Dinner Conversations, Angels, and Heritage Sharing

We have been snowed-in at our house since Monday. I know that snowed-in and Arkansas are not the usual things you think about this southern state. But alas it has.

I have been the cook, childcare coordinator, bottle washer, and maid for four. John has been working from home as well.

We do our family devotionals at dinner time. Why? Because we are all there, bellies have been filled, so we have a captive audience. You would be amazed at the conversations that spring forth when your children know that you are listening. I know I have blogged about this before- but try it- it is a great bonding time!

Tonight Emma and Seanna wanted to re-hast this Sunday's Kids Church lesson. We learned about Samuel and the fact that GOD actually Talked to him. Emma asked John and I if God had ever talked to either of us out loud. I said no- but I have had several experiences with angels helping me.

Bam- I had their attention. I looked through my blogs and found that I have never blogged about these accounts. So this week I will try to blog about them.

Nassau Bahamas- The Break In

When I lived in Nassau I lived in a one-bedroom apartment. It only had one door which was at the front of the complex. The windows all had iron bars on them. One night at about 2 Am- I woke up to the sound of someone loudly saying Sister Cylinda. It was a man with an island accent. I was so sleepy I thought I was hearing things and went back to sleep.

I then heard it again more urgently- Sister Cylinda (that is what the people in the church there called me). I got up and turned the light on in my bedroom and said, "I hear you- I will be right there." I then heard the person more urgently call my name. I said. " I hear you- I will be right there."

I went into the living room and turned the light on- no one was there. I could not open my door, and I heard the dogs at the entrance of the apartment complex barking. I thought it strange and went back to bed.

The next morning- I called the local Pastor and asked who from the church would be at my apartment calling out to me at about 2 AM. He said no one that I know of. I also told him that for some reason my door looked dented and I could not open it up. He came by later and found tools outside of my door. Specifically tools to break into my apartment- a crow bar, sledge hammer, and other tools. The Lord used a familiar voice that night to wake me up and to keep the burglars away. They ended up having to take the whole door off and replaced it. Thank the Lord for angels that watch over us!

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Now to the heritage part of this blog. Do you see how important it is to share these stories, these victories, these testimonies with our children? I am persuaded that this causes them to be more sensitive, to yearn for more, and to understand that their relationship with God is a real thing. It is not just an old book that might have something to say about our lives. It is alive, and relevant to every second of our day.

I wish....

I Wish-

Patrick Dempsey would quit calling me to play a part in his next movie with him. I am a little too busy.

Either all of these dirty clothes would combust or just wash themselves.

The dust would develop a leader who with a very loud whistle would call the rest of the dust in the house and they would all march out in victory to another location. They have been residing her too long.

That someone would talk about this Elephant that has been in this room way to long.

I had a new cute helmet- the one I currently wear needs a spot to stick my pony tail out the back of it. {That is from the quote of - Life is hard- Wear a cute Helmet}

That the girls would get zapped (with a small tiny shock not a harsh hurtful one) every time that they lay their dirty clothes around the house.

That groceries would re-appear every time that you used the last item up in your kitchen.

That I had a Diet Coke fountain in my hallway or kitchen {can't decide which would look better}

That I was my in-head age of 35. Come on- you know you have an age that you think you are in your head.

That my far away friends could all fly in for a weekend, we could rent a cabin in the mountains in front of a stream. We would laugh, and talk, and giggle, and float in the stream for hours- while drinking diet coke out of cute girly cups.

That I did not have to back out in the rain for the 4th time today.

But alas- Dreams are free, and time is a wasting!

I am gonna quit shaking and get out of this big daydream of mine.

Love you bloggy buddies. I have to go get my cute plaid rain boots back on! It's Friday!

Mom- I missed the Bus Stop- Because I was witnessing about Dora....

Yes those were the words that I heard when my crying 8 year old stepped into the door this week. She was very emotional and needed a quick hug to get her through her next sentences.

How do you "Witness about Dora?" I asked.

She said the kids on the bus were all talking about Dora the Explorer and how cool she is. Emma told the kids on the bus that she met Dora at a concert in NC. She did meet Dora- well the voice of Dora- in North Carolina. She attends Bethel Church in Old Westbury, NY.

Emma was telling them how "Dora" was beautiful, and sweet, but most of all awesome because she was Pentecostal. They all quickly asked what is a Pentecostal? She said we believe in receiving the Holy Ghost by speaking in another language. She then went on to tell them that if it was important enough for Dora to have the Holy Ghost is must be important for them to receive it too.

All of this was going on right through her stop and she was so excited about it all she missed her chance to get off of the bus.

Every day as I drop her off at school we pray that God would open up a way for her to be a witness and a true Christian example to her friends. She said see Mom- today I did it again -and this time Dora and Jesus made me miss my stop.

I reassured her that anytime she was in the middle of telling her friends about Jesus she did not need to worry- she would be fine. She quickly told me that she would miss her stop again and that she needed a huge snack because witnessing took a lot out of her!

I silently thanked the Lord for allowing her to feel the excitement of being able to witness to her friends. There is nothing like it. May I have the sensitivity and the boldness of that special 8 year old to tell my friends about my “Dora” experience of Pentecost!

Good Morning
The girls are enjoying their snow day. John called to say ther were suiting up to go "sledding" on the boogie board. I could hear gales of laughter in the background. I would love to see it all going on!

READ CRAZY LOVE

Just do it-

It will keep you up-
It will make you think-

It is well- Just do it.....

Today as I am thinking about one of the chapters and watching one of the videos that went with it- I just had to think about God's love and weep.

I have been gone from my kids now (I am in St. Louis) for 15 hours. I can't stop thinking about them. How much I miss them. How much I love them. {Now I love and equally miss John but for this blog I am talking about the illustration of a parent and child}. I think Wow- Seanna would love this- or Emma would giggle at this. Can't you see? That multiplied times 4,000 is how God views us. He always has us on his mind. He can't stop thinking about us. The god that created the universe, who prints the birth certificate of every ant, fly, and inch worm. The God that formed the delacate petals of the orchids- that same God loves me. He thinks about me. He misses me.

Now again think about your child. When they sit on your lap and just talk to you about your day, and just are with you because they want to be with you- don't you just love it? That is how HE feels about communication with us. He wants us to spend time with him- to share our secrets, our thoughts, our desires, to be at one with him.

Isn't it amazing to think that the God of the universe loves us that much? Okay well this book I promise keeps you up. I love the fact that it has great videos to go with it. I think I am a visual learner. Okay who am I kidding- I know I am.

Even if you don't read crazy love- know that you ARE loved.

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ON a sidenote I am in St. Louis today- heading to Indy tomorrow. Kaylin (niece) is in a live recording at her college tomorrow night. There are also about 10 MKs in that area that I will get to see!

Have a great night- and just for my girls (again see the love) I pray for snow to fall so that they may gleefully play in it's white frostiness in the morning!

If you don't mind

I think I have blogged before that if I have to do an urgent project and I am mentally stuck on how to start- I will do everything BUT the project. Thus- this morning- I skipped over to my blog quickly to type this to you.

If you don't mind- I am going to share some silly things hoping that our brains will absorb this useless knowledge so that we can wow someone in the check out line at the grocery store today-

Ready???

It is worth it....

1. 7UP was given the name because it came in 7oz bottles and the bubbles went up.

2. Coca-Cola was origionally green.

3. The hundred billionth crayon made by Crayola was Periwinkle Blue.

4. In 1985 Boise, Idaho, Mayoray election, there were four write in votes for Mr. Potato head.

5. Ketchup is excellent for cleaning brass.

6. People in China sometimes use firecrackers around their homes as fire alarms.

7. If you mix Sani-Flush and Comet it will cause an explosion.

8. The average purse weighs 3-5 pounds.

9. IBM's motto is "Think"

10. NERF does not stand for anything.

11. A Venus flytrap can eat a whole cheeseburger.

12. 107 incorrect medical treatments will be performed by the end of the day today.

And just because I like baker's dozens-

13. Strangest death of a pope? Pope Adrian VI died after a fly got stuck in his throat as he was drinking from a water fountain.

Happy Wednesday- Now I am off to do that report!

Chaos

Chaos
Is a five letter word that
Many
People live in

Chaos
Is a five letter word that
Some
Can not relate to

Chaos
Is in the heart of those that
walk by me at the grocery store
drive their cars neatly into garages in the my neighborhood

Chaos
Is what crushed dreams, lowered expectations
and hurts thrive on

Chaos
is in the the hearts of many around us
it paralyzes them and tells them that

Things will always be this way
There is no hope
Things will never change
Your healing will not come
Your deliverance is not around the corner
And you are clinging to vapors

Chaos is what the Lord destroys today
He has come that you might have life
and have it more abundantly

He has come to breathe hope into you
To fulfill those dreams, those desires, to speak peace, of new beginnings and joy

Choas has to flee when Jesus steps into situations
He has always been known for
Making the crooked places straight
Breaking the chains
Releasing the fears from minds that have questioned
Healing the bruised
and bandaging those in need

So- for those of you today
Who question
Who hurt
Who swirl in chaos

Release yourself to HIM today
Release the chaos of your life to
Someone that HAS the power to change it

Give it over to him
and feel the lifting of the load
as he makes something beautiful out of the ruins of your soul

Chaos is a bad thing you might say...
But to my Saviour
My friend
My redeemer
My life
My Jesus
Choas is his specialization

I pray for you today- release it over to him!