Best Buds!

Pics for previous post.....

Friends From SC

Last weekend some of our friends from SC came to visit. I love it that we have stayed in touch with this family. Joseph and Nadja have the same birthday and have know each other almost since they were born. (I have blogged about them before). They are SO very special to us and we had a lot of fun with them. Can't wait for them to come visit again :o) Here are some pictures of when Joseph and Nadja were little and pictures of them today...BTW, my mom made the costumes they are wearing as Bo Peep and Woody!

Good Gifts

Matthew 7:11 says, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

A few weeks ago we were driving down the road and Zach was talking to Joseph about having one of those wooden play/swing sets in the backyard. He was talking with such feeling about wanting one of those, and wishing that we could get one. When I heard the sencerity in his voice I wanted to run right out and get one. Of course, several things stopped me from doing so, but as a mother who longs to give her children the desires of their hearts, I hurt because I could not do that for him.

Not a moment later, the above scripture came into my mind. As much as I desired to give that to Zach, how much more does God desire to give me the things that I want. Does His heart ache the way that mine did when He, because of my disobedience or bad choices, cannot give me the things that I desire? I think, definitely, yes.

The last few months have been a very diffcult journey for me, but I know that through it all, God has never stopped wanting to give me the good gifts He has for me. He has already given so much. For that I am very thankful.

Beta Club Induction

I am SO proud of Joseph for being invited to join Beta Club. He is a very smart boy even though it is hard to get him to show it sometimes (lol). And, I was really impressed with the ceremony at his school. They opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer. Both led by students. A girl (the in coming Beta Club President) got up and sang "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns. For some people, I know, that this is politically incorrect, BUT it is things such as this that make me proud of Sevier County. As a matter of fact, most events (Chamber of Commerce meetings, Lodging Association Meetings and my Leadership Meetings) incorporate prayer at some point. It's too bad that a lot of other places and organiations have gotten away from this habit. Oh, and have I mentioned that Sevier County schools allow a group of Christians, Club Truth, to come in and talk to our students every other Thursday during the school year. Not only is academic acheivement promoted, spiritual acheivement is encouraged as well. I am looking forward to this new adventure for Joseph and hopefully the man that it will help develop in him!

If I Throw Up Maybe I'll Feel Better

I know, not a very inticing name for a post, but this is exactly how I feel at this moment in my life. I have been fighting with Dan for so long I thought that I was prepared to take these final steps and end this crazy dysfunction, but it has been more emotional, stressful, and difficult than I thought. 90 days seems like a short time...June 18th will be here before I know it. I know that I am making the right "next step". I have no doubt that I am moving forward in the right direction....but that doesn't make it easy. I spent 17 years with Dan. While most of those years were spent in conflict, we did have good times. We do have two wonderful boys and there are memories that I will always cherish. He does have good qualities...no one is completely bad. I will continue to pray for him and hope that one day he will allow God to bring some healing and restoration into his life. I pray for God to continue to help me to change the things I need to change, too.

Dallas

I was SO tired yesterday when I got in from Dallas but had a couple of things to do at home. I got into the airport around 11:30 am and headed to our church to say good bye to Joseph before he left for his youth trip this weekend. After that I had to wash my car because it was REALLY dirty. Apparently some bird had perched its self on a tree branch above where I was parked the whole time I was gone. After that I ran home to try and make myself presentable before taking Zach to register for kindergarten. I laid down at 4 pm to watch Little House on the Prairie (LOL) and fell asleep. I woke up at 6:30. I went back to bed at 9pm and got up at 7am this morning I was REALLY tired. This is what caused the need for all of that sleep.....

Tuesday: up at 2 am because my flight from Knoxville was at 5:30 am. Got to the airport at about 4:15. Flew to Charlotte where I had a 2 hour layover. Flew from there to ORlando (don't ask, my boss booked my ticket ~ I asked him if he was paying me back for something that I had done wrong)....finally arrived in Dallas around 12:30/12:45...gained an hour because of time change. Met Logan at the airport, went to hotel, walked around trade show, met up with friends for dinner, back at hotel around 9:30, in bed by 10!

Wednesday: at breakfast 7:15, general session 8-12 (had a hard time staying awake...really wanted to win the iPod touch but someone else's number was called...bummer!)...lunch and then breakout sessions, some useful information, glad for firedrill in the middle of one...if was becoming boring. Dinner that night at Eddie Deen's!! Free food, free drinks, live band and armadillo racing....what more does a girl need??? Again, in bed by 10....my friends think I am goodie two shoes....told them no, just can't hang with the big dogs!!

Thursday: same as Wedensday but did get a tiny little workout in (and I do mean tiny) then headed to Hampton's "dance club"! Again, free food and free drinks but no line dancing or armadillos....had a DJ that played some good music but most was not my style...good fun, though....glad I got to see all my friends from GM class in Memphis and pretty much everyone I have ever worked for in the hotel business!

Friday: up at 5am at airport by 6:30...on my way home at 8!

Had a really good time....now have to get back to reality :o)