This is taken from the book, CAPTIVATING Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul. These are great words that spoke to me and where I am in my faith journey.
"Unveiling our beauty really just means unveiling our feminine hearts.
It's scary, for sure. That is why it is our greatest expression of faith, because we are going to have to trust Jesus - really trust Him. We'll have to trust him that we HAVE a beauty, that what he has said of us is true. And we'll have to trust Him with how it goes when we offer it, because that is out of our control. We'll have to trust him when it hurts, and we'll have to trust him when we are finally seen and enjoyed. That's why unveiling our beauty is how we live by faith.
Unveiling our beauty is our greatest expression of HOPE. We hope that it will matter, that our beauty really does make a difference. We hope that there is a greater and higher Beauty, hope we are reflecting that Beauty, and hope it will triumph. Our hope is that all is well because of Jesus and that all will be well because of him. So we unveil beauty in hope. And finally, we unveil beauty in the hope that Jesus is growing our beauty. Yes, we are not yet what we long to be. But we are underway. Restoration has begun. To offer beauty now is an expression of hope that it will be completed.
And unveiling beauty is our greatest expression of love, because it is what the world most needs from us. When we choose not to hide, when we choose to offer our hearts, we are choosing to love. Jesus offers; he invites, he is present. That is how he loves. That is how we love - sincerely, as the Scriptures says, 'from the heart' (1Pt 1:22). Our focus shifts from self-protection to the hearts of others. We offer Beauty so that their hearts might come alive, be healed, know God. That is love."
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie.....
Yesterday I spent most of the day around the house and thought a lot about the book, If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. I was feeling that that was becoming my day.....
If I start cleaning my house,
I will load the wash with dirty laundry,
I will then begin to clean the back bathroom,
then will see areas that need touched up painting,
then I will get the ladder and paint from the garage,
then I will discover after painting that the bathroom needed wiped down again,
then I notice the time and realize the laundry has been waiting for quite some time to be removed from the wash into the dryer,
when I fold some of my boys laundry and bring them to there proper drawers,
I start to remove clothes that don't fit and put them into a goodwill pile,
I will also observe that this cleaning house day still needs to be accomplished and I have very little time till I have to pick up kids! Ugh!
If I start cleaning my house,
I will load the wash with dirty laundry,
I will then begin to clean the back bathroom,
then will see areas that need touched up painting,
then I will get the ladder and paint from the garage,
then I will discover after painting that the bathroom needed wiped down again,
then I notice the time and realize the laundry has been waiting for quite some time to be removed from the wash into the dryer,
when I fold some of my boys laundry and bring them to there proper drawers,
I start to remove clothes that don't fit and put them into a goodwill pile,
I will also observe that this cleaning house day still needs to be accomplished and I have very little time till I have to pick up kids! Ugh!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Katrina 6yr Anniversary
On the morning of Katrina's 6 year anniversary, this is what was taking place across the street from my house. I found it amusing that it was happening on the actual anniversary date, August 29th. Its a house I have wished to see go for awhile. The house supposedly had never been gutted. Yep, it still had curtains in the windows. It sort of gave me the heeby-jeebies to think of what was growing in there! It did not take long to see it fall to the ground. From what the neighbors say, the guy who owned the house was not doing well before Katrina. Once the hurricane hit, he moves back to live in a trailer in front of the house and drinks himself to death....basically. Its a sad story....there are many sad stories after Katrina. Katrina put a period on a lot of peoples lives. Fortunately, for many lives, it has been a renewing. Everyone has a story and every story is different from one to the next. I'm glad to be here and witness progress and even participate in progress:)
{Thanks to the Lot-next-door program, where home owners that live next to a home that needs to go, can purchase it (for next to nothing) as a yard and increase value to their home!}
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Stay Grateful!
Thankful for.....
- friends that know me and still love me
- music that speaks truth and for the funky kind that's fun to dance to!
- air condition during New Orleans summers
- laughter! ('can u spare a square')
- color
- hugs
- Coffee
- reading with and without my children:)
- anticipation
- mangoes
- growth
- creativity
- accomplishment
- my honey-bun:)
- my garden
- dreams
- vacations
- reflecting
- my Savior
- rain
- blogging (something I hope I'll do more of)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Simple Man
What you see in this (blurry)picture is 12 of my husband's folded T-shirts that just came out of the dryer. 10 of the 12 T-shirts you see have blessed my husband's wardrobe at no expense to us. That is right, $0. Thanks to Kaboom, the Hornets, Compassion Int., UNO, Volunteers of America....the list goes on.....he has a plethora of shirts to choose from in the morning, and those T-shirts are what he chooses:)I'm married to a simple man. A man that loves Jesus, that loves doing good, and that loves free T-shirts!
Blessings....he is blessed to have a job that allows him to wear such clothing any given week day. Facilitating mission teams and loving on neighbors in 100 degree heat....you bet he is going to wear a T-shirt.
I'm married to a simple man. A man that loves Jesus, that loves doing good, and that loves free T-shirts!
Monday, June 27, 2011
"Love Never Fails"
By: Brandon Heath
Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all matters the most
Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep locked inside
Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you
Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time
Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes when you don't
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you
When my heart won't make a sound
When I can't turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater then this
greater then this
Love is right here
Love is Alive
Love is the Way, the Truth, the Life
Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly too
Love never fails you
Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all matters the most
Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep locked inside
Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you
Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time
Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes when you don't
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you
When my heart won't make a sound
When I can't turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater then this
greater then this
Love is right here
Love is Alive
Love is the Way, the Truth, the Life
Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly too
Love never fails you
Saturday, June 11, 2011
School Life
The year has finally come to an end, and what a year its been!
Two kids in two different schools, in two different areas of town, and two completely different cultures.
As I reflect, I do not end this year feeling like I survived, more like I thrived!! It has opened my eyes to what I confidently feel God wanted me to see....and I'm more eager then ever to continue that journey. I've wanted to write about this journey but have been hesitant at the same time. So, here it goes....
There are so many options out there on how you can school your children. To give a little history: I grew up attending only four schools ( including college!), all of which were private. My husband attended 13 public schools by the time he graduated high school, then attended college and grad school. Based on our backgrounds, we wanted to find a happy medium. Private school was not an option, even if we could afford it. For me, my parents wanted to provide a safe environment for their kids, which was all fine and good till we had to 'enter the world'. We felt putting our boys in public school, in hopes of engaging in our children and the school life, would be profitable for our children, family and the community.
When we first began this journey, we were in a small town of 60,000 where you bought a house based on what school you wanted your child to attend. Easy enough! Our oldest son's Kindergarten and first grade years were quite lovely. I helped a lot in the classes, helped on PTA, visited at lunch, knew the principal from our church, and was even involved in praying for the school weekly with a group of moms! Sounds quaint? It was....sort of Smallville like! (ha,ha!)
(screeching brake sound)
The Lord then tells us to say goodbye, sell our house, and go back home to New Orleans. Huh?
Well, that is what we did.
When we arrived back in the wonderful city of New Orleans, due to the first year being a lot of transition, I chose to keep the boys home with me and schooled them myself. One was in preschool and the other in 2nd grade. ( I had told myself that I would NEVER homeschool....but I also said I would NEVER move back home....) (sigh) We had a wonderful curriculum that I borrowed from a friend, and we did a lot of field trips around the city (with the goal of educating and getting them to fall in love with their new home). It was a wonderful year that I will cherish forever but then it came time to look into schools for a Kindergartner and 3rd grader.
WOW! When you move to New Orleans (Post Katrina) you find out that you don't just sign up for the school in your area, and we are not just looking at public schools. There are Montessori schools, Language immersion schools, charter schools....there are established schools, brand spankin' new schools, and schools attempting all different philosophies of teaching! There was a book I got my hands on that gave info on all the schools in the city. I could look at it and see the location of the school, how it tested, what kind of diversity it had, and even what percentage got free/reduced lunch. It didn't take long for me to narrow my options. Little did I know that my list of three schools would have to enlarge to 10+ schools to apply to, b/c of the demand for everyone wanting their kid in the better schools and those schools only having so much room. Waiting list, waiting list, waiting list!
I will now end talking about the monster that it was and get to what I really want this to be about!
The kids had completely different teachers. One was an experienced, native New Orleanian, female elementary teacher - the other is a young west coast male Teach for America teacher. The schools, one relies on grants based on extremely high performances which then allows them a consistent group of special teachers that focuses on the arts. The other school relies on non profits or even a church partnership to have some special things. One is so well established and organized, the other required me to be forgiving while its still figuring things out. One doesn't bat an I to ask families to pay $15 for a field trip (and anticipates many parents to show up and help), but the other schools field trips mostly just required you to pay the two bucks for the bus. A non-profit provided the kids with great field trips (but did not welcome parents).
Where was I? I was scared. Not sure how the year would go. I firmly looked at that west coast teacher in the early part of the year and told him that the two things I cared about for my child was that he was academically challenged and environmentally felt safe. In the beginning, there were many days where I was mentally ready to pull him out if I felt that would need to be done. As the year progressed, my oldest would always come home happy except for when he did something wrong with school work! It gave me a peace. Into the second semester, the teacher gave me an opportunity to step into the class and 'pour love on them.' (Cookie decorating and Picture frame craft) I even got to volunteer ONE time which allowed me to rub shoulders with a sweet lady that works at the school, I now look forward to seeing her. Where am I now? Wondering what part I can play next year in helping the school on a bigger scale, not just the classroom, but to help parents get involved. I have a huge appreciation for that west coast guy that demonstrated leadership and compassion on this pour mom:) I also appreciate the other leaders and allowing (even encouraging) Alf and I to speak out on just about anything. I still don't feel confident and comfortable in the culture of the school but am confident and comfortable in it being where we need to be.
Meanwhile, I volunteered at least twice a month at my younger ones school. I did lunch, recess, and choice time when I would go help. I showed up at field trips and holiday parties. I embraced all their was to embrace in a Kindergarten year. It was comfortable. The year went above and beyond what I could have ever expected. And yes, there were times (of course)where I would wish that both boys were experiencing 'this', like the time Trombone Shorty played for morning meeting:) Note: If you don't know who Trombone Shorty is, google him.
Well, that is my story....for now.
Two kids in two different schools, in two different areas of town, and two completely different cultures.
As I reflect, I do not end this year feeling like I survived, more like I thrived!! It has opened my eyes to what I confidently feel God wanted me to see....and I'm more eager then ever to continue that journey. I've wanted to write about this journey but have been hesitant at the same time. So, here it goes....
There are so many options out there on how you can school your children. To give a little history: I grew up attending only four schools ( including college!), all of which were private. My husband attended 13 public schools by the time he graduated high school, then attended college and grad school. Based on our backgrounds, we wanted to find a happy medium. Private school was not an option, even if we could afford it. For me, my parents wanted to provide a safe environment for their kids, which was all fine and good till we had to 'enter the world'. We felt putting our boys in public school, in hopes of engaging in our children and the school life, would be profitable for our children, family and the community.
When we first began this journey, we were in a small town of 60,000 where you bought a house based on what school you wanted your child to attend. Easy enough! Our oldest son's Kindergarten and first grade years were quite lovely. I helped a lot in the classes, helped on PTA, visited at lunch, knew the principal from our church, and was even involved in praying for the school weekly with a group of moms! Sounds quaint? It was....sort of Smallville like! (ha,ha!)
(screeching brake sound)
The Lord then tells us to say goodbye, sell our house, and go back home to New Orleans. Huh?
Well, that is what we did.
When we arrived back in the wonderful city of New Orleans, due to the first year being a lot of transition, I chose to keep the boys home with me and schooled them myself. One was in preschool and the other in 2nd grade. ( I had told myself that I would NEVER homeschool....but I also said I would NEVER move back home....) (sigh) We had a wonderful curriculum that I borrowed from a friend, and we did a lot of field trips around the city (with the goal of educating and getting them to fall in love with their new home). It was a wonderful year that I will cherish forever but then it came time to look into schools for a Kindergartner and 3rd grader.
WOW! When you move to New Orleans (Post Katrina) you find out that you don't just sign up for the school in your area, and we are not just looking at public schools. There are Montessori schools, Language immersion schools, charter schools....there are established schools, brand spankin' new schools, and schools attempting all different philosophies of teaching! There was a book I got my hands on that gave info on all the schools in the city. I could look at it and see the location of the school, how it tested, what kind of diversity it had, and even what percentage got free/reduced lunch. It didn't take long for me to narrow my options. Little did I know that my list of three schools would have to enlarge to 10+ schools to apply to, b/c of the demand for everyone wanting their kid in the better schools and those schools only having so much room. Waiting list, waiting list, waiting list!
I will now end talking about the monster that it was and get to what I really want this to be about!
The kids had completely different teachers. One was an experienced, native New Orleanian, female elementary teacher - the other is a young west coast male Teach for America teacher. The schools, one relies on grants based on extremely high performances which then allows them a consistent group of special teachers that focuses on the arts. The other school relies on non profits or even a church partnership to have some special things. One is so well established and organized, the other required me to be forgiving while its still figuring things out. One doesn't bat an I to ask families to pay $15 for a field trip (and anticipates many parents to show up and help), but the other schools field trips mostly just required you to pay the two bucks for the bus. A non-profit provided the kids with great field trips (but did not welcome parents).
Where was I? I was scared. Not sure how the year would go. I firmly looked at that west coast teacher in the early part of the year and told him that the two things I cared about for my child was that he was academically challenged and environmentally felt safe. In the beginning, there were many days where I was mentally ready to pull him out if I felt that would need to be done. As the year progressed, my oldest would always come home happy except for when he did something wrong with school work! It gave me a peace. Into the second semester, the teacher gave me an opportunity to step into the class and 'pour love on them.' (Cookie decorating and Picture frame craft) I even got to volunteer ONE time which allowed me to rub shoulders with a sweet lady that works at the school, I now look forward to seeing her. Where am I now? Wondering what part I can play next year in helping the school on a bigger scale, not just the classroom, but to help parents get involved. I have a huge appreciation for that west coast guy that demonstrated leadership and compassion on this pour mom:) I also appreciate the other leaders and allowing (even encouraging) Alf and I to speak out on just about anything. I still don't feel confident and comfortable in the culture of the school but am confident and comfortable in it being where we need to be.
Meanwhile, I volunteered at least twice a month at my younger ones school. I did lunch, recess, and choice time when I would go help. I showed up at field trips and holiday parties. I embraced all their was to embrace in a Kindergarten year. It was comfortable. The year went above and beyond what I could have ever expected. And yes, there were times (of course)where I would wish that both boys were experiencing 'this', like the time Trombone Shorty played for morning meeting:) Note: If you don't know who Trombone Shorty is, google him.
Well, that is my story....for now.
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