Blog Marathon - February

My best friend Kelly just turned 30. Andy gave her a murder mystery party. It had a western theme - The Murder at The Deadwood Saloon. I've never been to a party like this, so it was pretty fun dressing up and doing something different.

Jason was Clay Coldwell - a western gambler and poker player.

I had to be Sally Starr - a saloon girl! I've never worn a skirt SO short!

Everyone voted at the end.

Jason received the Best Performance award.

We did some more painting. We painted the dining room, kitchen, hallway, and foyer in front of the pantry.

This is the "before" picture. Isn't that wallpaper just terrible?!

Dad helped us. We couldn't have done it without him.

After

Pop & Robin took us to the circus. We sat in the glass box seats.

It was a great place to sit considering Gavin had to get up and move around so much. I think I actually enjoyed the circus more than anyone else. I hadn't been in a VERY long time.

We celebrated Paul's 40th birthday.

Gavin and I made mini heart shaped biscuits one morning for breakfast.

We have also been doing "projects", as Gavin calls it. I'm hoping that a few structured activities will curb some of his less-than-desirable behavior that he's had lately.

We worked on the letter "V" for Valentine

Gavin sorted colored heart stickers, and then "graphed" them.

I made a pattern strip and started three different patterns.

Gavin had to finish the shape patterns with the foam pattern blocks.

That's it for now...until I can upload more pictures.

That's My Child. He is Forgiven.

This is a link to a You Tube video (song) that I'd love for you to hear. It's sung by a group of girls called Victorious Valley Girls. They have several songs, but this one is my favorite - "That's My Child". The girls have a twang to their voices, and the video itself just shows a bunch of different inspirational phrases. Just pay attention to the lyrics. The words give me chills everytime I listen to this song.

The devil brings his accusations and a list of all our sins,

but Christ says this...

"That's my child....he is forgiven.

See my hands...my side and feet.

With my blood...I bought his pardon.

That's my child...and he is free."

http: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UYaHQOPkdk

If this link doesn't work, just go to You Tube and type in "That's My Child", and make sure you select the one that says Victorious Valley Girls. When I did it, it was the first selection listed.

An Evening of Holy Laughter

Tonight, Mom and I went to Spartanburg First Baptist to a ladies night. The speaker was Thelma Wells. If you don't know her, she used to be part of the Women of Faith ministry - they toured doing the Extraordinary Women conferences. I went to a conference YEARS ago, like when I was in the youth, and heard her speak there. She was so funny! And tonight, I heard her again. I just love a good show with clean and pure humor surrounded by the presence of Christ. God has given her a wonderful testimony to share to lift up women.

Thelma wears a bee brooch on her lapel everyday. She taught this science teacher something new tonight: A bee is not scientifically supposed to be able to fly. Its body is too heavy, and its wing span is too short. Technically, it shouldn't be able to. But! She pointed out it's not about science; it's about what God wants that bee to do. He's the maker.

So Thelma took the letters of "bee" and had 4 points to share B + E + E = S.

1. B - Be aware of who you are. Christ made each of us with a purpose and a plan, and we are so loved by God. {Psalm 139: 13-14} and {Jeremiah 29:11}
2. E - Eliminate the effects of negativity. She gave her testimony and how she was first raised by her great-grandmother. She took her to church everyday, literally 7 days a week. All Thelma knew were hymns and praises. After her great-grandmother died, she had to live with her grandmother, who didn't like her and was mean to her. After the grandfather left for work each day, the grandmother would shut her up in a closet all day with no food or light. Thelma said that all she knew to do was to sing songs and hymns that she had learned in church. Then she wouldn't be afraid. So, Thelma challenged us to realize that every family has "stuff" and everyone has problems. To keep our attitudes positive, we should sing praises to God, recognize and know His voice when He speaks, get over ourselves and our problems, stop worrying - God says, "Do you not know who I am?"; and there is no excuse for anyone to not read and understand the Bible (there are many translations, it's on TV, DVD, and can even get it on your IPod, she says).
3. E - Eternal value. Thelma said that everything we do and say should have eternal value. Do everything for the glory of God. We need to get ourselves out of the way.
4. S - Success - - A life of joy with Christ.