I love...

Jesus, with all my heart.

Kyle Robert Watson :)

Erin's deep thinking...

Brooke's impulsive dancing when she eats ice cream...

Kam's new talking and serious conversations, especially when I have no idea what she's saying...

Mom and dad retiring here...

D and Cha Cha being the coolest grandparents any granddaughters could want...

Mimi school...

Sonkids teachers...really loving children, not just working...

BSF...

my Sunday School class, multi-generational...bridging the gap and learning from one another...

Ms. Betty.

my neighborhood coming together to pray...

Rachel and BJ living in Bobcat district :)

my friends...

praying with moms for our kids...

spinning with friends...

running with Rachel and Kim...

sermons by Matt Chandler and John MacArthur.

music by Shane and Shane...

cold water...and Dr. Pepper and Coke (the real thing, only)...

our comfy bed...

on that note, goodnight!

the charge, the plea, the verdict...

God's Lawsuit against Judah (today, that's us)
Isaiah 1:2-31

The Charge:
As God's chosen people, this is how you are to live and you are not.

The Plea:
Change your behavior (repent) and do what is right.

The Verdict:
Be restored or be destroyed.

**Conviction of sin is the lance of the divine Surgeon letting the infection out.**

Because He is Good

Isaiah

We started our Isaiah study today in BSF!! This is the verse that I think I'll have in my mind and on my heart this year:

The grass withers and the flower fades, but God's word stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

How very temporary life is, except for His word. It stands forever. I'm so grateful to be apart of something that is of eternal value!!

Favorite quote from the mind of a 3 year old (I'm teaching 3's this year!):

Teacher: Who's word is true? (supposed to answer God's, instead...)
Little one: MY DADDY'S! (with a how do you like that look :) )

Principals from Isaiah 1:1

Intimacy with God changes us and our influence in the world.

Knowing God intimately puts all of life into the proper perspective.

Go Bears!

back to our old stomping ground!

are you excited?

what?

I don't know!

okay, let's

go!

Good Morning!

TGIF!

while e's away...

b will play...

A gecko crawled into the back door when Erin left this morning and went behind the dryer...B looked and looked for him and then went to the pantry and came out with a fly swatter and said, 'okay, gecko, it's time to get serious'.

2 minutes later I saw her spinning in this chair and singing to her get well card from Kelly that sings (see middle right) bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay.

she said...

e had a hard day...she held back tears until they put her in my car and she let them flow...

she said she did not have a great day...
she said I can't believe I was there until supper...
she said she asked the teacher if she could go home and it was still morning...
she said she asked if she could go home all day and the teacher kept saying no...
she said I missed you so much, I didn't know I was going to miss you so bad...
she said I'm not allowed to be silly...
she said if I hear one more rule, I'm out of there...
she said I can't believe you signed me up for this...
she said please call and cancel my reservation tomorrow!
she said I can't do this another day, and you said I have to do this for 13 years!
she said her teachers were not really nice (except for Ms. Riley), that they don't love me like you do...

went to dad's office, to berrypop, and tonight we keep telling her tomorrow will be better! friends brought cookies to encourage her and one, of our many sweet neighbors, had a party for all the little ones going to school yesterday, called to ask her about her day...she is feeling encouraged and confident that His mercies are new every day!

Off she goes!

in the car with daddy...

she picked out her outfit :)

and is excited to make friends...

this is how our family began, and Lord willing, this is where it will return...

I can't help but think of the illustration James Dobson gives of preparing your children for independence...a kite analogy...how you work hard to get it off the ground and as it takes off for flight, the rope slowly slips out of your hand as your kite flies higher and higher...

Our baby goes to Kindergarten...

tomorrow. I can't believe it. It's so exciting, but feels bittersweet. Bitter because I loved the endless days with her, her naivety, watching her play with her two little sisters, her excitement over small things, and carefreeness (maybe I just made that word up...don't know, back pain affects the brain) towards all things. I don't want those things to change.

But, when this sadness wells up inside, I'm quickly reminded of what is sad. Sad would be if Erin didn't grow up to go to Kindergarten...

So, I will let this moment just be sweet...not bitter...and with a thankful heart, I will let her go tomorrow and trust in the knowledge that God is with her when I am not.

update:
grocery shopping the day before school starts = nowhere to park and no ziplock sandwich bags left;
picking out outfit for first day of school with Erin = no more carefreeness

Over the Sun

We are studying Ecclesiastes at church. It's awesome because it's so true. Solomon was wealthy, had more money than Carlos Slim Helu, and he sought out the pleasures of this life 'under the sun', but he finds the secret to life is hidden over the sun...a relationship with the God of the universe. All the other pleasures are like chasing the wind and cannot satisfy. Only God can. Listen to the song playing...Over the Sun by Shane and Shane :)