I'm Just Sayin......

The highly secure gated community is open today for the twice annual garage sale Saturday.

Anyone else see why I call this a highly secure gated community?

I'm just sayin'.......

Real security doesn't happen this way.

Warning: Danger Will Robinson!

In the course of the next couple of weeks, I will be tackling some rather difficult subjects on lifeinthemoments. I've been accused of playing it safe in written form here, when in face to face situations, I tend to be more of a straight shooter. After much prayer... and having to ask for forgiveness... I will be submissive... (and no... that's not a dirty word to this female.)

Difficult subjects that will be tackled?

1) Changing Roles: Grown Children and Their Parents.

2) Sex: Dissing Some Myths. Pruning the Prude. Reclaiming Sexy.

3) Spiritual Intimacy: Lover of My Soul.

4) Marriage: It Takes More Than Two

5) Parenting: Who Runs Your Life?

As always... You've been prayed for and you are loved.

More to come... Stay Tuned... and Remember: You've been warned!

Good. Bad. In-Between.

Venturing out to get the mail, I stepped on a pecan. It wasn't green like the ones that we've seen so much of lately. I cracked it open, and sure enough... oh, it tasted so good. The green ones? I wouldn't suggest trying to eat one of those. Don't know exactly what the pecan harvest will yield yet... Good. Bad. In-between?

Isn't that how the moments of our lives are? We can plan all we want to and yet.... things change in a moment and most of the time without any real notice. Or perhaps... there were signs along the way and we were so blinded that we didn't even see them or we did and just didn't want to.

It is what we do with the good, bad, and the in-between that truly shows where we stand. Are we on sinking ground or is our foundation solid? Is our faith in God just a Sunday morning show or is it alive even in the midst of the storms or sunny skies?

It is harvest time here in the highly secure gated community. Yet, I submit to you that the real harvest is found wherever you and I walk.... and the places we do not want to go but at times are taken to...

God can and does use the good, the bad, and the in-between.

Are you available to let Him use you?

Specific Prayer Requests.

1) Briggs - a young boy who is in a struggle with his life. His parents.. his brother.. all involved.

NOTE: There will be a prayer vigil for Briggs at the front doors of Cooks Childrens Hospital on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

UPDATE: You can visit Briggs's CaringBridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/briggsberry

2) The P family - a young girl who is struggling with seizures. Her whole family... all involved.

3) The S family - as they learn to deal with caring for one of their own.

4) The List - that they will be seeking God's will....

5) Dr. David Kirkpatrick as he comes to preach this Sunday.

6) Our local church body - that we will be seeking God's will... May we be face down.... Pray....

7) YAMS - each girl/woman involved. And their families.....

8) John, Judy, and the girls as they transition from our town/church to their new one.

9) For their new church body.... What a testimony that they have grown while not having a senior pastor!

10) For whatever is on your heart at this moment......

Parents. Teachers. Pink Peep.

It was dark this morning as Parker's dad and mom, with Parker in tow, headed to the intermediate school outside the back gate of the highly secure gated community. His teachers are in the process of having a conference with each child's parent(s), guardian(s).... or whatever/whoever the case may be. We weren't sure what time the conference was to be... If only I had checked the school's website recently... The time was clearly listed there.

While waiting for the conference time.... I found one of my sweet friends who works for the school district. We sat down and had a bit of a heart to heart right there on the spot. Her daughter is one of the girls in YAMS. To say that we love their family would be an understatement.... the same can be said of them with ours.... Park came and got me when it was time to head down the hallway. His smile brightened our sweet friend's day... right when her clock was set to begin.

Parker has two fabulous teachers.... we are blessed to have them as a part of his education team. We have an understanding with all of our children's teachers that it is not their job alone to educate our children. Parker hugged and kissed me on the lips right there in the hallway with many of his peers around.... Mrs. Thomason said, "Mom? That's real love right there." He told me he loved me as he waved goodbye while walking into the classroom. We were headed out of that particular school before we knew it.

"A work in progress"..... is what kept ringing in my ears as we drove home. Soon it was time for me to get ready for the parenting class that I teach... it is Tuesday after all.... By the time I got to the physical church building.... it was clear... I was sick. Fortunately for the class, the tables had been rearranged and I was able to sit clear on the other side of the room. Today's lesson was huge and truly built upon other times we had had together. I kept praying, "Lord? Just help me through this without hurling." I told the class if I got up and ran out of the room to not come after me... it would be alright... I would be back. I couldn't have asked for class to go any better than it did. Of course, we all had to laugh that I had more make-up on one side of my face than the other... and frankly? you could hear my stomach from one end of the room to the other.

Sitting here, right now, in the quietness of the moment.... I look like a pink peep in my comfy robe. There is not one single hair in place... and at any moment... I could hurl (oh... throw up)... I came home after the parenting class and crawled into bed and stayed for several hours. While it may appear that I am alone in the house..... I am more at home than ever....

I am a work in progress sitting in her Father's lap thankful for each classroom and the lessons that are taught.... and even caught.

Mixed Emotions.

This morning, it was pouring buckets. It looked more like the dead of the night than 8:30 a.m. when I arrived. As I took my shoes off outside the front door and started walking into the house.... even darker. I called out, "Mae? Anyone here?" In a whisper she said, "I'm here."

Off to my right, I could see a light shining through under one of the bedroom doors. A couple of minutes later... he came out - her youngest son. We stood in the kitchen catching up with all that has taken place the last couple of days. He is also a minister... we always have lots to talk about. This morning was no different. Mixed emotions was a common theme. Then, he was off until time to relieve me again.

Mae was more asleep today than she was awake. I couldn't help but have mixed emotions about that... Neither could she. She was eating breakfast... suddenly she was asleep again. Later in the afternoon, fell asleep while eating jello. When she was awake, I would ask her certain questions trying to get her to tell me stories... At one point, she said to me, "Cameydear, do I have three children or four?" I replied, "Four, Mae. Four. Two daughters. Two sons." I was thankful that none of her children were there with us at that moment. This is natural - no doubt... but still... mixed emotions for sure.

After my time there for today was over.... I picked up Travman and one of Lauren's brothers at the front circle of the highly secure gated community we live in. The other was already at our home with Parker. Upon walking into the front door... I could smell something coming from the kitchen. My mother, sitting in her chair in the living room, said to me, "Oh, I've made beef stew for dinner. There's enough for all who are going to be here tonight at 5:30 p.m." Then, she said, "Oh, and I invited the boyfriend over too." Ahhhhhh. Mixed emotions caught me off guard on this one.. Why? Part of our Monday routine is my walking in the door and her asking me what's for dinner. I was going to make lasagna. She cooked? Wow... I knew she had to go to the little store for some of the ingredients.... she did.. when she took Austin to work this morning in the pouring rain after I had already left for Mae's.

Lauren's dad came to pick the boys up. Standing in the driveway, mixed emotions were definitely worn on his sleeve. His little girl has had this condition since she was born. He wanted to be at the hospital with his wife and yet... he couldn't. A few doors down from us is a house for sale. It used to be theirs... well, it still is - they just don't live there any more. He said to me, "It sure was easier when we had you guys for neighbors." The boys could walk quite easily back and forth between houses. They now live on the river... in the back part of the highly secure gated community. When I shared with him that they are welcome here any time.... he said to me, "We almost moved back into that house because of your family." He had tears in his eyes as he got into his vehicle and told the boys to tell me thank you.

While eating dinner with my mother and her boyfriend... mixed emotions were a part of the discussion. He had never really experienced any thing like yesterday. He definitely had never eaten "dinner on the ground." We got to talking about this and that in life and he looked at me and said, "You know Camey? I definitely had mixed emotions. Still do."

There are times in life when mixed emotions explain things better than words ever could. And that is okay. Nice neat bows are not required on the packages of our souls when walking with Jesus. It is dark again outside... The rain has stopped for now but is expected to start again....

Be still and know that He is God.

Praises. Prayer Requests.

Praises:

1) We had three individuals get baptized yesterday!

2) Brother G was not home this morning. (Praise?) Yep... Otherwise his car would have been damaged due to the heavy rain and part of a tree that fell.

3) Cassie got married. Her and her husband are expecting twins. (keep praying...)

4) New tires. What a difference in the heavy rain!

5) Answered specific prayer requests.

Prayer Requests:

1) Lauren - little girl having surgery today. Has surgery once a year.. Her family.

2) The P Family

3) Family of a certain close friend.

4) That man.

5) Those single young moms.

What are you thankful for today?

What are your requests today?

Husbands: Word of Advice...

A man said to me today, "Have you seen my wife?" When I replied that I had but wasn't sure where she had gone off to... He said, "I ought to put a bell around her neck."

Husbands: Word of Advice..... Don't make these type of comments. Moo won't keep you warm at night.. but it might make you sleep on the couch.



This is has been a service of *keepyourmarriagealive*

Change is in the Air.

Today's plan is:

One worship service at 10:00 a.m. (Help in the preschool??)

Dinner (lunch) on the grounds immediately afterwards.

How to pray:

First and foremost.... that lives will be changed forever because of Him.

That real worship will take place in each of our lives.

For John as he preaches his last sermon as our senior pastor.... As he walks in and out the doors.. 20 years is a long time. Allow him to be sad and yet excited for tomorrow for our local church body and for the one he is going to...

For Judy and the girls...... as a wife, daughters, friends, and ......... 20 years is a long time.

For our body.... that we will show John, Judy and the girls the love that they deserve and also be willing to listen to what God has laid upon John's heart to share. That we will embrace this time of change to grow as a body of believers.... and as individuals.

For those who are coming today because the pastor of the largest church in our town is leaving after 20 years. John is known on the streets.... in Wal-Mart... and in the highly secure gated communities. May they come away with wanting to know Him.

Today's Plan:

That God will truly be worshipped... given the glory..... and that lives will never be the same.