Stained Glass....

I happened to be thinking some strange thoughts about stained glass and thought I would be vulnerable and share them with the wonderful blog world. I love stained glass artwork and think it is remarkable. But guess what...it is stained. It is a wonderful piece of art that sheds light and beauty to the viewer. Stained glass shows the hand of the creator. Shows his skills. But guess what....it is stained!

I am stained glass. I was created as a perfect pure piece of glass. Free of fingerprints (except for those of my Creator's), free of bird poop, and free of stain. In my sin, I have stained my glass. I have allowed others to break it and dirty it, as well as myself. BUT, the Master Artist has ways better than mine. He has taken this stained glass...the ones with all the black from sin, red from pain, yellow from earthly happiness, green from envy, blue from my drowning sorrows, and the little bit of white left from His original strokes...and turned them into a work of art. Through His artwork, I can once again be used to show my Creator's handiwork. I can once again shine His light...only now in a different way. Being stained doesn't have to be such a bad thing. Because He can turn into a work of art that I never could (ok...I could not turn a paper plate into a work of art, but that is beyond the point...you know???) I have been praying that God would prepare my heart for all the things He wants to teach me...and now I can pray that He primes my glass, uses the stains on it, and creates a picture that will glorify Him...

I am sure that I have a friend or two out there that knows more about staining glass...and I may be way off on the process/analogy! Help me out! I just thought it was a cool way of looking at it, and always try to think of new ideas like this to help my kids see God working in our life. Whatcha think??? That I need to go to bed? lol. Yeah...I do. Oh...and what did I see in the artwork above? I saw a seed unfolding. One that God is gently opening up to be a beautiful flower. ;) Call me sleepy...I call me enlightened. heheheehehee

Continue reading...

Welcome Baby Bella...

We saw her...and she is beautiful. Abbie and Isaac are so deeply in love. As we were walking out, Abbie said that she wanted to buy a baby. She wanted it that bad. I was waiting for Isaac to answer back some catchy line like...no Abbie we just have to take one, but he was deep deep in thought. He was very concerned that the nurse was going to hurt Bella. And was quite upset that we left when the nurse was checking things out. He was also worried that she was still sleeping. He wanted her to wake up so that he could sing to her. Both of the kids have prepared their room already for Bella to visit. Abbie has set out toys that she thinks Bella will like and Isaac has set out his blue blankey. I have to say that my arms are aching to hold her again. I think she is one of the prettiest little girls I have ever seen. Just sweet...here she is.







Make sure you scroll on down...2 more picture posts.

Continue reading...

Time For T-Ball

A picture says a thousand words, so I will keep my words short for the next two posts. Abs first day of T-ball was today. It was so cold they had practice in the gym. Verdict is still out on whether or not she will be the next Barry Bonds...but she seems to like it so far.

Continue reading...

Over Due Easter Pictures...

Continue reading...

Big Announcements!!!!!!!!!!

Well..so they are not THAT big, but announcements none-the-less...

1. My dear friend Sara had her baby girl~ Her name is Bella Faith Bisher. Born Wednesday night via c-section. 6 lbs 14ozs. 19 inches long. AND LOTS OF LONG DARK HAIR! Sara says she is just beautiful, and they are all absolutely in love. I have always seen Sara as a mother. I remember in college how she and I would talk about such things...planning out our lives perfectly, complete with the backyard bbq's and such. Back when she was like 19! lol. Then, we would get mad at our boyfriends (aka Brian and Justin) , roll down the windows on my 88 Caviler, turn up my awesome cd player...blaring the Dixie Chicks, "Cause Earl had to Die." (Yes...we were heathens.) Those were the days. Praising God with this family. And sending sweet congrats to Proud Daddy Jeremy, Excited Brother Drayven, and of course Sweet Sara.

And I cam back to edit the others...for fear that it might be used against us...I hate that fear of always needing to look behind. lol. Anyhow...Good news on job fronts. Lots of news...like lots of opprotunities. If you would like to know about these, then shoot me an email... :)

Crazy how all the announcements of the past few days could drastically change our lives. I mean, we are talking about moving to 2 different cities...taking 2 different career choices for the next little while. Probably the need to find a new church if we move to one of the towns. Weird. None-the-less, all blessings from a wonderful Provider.

Continue reading...

What man intended for evil...

God intends for Good. Wowsers! Get this...

Yesterday, Brian finally called my home pastor. You know the one that we wanted to go work for last year, and did not get to because of the letter and bad referrals from disgruntled former church members???

Anyhow...that pastor. I have known him since I was 9. He means so much to me and Brian. Brian called to get some advice from him, and make peace so to say...Let him know that we hold no ill feelings. When Bri called the church, the secretary informed him that Pastor D. had resigned!!! Easter Sunday. We called him, and found out that God had His hand all over us. Pastor D was heart broken over what happened to Brian and I, but did not know how to make it right. That incidence really showed Pastor D the problems that his deacon board had. The deacon board basically hired a youth pastor in our place,that the pastor was not so sure of. He WAS sure of us. After that, the deacon board made the pastor jump through hoops for every decision made, and caused a lot of problems in the church. Really damaging my pastor. Finally the pastor decided that enough was enough, and he left. Only 2 years there. He spent 30 years at his first church. He is not a flight kinda guy. He said it was so bad that the deacon board had to have a meeting to decide whether or not he could take his own personal items from his office when he left.

So...God totally protected us! Brian would have either torn the church apart, or have been fired by the deacon board. Imagine if we had gone to yet another mess after what we had at New Hope??? Imagine the heartbreak of seeing yet another church filled with horribly selfish people? Imagine being fired and living in a big expensive house...with not even a church to go to! I am thrilled to learn that what man/men of New Hope/Attica meant for evil...God used and intended for GOOD! Isn't that cool ??? No more, "Why God." No more, "I don't understand this Lord." I do now.

The pastor is starting a church plant with about 300 members now. We will probably go visit there sometime as all the people I grew up with attend the new church!

I just thought that I would share how God's amazing detailed plan is revealed yet again. 1 year and 4 months later...but here it is. Isn't it awesome how He protected us?

Continue reading...

Found some Charm and Grace...

Back to Rhett...I really have been seeking out those who drip of God's hand. I want to see that there REAL, heart pumping, Praise shouting, Cry out louder than the rocks...Christians. A real life Paul, John, or Timothy. Someone who truly knows Gods grace...So far you have met Smiley Guy and the running boy. Tonight...meet someone new, please.

A beautiful couple who Brian and I have been following for a while, are my new Charm and Grace. They have every right in the world to be hateful, bitter, and even unfaithful...but they hold to their faith none the less. When sorrows like sea billows roll, they stand with their feet planted firmly in the truth that their God is the same today as He was yesterday before the billows. This couple is Todd and Angie Smith. Sounds like a common name. One that you might think came from our church huh? They are actually fairly well known. Todd is one of the lead singers for my favorite music group, Selah. Selah has been a rock in my times of sorrow. Their music has led Brian and I on to discover attributes of God, when all we could see was the murky sea water above us. We have always felt that there was something behind their music. And there is. They are not in the music business for the fame. It is all about God. I can't stand fakey worship...the kind where someone who thinks they have a decent voice gets up and belts out a song, thinking that they are doing the whole church a favor? Or whoever is listening to them? Know what I am talking about? Well, this family is not that way. And I can prove it.

Tonight this dear couple lost their child. The have lived for 3 months knowing that their sweet Audrey would hold Jesus' hand before or shortly after she held theirs. They have blogged their journey. And it drips of grace and charm. It drips of those who love their Savior. Of a couple who will serve Him no matter what...and will not waiver. Please take the time to read about this amazing family. I am astonished at how God used them tonight in my life. She and I were due so close together, and our little ones are in Heaven tonight rejoicing. So many thoughts that Angie voiced, have come from my mouth. All the way down to thoughts on Disney, which they went exactly one month before we did! I am ashamed to admit that I did not exemplify the grace that they did. Please allow God to minister to you too...And keep the Smith family in your prayers. http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

Continue reading...

Yiippppppeeee...I am not a Failure!

Newsflash to me.

Tonight was open house at Faith for children's ministries. We were able to talk with the teachers about the progress our children are making, and areas that they need some work. If you want to really know how your children are doing, ask someone else, who is more objective.

So, the news on Absie Gabs. She is excelling! Bravo Abs. Her teacher told us that she presents herself as one of the OLDEST in the class (it is 1st and 2nd graders) Abbie technically should still be in Kindergarten, so this is a HUGE deal. We have been trying to figure out if she needed to be kept back or if she could move on next year. With the exception of some Math issues, she is at a 2nd grade level right now. (she is about 2 months behind on math) The male teacher heard what we (the female teacher and I) were talking about, and came up to me. He held in his hand, Abbie's work and another child's work. Proving that Abbie had it on. She keeps up and surpasses the second grade readers of the class. (Which I already knew) I was very concerned with how she acted with others in her grade, since they were a year older than she. They told us that she was a natural born leader, and was always concerned with doing what was right. She has made friends, but more importantly, she does right by the kids around her. The female teacher said that she looks to find ways to encourage non-participators. And also said that she has nothing but utmost respect for her teachers. They had not one poor thing to say about her. For some reason, I am remembering the Abbie that would throw fits and tell people no at the old Brady St church. I guess those long frustrating years of training that strong will are paying off now...although it is a daily thing, and we will keep on it.

Now on to Isaac...hmmmm. To my surprise, it was a fair report. Not the smashing review that Abbie received, but not horrible either. He is doing great with all learning skills. One of the first to answer questions and to memorize the verses. But, that little guy won't sit still! He has issues with wanting to climb everything. Typical of a 3 year old boy I am sure, but needs some training. The teacher said that he has never required more than an, "Isaac, this is time to be quiet and sit still." And every time he is reprimanded, he is very submissive, they say. Quick to apologize...just quick to forget~ So, I guess that we have some opposite issues to work with him on. Abbie was all about the non-submission. Isaac has that down, but doesn't have his BOTTOM down! :P His schoolwork will be back to getting him to sit still again. As hard as it is to hear that your child is not perfect, I am grateful for the opportunity to see him in a different light. If I only look at my child through the eyes of the partial...he will not grow. And that would be so sad.

So, I left tonight feeling like I had succeeded in something. I have really been concerned with whether or not I am doing well by Abbie, and I think that is normal and healthy in some ways. But, now, I can look at her with correct vision. And Isaac, he will have that training that all 3 year olds get. But you know what??? Discipline is a good thing. It will better him. And me.

Continue reading...

Good Grief Gravy...

Poor Brian hurt his finger (pointy on right hand) pretty badly last night. He also got a pretty bad head injury at the same time. Both are fairly severe gashes. Both required hospital attention. He opted for glue instead of stitches, but is rethinking how bad he actually was hurt, since he is now in pain. Poor guy looks rough. If you think about him, keep him in your prayers. He is rather embarrassed, especially of the head injury, but he will get over it.

Continue reading...

Edit...

Edit---I misquoted Rhett Butler :P Here is what he really said, " I want peace. I want to see if somewhere there isn't something left in life of charm and grace."

Don't you wish that life had an edit button?

Continue reading...