Thoughts on Birthdays

We know we're getting old when the only thing we want for our birthday is not to be reminded of it. ~ author unknown

Thanks to modern medical advances such as antibiotics, nasal spray, and Diet Coke, it has become routine for people in the civilized world to pass the age of 40, sometimes more than once. ~Dave Barry

Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative. ~ Maurice Chevalier

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. - Lucille Ball

It's not the birthdays I mind so much; it's the getting older. ~ Genny Holmes

What's In Your Library?

"I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage."

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers." Charles W. Eliot

I've had a lifelong love affair with books. From my earliest memories, books have always called out to me -- come, sit down, read. Now they say, "Come, sit down, read -- the housework will wait." I especially love fiction, but try (sometimes) to read several non-fiction books every year.

What are you currently reading that you would recommend? And, what are some of your all-time favorites? Please, pull up a chair and share.

On My Bedside Table:
Taming Rafe by Susan May Warren
Steve & Me by Terri Irwin
A Season of Shadows by Paul McCusker
True Light by Terri Blackstock

My Favorites:
O'Malley Series by Dee Henderson
The Mitford Series by Jan Karon
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Andrew Henry's Meadow by Doris Burn
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Kevin Leman
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Parenting With Love and Logic by Cline and Fay
The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias
Honey and Salt by Carl Sandburg
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Happy Reading! The housework will wait...

True Love Waits

"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that each of you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God... For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." I Thessalonians 4:1-5, 7

This was the Scripture which introduced the "True Love Waits" ceremony at church on Wednesday. It was a beautiful event, with Scripture, worship music and promises made by both students and parents alike. Jay, our youth minister, exhorted everyone to live a life of purity, one that uses "extreme caution" in regard to holiness and purity. The girls were all given red roses, and the guys, white roses.

After praying together as families, we were encouraged to go to the front of the worship center. Bowls of water were placed on tables at the front. To symbolize our desire for purity in our lives, we washed each other's hands, and then placed water on the foreheads of our children.

After reciting the following pledge, parents gave their children a ring or necklace, which represents their commitment.

"Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship."

Rebecca, Cara, Carrie

Beautiful girl

Nikki, Rebecca, Jay

20 Dresses

Imagine my surprise (and delight) when Rebecca said she wanted to wear a fancy dress for the True Love Waits ceremony at church this week. I'm pretty sure that girl has not worn a dress since she was about 6 years old. Of course I would love to insert a photo here of her at that age, but that was back in the old days when film had to be developed and not just retrieved from iPhoto. So, in lieu of the fact that I don't want to dig out a scrapbook, scan the photo, etc., etc., you'll just have to imagine how cute she was.

With trepidation, we hit the mall last week. I was determined to find that girl a dress. As those of you with girls know, it is almost impossible to find a modest, presentable "church" dress to wear these days. Everything is either "too little girly" or "too big girly," if you know what I mean. So, we began...too big, too little, too shiny, too pink (say it isn't so!), too this, too that. At the end of the night, the death toll was 20 dresses. It was quite a stack, let me tell you. Of course, Rebecca would not let me photograph her in any of the "NO" dresses. And, we did find one that is really beautiful. Check back later in the week to see, for the first time in almost 7 years, Rebecca Holmes in a dress!

In Honor of "Chocolate Day" on Thursday

As if I needed to eat chocolate to make my clothes shrink. I think food does that job fairly well all by itself. So, I don't consider myself CRAZY about chocolate. Not at all. I can take it or leave it. Most times. Well, some of the time. Unless, of course, it's filled with peanut butter, or almonds, or pecans, or...oh, never mind. Jeff this is your notice: DO NOT buy me chocolate for Valentine's Day. I don't need it! Flowers will be just fine.

One Car Forward, Two Cars Back

Can I just say that I am not real happy about living in Fort Worth today? Due to traffic "issues" I sat on McCart for 10 minutes trying to get to I-20. Then, another fender bender on the way... Needless to say, we were late for school. (I wonder how many "I'm sorry Rebecca was late today due to traffic" notes I've written?) Then, as I'm exiting to drop the girls off, a police car and 2 fire trucks pass -- going the other way, of course. This only serves to improve my mood as I know that I will be sitting on the freeway headed west as well. And, for some reason, the longer I sit, the madder I get. Hmm...it's no wonder I have anger issues. I HATE SITTING IN TRAFFIC!

Whew...thanks. I just needed to get that off my chest. I'm done now.

Singing the Word

Ever have one of those days where you just "randomly" open your Bible, only to have a "Wow!" moment? Happened to me this week during one of those "I need to read my Bible" mornings. Since Wednesday night, I had been singing, over and over, the words to "Hear Us from Heaven." They were on continuous repeat in my head. And, where does God send me on Friday morning? Isaiah 35! Note verse 5: "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped." The very words from that song. Then, further down in the chapter, verse 10: "and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Can you sing "Let There Be Joy?"

What a great reminder that we are not just singing words and notes, but the very Word of God. And, may it dig into our brains, and always be on continuous play in our heads, as well as on our lips.