What are you reaching for????

I recently saw the musical Mary Poppins at the Fox Theatre here in Atlanta. It was an outstanding production that my family and I enjoyed very much. The chorus of one of the songs struck me as interesting and I have been mulling it over for a few days.

"If you reach for the stars, all you'll get are the stars.....if you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in." — Mary Poppins

What an interesting thought. Back in the day, good ol' Casey Kasem would end every Top 40 program with, "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars." In fact, I have heard for years to "reach for the stars". But here was Mary Poppins almost saying that reaching for the stars wasn't good enough.

As I began to think about that line an interesting thought took form. Reaching for the stars is synonymous with going after our dreams. The sky's the limit sort of thing. And I guess that is all well and good. But is it the best? Maybe not. The stars, I can see. I can study them, contemplate them, even sort of understand them. They are finite. My mind can 'get it'.

But going after Heaven??? I certainly don't have a great grasp on what Heaven will be like. In my limited understanding I totally can imagine it, read scripture on it, etc. But do I totally "get it"? Not really. It is infinite. It is more than my mind can conceptualize or understand.

God puts dreams and desires into each one of us, but I think His desire is to do even MORE than what we can imagine or conceptualize. More than the stars. I have always wanted to be a teacher, and I went after that dream. I reached for the stars and lo and behold, I became a teacher. But what if being a teacher is just the beginning.? What if God wants to take my teaching to a level that I can't begin to understand or dream of? Who knows?

The Bible states in 1 Corinthians 2:9 - "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him". Wow!!!! We can't even begin to imagine what God has in store for us! How exciting is that!!! So I think I will follow Mary Poppins advice and reach for the Heavens...open myself up to allowing the Lord to use me, teach me and take me places I haven't ever even thought of. Maybe the Lord will even see fit to throw in a few stars for good measure!!!

Puzzle Pieces

Have you ever felt like your life is a huge puzzle and it is only as the pieces slowly fit together that you begin to see the plan that God has for your life? When you go through those absolutely horrible times and you can't for the life of you figure out or understand the whys??

Several years ago when I was a young new teacher, I had a horrible teaching experience. Such a horrible experience that it was enough to make me leave the profession and completely cause me to go into one of the few times I have ever experienced any type of depression. I couldn't understand how God could cause me to go through that. He had so DEFINITELY called me to be a teacher. Not having gone to college or having a degree in teaching originally, He made a clear-cut way for me to become a teacher. And I loved it...but then I left it. No amount of reason could cause me to understand why things would become so difficult that I would leave that which I loved to do. Within a month of leaving teaching, I was hired to do recruiting for a local college. Another gal started on the same day as me. We worked together for only three weeks. I enjoyed the job, she did not. But a fast friendship was formed. I worked at that job for almost five years, leaving only to move and get married. Seven years after having left my teaching job for a heartbreaking reason, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. The friend I had met and worked with for only a few short weeks, was then an HR Director for a local sales firm. She was looking for someone to hire to work part time, from home, doing marketing research. The perfect job for this new mom who didn't want to put her infant daughter in daycare. There was no way I could have understood at the time why I had to walk through something so painful as leaving a career I loved. But God knew. God knew that seven years later I would be a new mom who wanted to stay home and take care of her baby but still needed to earn some money. He knew.

In Romans 8:28 states that God works all things together for good for those who are called according to His good purpose. What an awesome promise! I remember a time about 13 years ago when my apartment was broken into a couple of times. The only things the thieves got were an old computer and printer. Being a single gal, it was terrifying to have had my home broken into and many tears of frustration and fear were shed. Insurance covered the loss and I was able to get a new computer. And this one actually had a dial-up modem! Shocking I know...Twas the way of the world 13 years ago! AOL was in its hey-day!!! Little did I know, that out of that break-in and heart break, the pieces of another puzzle would soon come together as I met my husband through that computer (and this was LONNGGG before Match.com and the like). God knew how to bring us together and He used that break-in for MY good. Even though at the time I absolutely could not see how He could.

What are you dealing with? What heartbreaks are you experiencing that you can't even begin to imagine being turned around for His glory and your benefit?? He will work for us, on our behalf. He will fight for us. He loves us. He is our Daddy!!! And even though you might not be able to see how or why or when it will work out....do know that He promises, not some things, not most things but HE works ALL things together for GOOD!!!!! What an awesome promise! Stand on it, claim it, and watch Him put the pieces of your puzzle together!!!!

Life's motto

One of my new all-time favorite quotes is: "Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor, the devil says, "Oh Crap, She's UP!" (I wish I knew who originally said it because I would love to give them credit.) This has become a motto of sorts for me, a statement, a goal that describes how I want my life to be. I sure do have a ways to go to get there, but it is what I hope my life will become. As I have thought about this statement, I wonder what kind of woman would it take to be the kind that would cause the devil to exclaim, "Oh No! SHE'S up!!!"

Several things come to mind~ first and foremost a woman who is poised towards the Lord. Spends time with the Lord, doing battle on her knees. Wielding the Sword like some well-trained Samurai warrior. Some one who knows when to fight and knows when to open her hand to the Lord and release that which is most precious. Yeah...I want to be like that.

The kind of woman who would be of concern to the devil is one who is selfless. Not so worried and preoccupied with herself, telling her story, talking about her adventures...but seeking out others, remembering to ask about some one's ailing grandmother or the color of paint they just picked out for their living room. A woman who "considers others as more important than themselves". The kind of woman who breathes life and love to all those they come in contact with. I want to be like that too!

A woman with a ready smile, a positive outlook, joy in her heart. One who is welcoming of others...those they have things in common with and those they don't. The one who when you talk to her makes you feel like you are a most important and special person. The one who is truly "Jesus with skin on". Yeah...that one I definitely want to be like.

I don't think it is necessarily the one who is concerned about having the cleanest or biggest house, the cutest clothes or latest hairstyle. I don't think it is the one who is concerned about themselves and their needs first. I don't think it is the one with the negative words or miserable attitude. Those I don't think the devil is too concerned about.

It is the she who brings life and joy, enthusiasm and excitement, love, mercy and grace to those who are so loved and adored by our Father, that the devil is most concerned about. That is the kind of woman I want to be....

Sit Down and Shut-Up!!!!

How many times as a mom (and to be really honest...as a teacher) have I wanted to just say "Sit down and shut-up!" Of course I don't say that, but I have thought it. You know when..after I have been asked for the bigillionth time..."Are we almost there", "When do we get to go to.....", "When can I have......" "How can we possibly" and on and on and on.

After the kids have asked me and asked me and asked me and I have answered... "Soon", "Almost", "I've got it all planned out"... and they keep asking! I want to shout, "Sit Down and Shut UP I am working it out. I know the plan. I know just WHEN we will be there, just when it will all take place, how the whole thing will go down." They just don't SEE the whole picture yet.

How often is it like that with the Lord? We ask and ask and ask for things and we try to trust Him, but we struggle. We can't see the whole picture. We don't see how HE can possibly work it out for us.

The Israelites, as they fled Egypt, struggled with the same thing. Even after the Lord had inflicted the 10 plagues on Egypt ~ the locusts, the water turning into blood, the frogs (that one would have really gotten to me, I am not a fan of frogs) and even killing the first born sons of the Egyptians, the Israelites still began to fear again. Grumbling, whining, begging, pleading...Here was the big huge Red Sea in front of them, and the Egyptians were rapidly on their heels. How were they going to get out of this mess? Didn't matter that they had just witnessed their release from slavery. They couldn't figure out how to get out of THIS mess.

In Exodus 14:14 it says: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still". The Israelites had forgotten that THEY hadn't done anything to get there in the first place, but it was the Lord fighting for them that had saved them. They just had to be still. STILL!!! I looked up what the word STILL means in this passage and in its most literal form it means to "Sit down and shut-up" or in a bit nicer way.."be mute and silent".

I know I struggle with asking and asking AND ASKING for things to happen, for the Lord to move on our behalf or fretting and stressing about the same things over and over again. I don't trust God and I don't trust His plan. Even when He has proven Himself faithful to me over and over again, I still grumble, complain and whine when I don't see how He is going to work on my behalf THIS TIME. I see that HUGE body of water before me, and can't imagine how I am going to get to the other side. I am sure God is saying. "I will fight for you, Kim. You need only to be still!"

How incredible and awesome that we have such a loving God who wants to fight for us and IS fighting for us. We just need to sit down and shut-up and LET HIM!!!!!

The unbelievable life-changing POWER of words

I haven't posted on my blog in such a long time....but have been feeling a stirring to pick it back up again. I am happiest when I write, so writing I will do.

I have been thinking a lot about words lately. How our words can bring life or death. Life or death to relationships. As children we were told. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." What a lie!!!! Words can destroy a person and destroy a relationship! Think about it, many relationships and friendships that die, die due to words...gossip, unkindness, anger, half-truths and lies. All words...all destructive.

Confession time: We have been really struggling with Jack and his behavior at school and home. He has been getting in trouble, angry, not paying attention, not doing his school work. It has been upmost on my mind and has been the source of many many tears of late. It has consumed almost all of my waking thoughts and it never far from me. As a mother, I want my son to be loved and cherished as much as I love him, and it pains me so when he isn't. My reaction, in the times when he gets in trouble, has been with many harsh words, criticism, and, ashamedly at times, belittling. I have let me emotions totally get the best of me and in those times when I haven't controlled my emotions OR my tongue have said things that I am so ashamed of. And as I continued to criticize, his behavior continued to go more and more down hill.

It got so bad that very recently we were considering whether or not to take him to the doctor to be put on ADHD medicine. (he still has an appointment next week with the doctor, just to let you know how RECENT this all really is). In the last month we have put him on sorts of diet restrictions, pumping him full of caffeine, and a myriad of other things to see if it had any effect on his behavior at school and home.

As I began to pray and seek wise counsel from some who opinions I really value, the Lord began to convict me about the part I was playing in all of this. Somewhere, somehow the Lord spoke to me through the many words by those I hold most dear, and I was convicted by my words and actions. So prayerfully, I began to only speak positive, kind words to Jack. I chose to ignore those times when he wasn't doing EXACTLY as I told him to do. Praised him for even the smallest of good choices he made. When he "moved his clip" at school for talking out, I chose to ignore it (not my normal M.O.) and encourage him to keep trying hard and praised him for the other parts of the day when he didn't talk out of turn (even if that was just one teeny small part of the day). And most of all, I began to speak life to him. Telling him and praying over him the goodness and promises of the Lord. I began to call forth the qualities in him that I see that aren't often at the surface, just beneath it. Those that I want him to know he has that will bring such glory to the Kingdom of God. For the last week and a half we have called forth the heart of David that Jack has that truly seeks after the Lord and loves the Lord with all he has. We have called forth and praised the truly kind and generous spirit that is so a part of who Jack is.

Over the last week and a half we have seen many changes in Jack (that to this mother's heart seems miraculous). He was so incredibly angry, having outbursts of anger and tantrums with me, defiant and mean-spirited. Complete lack of focus and lack of desire to do his best. Jack is now smiling constantly, his angry outbursts have completely gone, he is listening and obeying quickly when asked to do things and is being kind and loving to his sister. He is singing praise songs constantly and instigates talking about the Bible and the things he is learning there. Oh, and his teachers have noted that in he is has been having a "Great Day" every day for the last week and has been focused on his work and doing his best. I shouldn't be amazed, the Bible is very clear on the power our words hold, but I just wasn't paying any attention.

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 15:1-2
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

Is it hard to control my tongue? You betcha. When I tell Jack to do something and he doesn't do it immediately, I really have to control myself. I have to take that extra minute and CALMLY ask Jack to come to me and then CALMLY tell him what I want him to do...and amazingly he does it for the most part.

What I am finding is that it is cyclical. Someone speaks unkindly to me or about me or my class frustrates me during the day, or the money is tight or something in the house breaks and without regard or thought, I take that out on my children (and James). I am having to take control my emotions, frustrations and hurt and not allow that to carry over to my family. It is only through much prayer and the Lord's help that I can do that at all.

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 10:24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Proverbs 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man (woman) down, but a kind word cheers him up.

I am really working on speaking life and not death through my words. I have such a long way to go.

Jack will continue to be Jack, full of energy and imagination and joy. Everything that GOD put in him and prayerfully, I will be a source of encouragement for him and speak LIFE to him not anger or frustration.

Taste Test Treats

We took the challenge. Scientifically, without bias, ensuring accurate results...the results are in.


But alas, we have a tie.

Chocolate - 2 ~ Vanilla - 2 ~ Peeps - 0

Yes...we rose to the occasion and tested which roasted marshmallow tasted the best.

We placed a vanilla marshmallow, chocolate marshmallow and a green-sugared peep on roasting sticks.

Slowly fired them up.

Roasted them to a nice golden brown.

And tasted them.

Caroline and Jack preferred the chocolate roasted marshmallows. James and I liked the regular vanilla flavored ones best. Peeps - not a vote in sight.

So there you have it! We're sending the results to Stay Puff Marshmallow Man this week! Try it for yourself and see what you think!

Stone Mountain Photo Shoot

Being Spring Break it is always a wonderful time to get away with my kids. Although my home is in deperate need of a good scrub down, I wanted to enjoy the glorious weather we had today more. So what is a girl to do? Head outside of course. We were blessed to be able to get season passes to Stone Mountain Park for a fraction of the annual cost, so the kids and I decided to head there today to enjoy a few hours of fun. We had a great time. Not being one to have my camera far behind me, I loved getting some great pictures of my beautiful children. Here is the outcome of the photo shoot! (I think a couple of these will have to be printed and framed!)