Bay's co-op class

They are good kids! So fun and silly too!

Something from Piper

I hope I don't mess this up and get it wrong and that I am remembering this all right. I was driving down the road one day listening to Pastor John Piper on the radio (I can remember this so clearly, I even know about where I was and what highway I was on). He was talking about how he had come home and his wife had told him that their young boys got in the road and almost got hit by a car. After it sunk in he got to thinking about it. I can't remember it all word for word but he said something I'll never forget. He said he got to thinking about what if they would have gotten hit and died. And then he thought about what would be worse. And he realized it would be worse if they grew up and rejected the Lord and died in their sins (Obviously they were not of an age where they truly understood their sin and their need to cry out for God's mercy). He said he prayed "Oh, God, if they are going to grow up to reject you, take them now. Take them now!" He understood the importance of them being here for a short time and spending an eternity in heaven or them being here a lifetime and spending an eternity in hell.

Raising Godly Tomatoes

Raising Godly Tomatoes

Papa Mitchell's Idea of a Valentine Treat

Turkey, Chicken...what's the difference?

Earlier I was reviewing with Bailey and I had told him that Paul wrote a letter to the church in Colosse. I told him that it was now in an area called Turkey and had shown it to him on the globe. I said, "Where was Colosse, Bailey?" He thought about it and gave a serious answer, "Chicken." Cute. Yes, his dad has visited the country of Chicken before.

Isabella knows how to say Bailey now and it is so cute! We have been working on her with Samantha's. We got her to say, "Man." Even Bailey still calls her, "Mansa." ;)

Jars of Clay

To the right is a video of one of my all time favorite songs. Derrick and I actually got to see them in concert in Branson back when we had been married not quite 2 years.

Hockey Game

Lili got us all tickets for the Oiler's game last night! Derrick, the kids, & I met up with Lili and the cousins. I love going to the BOK center!Bella loved the Dippin' Dots! She would open up her mouth wide like a baby birdie for a bite! Speaking of Bella, I'm wondering if this peanut butter stuff explains what was going on with Bella (see Hawaii blog!). She had those problems for a month! Well, I got a call from Sam's yesterday saying they wanted to refund my money for some crackers I bought from them (in BULK, of course). Every last package was already eaten. So, I got online to check on these Austin crackers and sure enough they are connected to the Salmonella contamination! It has caused many deaths and many illnesses. When I had called and taken her to the dr 2-3 times before the trip, they didn't feel it was necessary to send it off for a culture. I'm wondering if that explains Isabella's problems. Scary stuff!

Discover The Book - Pastor-Teacher John Barnett - Radio, Audio, Sermons Bible Teaching Ministry

Discover The Book - Pastor-Teacher John Barnett - Radio, Audio, Sermons Bible Teaching Ministry

Fun Questions

Here are the rules:Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people.
1. Make a list of things you can see without getting up: My kitchen, living room, the hallway, my bedroom, some clothes lying on a chair that need to be put away!
2. What are you wearing now? A long-sleeved brown shirt with a turquoise cross on it that Dana picked out for me from Mardel's, my favorite jeans, warm slipper socks, and my fuzzy brown hat.
3. What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? The Love Dare, My Bible. Lies Women Believe, Instructing a Child's heart. I am about to start reading This Momentary Marriage by John Piper- looking forward to reading Piper. Derrick says I need to try to read one book at a time. It's embarrassing how many I could list that I am "reading". I really do need to read one at a time because this reading 8 at a time thing is not working!
4. Do you nap a lot? Not really but I'd like to.
5. Who was the last person you hugged? Samantha.
6. Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world? Israel, and see where Jesus walked.
7. What was the last thing you said aloud? "I love you, girls. Night night."
8. What websites do you always visit when you go online? Yahoo, this one (I like to listen to my Playlist), and lately the Powell's a lot.
9. What was the last thing you bought? Went to Target while Bay and Sam were at Awana and got a young chicken, some Shredded Mini Wheats (some new Cinnamon Streussel kind), Cucumber Melon wipees, Pip Squeak markers, and erasable colored pencils (school will be fun tomorrow ;) ).
10. What are you listening to right now? Was listening to playlist but it shuts off when you are posting a blog. I hear Bella moving in her bed and everyone is asleep.
11. What is your favorite weather, and why? I love Spring weather with the beautiful flowers. I love rainy days- why do people call them ugly days? I love it when it snows. Summer is nice too. And fall is beautiful with all the colorful leaves. Temperature wise, Spring is my favorite.
12. What time do you usually get up? 7:30 but I need to get up earlier.
13. What is your most challenging goal right now? Having good quiet time with the Lord, getting enough rest, eating healthy, and getting enough exercise. Balancing it all.
14. What is your favorite food? Homecooked, country-style with sweet tea and pie. I try not to eat this way on a regular basis though!
15. What amazes you most? How God works even the bad out for the good of those who love Him and uses it for your growth.
16. What is your middle name? Elizabeth
17. Who amazes you? My husband, he is very disciplined, knows how to manage things well, loves the Lord passionately, and he runs marathons!
18. What would you change about your life? Nothing (atleast when I am thinking rightly and not comparing myself to anyone else!). God is sovereign over all things and everything I have been given (my appearance, family, husband, children, trials, friends...) is God's best for me.
19. What is your favorite color? Purple
20. Name one thing you cannot live without: My family.
21. Who is your "hero"? My "heroes of the faith" are Sarah Edwards (and Jonathan Edwards), Pastor John Barnett (and his wife), Pastor John Piper, Pastor John MacArthur...
22. What would you change about yourself? I would talk less, listen more, be less concerned with what is wonderful in man's eyes and more concerned about what is wonderful in God's eyes, & I would make more time (somehow) for all my loved ones and friends. By God's grace, maybe I will get better at these things!
I tag whoever wants to do this. :) Leave me a comment linking to your blog if you decide to participate!

The Embarrassing Times of Ryan Powell

1. I once wore red glasses. And I thought they were cool.
2. I once called the News out to tape me rapping in a batman shirt. They actually came-you should see the tape!
3. I was so prissy in middle school and high school that it took me longer to get ready than it took my sister. (Don't worry, Ryan, I won't mention the concealer or tweezers.)
4. I once had an 80's model Grand Prix that I ran all the hubcaps off of. I was so wreckless with this car that my friends and I had to tie the passenger door with ropes to get the door to stay closed and any passengers had to climb in from the driver's side.
5. I once screeched this car to a halt (when I wouldn't let my sister listen to her tape and threw it out the window) so I could get the tape of mine she had thrown out to reciprocate.
6. I used to think I was my sister's father and was extremely overprotective but, at the same time, had no qualms with throwing a basketball at her head to get her off the phone.
7. I married someone that everyone said looked like my sister even though I had called her "ugly" all those years.
8. My sister actually hand-picked my wife out for me. (Could you imagine had she not?!)
9. I used to be depraved, lost.
10. Until God drew me to Himself, gave me a new heart, made my sister wonder what in the world happened to me? I used to pray for her, I lovingly told her what God had done for her. That He had sent Jesus. I talked to her of putting her trust in Him and of turning from her ways. That man would fail her every time and God was the only faithful one. I gave her a Bible, lots of Christian books, and magazines. She didn't really want them but politely took them until one day she opened the Bible up and all at once, she understood...God would forgive her for things she couldn't forgive herself for. She fell in love. God gave her a new heart too. She understood my passion. She understood why I loved Him so much. We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 Glad I was faithful to reach out, tell her, & pray. Thank you, Ryan. Thank you for "pulling me from the flames". I know you were just God's instrument, but thank you, thank you, thank you.

Coming soon...The Embarrassing Times of Ryan Powell

Be sure to watch for it!

The last word

As a sister I feel I must have the last word or atleast try to get it. I think it will be fairly easy this time since my brother will most likely not be able to log onto my account again as I will be sure to log out! ;) You didn't think he was funny did you? No, of course not. I must first address his comments. Then I will be posting Ryan Powell's most embarrassing moments. He may well wish he hadn't messed with his little sister.
1. That age 22 stuff was stretching it big time!
2. The headgear thing? No...I am not even going there.
3. Fine, this was true.
4. Okay, quite a bit, but I wouldn't quite say 90%.
5. Okay, I cannot deny this one (as there are pictures out there)!
6. Alright, that happened last year but I was determined it would not happen this year and desposed of them immediately after Thanksgiving.
7.
8.
9. I have no qualms with these! ;)
10. I will be a diligent "logger offer" where I know my brother may be visiting.
I hope you all can get a taste what I had to live with growing up! There was the time...no I'm not going to mention that one...even he was gracious enough not to. Oh, the joys of having a brother. I am still reaping the benefits of it!

Embarrassing Moments

Hey girls, here is a list of my most embarrassing moments:

1. I wasn't allowed to shave my legs until I was 22.
2. I once thought that headgear was cool.
3. During my middle school years I collected stray cats.
4. 90% of my high school life was spent on the phone.
5. My bangs used to look like a satellite dish.
6. I have a habit of purchasing pumpkins and watching them decompose on my porch.
7. I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
8. I am passionate about being a good mother and wife.
9. My family loves me dearly.
10. I failed to log off after blogging at my moms and my brother did not have to use a password to create a post on my blog.

Bring the Rain

Now, I don't cry at the drop of a hat but I have to say I was very moved by the blog to the right (Bring the Rain). You should check it out if you have some time. It has a link you can click on to read about baby Audrey Caroline. They are yet another testimony of God's grace. He will carry us through our darkest hours.

Friday's co-op

We had a fun class this last Friday. After Spanish review we learned about the Washington Monument. We learned that they started building it but ran out of funds and started the building again 20 years later. We saw pictures of how the color was different and could tell when they stopped building. Then the kids had craft time and glued popsicle sticks to make Abraham Lincoln's log cabin, glued pennies on the window to have Lincoln looking out, & drew a picture around it. In gym, we jump roped. For Astronomy we went into a huge Planetarium in the gym and learned about Orien's belt, Sirius...In music we played bingo with music notes. They had to listen to the sounds of the music notes and cover their bingo cards. I am so thankful for the talented teachers in our co-op!

Teach and Tickle: Search results for the shack

Teach and Tickle: Search results for the shack

This is my friend, Kelly's, review on the book The Shack. I was putting it on here for my mama-in-law and anyone else interested in a review on it. There are also other's comments if you want to check those out too.

Chick-Fil-A

Well, we are big Chick-Fil-A fans so I just wanted to throw this out there! Chick-Fil-A is selling Valentine's cards right now and they have coupons on them for the kids to bring them in for a free ice cream cone. I thought that was a nice treat for the kids to give their friends and may have them tape some candy to them too for the fun of it. Also, I love their carrot raisin salad and just recently figured out I could buy a quart of it to take home for $5! It's good stuff!

I have to say this again!

You should see Fireproof if you haven't! Fireproof is at the video stores. Derrick & I got it last night (thank you, Barb!) & we watched it again! Derrick said some of his buddies got it too and have watched it 2 or 3 times and have cried. If you haven't seen it yet you should go rent it or anyone is welcome to borrow it from us. We watched all the extras on it and some of those were really funny. It has a music video on it of "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns (the one I'm playing first on the playlist). The words are so fitting for the movie, "People never crumble in a day...families never crumble in a day...it's a slow fade." It talks about the choices we make and how little by little they can destroy us.