Life with my sister

I don't think I've told you that Samuel and Daniel are playing basketball for a homeschool co-op in Pine Bluff. We have friends that use the co-op and they asked if Samuel would like to play basketball for their junior high team. Well of course he wanted to. I had just told Stephen that we had to get that boy in some kind of competitive sport with a ball or he was going to go crazy ( or maybe I was going to go crazy!) He was carrying a ball with him everywhere he went just aching to throw it, shoot it or hit it. The team practices every Tuesday and Thursday in Pine Bluff. Practice was going good for a couple of days and then they realized they didn't have many players and asked if the twins would like to play. So, Daniel, my 10 year old, is playing for the jr . high team. It isn't ideal for him or the team, but he is able to let some of the players rest a bit. We have played six games and have lost them all. But we lose with great spirit! One game ended in a tie and we...

Weren't Abby's pictures just precious? Henry is such a doll and could not be cuter. Since Stephen and I have been married (18 years) we've probably vacationed on the beach 13 of those years. We have NO family pictures on the beach. So, when I saw Abby's I told the boys and Stephen that we were going to have pictures made when we go this year. They all said "NO!" at the same time. They let me know that it was vacation and there would be no family pictures taken. It makes it easier for me, I don't have to plan outfits for six people to wear on the beach for pictures. I guess its a win-win situation! I was reminded this week of how different my life is now than just 2 or 3 years ago. I have friends that have young children and when I look into their eyes sometimes I see despair. And I remember that feeling so well. The realization that I could not run to the store by myself, Stephen and I couldn't decide to go on a date at the last minute, I couldn...

" You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north." Deuteronomy 2:3. I love this verse. I discovered it in a book I was reading one morning in May before a job interview. I wrote it on a note card and put it in my car. I glanced down at it on my way to the interview and laughed because I realized I was headed north of town. Well, I am now employed by that company and recite this verse with much praise to God's amazing provision for me. It sums up the last year of my life so beautifully. I am excited about putting my high heels back on and stepping up! I quit my job last June 15th. It was a sticky situation. I felt it was best I leave and find another job that I could feel good about it and not "icky" every day as I was forced to make decisions I did not agree with. I have learned in my short career that looking like you have it all together does not mean you do and lots of warts and scars come from wearing that mask. I decided to flee that path in li...

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord, for his whole life will be given over to the Lord. And he worshiped the Lord there." (I Samuel 1:26-28) Sunday we were blessed to dedicate Henry to the Lord. Henry did really well and enjoyed seeing a picture of himself on the big screen. He kept pointing at it, when his fingers weren't in his mouth, of course. Our pastor shared the spiritual meaning of Henry's name and it fits him perfectly, "Ruler of the house"! It was such a sweet time for our little family. As a Baptist, we dedicate our children to the Lord. It is not baptism or christening. It is a voluntary act in which parents who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ present their child and themselves to the Lord as an outward expression of their gratitude to Him for the child. It is a formal appeal to God, asking for his assistance in rearing the child. It does not impart salvation ...

It is better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps. But if there is no one to help, tough! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (the message) Lindsey is a dear friend. She is the one who takes all the sweet pictures of little Henry, she has creativity that would make Martha Stewart faint, she is also the friend who shoots it straight and in turn, always makes me laugh. Her friendship is such a blessing to me. This dear friend of mine is having surgery today on a benign tumor that is on her pituitary gland. The tumor is pressing on nerves in her brain that control her vision. You can read more about it on her blog . I know she would appreciate your prayers for peace, the doctor's steady hand, a safe and successful surgery, and comfort in a fast recovery. Thank you for praying for my faithful friend. I love having Jesus as the bond of my closest friends. I cannot imagine not having the prayers of faithful friends while facing life...

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." My cousin reminded me to read and claim these verses this past week. I had a pretty rough week and she knows my path and my heart well. I am studying Isaiah in BSF and it amazes me to see how other recent readings and people outside of BSF point me back to Isaiah. God is so real, relevant and alive. I love how he guides me. I don't always understand it or like where he leads me, but I do find such comfort in knowing He has a plan. A wonderful, master plan, a plan that is better than anything I could ever cook up on my own. I don't know what you are waiting on, yet I do know that the waiting room of life can be challenging, regardless what you are waiting on. I am waiting also. Some days I want to beat the walls down and make my littl...

I had a hard time as a mom last week. I was hearing and see things happen in the lives of my children that hurt my heart. It seemed that each child would come to me with a story of what was said or done to them. It seemed that they only remembered these things at bedtime. So after they spoke of it and were tucked in they went to sleep. I on the other hand, was awake thinking about their feelings and their thoughts. After prayer God spoke to my heart, urged me to follow up on what they had told me and what had led up to the events that happened. It turns out that the events really weren't as bad as they seemed. In a couple of instances they had provoked the behavior. OH MY GOODNESS!! So today I am offering a bit of advice. Before you spend a night awake and hurting for your child because a friend has done something wrong to them. Ask for the whole story. If I had asked for the whole story my Thursday morning would have been much better. Now, some things happened that were wrong. The...

This little season of life is teaching me a lot. Keeping life simple is one of the main lessons I am learning. In that I am reminded how simple it is to do right, act right and think right. It cuts out so much drama. Focusing our energy on what really matters and making the best of those things is the key to happiness, I think. I feel I am more sensitive to others now. For that I feel blessed and cursed! I find myself saddened for those who choose to make life harder than it has to be. It has made me so much more aware of how often I have failed, and still fall into that trap of life. We are all sinners and fall short of the extravagant glory of God, no doubt. I just want to make it a point to keep it simple and do right. I think it is so much harder to stay in the grey and black areas of life and make life more complicated than it has to be. I am no perfect girl, and no one to model after, but I hope my quest for simplicity and purpose can be an example for someone else who is tired o...

"A thousand times I've failed Still your mercy remains And should I stumble again Still I'm caught in your grace Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame My heart and my soul, I give You control Consume me from the inside out Lord Let justice and praise, become my embrace To love You from the inside out Your will above all else, my purpose remains The art of losing myself in bringing you praise Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise From the inside out, O my soul cries out" When I fail at the tasks put in front of me, when I stumble in my walk, when I fall flat on my face from pride, when I let others influence me and their judgements consume me, when all else fades I am reminded that He is Everlasting and that is all that truly matters. Thank you Jesus for never letting your light fade in me, for letting your purpose remain in me and for giving m...

UPDATE: Luke had surgery late this afternoon and is repaired! Pray for a speedy recovery and that his parents can find some rest. He should be headed home in about 3 days. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. And I must say that Luke's Mama held it together so well. I commend her strength through all this. Luke is a blessed little boy. Do you recall my post a few weeks ago about my best friend having her 3rd baby boy? Well, Luke is 4 weeks old now and in route by Angel Wings helicopter to Arkansas Children's Hospital. He has a diaphragmic hernia and he is to have surgery. Please pray for little Luke and the doctors who will operate on him. Pray for Sam & Melissa and the rest of us who sit here pacing the floor, biting our nails and who are ever so anxious to hear what is to come. I plan to head to LR early in the morning to lend a hug to the girl who knows me better than I know myself. Pray for Luke! Abby

Clay with his girls at a kite festival Thank you for continuing to pray for our cousin, Clay. He is still very ill and needs much prayer. We appreciate your praying without ceasing and ask you to keep getting on those "Camel knees". He has made some improvement, yet it is still a long road to recovery. Pray for his sweet wife, 2 precious girls and his mother. It is a stressful time for all of our family, as we wait to see him recover. Clay is the sweetest ray of sunshine and I loved it best when his wife, Deborah said she missed his voice (on her Facebook status). If you know that voice, you know what she means. It gives me goosebumps to type that. Thank you for lifting him up in your prayers.

This weekend Mama and our Aunt Janet came to visit me in J'Town. Aunt J wanted to see the new pad and we were so happy to have her company. She took us to eat BBQ at our favorite spot on Friday night. Saturday morning I made breakfast and then we headed out to Peterson's. It is always a treat to go to Peterson's. (It is like the old Triple R Freight ,with a touch of AtoZ, for those of you from the Fort.) Mama had built up Aunt J's excitement for 50 cent Dayspring cards. It was much fun. Mama won the award for spending the most. She found a great deal on Altoids and toothpaste. I am telling ya, it was exciting. We got lots of good deals. We 3 girls then went and ate sushi for lunch. It was Aunt J's first time to have it, so it was fun. Aunt J then went to Sonic and got me a Diet Coke with lime and Rand a peach SWEET tea...she is the best, I tell ya. (Mama did not want a drink...in case you are wondering why she was not included) I love you, TBEO! My Aunt J watching...

3/5/09 Thank you for continuing to lift up Clay in your prayers. He is still in critical condition. Clay with his girls, Caly & Lillian Our 2nd cousin Clay, who lives in Denver, is very ill with a rare type of flu. We are all very anxious and wanting to see him get well as soon as can be. Please help us pray for his body to heal.Clay is our Mom's "baby" cousin and adored by everyone who loves him. When I look at this picture of him it makes my heart smile. Thank you for remembering him in your prayers. P.S. Yes, I am home and had a FABULOUS time. I will recap the trip at another time. Abby

Rand just called me in hysterics. His co-worker just got his hand stuck in an auger and they are at the ER. He has lost most all the flesh off his hand. I almost lost my dinner because I thought it was Rand who was hurt when I first picked up the phone. My hand is cramping up thinking about it. Farm equipment is so dangerous, especially when you work 14 hour days, 7 days a week during harvest. They are all so tired. Please pray for Jay. Pray that he will not hurt too badly or be scared. Update: Just came back from the ER (The "other" ER. I dressed in ballcap , glasses and jacket in hopes to not be noticed. The hospital political war in this town is fierce). Jay still has his hand. They have him in surgery now. Rand is very worked up about it all. He was the only one there when it happened and drove him to the ER. Pray for Randall, if you will. He is so tenderhearted. Abby

Tonight I am to speak at a fashion show and dinner that a Sunday School class at church is putting on. They have sold 100 tickets. So there will be 100 women there, plus 20 models and 10 members of the class. I'm getting a little nervous. I've known about it for quite some time and have everything ready, but as the time approaches (6:00) my stomach is feeling a little funny and I am not so sure of myself. So, say a prayer for me if you think about it. Thanks Julie

Two nights ago as I was tucking the twins into bed, David said his prayers. He prayed that all the flood and tornado victims would find shelter. And then he prayed this "shelter even better than what they had". I was blown away by that, how sweet that he would want them to have better than before. Last night as I tucked him in and he prayed, he prayed the same thing. So , I asked him why he wanted them to have better shelter than before. He said "so next time a flood or tornado comes they will be safe." I don't talk a lot about the twins different personalities, but David has a tender heart. He feels for others and wants the very best for everyone. He prays that everyone in the whole universe(he says he prays for the universe in case their are astronauts in space) will be saved. He isn't even a Christian yet. He is really a sweet boy, I can't wait to see what God has in store for him. David's mom-Julie

Pray for my old marathon coach and favorite 5k bud this weekend as he participates in the Goofy Challenge at Disney in Orlando. He will run a half marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday and a full marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday. Yep, he is one goofy guy! John has trained for this very event for about a year and has stayed focused on the goal. We are lifting his knees up in prayer for the next few days...thanks for doing the same! Abby

The other day I was chatting with Melissa on my cellphone while she was driving her van in the Fort and I was driving my sedan in the dirty south. I was ranting about my day and complaining a small bit. She was of course being her compassionate self and reassuring me with her kind words (This is why she is my BFF). Her three year old son, Drew, yells from the back of the van “Tell Abby I will pray for her, Mama!” Be careful little ears what you hear and be careful little mouths what you say, huh?! As funny as it was, it made me think about prayer and how fortunate I am to have a family and a close group of friends who really pray for me. They don’t just say they are going to pray for me, they really do it! It makes me feel blessed and it humbles me. God has been generous enough to give me a new job and I count it all joy because it was bathed in prayer for weeks and months by these faithful prayer partners. Wow, what a testimony to what prayer can do! I am like most people I think an...