Filthy...Follow-Up!

The day after the boys got so dirty playing in the mud, I dressed them up in their camo overhauls and sent them out to do some clean up work! Here are some pics of them "cleaning" their truck and having a little fun in the mud afterward. After looking at these pictures, I realized that they got dirtier in their good clothes than when they had permission to get muddy in their camo...hmmm?!?

Happy Valentine's Day!

This year we had fun celebrating Valentine's Day both at school, StoryHour and at home...here are a few pictures of the fun! And yes, we did buy the boys camo jackets for Valentine's Day...did you see the post about the mud?!?

Sunday Night Video

Hey everyone, this is a video that I used during my Sunday night sermon. I thought some of you might like to see it, it is quite revealing and challenging. I found this on Ed Stetzer's blog. You can find it by going to edstetzer.com.

Filthy!

This evening I am having a group of ministers' wives over at our home...so I have several things to do to get my house ready. The boys wanted to play outside, so I told them they could with one simple instruction..."DON'T GET DIRTY!" The last thing I needed was two muddy boys to bathe and another load of laundry before this evening. I was working in the kitchen and peeked out several times to check on them (they were in eyesight)...everything was fine. Until I turned around and looked out the last time and saw them smearing mud all over their truck! I thought my eyes were deceiving me, so I walked out to be certain. Two boys looked up at me with smiles of excitement on their faces, "Look mom! We made our truck muddy!" I immediately told them to get inside, leave their boots outside, strip their clothes right inside the door...(I knew I'd blog about this because in the midst of this God gave me a calm and taught me a lesson about myself, too! I wanted so badly to take a picture of them but also knew that would give them the idea that I thought it was cute. So I snapped a few of their clothes and truck while they were napping...it's hard to tell from the pictures exactly how dirty they really were!) I asked them what they had been told before they went outside, and they both knew. Then I talked to them about why they were in trouble and ahem... "administered discipline." Straight from the door to the bathtub they went where I cleaned them up, redressed them and laid them down for an early nap.What God showed me through this was that we, His children, are the same way! He has given us rules to live by for specific reasons. We however get distracted by all the "mud" around us, and it seems like it would be okay to "play in the mud" just a little as long as we don't get dirty. Before long, we're so comfortable in the mud that we forget what our Father told us. And what we don't realize is that it is impossible to play in mud or sin and come out clean! Our Father cares about us and lovingly watches all that we do, and when He finds us filthy in sin, He will discipline us. We pout and whine and try to reason why it was okay. We can't understand why "God is mad at us." We don't realize that His discipline is not because He's mad at us, but because that's what loving parents do. Have you ever been around an undisciplined child? It's not a pretty sight! So He disciplines us, sometime as gently as a word from Bible that convicts our hearts and sometimes it requires stronger discipline, like trials and difficult circumstances in our lives. But our Father doesn't leave us dirty and disciplined, He mercifully cleans us up and restores us when we allow Him to. Yes, I was upset with my children's actions today, but I don't love them any less...can you imagine how much greater is the perfect love of God, our Heavenly Father? I pray that today, wherever you find yourself, in perfect obedience to your Father or filthy in the mud of sin, that you will thank Him for His matchless love and if need be, allow Him to get you cleaned up!

Our Anniversary Continued ;)

I've had a little trouble logging in to update our blog lately...I'm sorry this is catch up info! Our sweet friends, the Cooks, kept our boys on our actual anniversary for us to enjoy a dinner out alone. It was so nice and we really appreciated it! We had a great dinner at the Olive Pit here in Paris...yummy! That Friday night, my parents kept the boys and Corey surprised me with a trip to Memphis! As we took the exit ramp, I asked, "Are you taking me to Nashville?"...those of you who know how directionally challenged I am will understand my confusion! He had planned a wonderful afternoon of shopping and dinner at Texas de Brazil with MY SISTER and brother-in-law!!! It was so thoughtful! They have 5 children and with our two boys, it isn't often we have a night out together! Dinner was amazing, and the time together was even better!

So funny! ***UPDATED***

Recently I was trying to locate an 80's costume for a friend and was trying to think which one of my other friends had posted pictures on their blog about an 80's party. Well, it turned out that it wasn't an 80's party that I remembered...it was the Kenworthy's Tacky Christmas Party. They had all dressed in various tacky Christmas clothes, and some were quite entertaining. The first time I saw the pics at Christmas time, I didn't realize why my friend Katherine's costume looked a little familiar...I didn't realize why until I looked at the pictures again the other day. Katherine, here is your picture from the tacky Christmas party...and next is a picture of me from 1993 in THE EXACT SAME DRESS!!! I laughed out loud and have kept this a secret until I was able to get the picture from my parents this weekend!This was one of my favorite dresses ever! I felt so pretty in this dress and it was one of the most expensive dresses I had owned at that point! Katherine, I can't believe you think it is tacky! Hehe! I guess that's what 15 years does to a beautiful sequin sweater dress!

UPDATE...I knew this picture existed somewhere of Jennifer and me at a band concert with me in my beautiful dress! Jennifer was kind enough to find it along with a few other treasured pictures. This was at our Christmas concert in 1994!

9 years later...

Today is our 9th anniversary!!! In some ways it seem like, "Yes, we've been married nine years," because we've moved 3 times, lived in 5 houses, had 2 children...that's a lot, so nine years make sense. But then when I really think about it, it is hard to believe that it has been NINE years!!! They say time goes quickly when you're having fun! Honestly, nine years ago I didn't expect marriage to be perfect or easy, but there have definitely been moments when we've both thought...this is much harder than we thought! But what a blessing that God has given me in Corey...a husband, a provider, a companion, a wonderful father for our children, and mostly a friend! Yes, marriage is hard work. It is not always easy, but I can honestly say that each year seems to get better and these last few years have been the best! I'm so excited to see what this next year brings and grateful that God has blessed us with being able to face it together! For your entertainment I'm adding some pictures, starting with one from our second date! Yes, I know my hair is different colors and lengths in them all...that's part of the fun! Hope you enjoy!

Inauguration Day

Today was a bittersweet day for me...I am disappointed that our country's values have changed so much that we have chosen to lead us men and women whose values are so opposed to scripture and Godly morals. It is no surprise to most of you that the election results saddened me greatly. However, I am excited that our country has come so far in our ungodly attitude of racial prejudice that we have our first African-American president! I thank God that although racism is not gone, we have moved a great leap in that direction. I also am grateful to live in the most wonderful country in the world where democracy allows us the right to choose our leaders and the transition of power from one leader to the next is peaceful! How beautiful was the sight today of proud Americans filling the National Mall waving our country's beautiful flag! My prayer is that God will continue to bless America and that we will return to Him.

Finally, I want to encourage each of you, whatever your political views, to commit to pray for our new president. Consider 1 Timothy 2:1-4

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Notice that we are to pray for ALL those in authority, not just those whose values and beliefs are in line with ours. Let's pray that God will protect President Barack Obama, his family, our country, and that God will give him and each of our senators, representatives, and governors great wisdom and understanding as they lead our nation. Pray that laws and decisions made will be according to His will. And also, let us not put our hope in this one man to change all the ills of our nation...let us put our hope in the ONE who can make all things new and right when we as a nation will choose to follow Him.

Church Decline

Normally Melody takes care of blogging, but this weekend I came across an article about my home church (FBC Smyrna), and about the decline of churches in America that I want to share with you. The article can be found on the Tennessean website, or by clicking here. The article is speaking specifically about Southern Baptist Churches, but I came across a few statistics that pertain to the church here in North America that were quite startling. America is now the 3rd largest unchurched nation in the world. North America is now the only continent where Christianity is no longer growing. Lastly, over 80% of churches in America are plateaued or declined. These statistics are scary, and I believe God is calling all believers to pay attention, and to do our best to see these statistics reversed.

For His Glory,
Corey

Please pray for Corey

Please keep Corey in your prayers this week. He is currently on the long drive to Kansas City for his fourth doctoral seminar. He will be gone all week which is hard on all of us, especially the boys who love and miss him so much when he's gone! I am so proud of him and his determination to complete his education in order that God can make him a stronger pastor and use him in any way He chooses. Good luck this week~ we're praying for you!