It's 2012...

Well, I guess I should say Happy New Year, or Happy Birthday, or...I don't know...I can't keep up.

I have just completed editing our Blurb Picture book for the year 2011.  I'm already behind in blogging about 2012 by a month.  It seems I am becoming out numbered.  What seemed to be several of me getting it all done, is now just me (and God).  Now, I take nothing for granted.  I think I am now accomplishing more for Him and his Kingdom than I ever have before, but the blog thing is just going to have to be put on the back burner for the year and I'll have to see how it turns out come Family Picture book 2012. 

Nothing is wrong. 

Family is great.  Everyone is healthy.  The office is prospering, and in fact Stephen may be taking on another side job 1-2 days a week, for the fun of it.  The kids are doing great in school, baseball and karate. 

It's just I am deeply committed right now and doing a ton more reading, researching and teaching, not to mention there is no baby in the house anymore, which means there are no nap times to accomplish my desires.  I am now teaching the K-2nd Children's Choir, teaching 5 year olds at BSF (which takes more prep), I'm volunteering for Cavett's teacher and music teacher more and we are beginning to lead a small group at our house.  Not to mention I need 150 CPE credit hours to renew my teaching certificate.

I hope you will forgive me and know that you can always find snip-its and pictures on Facebook.  In fact, I am uploading Cavett's birthday party next.  So in the words of Paul's letters....

May the Lord of peace himself give you grace and peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you. 

A New Title

Something has really been eating away at me for a few months now.  But, I just didn't know what I wanted to do about it.  It's my title.

You see, I have been in a tough "season."  There have been some not so "happy" happenings in the last 4 months.  That's a whole other blog for a day to come, hopefully soon, but I digress. 

My title of my blog was just not right.  I mean, yes I am very "happy" in my life and where God has taken me--my life,  my marriage, my kids, my relationship with Him.  But, stuff happens or literally for me sh** happens.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."  James 1:2

At Christmas, I saw on facebook a quote that really got me thinking more about it.  It was something like, "Happiness is what happens to you, joy is an attitude of the heart that is God given."   We can pursue happiness all we what, but it is how we interpret what happens to us that decides our happiness.  Joy is something that lasts; happiness is something that is temporary.  When happiness fades away, joy remains. Joy is something that is bigger than me and my current circumstances.  Joy brings us peace in the middle of a storm.  Joy is something that God deposits into us through the Holy Spirit.

I guess I had been using the words happy and joy as synonyms.  I know what I meant, but I also want others to understand this isn't something superficial.  It's God-given and God-centered. 

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights."  Habakkuk 3:17-19

So in keeping with the "Kid Church Song" theme, the new title is......

i've got the joy down in my heart

You Have a Lot to Catch Up On

I've been blogging all afternoon.  Welcome back.  There are about 5 blogs that are new and they are posted on the correct dates, so there may be a blog between something that you have already read.  Check them out!

The wisdom of children

Toe Update

The Ranch

Guest Blogger of Sorts

Field Day

A New Blogger

I'd like to formally welcome my dear friend, Kelli at L to the 3rd Degree to the blogging world.  We set her up with an account a few weeks ago and there is BIG news to share!

Kelli and Joe, we look forward to welcoming little Hunter Alexander into the world and will surround him with our love!  Congratulations you guys! 

Ending the Year

2009. Well, I have been working on my Blurb Blog year book for the past month and in looking back on the year, it has been monumental. I had originally thought it was pretty crummy with all the death and change that took place. But, hindsight seems to be 20/20. God had a plan. It wasn't always what I had in mind or how I wanted things to pan out, but he works all things for the good of those who love Him. So, I have changed my mind. 2009 was a good year. It wasn't great. But, for now I will trust Him, because he cares for me.

Here are my top posts--good and bad, and things that happened in the year.

Yes, I Am Still Here

Dear Cavett

The Children's Sermon

2nd Annual Core Retreat

He Speaks

Easter in Shreveport

Baby Harrison

Moving Mania

The Nod

The Fourth and Fiftieth with the Hills

Amber and Jonny's Wedding

A Hole in the Ground

Kendrick's 2nd Birthday

Birthday Weekend

Hot Air Balloons

Red River Revel Time

A Conversation

All Saints Day

Four Funerals and a Wedding

My Namesake

Thanksgiving and a New Year

Christmas Eve and Day

We ended the year with a great, relaxing visit from Nana complete with an all day snow. Too bad it didn't stick around and we capped off the New Year with a quite dinner/night at home with our good friends, Kelli and Joe.

May 2010 bring peace, health and prosperity. Thank you, God for all you have blessed us with.

500 POSTS!!!!!

Insert Happy dance here!

Cavett's Blog

Yesterday as Cavett was perusing through the Pottery Barn Kids catalog, he said to me, "I want a computer of my very own. That way I can write my blog." I stopped in my tracks and thought, "Oh, no! What have I done?? Am I spending too much time at the computer?" Then I reassured myself, "No, I am teaching him to write and express himself." So, I decided what better way is to create a blog for Cavett to use. I am also giving him our old camera to capture photos. Maybe I will even give him writing prompts or photo scavenger hunts. This is a good thing.

So, please welcome the newest and probably youngest blogger at age 4, my eldest son, Cavett. Click here to take you to his blog!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A New Year, A New Look

This year's design is brought to you by Nicole at Lee Lou Blogs and with love from my friend and neighbor Claire Smith. Don't you love it!?!?


Here's the story...

I asked for a blog design for Christmas. Come Christmas Eve Stephen was trying to figure out how to pay for and download a gift certificate from Lee Lou. It never happened so he just put a little slip of paper in my stocking saying that is what he was getting me.

Christmas came and went. I began thinking about what I wanted and looking at lots of designs. I still had no clue. I sent an email out and never heard back. Halfway through January Claire asked me, "What's going on with my blog design?" I told her I hadn't heard back and she sent an email to the girl that worked on hers and also paid for a membership for pre-made layouts! What a sweetheart she is. I am so appreicative of Claire's help and generosity. Within a couple of days we were on track.


I wanted to go with something for the entire year and as I began looking at the questionnaire, I realized I needed a custom design. The theme obviously stems from my title and as I was looking through the paper packs, "Shiny Happy Life" stuck out at me. How can you pass up sunshine? But, there is more to it.

As Aristotle put it, we must find a "happy medium" in life. Take for example, breaking a horse. On the one hand, he is not running wild, but on the other hand you have not broken his spirit. The trained horse is motivated by a higher power guiding him. It is my hope that I find that "happy medium" with Christ as my higher motivating power guiding me.


At church today we sang "Joyful, Joyful" as our benediction and the last verse sums it all up.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, Which the morning stars began;

Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife,

Joyful music leads us Sunward In the triumph song of life.

Point being--God is the reason I am here and the joyful music that I sing leads me (and others) to the SON. We are victors through Him. May my "happy sun" be a reminder to you of His "happy medium."

Welcome to the Blogging World!

I'd like to introduce you to the newest blogger I know--Claire Smith. Last night, I helped her set up her account. We are looking forward to your first post, Claire!

Pictured: Two of her kids, Jackson and Teague. (January 2008)

Welcome, Davis Family!

There is a new blogger Mom in the world! I am so excited to announce that one of our college friends, Adrianne is now blogging about their litttle family. It will be so great and easy to keep in touch with them now. Check them out at http://trumondavisfamily.blogspot.com/.

In a Slump

I have been in a blogging slump lately. I have so many projects that I have been busy on lately: two quilts, a surprise project for someone special, not to mention trying to keep my household up and running in between week and weekends away. So, this post is just to let you know we are doing fine. We are headed up to Dallas mid-week to see a few practices that are for sell. No, we aren't definitely moving. But, we are keeping all our options open and are listening for His still, small voice.

Blurb

For those of you who are bloggers, let me share a little secret with you. Last year, I discovered Blurb. This is a company, like "My Publisher," that makes personalized books with your photos. To tell you the truth it is the whole reason why I began blogging in the first place. I couldn't do the "scrapbook" thing. Too time consuming. I needed something where I could just type something small up when I had the chance and maybe add a pic or two. I kept looking at Publisher and I never found a way to really journal in it. It seemed more about pictures. I looked at Snapfish and others as well, until I stumbled upon Blurb.

The best part about it is that you can give them your Blogger page and download your entire blog into a book. It's fabulous. I made my first one at the end of last year. And right now I am working on 3 books--my own, a recipe book and a special surprise. (I'll tell you about that one later.)

You can also make your book public or private. If you are the entrepreneurial type, you can even promote and make a profit from the sales of your books. If you are just into looking at others books or need ideas, you can browse their bookstore. It's really amazing to see others creativity.

To top it all off, they are cheap! Way cheap compared to other companies. And, the software is free. So, get creative and give your children, grand-children, great-grand children something they can physically get their hands on for years to come. Who knows what the Internet will look like in 5 years, much less 50-100!

My New Favorite Blogger

Randomly, I was given a comment by "Motherhood for Dummies". She is a first time Mom living in Alaska trying to make it through the day. I checked out her blog and fell in love! She is quite funny, but speaks with such truth to motherhood. She has great posts on Mondays where she talks about things to do with the family and also posts fun crafts to do with the kids every now and then. Also in scrolling through her posts I found that she knows how to make Congo Bars! I thought ours was the only family in the world. So, if you ever have a chance and are bored, check out Motherhood for Dummies.