This has truly been one of the hardest summers I have ever had. See Sid graduated in May and in my mind that meant we would be headed out of here soon. Well....that has not been the case. In fact we are looking at sometime next year. I have and still am struggling with this realization. Seminary has been an amazing experience, but for the last three and a half years I feel like I have been away from home.

I remember being away at camp as an Acteen and at night when it was time to turn in I would put my face in my pillow and cry myself to sleep, because I longed to be home where I belonged. This has been very similar! I am here with the people I love most, but to be honest we have all struggled with that feeling this summer.

See if I could have the summer I wanted...I would be with my family, niece and nephew and the rest of my family chilling at the beach. That is where I have always felt renewed and refreshed, and have amazing memories of summers just like that growing up.

I know my oldest is just three years away from graduation and work and all the things that will start making those times seem so much harder to find. But for the last 5 years we have not had that experience.

So the last few weeks I have had to give it completely to God, because I was trying to carry it myself and had reached a breaking point. Then he gently reminds me I am NOT in control. He knows the desires of my heart. He created me.

Tonight I was struggling. I was sitting in the den, just trying to hold it all together while the kids brushed their teeth and got into bed then I had an appointment with my pillow for a good cry. All of the sudden I heard a really strange sound. It startled me, I wasn't sure but is sounded like RAIN! We have not seen rain in something like 28 days! So I ran to the patio door and sure enough it was rain! The kids had joined me by now and before I knew it we were standing in the rain and laughing and singing..."showers of blessings showers of blessing we need, mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead..." Mercy? Yes, we had just had a shower of mercy. A cold down pour of mercy. Instead of the appointment I had made to cry now I was standing in the yard with the kids soaking wet and laughing.

It only lasted 10 minutes or so, but I am believing that more is on the way!

This Is A True Story

One of my absolute favorites!


Madshack, Mitchago, and That Other Guy!

This past Sunday when we got home from church, my 5 year old daughter was so excited about her class at church. I asked her what she liked so much and she replied "Mrs. Penny told my favorite story", so I said "and which story was that?", she replied "Madshack, Mitchago, and that other guy". Then she said "you know Mama, those guys who didn't get burned in the fire".

After retreating to the back of the house for a good laugh, I really began to think about what she had said. She had truly enjoyed learning a bible story, not only did she listen and learn, that bible story was now her "favorite". What did she know? She knew these three men were thrown into a very hot fire and were protected by God. Did she have all the names and details correct? Nope. Not even close! But here little heart was still changed by what she heard. She knows that God will protect his own in all circumstances. She saw that story as absolutely amazing and that included an absolutely amazing God.

Several other thoughts came into my mind that day. That is how God wants us to feel about him and all the stories of his might and his people that he gave us. He wants us amazed, astounded, in-awed, by our God! Think about the verse in Luke chapter 18 where it says:

" I tell you the truth, anyone who will not recieve
the kingdom God like a little child will never
enter it. "


So think about it...what is your favorite bible story? Do you have all the details right? Does it matter? Follow the example of a child and don't get caught up in trying to impress someone with all of you great attained knowledge. Take what you do know, and tell someone your favorite bible story and why! Just maybe a life will be changed by your simple adoration for God.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished
on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!"
1 John 3:1

This is a re-post from a previous blog, but as I was reading through my old blogs I found a few I am going to re-post!


Someone once told me it was wrong to escape. I am not sure how I feel about that statement. I feel that in escaping, that is when I truly can get a clear picture of what is taking place all around me. Is there some lack in my faith because I want to escape? Do you remember the story found in Matthew 26 where Jesus has just had the last supper with his disciples? Do you remember what came next?
He has just told the disciples that He was going to die, and He just told a dear friend that he would betray him, not once but THREE times. Now Jesus was having a stressful time. He was going to DIE, his best friends were going to betray him. Then comes the part I like, Jesus escapes. He took the disciples to a place called Gethsemane, a garden. This was not just a garden in someone's backyard, this garden was on top of a mountain! Jesus, escaped! Just for a few moments He went somewhere to be away from the situation. He went to spend time with God, and I am sure to regain focus of His mission. He even asked God to remove the situation.
When we feel stressed and are dealing with hard situations, or maybe even events we don't want to face , escape. I am not saying don't deal with whatever is going on, but find somewhere outside of the situation to seek God.
Do we have to do this alone? Jesus, prayed alone, but he took his disciples with him. He asked them to stay with Him and keep watch. Maybe in our times of escape we need our family and friends to be with us and help us. Then maybe we can face all of our challenges with courage and faith that only comes from God.

Yesterday in church the pastor talked about "cultural christians". He talked about how more and more people associate themselves with Christianity because they "do" the christian things and hang out in christian places with Christian people. However, there is no depth to their beliefs, IF there is a belief system at all. Is this true? I believe there is a problem. I believe the church is full of people who want to live the Christian life but refuse to make changes that a life with a true Biblical world view would include. It is living a spiritual split personality life. Should there a difference between the way a person striving to know Christ better would live vs. the way a person clinging to the way the world lives would live life? Where do you cross over from acceptance to tolerance? ( Sorry, if you are reading this...I am just trying to work through some thoughts)

Monday Menu

Monday: Baked Spaghetti

Tuesday: Chicken and Dumplings

Wednesday: Pintos and Ham, with rice and chow chow

Thursday: Brats with Sauerkraut

Friday: Hamburger and potato casserole

Saturday:Black Bean Enchiladas

Sunday: Chicken Pot Pie

42 years!

This past Saturday I turned 42!  It feels weird to say that because I really don't feel like I thought I would at 42.  Some where down inside of me I still feel like 16!  However, when I look in the mirror I am quickly reminded this is NOT the case!  So in thinking about my 42 years, I thought I would share a few random experiences I have had over this period of time...landmarks I guess you could say!

• I was born on a Wednesday
• I grew up in a small traditional southern town
• My first love was my crossing guard at Blake Elementary School( he was in his 60's)
• In elementary school I was in the Great Books program 
• In 4th grade I got braces
• In 9th grade I had my jaw broke and was wired shut for 9 weeks
• I graduated from Greenwood High School in 1987(also one of the happiest days of my life!)
• I attended three colleges
• In 1990 I was involved in a near fatal car accident
• I did summer mission work in SC, CA, OR, and IA
• I taught English in South Korea for a short time
• In 1993 I met the man of my dreams!
• 11 months later I married that man!
• 14 months later we had our first child
• 3 years later we had our second child
• and almost 2 years later we had our LAST child!
• In 2008 we moved from Greer SC to Dallas TX

So there are some of the last 42 years!  That is a short list but believe me it has been a much fuller life!  It has not always been an easy life, I did leave out a lot of pain, like the death of my Dad in 1999.  But I feel like I can because he was the one who taught me to have joy in living!  To live every day to the fullest, and to laugh often!  He taught me how to place my faith in an eternal, all powerful God that will NEVER leave me or desert me, and I know that is THE most important lesson I could have ever learned in my life.  I don't fear the future because my future is secure!   If you don't know that for yourself call me or write me we need to talk!  So 42 years?  I will take them...and I will take 42 more!!

Monday Menu:

Monday:  Shepherds Pie

Tuesday: Salmon patties

Wednesday: Spaghetti(yes there is a pattern here...very easy meal on a very busy day!)

Thursday: Meatloaf

Friday: Mac-n-cheese and green beans

Saturday: Home made Pizza

Sunday:Roast

The Monday Report

Sid has to submit a report every Monday morning for work. We have a created a little song to go along with that called "The Monday Report"! It is a fun little catchy tune that makes the beginning of a Monday not so bad! So I thought I would just roll that over to my blog and call my Monday blog the Monday Report!

It is hard to believe but we have already completed one full week of this last semester! Starting next week I will also be auditing a class on Wednesday mornings.

We have started making a bucket list of things we want to make sure we do in Texas, just in case our time here may be short! If you have an idea of something we just HAVE to do let me know!!

So here is the Monday Menu:

Monday: Black Bean Enchiladas

Tuesday: Chili Rice

Wednesday: Spaghetti

Thursday: grilled cheese and soup

Friday: Tostados

Saturday: My Birthday ( I was told not to worry about this day) This may also mean we do not

eat!! lol

Sunday: Barbecue Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and veggies

2011 Really?!

I really can't believe it is 2011!! I remember thinking about how weird the year 2000 was going to be, back when I was in elementary school...in 1974!! It doesn't seem that weird after all even 11 years after the grand arrival of 2000. I am a little disappointed that the flying car hasn't arrived yet.

So I know I have really got to get back to my blogging because 2011 is going to be an interesting year! This Wednesday Sid starts his LAST semester at DTS!!! I can not believe has fast it has gone. I remember three years ago people telling me it would but at that time I could not believe it.

This has been an amazing journey...there are things I still can't wrap my mind around. But now we are looking toward what is next! We are really excited! So I promise to keep everyone informed on just what is next, where we are headed, and when!

Blogging helped me a lot in preparations for coming here and in the transition time, so I know I need this.

Oh and here is my Menu Monday:

Monday: baked chicken and veggies

Tuesday: ham and potato casserole

Wednesday: pinto beans, cornbread and chow chow

Thursday: Mustard chicken, rice and broccoli

Friday: Spaghetti and garlic bread

Saturday: homemade pizzas

Sunday: Italian Stew