Just started reading it. I didn't really care one way or another about Sarah Palin, but this book will light your patriotic fire, give you hope for America, and will sell you out for Sarah Palin. She is governed by convictions and 'the people', not politics.
You will also see why the left wing media hates her and tries to destroy her...because, in my opinion, liberals want to be the flagship for compassion and they are not compassionate for many reasons, but the most obvious, to me, is their view on life...if only you could ask the unborn babies and their mothers, almost all mothers regret and grieve over their abortion, I think they'd agree...
tonight. He's our Elf on the Shelf. Named by Brooke, but always referred to as female. "She moved!" "She's cold." "She's gonna tell Santa."
We had a lot of fun doing this with the girls this year...even though it didn't improve behavior...pretty sure my girls names should be on the naughty list :)
by Max Lucado...just bought it today and I'm sure I'll read it fast...it comes highly recommended and for someone like me, fear is something I deal with, consciously and subconsciously, every day. Here's what Max says about his new book.
We fear being sued, finishing last, going broke, the mole on the back, and the sound of the clock as it ticks us closer to the grave. Every season seems to bring fresh reasons for fear.
And it feels dreadful. Fear sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment.
Wouldn't it be great to escape it? What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats?
According to Jesus, this is possible. The one statement He made more than any other was: "Don't be afraid." In this book, Max Lucado invites you to consider Jesus' invitation to courage.
Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner. And for heaven's sake, don't offer it a bed for the night.
The promise of Christ and the contention of these pages are simple: we can fear less tomorrow than we do today.
Sounds good to me! Here's wise words on Wednesday:
John 8
Jesus condemns all sin, but He offers the gift of forgiveness to all who confess sin.
Receiving Jesus' gift of light---we have eternal life; rejecting Him---we walk in darkness and death.
True freedom is found when you believe and act on the truth of God.
A half marathon is ENOUGH for me :) Rachel and I are DEFINITELY happy halfers...
We went to the 23 mile marker to see our friend Aimee and cheer her on and I can tell you, seeing the marathoners at the 23 mile mark is not pretty. Not at all. One man was completely bent over in a 90 degree angle from cramping and still running, every other man had blood dripping from their chaffed nipples, and all of the runners faces were disfigured with pain and sheer will to finish. I knew how I was feeling only doing half their distance and it isn't a feeling I want again any time soon...maybe ever.
Last night I vacillated between running and not running today. When I went to bed last night I was not running. But when I woke up and saw Rachel getting ready I changed my mind. I wanted to get this half over with...didn't want to train or sign up for another one when I was this close to being done with it. So, Kelly dropped us off at the American Airlines at 7 and we hung out in there with the other crazies. Took off at 8 and ran Turtle Creek, so pretty, and then uphill across 75, to Greenville, down the M Streets and back, down to Katy Trail...we ran the last three miles in 24 minutes...it was downhill and we were thinking maybe we could hit the 2 hour mark...didn't make it, 2:04, but we never cared about our time...only just at the end when we thought maybe we could do it...
Brooke called me after the race to ask me if I was missing her and to tell me that she worshiped and thought about God and how much He loves her today...she went to big church with Mimi and Papa to see Erin sing in the choir...Kyle taped Erin and boy, she LOVES to be on stage...she smiled so big and sang her little heart out!
Tonight I feel yucky and ready to go to bed...hopefully redeeming a gift certificate to Bella Renova tomorrow, if I can get in!
GREAT today :) So thankful for all the well wishes, for a quick recovery, and for my parents who took care of my girls for two days! Being sick is a REALLY nice break...despite the sore yucky throat, fever, aches, and night sweats :)
strep, got a shot, and in bed...and running on Sunday is not out of the question :)
I'll know in a couple of days, after I'm feeling better, if I think I can do it...don't care about my time anymore, just want to do it...slow and steady wins the race!
Prepare yourself, this is a cheesy post. Not my style usually :)
So, 102.1 is the temperature of my body....thinking it's the flu :( I had little energy this morning for our run, no appetite, and by 4 pm I was running a 100...which only climbed...
speaking of climbing, good segue, here's my thoughts tonight. Miley Cyrus' song, "It's the Climb".
There's always going to be another mountain,
I'm always gonna want to make it move
always gonna be an uphill battle
sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
ain't about what's waiting on the other side
it's the climb
and that is how I feel tonight...I'm sad I won't be able to race White Rock in Dallas with my sister this weekend, but it seriously was all about the climb...getting there...running early mornings, in the hot, in the cold, in the humid, in the dry, on the treadmill, wrestling with our children to get to the Y, arranging busy schedules, ditching the Ipods to talk instead, pacing ourselves, pushing ourselves, sucking in exhaust, up Research Forest, down Lake Woodlands...
with occasional set backs...she's about 50/50...50% crab crawl, 50% walking :) I'm glad she's walking, but really loved having her on my hip...felt like she was still my baby. So no rush, Kameron, no pressure, mom is happy to carry you as long as you'd like!
here
I
come!
my snuggles...does looking at Brooke in this picture make you laugh too?
sick...got in the shower and threw up. I'm thinking it's 'Mom's Tomato Basil Soup' I bought today at Kroger's or a virus. I shared some with Kyle last night, and right now he's doing fine, sleeping in a nice warm bed...me, not so much.
Watching Red Eye and typing a blog. Trying to keep my mind off the nausea. I'm just half a second away from from selling Buicks...that's what Kyle used to say in college...when you'd throw up it sounded like, "BUUUICK". So funny, almost made me laugh.
Hmm. What to do...trying my hardest not to visit the porcelain.
Maybe it's time to look at Facebook, get a blanket, some cold water, and try to figure what to do with my wet hair...
For my Savior and Friend, for Kyle, my children, my parents and in-laws, my sisters and brother, my family's good health, my good health (enough to run a 1/2 in a few weeks), freedom, loving friends and neighbors, a great church and awesome ABF teachers, Ms. Betty, a warm home and reliable cars, for Fox News, good healthy food, and not so healthy food, cold water, and cold pepsi in a can, sweet hugs and kisses from my girls, unsolicited 'I love you' from Brooke, creative artwork from Erin, and steps taken by Kameron...
overwhelming thankful that God is here, with me, always, until the end of the age.
we've been :) The best Market in the Junior League history and chaired by my sister Rachel :) She blew attendance, fundraising, and morale out of the water!!
ticket booth in the front of the convention center at the Marriott on the Waterway...
the closers (except Amber)...so many, many dedicated and hard working ladies make this show successful!!!
Okay, so wise words...I know you missed that!
John 4
Jesus Meets Our Needs
The greatest need in a life of a believer is to know and do the will of God.
Each one needs to know Jesus first hand, not second hand.
Faith is the will to act in a positive way despite uncertain feelings...faith is not how you feel, it's what you do.
Jesus knows our greatest need is to believe His Word, not just His works.
particularly dogs, more specifically pugs :) We lost Ginger, our pug, three years ago and it was tragic and it hurt bad.
But I love children more...
Every time I see the the Humane Society commercial to 'stop animal cruelty', which is terrible, sad, and should be stopped, I cannot help but be infuriated. Where is the commercial to 'stop killing babies'? The pictures of the dogs, cats, horses, and cows being mistreated and abused could so easily be replaced with the hundreds of babies that deserve a chance at life. The captions could all be the same too...just read the list below and tell me that each baby in their mother's womb isn't saying the exact same thing...
What did I do wrong?
Why did they hurt me?
Why did they abandon me?
Will I die today?
The narrator goes on to say that thousands of animals a day are tortured, neglected and even killed. She also says, they can't speak up for themselves, but you can, you can make a difference between life and death, and if these animals could talk they would say they desperately need you to save them right now...all so true for the unborn baby.
The Silent Scream, is a website and a book written by a doctor who aborted 65,000 babies until he saw it on ultrasound. The baby, at 11 weeks, would move from the probe entering the mother's uterus, and literally would open her mouth, to cry, when she was ripped from her mother's womb. Just so you know, at 11 weeks, her heart is beating, she has brain waves, she can squint, swallow, and can make a fist, she has fingerprints and can kick, she is sensitive to heat, touch, light and noise, she sucks her thumb, all her body systems are working, and she could fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.
The last question on the commercial is this and it is so true for the baby too...
Won't you help me?
The humane society rescues hundreds of animals a year, and so does the 40 Days for Life...this fall 450 women changed their minds because of the silent peaceful prayers around the gates of Planned Parenthood. We will begin again in the Spring, for 40 days, and you are invited!!
is Allice, and she's my grandmother...she passed away tonight. She had two sons, one being my dad, and she lived 9o years on this earth.
She was learned woman, a scholar, who loved to write and still wore her sorority letters around her neck. I remember my dad faithfully writing letters to her when I was growing up because she lived so far away...way up in the Northwest...Oregon, to be specific. He wrote letters to her every week. I asked him a few days ago, when we got the grave news of her health, if they had ever missed a week and he said 'no'. 40 years of writing letters. I know he'll miss that.
She named my dad, Michael Mckenzie, because she loved the Mckenzie River. She was married and lived on the River for over 40 years...the river is beautiful and loud...Kyle and I stayed on it as newlyweds and decided to name one of our own after the Mckenzie...Brooke Mckenzie.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer a little over 5 years ago, it spread to her neck and collar bones, and just a few weeks ago she began having pain in her abdomen...it was in her liver. She never took pain medicine because she wanted to be fully coherent to write and work her crossword puzzels...her body was failing, her hearing too, but her mind was as sharp as a tack.
When my dad arrived to her bedside today, she grabbed his hand with both of hers and kissed them. She was waiting for him. He kept a vigil by her side this afternoon, told her he loved her and that he would see her again, and held her hand while he sang hymns to her...she took her last breath to Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
And they did sing tonight, as they welcomed Allice home.
yep, that's right, I carved a pumpkin from start to finish this year and all I can say is it was all work and no play, but we sure are not a dull bunch over here!! :)
The girls are so excited about their fall festival at the school tomorrow. I will post pictures of our Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts, and the Cheshire cat as soon as I can. For now, we're enjoying this weather and the fun that Fall brings.
Oh yes, Miss Erin is growing up...and loving soccer. She loves her coach, Mr. Johnson...she says he's really really nice. Brooke really isn't all that into it...I'll never forget when she looked down at the ball and told it, "I'm not playing with you" and walked off...she apparently doesn't think the ball is a very fun friend.
Erin getting the gear on :)
Brooke just happy to be apart of it all this year :)
Brooke is Erin's teammate, but really her #1 fan :)
We got back from Destin yesterday...it was a fun trip :) We had six families living in a beach house for four days...12 adults and 13 children, 4 and under :)
I only took a few pictures because we were really running around the whole time and it was SO MUGGY outside that our cameras' lenses would fog...hence, the blurry pictures of Erin and Brooke.
oh yes, that was this weekend. It started Saturday morning in Downtown Houston for the Susan G. Koman 5k, prayer vigil, soccer game, baby shower, gala, and camp out for the girls at Mimi and Papa's house...all on Saturday...and Sunday didn't slow down either...church, baby shower, birthday party, and truth project :)
The race was awesome and so moving...so cool to see people care about others and rally together...loved it! Thanks Meghan for organizing and making the shirts!!! Here's some pictures :)
riding into town...
ribbons with my grandmother's name, Kyle's grandmother's name, a friend's name, and a friend's mom's name...breast cancer touches too many lives.
This morning, Brooke hit Drew hard and then would immediately hug and kiss him. It was strange. When she and I got in the car, we had this conversation.
B: Drew is my best friend, my very best friend.
Me: Then why were you hitting him this morning?
B: I hit him because I love him.
Me: What?
B: I hit him and then I kiss him and make it all better...
That is exactly why she was hitting him this morning...she wanted to 'kiss and make it all better' and so she inflicted intentional pain on him so she could play the caregiver role and make her cousin Drew 'all better'. What's even more funny is that Drew played along, happily.
I was getting ready tonight, I know, sometimes it takes all day to get to that, and I was having trouble getting my hair to look right. I asked Erin if she liked my hair better long and this is what she said:
e: I like you just the way you are
then she continued...
e: I like you without make up too, cause, you're covering up all your skin, honey, and you don't need to
of 40 :) Pause music at the bottom of the page...Selah's new song, I Will Carry You, is played to pictures of Audrey Caroline's life.
Here's a letter from Angie to Audrey...
Sweet Audrey,
There are no words I could say in this letter that would be able to express what you are to us, but I feel compelled to write them anyway.
Do you know you changed the world?
From the day we found out we were expecting you, we knew that God had chosen you for our family. When we started feeling you move around, we invented stories about who you would be. We took bets on whether you were a boy or a girl (daddy was wrong!). Abby and Ellie set aside toys that they wanted to give to you. Your daddy let me buy books at the bookstore about being pregnant, even though we already have a million. He knows I love the smell of books, and he just watched with a smile while I gathered them all together. We talked about you all the time. Our house was filled with love for you long before we ever knew who you would be to us. We let Kate help us set up a crib in her room while we told her that she was going to have a baby brother or sister sleeping next to her someday. We introduced her little toddler bed and taught her all about being a big sister. She loved her freedom...we found her in the pantry eating chocolate at 3 a.m. one night! And so for weeks, we planned. We talked about names, about paint, about schools, about everything but the one thing we didn't know.
God had something much bigger planned for your life than we could ever have imagined.
On January 7th, we heard the beginning of the story. You kicked while I listened to them tell me that I should let you go. You, unable to say a word, spoke volumes as we considered what had been laid before us. Audrey, there really was never a choice. You were ours from the moment God ordained it so. There were moments in the darkness during that time when I worried that maybe we should give you to God. We didn't want you to suffer, and we knew that as soon as you were with Him, you would be at peace. Were we selfish for trying to keep you here? We knew before we let ourselves travel into those thoughts that they were lies. That decision was not for us to make. We settled into the reality of "our new life," and the stacks of books on pregnancy gave way to scripture.
Did you know that while you were in my tummy, you went to the beach, to Disney World, to the ballet, to the zoo, to the symphony, to pick out our puppy, to the children's theatre, to listen to daddy sing, to church, to Poppy's house...and so many more places. I talked to you about how the laundry machine worked, told you about all our neighbors, and taught you how to choose a ripe pineapple at the grocery store. I never stopped talking to you. You were my daughter, and I loved you like I love your sisters. We prayed for you all the time. Our prayers changed with the days. We never, ever doubted that God could heal you. I know you know that. I know you felt that. But I still feel compelled to tell you that we believed, Audrey. And the fact that you are with Him as I type these words does not change that belief. There is not a single moment that passes when I question His will for your life.
I will never, never forget the day you were born. Nobody who was a part of it will, either. April 7th was one of the best days of my life. You made me brave, Audrey-girl. Your mommy used to be afraid of the hospital, afraid of the noises and the smell of medicine. My whole life, I have been afraid. I wasn't afraid that day. I was peaceful. I was calm. I was in the presence of the Lord Himself more than any other time in my life. I listened as they told me about what would be happening that day, and I nodded. I surrendered. I stopped worrying about me and I just fell into the arms of the Lord. He carried us all that day, didn't He?
At 4:31, I heard a nurse say, "She's out." Daddy said, "She's out?" and he peeked around to see them carrying you to a table nearby. I thought I heard you squeaking and I asked if you were alive. Daddy looked at me and he nodded. "She's alive." I couldn't believe it. The doctors looked you over and they listened to your heart. They cleaned you off a little bit and then daddy laid you right beside my head. You had one little eye opened and you were trying to take it all in. I was too. I put my hands on your head and just started crying because you were so beautiful. I fell completely, head-over-heels in love with you the instant I met you. That's who you are, Audrey.
When we got back to the room, your Uncle Tom was already taking pictures. Do you know that he took about 1600 that day? We rejoiced in telling everyone that you were alive. Your heart was moving slowly, and we knew that it was a matter of time before we would have to release you, but no one would have known that. For the rest of the day, people held you, touched you, talked to you, and prayed for you. And everybody smiled when they saw you. There weren't many tears, because in a way, we weren't sad. We were just too busy praising God for you to be sad.
Your daddy gave you a bath while I watched. He got all of your little tootsies clean, and I watched the water run down the back of your neck as he held you up. Her first bath...
One of my favorite moments was when they put you on the scale. You were much bigger than they thought you were ever going to be, and it felt like victory. "3 pounds, 2 ounces!" As soon as the announcement was made, the room broke out into cheers. Did you know that your daddy's birthday is 3/2? Those are beautiful numbers to us, sweet girl, because they tell us that you were here. You had weight in this life.
Your sisters were a little nervous when they came, but as they looked you over, God showed them who you were. The peace that had filled the room for the entire day rested on them, and they began to laugh and to talk to you as they would any other new baby. They each held you carefully, and kissed your sweet, clean skin. While they were all gathered around me on the bed, your nurse Candace came to listen to your heart. I asked her to be sensitive because of the girls, and after listening for a few minutes, she told me quietly that you were gone. The girls never knew that they had been present for that moment, and I thank God that He took you that way. There was never anything but peace. We sang over you as God welcomed you into heaven.
I cry for you often. I miss the smell of your skin and your perfect little nose. My arms ache from emptiness. I tell your daddy all the time that I just want to hold you again. I cannot see to write these words because my eyes overflow with the tears of a mother who has been asked to give her daughter away. I knew I would love you when I met you. I knew you would become a part of me. What I didn't know was that instead of feeling like it was a brief encounter, I feel like the world stood still. He somehow gave us an entire lifetime of memories in such a short time. I didn't feel like I lost a baby, I felt like I said goodbye to someone I had always known, who had been my daughter for years and years. Even now, as I write, it seems impossible that you were only with us for 2 1/2 hours. Thank you Lord, for giving us all the time we could have asked for with her. The clock was insignificant... we knew her deeply, a lifetime's worth.
Audrey, you have no idea how you have impacted those around you. Did you see all of the nurses who cried when they came to see me? Did you hear the nurse manager tell me that since you had been born, the name of the Lord had been spoken repeatedly at their station in a way it never had? That you, my love, had brought them together? Did you know that the people who came to your birth who knew nothing of your story talked about the "amazing peace" that filled the room inexplicably? Do you know that there were radio stations all over the country announcing that your mommy was going into surgery while people drove home to their familes? Do you know they asked for prayer as you entered the world; that strangers dropped to their knees on your behalf? Do you know how many people have met Jesus because of you? There is more than I can fit here, Audrey. More than I can fit anywhere. You are the greatest miracle that I have ever been a part of, and I want you to know how incredibly proud I am to have been chosen to be your mommy. I promise you that I will never stop being your voice here on earth. I will tell everyone about the little girl who came in a 3 pound body to change hearts. I will always miss you, Audrey; there will never be a day where you are not a part of us. I want you to know that you changed me, honey. You made mommy so brave because of how much I loved you. I am so proud to have a scar to remember where you once were.
Thank you, my sweet, sweet girl.
Today we are going to sit as a family and we are going to take the band-aids off the bunny that we have carried for months. We are going to tell your sisters about the way that Jesus has healed you...that you don't need those anymore because you are well. You are perfect. Thank you Lord.
As I have been writing, the rain is pounding on my window. It is what many would call a very dark and ugly day, with no sign of sunshine. Because of you, Audrey, it is not that way to me any more.
It is an answer to prayer.
Jesus, you have brought us the rain and we praise You for it. We lift up the God that made us strong enough to love our little girl the way she deserved to be loved. And we trust that You will continue to use her as a vessel of your goodness, of your faithfulness. Lord, you have shown me that when this life is empty, you will fill. You have walked with us in a way we could never have imagined. What seemed like a cross to bear has now taken the shape of a great blessing which we are honored to have been a part of. Thank you, Lord. You are the light of our lives, now and forever.
Audrey, there is much more to say. I rest in knowing that you already know it before it has left our lips. We love you.
Jesus gives abundant life here and eternal life after death.
John speaks of the two extremes of life with/without Christ: life/death, love/hate, and light/darkness.
Jesus is the Master and Savior who transforms lives. Question. What consumes your time, your thinking, your energy, your conversations? What or who you answered is your master.
Jesus brings satisfaction to life, peace to life, direction/meaning to life, and He gives life here and after.
Tonight is the kick off rally for 40 Days for Life! It's at the Living Word Lutheran Church on Lake Woodlands and N. Panther Creek at 6:00 p.m. Tomorrow we start praying for 40 days...for life :)
Most of you know, but for those who don't, Houston will be home to the largest abortion clinic in the world beginning December 09'. It is six stories tall, 78,000 sq. feet, and will practice late term abortions.
tobyMac has a new song, playing on KSBJ, and it is so perfect for the next 40 days! Pause the music at the bottom of my page and take a listen to this song :)
maybe later we'll call it BW3s...just for fun. I'm starting my own little blog carnival, or whatever you want to call it :) You know I do BSF, Bible Study Fellowship, and you know I love it! So, because I share with you what I love here, I thought, why not share BSF with you too?! It'll always be short, just two or three principles that we get from our Teaching Lecturer, which she pulls out from her homiletics, an analyzation of verses, from the Bible :) By the way, we're studying John, who refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, not out of arrogance but from humility...always pointing towards Jesus :) Here's the first two principles Ms. K gave us this week...
The Bible is the way to know Jesus and have a relationship with Him.
Intimacy with Jesus is a direct result of spending time with Jesus.
Cha Cha!! The girls have so much fun with you!! and when they saw me uploading these pictures they said, "When are you leaving? We want Cha Cha to come watch us again!"
It feels SO different...kinda feel like my underwear is showing. Taking a shower was really strange, a lot less shampoo, and no hair to run my fingers through. I nearly got whip lash from flipping it back over my shoulders after towel drying...I was used to a lot more weight to sling back :)
I thought it would be quicker to style...nope, each little piece has to be pulled through the chi...or it's a chia pet on my head :) It still goes back into a very short stub of a pony tail which I'm happy about since, 99% of the time, it's back anyway.
2001. I was a newlywed, living in Downtown Houston, watching the Today Show, and getting ready for work. I was in the middle of drying my hair when they had breaking news that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Centers. I ran into the bedroom to wake Kyle as they were interviewing a restaurant employee who thought, at first, it was a small commuter plane, but the commenters were all confused, wondering why it would have been flying that low and why into a building since it was such a beautifully clear sunny day. Minutes later, the second plane hit the second Tower, and the anchor declared, 'America is under attack'.
I watched smoke bellow from the top of the Twin Towers, papers slowly drifting down to the ground, white t-shirts flagging the news helicopters, and eventually living people jump from their office windows of almost a 100 stories high and plummet to their deaths.
I went into work, my co-worker brought a TV from home so we could watch it in her office. That's when I heard news of a plane crashing into the Pentagon and another going down in Pennsylvania. My parents were visiting my sister in Pennsylvania and I couldn't get them on the cell phone and the news wasn't anymore specific other than 'rural Pennsylvania'...my sister lives on a farm. I was scared.
In NYC, fire fighters were going into the Towers, people were rushing out running for their lives, there were fighter jets flying over the Potomac, and men and women, calling home from the tops of the Towers, telling their families to be brave and that they loved them. I remember the heros in America who responded to their love of country and their love for fellow man.
Today I'm grateful for our Troops and praying for God's speed back home.
we got up early today for school, around 2 o'clock, because we're really excited...and the more excited I, this is Erin speaking, become, the more excited Brooke becomes. mom gave us a pretty intense pep talk in the car...she had us chanting back to her...listen, obey, and do your best. I think we can remember that...oh yes, the most important part, we put on the full armor of God this morning so that we would be protected :)
I looovvvve school...I WILL be a scholar when I grow up, as long as I, or you, can afford to to keep me in school...it just feels so good...so good to be learning. Brooke loves school too, but for different reasons. she loves to socialize with all her friends and she makes sure the teachers are earning their money :) Kameron stayed home today with mom cause she's still a baby...mom said she didn't know what to do with herself, so much free time with just one of us at home.
mom woke Kameron up from her nap to pick us up from school today and when she got there, both our teachers gave her good reports on us. mom was happy. more good days to come :)
Wife to Kyle, mother of 3 girls, sister, daughter, friend...forgiven, free, and in need of the grace of Jesus each and every minute of every day! Galatians 2:20
She is seven and loves Jesus...talks to Him all day long. Some say she has an old soul, she is certainly wise beyond her years...I sometimes catch myself thinking she knows more than I do...
Brooke
She loves Erin, endlessly. She also loves shoes and all things pretty. She loves life more than most and she makes my heart swell with joy.
Kameron
She is independent, funny, and our growing up baby. She completes this little family God has given us :)