Just Life

So much for my intention of blogging every week. It's not that I didn't think about it. I just have not thought I had anything to say of any interest to anyone. I have some deep post thoughts running around in my mind, but not the time to sit that long to develop them right now. Or, maybe not the drive to yet. Most of my mind is consumed by wedding preparations and thoughts, and you can only listen so many of those without boredom. Everything else is just the random dailiness of life. I also haven't had the chance to get on here and cultivate many blog friends again, and most of you that I do have see all my "news" on facebook. Send me your friends! LOL!

So what has been going on around here? Lots of wedding prep, as I said. Ten weeks from today! How did it get so close? How did my little girl grow up and meet the man of her dreams and it get so fast to this place of turning loose? There were lots of emotions in the beginning, they tapered off for a while, and now they're back. Lots of bittersweet times. We are having a great time together, though. Lots of shopping and planning. Lots of laughing.

Briana and I went together last week and found my dress. I was dreading that so much. I knew lots of things that I did NOT want, and hadn't seen anything online that I did want or would feel comfortable in. I really prayed over that shopping trip. It's difficult to explain, but I also have some physical issues (in addition to the tummy bulge!!) that limit greatly what I can wear. God heard me, and after 2 or 3 stores, I finally found 3 to try on. The first 2 were horrid, but the 3rd one came home with me! I was so excited, and we both liked it. The only altering it will need is length, since it is floor length, and we're going with shorter dresses. Now I just need shoes! Trial number 2 for my ensemble!! : ) Size 10, silver with some sparkle, heels needed for this dress, but not too high because they make me taller than James. : )

I'm doing pretty well with adjusting to Ashley moving out. One day last weekend, I had a hard day, really missing having her around to talk to, but God has helped me adjust. It helps that I have been getting to see her about once a week, too. I just wish I could talk to her more. She doesn't have phone service still, unless she walks back over to the office and calls me. At least we can communicate through facebook, which we make the most of.

We're at Briana's right now. We came to see the closing performance of Camp Rock. I'll brag on her.... the Broadway reviewer from Nashville came to see the show last week. When he was out at lunch with the Playhouse executives, he singled Briana out, and asked them who she was. Said she was a great dancer! I love to watch her dance! She started rehearsals this week for My Fair Lady.

Please lift up a prayer for her. She is looking for another part time job, and is having trouble finding one in this small town, especially one that will work around her shows. I know God has something out there for her. She really needs one by the time they get married. Along the same lines, Ashley is also waiting on God in finances. She is working through the North American Mission Board, and through this program she has to raise about 1/2 of her own support. She needs more donations and/or monthly pledges.

We're enjoying a day of rest around here today. The younger girls are excited that their cousins are visiting my parents here in the same town this week, so they will get to play with them this afternoon before we head home tomorrow.

Random Thoughts...Random Life

As I was pulling up my blog site, I glanced up, and James has a tab open which says, "Body replacement parts for FR". LOL. I wonder whose body parts he's considering replacing. Glad my initials aren't FR!

All of my living-at-home family...which has dwindled down to 4 now...went to Briana's on Thursday afternoon. She had a new show, Camp Rock, opening Sat. night. James took photos Thurs and Fri of dress rehearsals. Ashley drove over on Sat. morning to see the opening, so we got to enjoy all being together~ an event that is getting more rare. Everyone but me went home on Sun. I stayed and went with Briana to get her dress fitted on Monday. What fun! I so wish I could post pictures!! Not yet, though.

All of the wedding planning is coming great, and I think we're in a pretty good place with most of it, but I am starting to hit panic mode more often. : ) It seems like every time we cross a couple of things off the massive list, we have to add one or 2 more on. Most of the major things are taken care of; just a lot of little STUFF. If I remember correctly, we are at 13 1/2 weeks! The biggest obstacle left (pun not intended, but slightly appropriate!) is my dress!! Aaaacccckkkk!! I dread that SO VERY MUCH!! Not to mention I *hate* clothes shopping. I guess the other biggy is praying the bridesmaid dresses all fit. They are due to be in March 18th. Sizing them was a very big pain, and I will be relieved when I see that none of them are too small, because they are made to order, and can't be returned. I have had so much fun helping Briana, and she is so easy to get along with. She pretty much will just go with the flow. Only a few "have-to's", so far. : )

I am helping Marissa learn to cross stitch. She doesn't do a lot at one sitting, but she has stuck through several sittings so far. I'm surprised, because that doesn't seem like her. I hope she'll finish it. It's a picture of a horse head. And, go figure... I'm helping her try to learn shorthand. Wow. This was her request. I actually took a course in shorthand in college.....26 years ago. Let's just say it barely caught on, so it sure didn't stick. Today was our first lesson. It's almost like learning a foreign language...at least how to write in one.

We do not participate in a co-op, and Marissa was needing more social than just at church on Wed night, since she's an assistant leader in AWANA, not in a youth group. Getting together with a friend is so hit and miss, so I decided to try to do something about it that would make me stick to it. I started up a small teen/pre-teen group, and we are trying to meet once a month. Not everyone can participate every month, but we have a total of 7 girls, I think, ages 11-13. Mom's are included, too. We have as much fun as the girls. Right now, while it's still cold, we just get together at someone's home, eat, talk, they play games, laugh, and enjoy the company. I need to get busy planning one for the end of this month.

Okay. Enough random stuff. Nothing big or overly news worthy going on here; just the every day things of life that make us a family.

There's Gonna Be a Wedding

....which is a line out of Brigadoon, the show where Troy proposed to Briana. I know many of you saw the details on Facebook, but I wanted to share them here, for those who didn't...and because it's on my mind and heart today.

Troy called James toward the end of Aug. 2010, and asked to meet with him, without Briana's knowledge. Of course, we felt sure what this meeting was about, and he did, indeed ask for our blessing to marry Briana. (I just love that!) The two and a half week wait until his chosen proposal date was excruciating! haha Especially considering I went to Briana's for the weekend just 3 days after his and James' meeting. Now we know where she gets her wonderful acting skills from! LOL!

Since the Playhouse stage is the first place he ever saw Briana~dancing in The Nutcracker~ the first place he got to really meet her~2 months later in rehearsals for Shenandoah~the place where they are both both actors and everyone loves them, and because Briana simply LOVED the musical Brigadoon, which they were about to open, Troy chose on-stage opening night to propose~Sept 9. Let's just say it was simply magical and entirely romantic, and WE GOT TO BE THERE! After the curtain call, the male lead of the play, got the audience's attention, and said a cast member had an announcement. Besides family, only he, the director, producer, the orchestra leader, and the sound guy knew what was coming. Troy pulled a bewildered Briana to the front of the stage, and began to talk. (I'm tearing up now!!) You could see the light dawning in everyone's eyes, as he began speaking to her about the first time he ever saw her being on this stage.

Proposed to by a man in a kilt! : ) I don't think this photo is big enough to see her crying, and all the facial expressions of the cast, but it was a very emotional time. I was crying, Ashley was crying, all of the women in the cast were crying, and everyone in the audience was cheering and clapping; Briana couldn't pull her hand away and quit crying. It took a minute for everyone to quieten down, so that he could actually ask!
My facebook album entitled The Proposal has the whole thing captured, and the changing facial expressions of the cast are priceless.

Don't ask anyone how I got through the show, waiting on this. I was a wreck. I leaned over at one point and told Ashley that I thought the woman sitting next to me thought I was on something. haha. I even told a complete stranger while we were standing in the bathroom line at intermission, because I thought I was going to explode if I didn't tell someone. LOL! Troy's mom and dad, aunt and uncle, and his sister, who flew in from TX, also got to be there. It was a wonderful night!

The wedding date is May 22, 2 years to the date of their first date.

I've never been a crier (except watching the reveal on Extreme Home Makeover!). When Briana started in shows at the Playhouse, I became a "Briana's shows crier. When they started dating, it started creeping in on me more. I am now officially a crier. I cry at everything....even videos online of complete strangers' weddings! LOL. Not a hurting crier; just a crier. : ) It's all good!

Comfort Zones

James got his new blog off the ground. If you didn't read it on Facebook, here is his entry on comfort zones.

www.getoutoftheboatblog.com/?p=6
(I don't know why this doesn't highlight, but if you copy and paste it, it will take you to the right place.)

I must say that I am super proud of him. James is not a writer. He has never liked to write; never wanted to write, and has always been a grammatical disaster! : ) About 2 1/2 years ago, during all of the changes he mentions, James came to me and said, "God wants me to write. I can't write. I don't know what to write." I said, "Just write. Take notes on your Bible study and write down verses that stand out to you and why. God will show you where to go from there." In that time, it has gone from that to writing 2-17 page papers on foundational theology, which God used to bring someone out of legalistic bondage, to this blog. He will be the first to tell you that God did the writing; he just typed. But, I am still proud of his willingness and obedience to step out of yet another comfort zone. His grammar is pretty good now, too! : )

Letitia

More Changes Are Here

Tis the season for lots of changes in our home. On Monday of this week, Ashley got notice from the North American Mission Board that she had been excepted into their program. We knew it was coming, and were just waiting on some loose ends. We are so excited for her!!

Ashley has known since she was about 4th grade that she was called to mission work. For now, and perhaps always, that call is to camp ministry. She has been a counselor at a camp near here for several years, then working there part time, year round, for almost a year and a half. They hired her knowing she felt called to this ministry, and excited to train her in all aspects of the ministry. She has learned a ton!

Now through the Mission Board, Ashley will still be working for the same camp. The difference is that now she will work full time, and she will be moving out to live on camp property. This is an exciting opportunity for her in so many ways. First of all, she will be learning new jobs now, and more aspects of how to run the camp. Secondly, she will begin to learn more of the real ups and downs of being in ministry. They will provide her housing, utilities, and a small salary. The rest of her support will have to be raised. Third, she is super excited (and almost just as nervous) about moving out on her own.

We have been busy shopping for some basic furniture and kitchen wares. How fun to decorate your first place. It's hard to believe it's been a year and a half since I helped Briana with all of her shopping!

And, then there's the hard part. Not seeing her on a daily basis anymore. We have been super blessed beyond measure to get to still have her with us through her college courses and work. It's time for her to go out, but we're sure going to miss the laughter and joy of her silly self. Late night chats, hearing her play the guitar up in her room, snuggled up on the couch with her daddy and me watching a movie.... The good news is that she is about 50 min. away, so we will get to see her hopefully a little more often.

This part of her job will last through until the end of May, at which time she will switch to summer camp mode. Last summer in camp mode she worked 16 hour hard, physical, hot days with only one hour off most weeks! Some weeks she didn't get the hour off. The good part of summer camp for us is that she will come home every weekend. ; ) When you spend 16 hour work days in a place for 12 weeks, you're a little sick of it by the weekend!

So, exciting times here. We think she will be moving out either next week or the following one, although, she's taking a few loads with her this week when she goes to work. Me....I'll stay in denial, thank you very much, until one day it hits!!

When I'm a Grandmother

I was over at my friend, Tammy's, blog (http://agarden4tam22.blogspot.com/), and she had a post about finding her grandmother's Bible, well worn and loved. It just about brought tears to my eyes. That's the kind of grandmother I want to be. Well, not the well worn part. : ) But, one that leaves a legacy of faith, hope, endurance, encouragement, and love. I want a well worn Bible to leave behind. I was thinking as I read her post how in this day and age, even those of us who read our Bible, never have a well worn one. As soon as it starts fraying a little, or we tire of the color, we go buy the newest, latest, prettiest edition. And, although, we can certainly leave a Godly heritage and still have new Bibles, to me there is just something appealing about leaving behind the well used, obviously treasured, Bible for my children and grandchildren. Not in a prideful way. To me, it's just that sign, symbol, of a life well lived for God. Something they can look back on, and remember all that we've taught them. Of course, what I've put into the children is the real sign, but something they can look at when the times get rough, and be encouraged that their futures have been covered in prayer.

I've never spent time praying for my future grandchildren. My time and mind in prayer always seems to be on current situations, and my children's future spouses and relationships with God. The more immediate future. In the last few weeks, though, as my first child (2nd in age order) gets very close to her wedding day (4 months now), I have found myself praying for my future grandchildren, and I hope to make that an intentional prayer from here on out.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 1:4)

I have every intention of being the FUN grandma!! haha. Seriously! I'm gonna be the grandma who gets in the floor and plays games....okay, with the back, we'll probably sit at the table....the one who makes cookies with sprinkles, the one who lets them get out playdough and shows them how to make some retarded looking creature, who takes them camping and to amusement parks. I want to leave that legacy, too, because I KNOW from my own children's experiences just how important THAT kind of love is, too. But, Lord, make me the grandma who prays, who helps instill your Word into them, who tells them stories of your faithfulness in my life~ a story that they love to hear!

Blogging Take 2!

After blogging for a few years on another site, and a year and a half long break from blogging, I'm going to see if I can pick this back up. I'm *really* out of the habit of blogging.

As my About Me says, for those who didn't know me from my other blog, I spend my days with my children learning and playing. We are eclectic, relaxed, and identity directed learners. Our 2 oldest children graduated from our home "school", and are wonderful, accomplished young women. Life is pretty crazy right now as the dynamics and situations of our lives change. It's beautiful and exciting!!

God has been working some pretty awesome stuff in our family in the last 3 years, with last year being a very intense year spiritually. As I mentioned, too, my husband, who was a contractor for many years, was called to ministry. Well, in the beginning just over 3 years ago, we didn't know he was being called to ministry. God just said, with no question, "You're finished building," to which he replied, "Okay. I can do that. But, what do I do to provide for my family?" The answer did not come until about 5 months later. He had already been using his new free time to spend more time with the girls, playing and teaching, and to do projects around the house, but also in much deeper Bible study.

Five months after God told Him he was finished building....and a couple of months after God showed Him that when He said finished, He *meant* finished.....God very clearly led me to 1 Kings 17. It contains a story we're all familiar with~Elijah going to the widow, who had a handful of flour and a small amount of oil. God kept enough in the jars to provide for them until the drought ended. But, God did most of His speaking that day through the first part of the passage.


The word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there." So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."

God's plan for now for our family was revealed that day. He wanted James to hide in Him, the living water. He would drink of the Lord, and God would provide for us there. When one place dried up, He would provide from another. And, He has. Every step of the way. We have never asked for money, none of our church or family has given us money to pay bills, we were not wealthy beforehand. God has done it, and although we knew He could, it has still been amazing to watch. Things that were set in motion years earlier that provided for us at just the right moment.

This is one of the many ways God has called our family to "get out of the boat". There were some before, but this was a turning point for us....a huge step of faith that God asked us to make, when we had no idea where He was going. Really, we still don't. It's day by day. I chose this title for my blog, to compliment and be in agreement with the blog that James is starting soon. A ministry blog. The title is special to him, because God clearly told him to get out of the boat, and He has led James and opened His arms to us each time He showed James a new boat He wants Him to step out of. Purifying, faith building, and straight into the arms of our Savior.

I look forward to sharing more of this with you, and more of how it has manifested itself in the last 2 years, along with the antics of my whacko family, our day to day learning and life....and probably more wedding plans than you'll want to hear about!