Get to know other writers. Dedicate yourself to learning the craft. And never quit learning. Being published isn’t the end of the journey. It’s only one step along the way to being the best writer you can possibly be. Settle in for a long, bumpy, exhilarating ride!

Book #2

2008-06-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sweetgum Knit Lit Society
WaterBrook Press
ISBN: 1-4000-7394-4
Paperback; $13.99; 352 pages

Beth Pattillo (Heavens to Betsy and Earth to Betsy) knows how to follow a dream—even with a pile of publishing industry rejection slips to her name. She spent seven years on the path to her first publishing contract, and the characters in her newnovel, The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society, embrace Pattillo’s persistence.
Eugenie, Ruth, Esther, Merry, and Camille are not perfect women. They each struggle with love in their own way—unrequited love, forbidden love, overwhelming love, even lost love. Yet they battle on, meeting every month in the Pairs and Spares Sunday school room to knit, discuss that month’s book selection, and puzzle out their lives.When Eugenie throws neglected and abused teenager Hannah Simmons into their midst, however, walls decades in the making come crashing down. With secrets thrown on the table amid the tangle of yarn, needles and books, one thing becomes certain: The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society will soon discover what’s most important in the complicated lives they lead.

~~~Beth Pattillo Is Available For Interview~~~

About Beth Pattillo

Beth Pattillo is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and holds a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University. She and her family make their home in Tennessee. Her novel, Heavens to Betsy, won the prestigious RITA award from the Romance Writers of America. TheSweetgum Knit Lit Society is her fourth novel. To learn more, visit http://www.bethpattillo.com/

Q&A with Beth Pattillo, author of The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society

Q. What was your inspiration behind The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society?

The book was inspired by the knitting group at my church. I loved the way a group of diverse women, from their teens to retirement age, bonded over knitting and prayer. I think book clubs experience a similar phenomenon. Something about knitting or reading together really helps to create authentic community. One of the things I enjoyed most about writing this book was looking at the world from such different points of view. Each of the women in the novel is unique. And the variety of ages and life experiences kept things interesting.

Q. In the book, troubled teen Hannah Simmons has seen her share of neglect and abuse before meeting the ladies of the Knit Lit Society. Do you see many teens like Hannah in the course of your work as an ordained minister?

If so, what is your philosophy in helping them find healing?

Unfortunately, I’ve met a number of teens over the years that were neglected by their parents. I’m a strong believer in youth ministry because I know it can provide guidance and care that’s often missing in a teenager’s home. In the novel, Hannah happens to be poor, but I’ve found that income level, however high or low, doesn’t always correlate to the quality of parenting. The love and attention of a youth minister and/or youth sponsor can often keep a teen from making bad choices with disastrous consequences. Teenagers need to feel competent and valued. A strong youth ministry provides an opportunity for young people to find their spiritual gifts and use them. It also makes God’s love tangible and powerful.

Q. Since not every town has a Knit Lit Society, what would your advice be to anyone who has a "Hannah" in their life or knows of a teen in a similar situation?

Most teens need someone to listen to them without judgment or agenda. Mentoring, serving as a youth sponsor, teaching Sunday school and Bible study – these are all great ways to reach out to teenagers. As a minister, in a particular situation, I have to assess whether a teenager needs the help of social services in addition to the love and care of a church family. All ministers are required by law to report suspected abuse. Neglect, though, can be a bit trickier. Ideally, a minister can reach out to the parents as well as the teen to try and help the family become more functional and caring. I always appreciated my church members letting me know if they thought a particular teenager needed help. I think it’s better to get involved and ultimately find that the situation wasn’t as serious as you thought than to ignore something until a crisis occurs.

Q. Do you knit in your spare time?

I love to knit! I’m into hand-tied yarn right now, taking eight or nine different yarns in a particular color palette and tying 2-3 yard sections end to end. The result is wonderfully shaggy scarves or shawls that have real depth of color and texture. (I was inspired by the owner of The Shaggy Sheep in my hometown of Lubbock, Texas – a terrific yarn store!) I’m afraid I have numerous unfinished projects around the house, but one day, I hope to finish them all.

Q. You spent seven years waiting to publish your first book and now The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society is your fourth book. What advice do you have for novice or aspiring writers?

Aspiring writers have to persevere. For that matter, so do published authors. The publishing industry is a rejection-based business. Work hard, acquire a thick skin, be open to good criticism, and revise, revise, revise. As writers, we take our work personally, but the publishing industry doesn’t. Rejection is a business decision, not a critique of our value as human beings!

My other piece of advice is to write every day, even if it’s only a small amount. I run an email loop called Club 100 For Writers. The challenge is to write 100 words a day for 100 days. I’ve seen this practice transform people’s lives. Instructions for joining the group are on my website, http://e2ma.net/go/1123541199/1020015/37422042/goto:http://www.bethpattillo.com/.

Weekend in Childress

2008-06-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist this picture of my favorite Daddy's on Fathers Day. I think that these may just be the three most perfect Daddy's in the world ;)
Bo entered Jansyn as his Queen nominee at the Greenbelt Bowl. I think that it is so sweet to do that for his little sis. She looked so purtie! As you can see she comes from a long line of lovely ladies.

I had to be "that cousin" after the game and sneak a pic of Bo. He will be off to South Dakota State to play football late this summer. Sounds like a road trip to me!!!

Here is Rocky with his two guys from Naz. It was bitter sweet to watch them Saturday night. I guess that will be the last time that I will watch them play football. Lucky for us they are leaving behind three great little bro's to play for the Swifts.

Summer Blogging

The summer is so packed with trips and fun. I will be posting pics pretty often and I will also be doing some give-aways. I will choose all winners from my comments so make sure that you are able to leave one and good luck!!

Coming Soon...

2008-06-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

New book blog tours! I was recently contacted by Glass Road Public Relations about joining in their blog tours. So.....they send me new books, I post about the book and author on my blog, you get to leave your comments, then I randomely select a winner from the comments, and the winner gets the book. If that sounds like fun then check back the week of June 23rd for your chance to win.

My heart is heavy

2008-06-11T04:37:00.000-07:00

It just seems to me that this summer has been a swinging door for bad news. I am so thankful that my immediate family is happy and healthy, but so many of those around me are suffering tremendous heartache and pain.

I have been searching my bible for what God says about comfort, hope, and overcoming. It is usually my mission to read until I find that perfect scripture or example to share with my friends in pain. Maybe it is maturity or just a lesson that I needed at this moment in life, but I finally figured out that this is a terrible way to be a light for someone who is hurting. Heartache is rarely a condition that you feel anyone else can truly understand or relate to. I have been guilty of telling someone that Jesus understands (which I believe), that God knows their pain and hears their prayers (which I believe), and that the Spirit will work on their heart (which I believe). The problem with that is that it is somewhat shallow comfort. I have decided that praying for them, giving lots of hugs, listening, and letting God do his job without my preaching is a much better approach.

Another thing that I have learned is that God will most likely be at work on my heart if I will just allow myself to hurt with them. I have understood more about love through the experiences (even other peoples experiences) of life than any created idea that I have of it. There is no perfect scripture or bible character that can relate to every situation in life. I think searching for that could make me a crazy person and shake my faith. Instead, I choose to let God work his way. So with that, I don’t leave you a verse……only a prayer that you to will allow God to work through you and in you…..HIS WAY!

Today I ask that you pray for…..

The Braddock Family
Baby Noah
Young Marriages
Mackenzie C.
Single Mom’s
Mildred Washington
Men struggling with addictions

Rylan at Naz Basketball Camp

2008-06-11T04:30:00.001-07:00

First, I apologize for the dark picture. The old Naz gym is not the greatest for picture taking. This is a pic of the boy doing a layup.......read on..........
In case you can't see that award, it says....Lay Up Champ. Who knew from the looks of that first photo that he is a layup champion. There is hope for all of us......so go out and let your inner athlete shine!

Rylan T-Ball

2008-06-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

A sad weekend in Nazareth

2008-06-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

You know there are those times in life that sneak up on you like a bad headache and smack you right between the eyes. Suddenly you go from spinning through life and barely noticing a thing around you…….then suddenly feeling ever pulse of your body. We had this moment this weekend. We got the call at 12:00 am from one of Rocky’s football players that a Friend, Husband, and Daddy had lost his life in Naz. You probably remember that I wrote about one of our guys going to state in track….it was his dad. You can read about Bruce here.

Please remember the Braddock family in your prayers.

Naz Rainbow

2008-05-25T19:54:00.001-07:00

Rylan's 1st Tee-Ball Practice

2008-05-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

Rylan was excited about his 1st Tee-Ball Practice. He was a little suprised that his coach is a girl. He did a great job working hard, being coachable, and making new friends (although everytime they did a drill he was familiar with he let the coach know about how his Dad taught him that).

Naz All Sports Banquet

2008-05-21T05:34:00.001-07:00

We have felt so blessed to have enjoyed such a great year at Nazareth. There are very few places that a coach can move his family and feel an instant community connection. Nazareth is a great small town that goes above and beyond to support their kids. It is also unique that out of 75 high school students all but about 6 students are in athletics.

Here are just a few of the snapshots from last nights All Sports Banquet. We enjoyed the evening. It has been awhile since we have been to an "all sports" banquet. For the last 8 years we have only attended "football" banquets. I enjoyed getting to see the successes of all of Swift and Swiftettes athletes.

Locks of Love time....finally

2008-05-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

Watch out....the sky may in fact be falling!

2008-05-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

Isn't it fun that life is full of surprises? Let me tell you about my latest surprise. I have always been an average student. I often struggle to keep strong "B's". This semester was so packed full of work that I had hoped to keep from getting any "C's". Well you can imagine my surprise when I opened my transcript to find this........

ENGL*MSTRPCS/WES WRLD LIT - A

ENGL*CREATV WRITING POETR - A

PSYC*HUMAN BEHAVIOR - A

SOCI*RACIAL/CULTURL MINOR - A

SCOM*INTERPERSONL COMMU I - A

WOOHOO! I'll take it!

Ashlynn at the Elementary Track Meet

2008-05-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Josh Braddock at State Track Meet

2008-05-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

Josh had a great group of supporters.

Rylan was very fascinated with Josh's silver metal.

Here is Coach Smart and Josh in front of the Austin skyline and state capital.

Josh ran the 200 and 400 today at the State meet. He got second in the 400 and fifth in the 200. He is an amazing athlete that has made us proud all year. Congratulations Josh!!

I am having some problems getting videos to upload to my blog so if you are unable to view from the links click here. The UIL State Track Meet videos go in this order.....Josh 200, Josh 400, Bo Sprint Relay, Bo 800 Relay.

I won't win any awards for my filming abilities, but....

2008-05-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

This is a very shaky video of Bo Helm with his Childress 4X200 relay. Bo ran second leg and they placed 6th.

Here is a video of Bo Helm and his Childress Sprint Relay. Bo was anchor leg and the team placded 5th.

Happy Birthday, Rylan

2008-05-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated my baby's 5th birthday. We loaded up in the Naz van and headed to Austin to take Josh Braddock to the state track meet. Rylan thought that in honor of his birthday that we should pass out party hats. So the boys put them on for a photo in front of the Naz van. We are looking forward to a great weekend and hope to be bringing home a proud five year old and a state champ. Happy Birthday, Rylan and GO JOSH!

Woohoo, I'm Free!

2008-05-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

I just finished my last final and I am free until August 25th! I have so many things to catch up on, like.......

organizing the enormous mail stack

cleaning out closets

re-painting rooms
Learning to use my Adobe Photoshop Elements (I would love any help)

finding homes for all of Phraseworthy items

catching up on blog reading

clearing the DVR (AKA - vegging all day in front of the TV)

reading FOR PLEASURE

filing documents from my hard drive and trashing old stuff

cleaning my disgusting vehicles!!!

And last but best...................Sleeping in at least once!

Desiderata

2008-04-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

Desiderata
Latin for "desired things"
written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

If you love spring...raise your hand!

2008-04-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

My first ever rose bush! Roses remind me of my great grandmother.
Ok, if you know ANYTHING about flowers then you know more than me. Feel free to leave a comment if these are really bad combinations. I doubt they have set their roots and I can still transplant.

You didn't just raise your hand, did you?

Gotcha...ok let's try...Simon says....spin in circles

while patting your tummy and rubbing your head.

Happy Spring---The season of fun!

New items, giant bed, and long hair

2008-04-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here are my two newest Phraseworthy additions. The first is a tile designed for the graduate. Then I have my custom coasters. I have made several inspirational sets and also custom (single initial monogram) sets.

This is our new bed. After 11 1/2 years on the same mattress, we took the plunge and upgraded to a king. This is not about luxury, just more space for the three of us. That would be Rocky, Rylan, and myself. We just hope that he is in his own bed sometime before he moves out on his own.

Here is Ashlynn at almost the required hair length to cut off and send her hair to locks of love. She did this a couple of years ago and we are almost there again. She is really sick of it and ready to have fewer tangles. One more inch to go.

Questions

2008-04-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

The real questions are the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness whether you like it or not, the ones that make your mind start vibrating like a jackhammer, the ones that you "come to terms with" only to discover that they are still there. The real questions refuse to be placated. They barge into your life at the times when it seems most important for them to stay away. They are the questions asked most frequently and answered most inadequately, the ones that reveal their true natures slowly, reluctantly, most often against your will.

-----Ingrid Bengis

And we call ourselves Christians...

2008-04-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

So I borrowed Justin's pic without his permission.

You should take a min. to read his blog so that he will forgive me if he ever ventures over to mommysmart.

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said “Stop! Don’t do it!”
“Why shouldn’t I?” he said.
I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!”
He said, “Like what?”
I said, “Well...are you religious or atheist?”
He said, “Religious.”
I said, “Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?”
He said, “Christian.”
I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?”
He said, “Protestant.”
I said, “Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?”
He said, “Baptist!”
I said, “Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?”
He said, “Baptist Church of God!”
I said, “Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?”
He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God!”
I said, “Me too! Are you reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?”
He said, “Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!”
I said, “Die, heretic scum”, and pushed him off.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your

Christ.” ...........Mahatma Gandhi

“Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men” ..................Voltaire

“An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons - marriage, or meat, or beer, or cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.”.................... C.S. Lewis

A Mom's Prayer

2008-04-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Lord,

It's such a hectic day,
With little time to stop and pray,
For Life's been anything but calm,
Since You called me to be a Mom,
Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with matching blocks,
Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes,
And other stuff that children lose,
Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs,
A stack of last week's mail to read,
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord,
Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of Your grace,
I see them, in my small one's face,
That you have blessed me
All the while --
And I stoop to kiss
That precious smile.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Who knew at 32....

2008-04-06T14:01:00.001-07:00

We'd be going to the prom!!!

Only this time I only took about 30 min to get ready, I did not have on artificial nails, I didn't tan even one time this week, I wasn't wearing a $400 outfit, no one else did my hair, and I went home with my date at 9:30. We were invited by the junior class to attend and we were honored to be a part of their fun night. It was great!

My new job with Phraseworthy

2008-03-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

I have started a new job with Phraseworthy so I wanted to tell you about it. Phraseworthy is a company based out of Washington that prints vinyl lettering. I will be working as a distributor for the company which means I will take orders from my Texas friends and send it up north to be printed and mailed back to you. I posted a picture of what I did with it in my living room. You can also visit the Phraseworthy blog to see other ideas. Let me know if you would like to place an order or email me (monica@mommysmart.net) if I can answer any questions.

A Snowy Easter

2008-03-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

I don't think that my children were all that excited to have their picture taken outside this morning in the freezing blowing snow. They made sure that their discomfort showed in ever single picture. So here ya have it......the only "almost good" picture from Easter 2008.

My mom.....the cathedral builder

2008-03-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

On Monday, my Mom will be celebrating her birthday. I always have a hard time finding the exact words to let her know how much I appreciate her. I just know that as a mom myself, I see her......really see her.....for all of the greatness that she is. I received this email from my friend Michelle yesterday of another mom's story. I bet that you will realize that you know some cathedral builders, too. For all of the mom's in the world, and especially mine, thank you for dedicating your life to a work that you will never see finished. So here is the story.............................

I'm Invisible

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on thephone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone,or cooking,or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner,because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more:Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone! One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.'And the workman replied, 'Because God sees. 'I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime, because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself.I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Pics from Keith and Steph's Wedding

2008-03-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

My mom made the cake.... which was gorgeous!

Rylan and the Groom!

The Smart Family

Brooke and Rylan were never able to both be happy at the same time. It was a long weekend for the little ones.

Steph and her girls.

Mom and Dad.

The Pierce Boys.... Brian, Dad, and Keith.

Brian, Shelly, Brooke, and Krista

Brian, Monica, and Keith

Ashlynn, the junior brides maid.

Steph and her beautiful dress.

Because I'm sure you want to know about my personal drama.......

2008-03-10T04:41:00.000-07:00

My mind is a cluttered mess! I have so much going on this week that I hardly know where to start in organizing it all into a list. I am also dealing with some internal struggles that need just a little extra praying on my behalf from you. Here is the breakdown of the stuff in my head......

I'm going to the chapel, and they're goin' to get maaaaarried......This would be my little brother and Stephanie. The will be married on Saturday evening in Denton. You can read about the way that God worked in this relationship here.

I have 3 extra assignments on top of my regular school load this week. I really think that my professors this semester have a death wish for me. Nevermind the other hundreds of students in my classes, I just know that this is personal. Ha Ha

I am having minor hair drama.....AGAIN.....I am going to see my sweet friend in Colleyville on Friday and she will fix me up. Please sit down for this..........I am finding lots of grey. I have decided that I must go back to my blond. At least blond disguises grey better than my natural mousey brown.

Did I mention that my baby brother is getting married?

This past weekend, Ashlynn's b-ball team got second place in their tournament. It was so much fun. Those Naz girls can play some b-ball even at 8 and 9 years old.

We also had our first track meet Saturday in Tulia. I can't believe that it is already this time of the year. Rocky is the head track coach so he is working to get as many kids as possible out for track. Tennis is a big sport here, so he doesn't have everyone in track. Childress was there so I got to visit with Leah and John Paul. Our Naz kids did good! I saw Coach Rhodes (my high school track coach) still working with the track team.

This weekend not only am I gaining a sister-in-law, but it is a late wedding so several of my family members are staying in the same hotel. I can't wait to hang out with cousins, aunts, and uncles. I may as excited about this weekend as I have been about anything in a very long time.

There are times in life when there seem to be changes occuring that you feel that you have little control over. I am going through some things in my personal walk that are changing my thinking. I decided last summer that I needed to give God more control over where he wants me to be in life. Our move here was my first chance to really let him take over. I have found so many blessings in my life since releasing that control. Once I again I can feel his tug on my heart to let him work in my life. I just want to ask you for prayers as I release my grip.

I pray blessings to you all for this week!

Happy Birthday, Rocky!!!

2008-03-08T07:12:00.000-08:00

These pictures say it all! We are very lucky to have such a great Daddy (and Hubby) at our house. Ashlynn drew a picture of her "super daddy" as he is cooking, playing power rangers with Rylan, talking with her, and blowing his whistle at his football team. Below she wrote 32 (his age)things that she loves about him. You may have to click on the pic to read what she wrote. I thought that it was so sweet. It amazes me that she goes between the funny things and the very serious and important things. Number 22 is my personal favorite!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2008-03-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

Today is a very special day to me because it belongs to a very special person. Today my Dad turns 54. I want to tell you about some things that I have learned by being his daughter.

· Hard work is not a product of what you do, but rather a product of who you are!

· Give because you should and let God worry about what they do with it!

· Stand for what you believe in and fall for nothing else!

· Your Family is what you create it to be!

I am pretty sure that I can take some responsibility for a few of those grey hairs on your head (not all of them – I wasn’t that stressful). Thank you for loving me through all of life’s stages. Thank you for teaching me through your life. But mostly thank you for standing at the head of our family beside my mom and just being my Dad!

You're invited to leave him your birthday wishes in my comments!!!

Should a homeless man have a homeless dog?

2008-03-05T05:38:00.000-08:00

Keith (my brother) and Stephanie (his fiance) were driving yesterday and noticed a homeless man with his dog. Here is how the conversation went.....

Stephanie ---- “I love it when they have dogs. It gives them some company.”

Keith---- “That’s ridiculous, if you don’t have a home why should you have a dog? I mean I’m sure the dog doesn’t want to be homeless.”

As you can see, Keith is the sensitive one in this relationship.

So what is your opinion?

Whatya been thinkin'?

2008-03-04T05:46:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile (14 months to be exact) that I posted these two stories during a time when I really questioned my own beliefs. I wanted to re-post them today because I need to be reminded that it is always worth the time to re-evaluate your thinking.

The Pot Roast

I love the story of the woman who always cut the end off her Christmas roast before cooking it. One day her 8-year-old daughter asked her why she cut off part of the meat and didn't include it with the rest of the roast. The mother explained that her mother had always done it that way, so that's how she learned to do it. That evening the inquisitive little girl asked her grandmother why she always cut the end off her roasts before cooking them. She said that her mother had always done it that way, so that's how she learned to cook a roast. The little girl trotted over to her great-grandmother, sitting quietly in the corner. She asked her great-grandmother if she could remember why she always cut the end off the roast, to which the elderly woman replied, "My roasting pan was so small and my oven so tiny, that the only way I could fit a roast in was to cut the end off."

The Processionary Caterpillars

The renowned French Naturalist, Jean-Henri Fabre, in an experiment with processionary caterpillars was able to entice them on to the rim of a large flowerpot. Processionary caterpillars move through the forest in a long procession feeding on pine needles. They derive their name from their habit of following a lead caterpillar, each with its eyes half closed and head fitted snugly against the rear end of the preceding caterpillar.Fabre succeeded in getting the lead caterpillar to connect up with the last one, creating a complete circle, which moved around the pot in a never ending procession. He thought that after a few circles of the pot, the caterpillars would discover their predicament or tire of their endless progression and move off in another direction. But they never varied their movements.Through force of habit, the caterpillars kept moving relentlessly around the pot at about the same pace for a period of seven days. They would have continued even longer if they had not stopped from sheer exhaustion and hunger. As part of the experiment, food had been placed close by in sight of the group, but because it was out of the path of the circle, they continued in their procession to what could have been their ultimate destruction.In their procession around the pot, they were blindly following their instincts, habits, past experience, tradition, custom and precedent—the way they always had done things. In reality, they got nowhere. As the adage states, “It is a form of insanity to do the same things over and over and then expect different results.”

Have you heard of Rumspringa?

2008-02-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

Rumspringa is the term for Amish teenagers' period of experimentation and freedom from religious rules, when they are able to live on their own, drive cars, drink, and experiment with other aspects of mainstream American culture without worrying about consequences from their elders. The term rumspringa is a literal translation of the Pennsylvania German expression, "running around."

Traditionally, the Amish family is tightly bound, and obeys religious rules, such as forgoing the use of electricity, cell phones, and cars, and wearing modest clothes at all times. Women wear long dresses and bonnets, while men wear suits and beards. They are devoutly religious, and go to church often. During the period of rumspringa, however, young people are excused from all of the traditional behaviors and rules of the Amish community.

Rumspringa is a coming-of-age experience that generally begins around the age of sixteen. Though many Amish teenagers will continue living in their parents' house during this time, others may move out. During rumspringa, teenagers often experience the "English" way of life, which is how they refer to mainstream American culture. They may go to bars or nightclubs, drive cars, and date non-Amish people. At the end of the rumspringa period, which traditionally lasts about two years, teenagers are expected to return to the Amish community so that they can be baptized, after which point they are expected to follow all the laws of Amish society.
If an Amish teenager chooses not to be baptized, he will be shunned from the Amish community. His family and community will refuse to speak to him or associate with him ever again. For many Amish teenagers, even if they enjoy the freedom of "English" life, the threat of being shunned by their community is enough to lure them back to the Amish lifestyle. Though a few Amish teenagers will decide to marry "English" partners and assimilate into American society, or decide to live independently, the vast majority of Amish teenagers return to their communities, though some may extend the rumspringa period for many years before returning home.

In 2002, a documentary film called Devil's Playground was made about Amish teenagers experiencing rumspringa. The documentary followed a group of teenagers through the rumspringa period, with interviews about their conflicting emotions about returning to the Amish community. More recently, a reality TV series called "Amish in the City" put Amish teenagers on rumspringa in a house with American teenagers.

Hey, Childress people....Do you know who this is?

2008-02-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

Here are your hints: She just received a really big honor. She was named one of Dallas 10 most beautiful women. She is just one of those great people with lots of charisma. She has made a great life for herself as worship leader at Fellowship church in Grapevine, a wife, and a mommy.

On a personal level, she was my best friend in high school and probably resoponsible for all of the fun that I had as a teenager. She was the yin to my yang. She is amazing and I am really proud of her. Read about her here!