Blah Blah Blah

Because of the snow days, there are lots of basketball games to be made up - all this week. So translated - LOTS of Tiger basketball for us this week (I'm actually looking forward to it!).

I took my camera to the game this past Friday, but really only got 2 pictures - surprising, I know. I had been playing at the park all day with the kids and was still in my beautiful yoga pants/workout shirt with a lovely nasty ponytail and minimal make-up at best. So there was no way I was getting in any shots. :)

So here's the funny part of the story:

At the game that night with about 3 minutes to start, Jason came and asked me if I'd sing the National Anthem b/c they didn't have anyone to do it. Now - I never pass up this opportunity because it's my absolute favorite song to sing and I haven't gotten to since college, BUT I really looked like trash people. I tried to stand behind the announcer and do it so no one could really see me but the guy made me get on the court. Fabulous. Then I got a link to an event photographer who was there and happened to get about 15 pictures of me in my beauty and put them on his NWA website. Ha. I just laughed at that point.

I'm singing it again for Senior Night next Saturday (with warning this time!) so I'll get a shower 2nd time around. :)

I figured out a trick (don't know why it took me so long): both my children fit in the single stroller. Find of the night.

 Somewhere around the third quarter, Bethany and I turned around to this handsome mess who had unknowingly made his way to in the animal cracker bag. Sweet thing. This kept him entertained for an entire quarter.

 Yesterday was GORGEOUS. Lincoln and Noah were at home taking naps and I loaded Lincoln up to go to the park. I forgot what it was like to take only one child - I loved this one-on-one time with him! And might I add (if you're NWA people) this park is the best park EVER. I was totally in awe of it. Absolutely gorgeous. It's the new one behind Krispy Cream by the Toyota dealership - amazing.

 
 
 
I know this is a random post...sorry. :)

Ouch

2 Tim. 3:1-5

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be:
lovers of themselves,
lovers of money,
boastful,
proud,
abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful,
unholy,
without love,
unforgiving,
slanderous,
without self-control,
brutal,
not lovers of the good,
treacherous,
 rash,
conceited,
 lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Have nothing to do with such people."

When I was in Africa a few years back, I stumbled on this verse one day and camped on it pretty much the whole trip. The highlighted red part pierced me then, and it's still just as powerful to me today. I have written in my Bible from that day in Ndola "Humbling..." out to the side.

"having a form of godliness, but denying its POWER..."

That means the nice little heart-warming list that precedes it there...you know, the "selfish, treacherous, conceited, rash, lover of money, etc..." can be MASKED by having a form of godliness?? My conviction over this verse coincides with what I've been studying this past month...that the word "Power" can in turn be the Holy Spirit.

That we can have our form of godliness (i.e. going to church, praying, tithing, etc.) but if we do not daily surrender ourselves to the POWER of the Holy Spirit, we are powerless against the sinful list listed at the beginning of the verse.
We just somehow think our "form of godliness" will cancel it all out in the end.
Hmmm.
The last part of the verse warns to have NOTHING to do with such people.

How often have I been that "such person?"
(I'll answer it  - a LOT).

I go through that list and feel like I can "check..check...check..."
And then I realize again just how often I deny the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. I have Christ living within me, but GET WITH IT MELISSA - the God of the universe DESIRES to talk, guide, and defend you on an hourly basis and so often you say "No - I'm fine, thanks."

So I'm there...again. Humbled by the Word of God...it's a sweet place to be in.


Here's another version of the verse I like:

"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!"

On Being a Coaches Wife...

This topic has recently come up in several conversations so I thought I'd write about it (why not...right?).

Point in case: I love it.

When people find out Jason's profession I typically get some sympathetic looks of "Oh poor dear you have to watch sports all the time!" or "He works from 7:30-7:30 or midnight during season??!" or "Yuck - do you have to go to all the games??"

Yes. His work schedule is crazy. Yes I go to all the games because I literally cannot STAND to sit at home and wonder what's happening, and we have our "system" on when sports get watched at our house (lucky for him I go to bed early and he's a night-owl). DVR's a friend of ours.

But perhaps my favorite part of his job is that I feel like it's mine, too. Yes - my husband has actually gotten out his drawing board for me to write out the plays and help me understand all they work on practice and try to execute in games! And I love him for that. :)
I enjoy getting to know the players and their families...part of why I love going to all the games is so I can actually discuss them with Jason and experience the high/low feelings he faces...I adore Lincoln's love of the team and how he knows almost all the players by name...I cherish the relationships and closeness that develops with the other coaches families...I love the level of influence I can watch my husband have over teenage boys...

I love it.

I get anticipatory for season to begin and sad when it's all over.

But with his job - obviously - can come intense pressure and hard lows. And oh my the lows can be low. But as Jason has often said - though you experience crazy lows, the highs are unbelievable and invigorating! And by the grace of God, we've been fortunate enough to experience such highs as well.

But you know what I've also seen? I've seen kids develop such close, trusting relationships with these coaches to the point where they trust them to lead them to Christ.

The highs don't get much higher than that.

Sunshine

This was last spring...

 And here we are today in spring-like weather!!!!

 So fun! We went for a little workout after a v-day date for lunch, then just played in the front yard for an hour or so. While we were outside, we made some new friends that were walking in the neighborhood! Love it!

Here's to more warm weather. :)

**On a side note, I've loved the emails and chatting with many of you about what God's doing in your lives and how he's working through you to further His Kingdom. This is a huge passion of mine and I've enjoyed EVERY word you've emailed/commented and cherish the discussions we've gotten in through this crazy blog stuff. It's encouraging, refreshing, and energizing!!

The Party Goes On

We got to party after all today!! Lincoln was completely well, but poor Noah and Jason were still a bit queasy. My personal birthday party style for the one-year-olds doesn't not consist of elaborate decorations and an extensive guest list. I figure in the coming years there will be plenty of room for that. My favorite is having just the close family for this special day! Noah knows and loves each and every one of them and it's just the right amount where he doesn't get too overwhelmed.

So today was perfect.

We ate cake, had some goodies and pizza, opened some gifts, played with toys, and hung out with the family. I wish we could all get together more often!

After his cake, Noah headed off to take his nap while the rest of us wrapped up the party (he was exhausted - probably from being sick, poor thing!)
Happy Birthday sweet little guy! You're pretty stinkin' special. :)

It's My Party and I'll, um, Puke...if I Want To???

Noah's family birthday party tomorrow afternoon.
Two mornings ago, Lincoln woke up covered in puke.
This morning, Noah woke up covered in puke.
Both these times were the only puke episodes and both seem to feel fine.
About 15 people coming to the house to party tomorrow.
Let's hope Jason and I don't wake up with puke all over ourselves.

Party pics to come. :)

Destin Dreamin'

Lincoln begged to go play in it...all morning.
We told him after his nap.
He woke up and the first thing he said was "Play in Snow!!!"
So that's what we did - I, of course, serving as the "picture-taker."
(He lasted about 15 min before he showed us his BRIGHT red hands and said "I'm cold. I wanna cookie.")
Here he is eating the snow. He hasn't learned yet to stay away from the yellow stuff.

Oh and the Bruce-in-the-snow pics I always seem to take. Mr. Bruce wasn't so sure of the magnitude of this stuff at first (2 ft.)...but soon figured out how to "run" - or leap across the yard. He quickly paved paths all throughout the yard, by which Benny then followed in and did his deeds. So thanks to Bruce, Jason didn't have to get out and shovel a path for our short-legged dog.
This is Bruce in one of his paved trails...he went over, plopped down, and rested his head on the snow pile like it was his foxhole. And that's probably what he was imagining/pretending, knowing our playful little guy.

Destin - I'm ready for you.