Photo Bomb- Fall Fun!!

 What a fun afternoon we had today at the Riverbend Nurseries in Thompson Station, TN!  Our friends from church, Jamie and Steve own this place and grow their own stuff.  It's awesome!  Enjoy the photo bomb!

Isn't Fall fabulous?!  How are you celebrating this beautiful season?  Leave a comment!

The Pumpkin Patch Parable

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that you can use Halloween as an opportunity to share Christ with your child.  Here's how:

My friend, Susan, introduced me to this book.  It is adorable!  The story tells of how the farmer harvests the vegetables, including the pumpkins.  Here's the description on Amazon:

"The Pumpkin Patch Parable-This charming story for children illustrates how a loving farmer can turn a simple pumpkin into a simply glorious sight. In the same way, God's transforming love can fill each of our hearts with joy and light. Liz Curtis Higgs created this parable as a way to share the Good News with her own precious children each harvest season . . . and now with children everywhere."

Each page also includes a scripture verse that goes along with the part of the story on that page.  Pretty cool!  So, if you're looking for a way to take back Halloween from the principalities of the dark, check out this book!  I also saw that it is on sale at Lifeway right now for $6.39 (reg. $7.99).  The guys I tutor, Maggie, and I are going to do a unit on this book and have fun with pumpkins- pumpkin art, pumpkin product cooking and tasting (yum!), field trip to the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins and more!!  So, what do you think?  Wasn't Liz Curtis Higgs smart to write this for her children?  

Now for a picture of the cutest little punkin last October:

Be Prepared

Santa Stash- Christmas '11

Here's another cool Christmas Planning Form from Household Management 101.  This one is a Christmas Gift List that includes additional information about the recipient and gift (such as cost, purchased, wrapped, and notes- a good place to jot down where you hid your gift!).  I'm ready to start filling mine in and figuring out the rest of what I want to buy/make!  I've done a good deal of shopping already!  (Girl Scout Motto- "Be Prepared").

Have you started shopping yet?  I have found some cute stuff and amazing deals for my nieces and nephews and of course, Maggie, too! (Our famlies stopped doing gifts for the adults several years ago.  The Holladays decided we were just exchanging 20 dollar bills and it was a tad ridiculous!  We do family service projects now instead!)

Happy Christmas Planning!  I think it's time to make my Christmas Planning Binder!

The Heart of God

 A Prophetic Picture- Keep Reading for Details!

God is doing a mighty work in my husband and me.  I always knew I had a calling.  God called me in to children's ministry during an experience at Centrifuge in Glorieta, New Mexico, when I was 13 years old.  I thought through high school that I would follow my mentor's footsteps (Gayle Haywood) and minister in a church.  Well, God had different plans.

Gayle encouraged me to study Elementary Education (and at Samford if you majored in that you also double majored in Early Childhood Ed).  She said I should get a good foundation in child development and then go on to seminary for a religion degree.  So, those were my plans.  Isn't it funny when we make plans?  I'm sure God laughs!

My Sophomore year of college I began my field experiences in the elementary schools in the Greater Birmingham area.  I fell in love!  With school children, with teaching, with lifelong-learning!  I did my student teaching in an inner city school and a suburban school and knew I would go into teaching when I graduated.  I could clearly hear God say (as clearly as one can), "You can minister to my children in the public schools that you could never reach in a church."  Up to that point, I was not sure that's what I would do.  I even visited Southwestern Seminary in Dallas-Fort Worth during the fall of my Senior year at Samford.

Prior to graduation, I interviewed with Jane Franks of Williamson County Schools in Middle Tennessee where I had grown up.  I didn't know Jane until that meeting, but boy, it was a divine appointment!  She videoed the interview as required by the county (My very first interview, mind you!  Talk about scared!).  But we realized we had some mutual friends and mutual experiences (my family owned a small cafe.  Her in-laws and husband/her owned a small store/cafe).  She told me to call her in June or July.

I was so eager to teach!  I don't know if she had caller ID, but I wore her phone number out that summer!!!  Well, my persistance paid off!  She called me in for a second interview at her new school, Heritage Elementary, in a tiny little town I'd heard of, but never visited-- Thompson Station, TN.  I went in for the interview and it went something like this:
      Jane:  "Well, how would you like to teach 3rd grade?"  Me:  "Yessss!  I'd love to.  (Stiffled squeals of delight).  Um, can I hug you?!!"
Anyone who knows Mama Jane knows she gladly hugged me and shared in my delight!

Fast forward 11 years to today-  I stayed with that school until this past summer when I resigned to stay at home with my daughter, Maggie.  I told Jane early in my career that I wanted to retire from Heritage Elementary.  I really wish I could have.  I don't think I could have physically and mentally kept the pace required (that's another story for another day), but God is calling me back to my true calling.

As I figure out how to provide income for my family and help my husband, God has laid on my heart that desire I had as a teenager to go to Seminary.  He is opening doors I would have never dreamed (He's just so awesome, isn't He?!).  It may be a couple of years down the road but I hope to get my M. Div. or something similar from the Southern Seminary extension in Franklin, TN.

Now to the Heart of God-  what's that all about you say?  Well, I'll tell you.  Mark and I went on a mission trip to Zambia in June of 2008.  I had done mission trips before all over the US, to Canada, Trinidad, the United Kingdom (Scotland and England), and Brazil, but this was different.  The love of my life, my life partner, was with me.  And he mourned for those sweet children we worked with just as I did.  He rejoiced for them just as I did.  Well, God is calling us back.  We don't know when, but we will be back there on a more permanent basis.  He is saying, "Go. . ." and we will obey.

The organization we traveled with in 2008 (Family Legacy Mission International) has built a children's village for the oprhaned and vulnerable children of that country called, "The Tree of Life Children's Village."  It has cottages for orphans, a huge school, and a medical facility.  Between my teaching skills and experience and Mark's skills and experience in media and technology, I know without a doubt that God can use us there.   Please pray for us.  The Tree of Life is a reference to Revelation which means, "The Heart of God".  We want to share the heart of God with the orphans of that country.

We ask for your prayers in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.  That's all we need right now.  It's so great to be in God's will and know it!  How can I pray for you on your journey?  Please leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading this and sharing my delight.  God is good- all the time!  All the time- God is good!

Mark's Boys in Zambia- June of 2008

Praying with and Holding One of My Girls after 

Blessing her with a Brand New Pair of Tennis Shoes

Fall Chores (and Fun!)

 

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Here's another little jewel from Household Management 101- a Fall cleaning checklist!  Just wanted to post it here for my readers!  Nice to have reminders of the deep cleaning stuff that needs to be done.  I want my house to be nice and clean before I put out Fall decor. 

Speaking of Fall decor, does anyone get as excited as I do about seeing pumpkins and mums in the stores?  I'm so excited!  I'm giving myself permission to get them on October 1.  Any sooner is just too early for me. (I'm less likely to kill the mum if I don't get it as early!)  And it just doesn't seem fitting to own a pumpkin till October!

I'm so excited about taking the kids to a pumpkin patch, too!  There is so much fun to be had in the Fall.  Need to make our Fall bucket list.  That can be one of the things my hubby and I do when he returns from his long business trip on Sunday. 

What are your Fall plans?  Let me know in the comments or on Facebook!  Enjoy the beauty of this season!

99 Days to Christmas!

Woot woot! "Chrismtas is coming, the goose is getting fat.  Please put a penny in the old man's hat!"

Maggie and her dolly, Christmas 2011

Hello, friends.  Okay, I've never been a crazy Christmas prep person, but I have found when you have a child, you plan way ahead to get the best deals.  But, let me clarify, Christmas to me is really about a Savior who came to walk in flesh, not a time of giving and getting gifts.  So, why do I need 99 days to prepare?

This year I don't want to simply be physically prepared, I want to be spiritually prepared as well.  Imagine if the President of the United States was coming to your home?  What would you do to prepare?  It would probably be something you'd want to start ahead of time.  Well, the King of Kings is coming to my home.  He dwells here all the time, but Christmas is the season we celebrate his birth and I want to make sure I'm prepared! 

I'm going to begin by thinking about traditions I want to continue and traditions that may not be neccesary for my family.  Maggie is almost two so this will be her first Christmas to really "get it."  Mark and I have been praying about how to handle the American commericial traditions versus the focus on our Savior.  We are still ironing out the details.  It's difficult to merge your own beliefs and experiences with that of your spouse when it come to making traditions for your own family. 

I'm also beginning to follow a series on "Home Management 101" called "Have a Stress Free Holiday."  I'm going to link the button so you can join in if you'd like.  I've never done this series before so I'm not sure how good it actually is, but I'm going to give it a try and attempt to report my progress here. 

Have you starting thinking about the holidays yet (starting in October with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas)?  What are your plans?  Any new traditions you want to begin?  Any old ones you may drop?  Please share in the comments!

I'm looking forward to a fun-filled, Christ-centered holiday season!  Even Halloween can be an opportunity to teach about the Gospel.  More to come on that. . .

Silver and Gold Birthday Fun!

Hello, friends!  It certainly has been a birthday to remember.  To be honest, I was dreading this birthday, in a way, because I knew my husband would be away on a business trip for both his and my birthdays.  (Our bdays are Sept. 10 and 11- though he is actually 5 years older!)  However, it turned out to be fabulous and the celebration has continued. . .

The celebration began last Monday (Labor Day).  My good friend, Katy, and I were going to go to Nashville Shores right after dropping Mark off for his business trip.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate.  Instead, we had a birthday lunch at Demos', did some shopping, and then another meal at the new Camino Real in Franklin.

Saturday, I had a 31 Pajama Party at my house.  I had 12 guests and we had a blast!  I have a fabulous consultant.  She got the party started with a few funny games and we were laughing!  We enjoyed her presentation of all the fun bags and great organizing products!  We enjoyed some yummy breakfast treats (including an aborable Krispy Kreme "cake" provided by Katy) and had a great time!  By the way, if you need to order anything 31, my party will close on Friday (9/14) if you'd still like to order.  www.mythirtyone/allisun -- click on My Parties and then click on Rachel's party.

On Sunday, Katy and I were able to do our make-up day at Nashville Shores.  It was a gorgeous day with temps in the low 80's.  The crowd was slim that morning because it was a tidge chilly, but the crowds picked up later in the afternoon.  We loved playing in the wave pool, floating in the lazy river, and even braved a few slides!  It was an amazing day!

Monday was my actual birthday and was a busy day- coffee with a new friend, lunch with another friend, a trip to the Mall to visit the new Apple Store, and dinner with my amazing family at my favorite little local restaurant, Whisker's Catfish!

Last night, my friend Mindy from church, came over and brought Gigi's cupcakes.  I'm not a big cake fan, but she was sneaky and asked Mark what my favorite flavor is at Gigi's!  He told her wedding cake.  I didn't know they had wedding cake cupcakes!  It was yummmmmy!

Whew, I've never had such an incredible birthday celebration!  33 is shaping up to be a great year!  And, the party will continue Saturday as Katy and I go to Cheekwood for lunch at the Pineapple Room!  Woohoo!

I am so thankful for my sweet friends and family who rallied around me to make this birthday the best one ever!  I am thinking of an old Girl Scout song about friends right now,

"Make new friends, but keep the old.  One is silver and the other's gold."