It's not a cause...it's personal.

Last night was a wonderful...and also a HARD night. Each Tuesday night I go and hang out with my girlfriends at My Sister's House (Atlanta Union Mission) and I LOVE it!! They are so much fun and some of the most inspirational people I have ever met. They truly know what it is like to walk through the darkest valleys and trust in God. I am always challenged and ALWAYS blessed to be with my girls.

I was asked last September to come each week and help them with their GED prep. OK...I have NEVER done that before and had NO idea what in the world I was doing. But, that was the need and I had the degree to fill the need. So, I began going and week after week I fell. in. love. with every single one of these girls. They are some of my sweetest friends. They shake me out of my version of reality and make me look into the face of REALITY.

Week after week we grow closer. For the past few weeks the mission has cracked down on the women really participating in the GED program, so our group has grown and new faces are there each week...and I'm loving it:) To make it even better...my friend Amanda whom I have been meeting with for YEARS also comes to help and tutor along with another friend of ours. We have grown really close to every single one of these ladies.

I like helping with GED...but I LOVE when I can lavish on these women! I can't do it all the time since I am there, not to lead a mini retreat every week, but to help them get their GED and gain some job skills. So, when a holiday comes around I can't WAIT to love on those ladies and just lavish some fun gifts, girlie items, yummy treats, and a few words of encouragement from God's Word. Last night...was that night!

The amazing friends at the GBC donated some really groovy bags for the women to carry all their GED items in each week. And DFM was able to buy each lady a red long stemmed rose. Don't you know that EVERY woman should get roses on Valentine's day? Well, in my mind they sure do:) Then, I borrowed/copied/stole a theme from my creative friend Rhonda. We talked about how popular the show "The Bachelor" has been and how there is one guy who "chooses" a lady by giving her a rose. So, she feels really special since she has gotten the red rose. She wants so desperately to be "chosen."

Unfortunately, being chosen on "The Bachelor" is a bit warped to say the least. But, there is a man, named Jesus Christ, who has chosen me...and those precious ladies at the mission. As I handed each of them a beautiful rose of crimson, we were ALL reminded how no matter what is going on in our lives or where we find ourselves we are chosen by the man who can NEVER let us down. The man who bore a cross and shed crimson blood to be in a personal relationship with us. What a MIGHTY good man!

It was a very special time for all of us as we reflected on the great love shown to each of us on the Cross. How Crimson stains set us free! How we are chosen by God for all eternity! Amazing!

Then, a sweet and very close friend of mine stuck her little face into the room. I tried to usher her in to join us and she said she couldn't come tonight. I took a rose and a groovy bad along with a few cookies out to her...this is one of my closest friends in my class. She has been in the class for most of the time I have been there (7 months).

As she and I talked (over tears) she shared that she was having to leave the mission (medical issues) and that ALL 6 of her children were going that VERY night into foster care. I'm crying as I write this. I was speechless. We were broken. It just got really personal.

These children are ones I see every week as they run into my room to see what "treats" we have, peering into my bag of chocolates I bring for the women each week ('cause every women needs chocolate to study with!!), and bring life into the study room. They are gone.

We hugged and prayed and KNEW there was VICTORY in Jesus Christ. She encouraged ME with her faith and strength and determination. I was amazed.

As you know we went through the foster care training (haven't gotten any calls yet) and at the time it was just a little overwhelming to me. Lots of rules, lots of issues, lots of information and red tape. It wasn't really personal.

But, last night it got personal. It had a face and a name and months of history. It had laughter and mischief and noise and now silence. It's really personal now. That's the gift of God.

In Isaiah 58, God's people were coming to Him every single day. They were checking the God thing off on their list, going to church, bringing Him their problems, asking Him for answers...but it wasn't personal. God's response to this was to give a large (and to many of us overwhelming)list of things that SHOULD be personal if we love Him.

About a year ago, those words in Isaiah 58 got really personal. The homeless wandered has a name, little children, a desire to get her GED, and real issues, hopes, and dreams. The orphan crises went from an overwhelming thought of 147 million orphans in the world...to opening our home to one (or two) in God's perfect timing.

Satan sells us a bill of goods that says because you can't do it ALL you shouldn't do anything. We stand immobilized thinking about the crisis in Haiti, billions of people lost and dying, the AIDs crisis, 147 million orphans, the homeless, foster care, widows...our family, marriage, in-laws...

That we stand like a deer in the headlight not knowing what to do so we just stand there. But, the gift of God is that when you take a small step(and all my steps are so small they seem like they would get nowhere) towards obedience and have FAITH like a tiny little mustard seed He makes it personal...not a cause. Because taking on a cause is all about us and getting personal is all about a relationship. That's the difference in a ME task and a God vision.

Thank you God for making it personal. Thank you for blessing the little steps with BIG heart change in my life. Thank you for once again tearing my eyes and heart off self and letting me see people...not causes. Thank you for breaking my heart and letting me cry...with you. Forgive me for swimming in self. Thank for a little glimpse into the EXPANSE of your heart for this world. Help me not to stand immobilized in the enormity of this fallen world, but to hold your hand and take one step closer to your heart today. Thank you for your Word that is ALIVE!!!!!

(The ladies' faces are pixelated for privacy and safety...but trust me...they are BEAUTIFUL! The ladies on the front row are our volunteers.)

The Proverbs 31 girl...

In our Keepers group this week I was in charge of doing the devotion time. We have been memorizing Proverbs 31 this year and the girls are doing SO great...all of them!!! So, this month we were on the verses talking about she dresses in strength and dignity. I decided that we would talk about how what we wear on the OUTSIDE reflects what we think about God and ourselves on the INSIDE. We took a few minutes to "design" an outfit that would honor God made out of a few strange supplies in their bags... She is making sure that those shoulders are covered and that the neckline doesn't plunge!

They are about to give this dress a little length:)


They had a great time making some funny clothes for our fashion show...but also talking about how how we can glorify God in what we wear!

Then we began quilting. Y'all. Quilting is HARD! Well, it's not really hard...it's just detailed. I'm not a detail person for the most part. I'm organized, but not detailed in the measuring
the height of picture frames, cutting patterns, gauging sewing distances...none of that is fun to me. I married a detailed, logical, do-it-right-the-first-time kind of man to do those jobs for me:)

I am the creative one. I am the visionary. I'm not the fix-your-sewing-machine-when-it-makes-crazy-noises kind of girl. If the project can't be finished and looking fabulous in a night...it ain't my kind of project! That's when I gladly hand it over to my hubby and let him make it right.

So quilting has WORN. ME. OUT! But, I gotta hang in there to the bitter end 'cuz my girls love it! Well, sure they love it because I am the one in knots staring at dozens of tiny boxes of fabric (that I had to cut PERFECTLY!!!) trying to figure out if I have a 1/4th inch seam...huh?

Quilting is lots of measuring, remeasuring, checking, rechecking, batting, and I like a deer in the headlights. I have met my match...and it won.

Quilting - 1
Frances - 0

So, this Saturday those of us who don't have a CLUE and are so far behind that we can't even imagine a purse coming out of what we have sewn together so far...are "invited" to come to a catch up class:) Y'all...let's just say it...I'm quilting challenged! Yep, I'm going to quilting tutoring:) At one point, one of the GIRLS in the class looked over at me (by this point I'm glazed over and I'm just staring at my fabric...while the girls play hangman with their friend) and said..."you are STILL on sewing your fabric?"

Insert long *sigh* here.

After the meeting I proceeded to call my quilting friend and ask for her help! She told me that she hardly EVER cuts her own fabric squares and just kind of does free style on her quilts. Free style? Now that's MY kind of language!!

I'm being dramatic in order to get to a point here. The kind of woman that God finds very precious is this (my memory verse for this month):

"Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair (or lots of hairspray in my case!), and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is very precious in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

Every single time I read that our adorning must be the hidden person of our hearts...I just want to cry tears of relief. I am praying daily - moment by moment - for a gentle and quiet spirit. That doesn't mean that you are a mouse who is shy and silent. It means that our SPIRIT is gentle and quiet. It's at peace with who we are and what our identity is founded on...the Cross and Jesus Christ!

So, during these past 3 quilting meetings, I have found sweet release to just laugh at myself and know that God just might not have quilting in my future:) My mastering quilting isn't precious in His sight...it's my spirit while quilting that is precious to Him. It's my spirit while teaching school, doing dishes, making beds, doing laundry, speaking to women, writing articles, counseling women, teaching Life groups, talking to my husband...that is what is very precious in His sight.

My blog features lots of projects that I LOVE to do! They "fit" me and they are things I enjoy...'cuz I'm the one picking them out:) But, there are so many things I am NOT good at:) I pray that each of us will just enjoy the Body of Christ and not try to be every part ourselves.

Y'all it's OK to not be every single part! Remember the things that are VERY precious in God's sight...and run HARD, pray HARD, seek HARD, and rest in those. And...enjoy how gifted someone else is! Learn from them...instead of feeling insecure. Listen to them and enjoy watching someone do something that is really hard for you. Then...tell them what a great job they are doing! Let's encourage and exhort one another!

The Proverbs 31 women...isn't Jesus. So, let's just embrace the Gospel and give up perfectionism and find sweet release in the Jesus alone!

Another year...a wonderful birthday celebration!

Since my birthday is today...on a Monday...we decided to celebrate it ALL weekend:) I had a WONDERFUL time every single minute!! On Friday I was surprised (after I was told to go and shop and enjoy my day!) with a daisy cupcake cake! It was the cutest thing ever!!!

Then, I was sung an original birthday song by the girls!

When Jay asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday...I told him I wanted to relax in my jammies with my family ALL day long! If you know me, being in my pjs is the best time of every day. So, one of my first gifts from everyone was this awesome tea cup. It says
"I love a stay-in-your jammies kind of day!"

There couldn't be a cup that expresses my thoughts more clearly:)

I was treated to a yummy cup of tea in my new cup...and at the bottom is the cutest little bunny slipper! Made me smile every sip:)

The only thing I wanted for my birthday is my OWN blanket that was red and super cozy. I look so forward to cuddling up in this chair every morning to have my "gathering time" with the Lord...but I was missing a blanket!

Anli made me a "summer" blanket!

I also got the first set of my favorite movies that are from the books by Janette Oake. They are a wonderful Christian set of movies set in the old west...I just LOVE them!!!

Then...the blanket! Y'all. This thing is AMAZING!!!

So, I spent all of Saturday like this...

I looked a little like Mrs. Clause...but I tell ya...this was the BEST way to spend a birthday EVER! I have traveled a lot doing retreats the past few weeks and have several more coming up, so I treasured every single moment at home with my family, my new blanket, my tea cup, and some wonderful movies!

Tonight, some of my buddies wanted to come over and spend a night in their jammies with me eating dessert and hanging out:) Sounds like another cozy night to me!

36 isn't starting off so bad after all!!

Family Focused Friday...Valentine Project

On Monday's family night we worked on our new Valentine's project! I have LOVED having something hanging on my pantry door to keep us connected, intentional, and focused on God. It has kind of become our "hub" and I had begun to miss it since we took down the Jesse Tree. So, I thought of an idea to help us focus on showing love and encouragement this month... We began with some really groovy fabric that made us all happy! Then, Virginia helped me to hot glue some pom pom trim to the end...'cuz everyone loves a little pom pom!

Then, dad and Anli worked on making it ready to hang. As you can see...I couldn't find my dowel rod (I think we packed it up with the Jesse Tree)...so we made do with a yard stick! My hubby is quite creative in a pinch:)

Then, we cut out pink hearts from felt and hot glued them onto our runner of fabric. We did not glue them all the way around because the hearts are really big pockets...of encouragement.

Here is the finished product!! I *LOVE* it so very much!!

We each have a pocket that any of us can leave encouraging noted in all month long!! Jay made our name tags on the computer and I laminated them and put Velcro on the back.

Each morning after our family devotion time we make sure to take a few minutes to tell someone in the family we love them and tell them WHY. We cut out white paper hearts to write the notes on. We will read them later on and enjoy some encouragement!

Take time today to let someone know how very much you love them! And we remember that we love because God FIRST loved us. What an amazing love the Father has given to us...that we might be called the children of God!

2010 Winter Olympics here we come!

We are getting REALLY excited about the 2010 Winter Olympics around our house! We all love when the Olympics come around and this year I found a short study on the Olympics. It is using the lapbooks we LOVE. What is a lapbook? Well, I'm glad you asked... First, we download the curriculum for our favorite site...Currclick! We print out all the lessons and all the cutouts. Then, we glue together 3 colored file folders. They can all fold up into the size of one folder so they can be easily stored.

Then, the girls each pick what color folder they want for the cover and decorate it with some graphics from the curriculum.

Then, we begin the actual study itself. Each day we read some information about the Olympics and then make small minibooks that will be posted inside the lapbook. This week we have been studying about the Greeks...their clothing, government, daily life, and the timeline of the first Olympics.

After studying, they write a small summary in the minibooks about what they learned. It helps them to be able to remember and "present" their Olympic lapbook!

The writings are short and fun...so the girls enjoy it so much!

I'll post a photo of the finished product in a week or so. We will finish it by the 12th when the Opening games begin. We have also been on the website for the Olympics so we can follow the torch, watch videos, and get more up to date information. This lapbook will not only teach us the history of the Olympics, but it will teach us about the games too! We will learn about Vancouver and there is even a place for the girls to keep up with all the medals!!

We LOVE the Olympics...AND lapbooks!!!

If you are interested in knowing more about lapbooks or to download some curriculum let me know in the comment box...or just go to Currclick and check them all out!!

The Valentine's Countdown Begins!

February is one of my favorite months! Not only is it my birthday month, but it has Valentine's Day...and this year the 2010 Winter Olympics (tomorrow's post!)!!! So, Monday night we started out the month with the start of a month long celebration of love and FUN. It started out in the morning with a few surprises in everyone's mailboxes...

Then, that night we made a YUMMY brownie cake with white chocolate topping followed by some sprinkle!! Talk about awesome...Jay said it was the best we had ever made and we all agreed!

We have a very special project that we also worked on that night and I'll share that on Family Focused Friday. We had a wonderful family night starting a VERY fun month of surprises!

Happy February!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Today we watched the official Groundhog day video telling us if Punxsutawney Phil's forcast. It's really fun to watch if you have never seen it! The girls loved seeing that cute Groundhog...Phil.

This link is the official site...you can watch the video from this morning and see lots of other info. It was a fun thing to do for school today!

http://www.groundhog.org/

What's on our RADAR??

This past week we had a fun project to do in our science curriculum - Apologia. We *LOVE* Apologia because it takes such a strong creation stance and I am learning so much about the solar system and the intricate ways God fashioned each planet. It has totally given me some new insight and I love that my girls are getting a wonderful background in how GOD created the world. It stops several times throughout each section to specifically tell the girls (and me!) about ways we can KNOW that evolution is false. It tells them how to refute certain arguments against creationism. I LOVE it!! We have been studying Venus for a while and it has a very thick atmosphere that keeps the temperature there around 850 degrees all the time. So...needless to say they haven't sent any people there to see what it looks like on the surface of Venus.

But, they use radars to depict how the landscape looks. So...we were challenged to do an experiment to see how radars work. My husband made a "secret" landscape for us and covered the box with a cotton cover that looks like the clouds of Venus.

Then, we copied a grid with numbers on it and colored our bamboo skewer different colors to let us know how deep we could punch the skewer through until it "hit" something.

The girls took turns punching the holes and reading the data. They really had a great time figuring out where all the hills and valleys were in the box.

I was the record keeper and for each square on the grid we logged the color on the bamboo skewer.

Once we had all of our data...we could open the box and see how our "radar" worked!

The girls got it RIGHT on! Great job girls!

We had a great time and learned so much about radars. I tell ya...I love homeschooling more every day:)