the way home

I received the dvd, The Way Home, from Thomas Nelson for review. I had no idea what it was about, but knew that it starred Dean Cain and I like him so I figured it'd be alright.

The Way Home is a true story about a family whose son goes missing, but it's about so much more than that as well. It tells the story of a man who has lost his way....feeling that work was more important than family or marriage. It's about a mom who is struggling to connect with the husband she feels she's lost.....and the frustration she feels in having to be a single parent.

The Way Home is a story well-told and well-acted, for the most part. I enjoyed it, finding it suspenseful and touching at the same time. It holds your attention from the first scene until the last, and if you allow it to, you might actually learn something about yourself.

So, do they find their son? Does the husband/father realize his mistakes? Can the mom forgive her husband and herself? All of these are questions that will be answered if you get the video and watch! I promise you will not be disappointed!

the little band that could

This awesome group of kids......

Qualified to go to the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!

Go,,,,,,KNIGHTS!!

today's a big day

Today, our little band will try to qualify to go to the State band championship. We have to be in the top 6 in our division to get there. The kids have worked their tails off, and we are so proud of them, that I just want them to make it so bad!

People don't really understand the sacrifice it takes to commit to the marching band. They put in more hours than the football team during the season, because not only do they practice the same amount of time each day, play at the games on Fridays, they also give up about 5 Saturdays to compete.

So, Marching Knights, get out their and give it your all......you deserve this!

Happy Birthday, Shea

Last Saturday, my oldest turned 26. It's hard to believe that it's been that long. I distinctly remember bringing her home from the hospital....she was so tiny. Today, she has blossomed into a beautiful woman.

So here's to you, my first born..................

10 things I love about you!

1. You are so beautiful.
2. You have goals and are reaching for them.
3. You are waiting patiently for God to send your husband to you.
4. The way you love your siblings.
5. Your laugh.
6. Your love of God.
7. They way you love your friends.
8. Your self-discipline.
9. Your smile.
10. Your serious ballet moves!

She's been waiting not-so-patiently for this post......hence why she only gets a list of 10....with my new medicine I can barely put two words together coherently, much less 26!

white-coat phobia

I do believe this is a true, very real syndrome that probably has a name; but, I'm too traumatized lazy to google it. There's something about that coat that turns me: a rational, educated, calm individual into a blathering idiot who probably throws her furniture out the front door so it can be cleaned by the rain.
I honestly don't know what comes over me when I get into that small room--my hands start sweating, my heart starts racing, and my mind (previously filled with all sorts of intelligent questions or requests) goes completely blank.
Then, the minute the babbling brook called my train of unintelligle thoughts ends, the doctor.....wanting to escape the crazy walks out and I turn back into a rational, educated, calm person again who wants to yell, "Wait! Come back. I'll show you I'm not crazy." But, alas, it is too late for he is gone, and I am left on my own to decipher WTH just happened. 

SIGH..............................

words fail me

Being a preacher's wife, we have experienced our share of loss. The strange thing is, that it jars me every.time.

I went to bed last night with an old friend, one I hadn't seen or spoken to in over twenty years, on my mind. Or rather, her family on my mind because, you see, she died. Unexpectedly. Was fine at dinner last week, and not so fine the next morning when she was in a medically-induced coma. I think of her family and how this time last week, they had NO idea that their lives were about to be turned upside down. Completely.

I think about Paige, who was sweet to everyone and very giving.......not realizing that her life would end suddenly. It makes me sad, and a little sick. I have to wonder why.....I know we're taught not to ask why, but really?

What seriously jars me the most, though, is that I ache for the souls of the lost. Did someone share Jesus with her before she died?

However, the more important question is...did I? I doubt it. My life was in a shambles unbeknown to those around me....for we appeared normal enough; and I was very, very centered around my own pain. So, no...I'm sure I never shared Jesus with anyone.

Right now, as another funeral takes place behind my home, words seriously are failing me as I come to terms with yet another loss. So, I will take the words from God and place them here as I vow to pray them each day for Paige's family:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4

thirty-one gifts

Have you seen this stuff? I'm sure you have since it's everywhere. Well, I'm doing a catalog show. If  you'd like to look and maybe order something,  you can do that even if you don't live close to me! Want to know how? Just follow these simple instructions:

1. go to the thirty-one gifts website

2. go to find a consultant......then type in Myra McLaughlin from SC

3. you will see "events" listed on her site....click on that and I will be on there

4. Click where it says "shop now" beside my name and there you have it! They can ship it directly to you.

Thirty-one is a christian company, and Myra is a fellow pastor's wife so buying from me helps her out as well.

Have fun shopping!

celebrities

What makes a person a celebrity these days? It used to be that a person needed an actual talent before reaching that "celebrity" status. Now, it seems that any boobalicious or just plain boob can get it. There's no talent involved. Then we have people like the Kardashians (who are these people, anyway?) as celebrities who are proud of the fact that they got into a bar fight.

There's people like this Snooki character and "The Situation", really? Why would you want to be called that? in public, no less. Call me old-fashioned, I don't care. A celebrity is not someone who suddenly finds themselves on a "reality" show and then goes "stupider".

My bookfair at school begins this Friday. The theme this year is "Everday Heroes". Let's talk about REAL celebrities.......firefighters, policemen, teachers, postal workers, volunteers.....these are the people that make our country great.....that make it something to be proud of.

I'm so sick of our culture not recognizing those who are truly special. Those who work day in and day out to take care of their families, and who aren't given breaks for anything and everything they do. Those people who are just "normal" who are at home taking care of their kids instead of bar fighting. These are the ones we should be treating like celebrities.

It's time to wake up to the real world. Especially for the sake of our kids....they need true role models.

the news!

I don't have that much to say these days....can't seem to find any interesting topics to blog about! However, yours truly was on the news last night, and you can see the story HERE.

band season

Is kicking our tail! It's been several years now since we have had to give up every single Saturday to be gone out of town from morning until the next wee hours of the morning. Got back in about 1:30 this morning, and of course, Steve has to preach while I begin the children's Christmas musical during children's church.

Last time we did band, we weren't involved with the equipment at all. We simply went and sat in the stands to enjoy the performances. Of course, way back then, our band was usually performing in the last category so you sat with bated breath watching the competition and anxious for how we would do! This year, our band is small like the smallest competing marching band in the entire state!

So, I watch our band at the beginning while Steve helps with the equipment; and then I sit and sit and sit until nighttime falls when finally the awards happen.

It makes for an exhausting day.....but, we love it because Luke loves it! So, right now......that's why my blogging is so sporadic. It takes the first half of the week to recover from the weekend, and I'm too busy the second half of the week.

Hope you are spending your days doing something that you LOVE!