My Ballerina

Here are a couple of pictures of Anna Kate's new dance class. I had to take the pictures through a glass so I hope they are clear enough for Anna Kate to be seen. She loves taking ballet. She had her first recital in Portsmouth in December and her next one will be here on May 31. She's going to be a firefly, which is funny considering she's terrified of bugs!!!! I LOVE this class. Her teacher, Amy York, does a wonderful job and Anna Kate really enjoys her. Amy York has a studio in Barboursville called Miracles in Motion, so if there are any little up and coming ballerinas out there, give her a call.

My Strumming Benjamin

Here is a picture of Ben at his first guitar lesson. His teacher's name is Mike Collins. We've known him for quite some time. Ben loves to play but he's just like the rest of us. He doesn't like to "practice". He practices around 30 minutes a day but sometimes it's a fight. On Sunday nights, while the praise band plays, he plays his air guitar. There's even a guy there with a red electric guitar. I don't know if you can tell it but Ben's guitar is red too so he is completely taken with wanting to play in the praise band.

Gratitude

I got up this morning feeling rather sorry for myself. I didn't sleep very well at all. I tossed and turned all night feeling stressed about the upcoming transition and finances. This morning I awoke with my tears willingly falling. After Scott and I had prayer, Marisa showed up with Karley and Colton. Poor Karley...she is coming off of prednizone (sp?) because of her asthma and her joints were hurting. She couldn't walk on her right foot. She couldn't even apply pressure without crying out. How thankful it made Scott and I as we sat and looked at the health of Ben and Anna Kate. Yet another thing to be thankful for! Not to mention the fact, quit feeling sorry for myself that things aren't going as I planned.

As I was praying this morning in the midst of taking care of four cute, but very busy kids, (Karley started feeling a little better), God brought a song by Nicole Nordeman to my mind. (This CD was the best birthday present someone has ever gotten me...all of the songs have such meaning! Thanks Patty!) I found the lyrics and am posting them below. If you've never heard the song, look it up and listen to it! I hope it helps you as it has me.

Send some rain, would You send some rain?'
Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other waysAnd if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .

Closing Madness

We were supposed to close on our house today in Lucasville and the sell of our house was going to be done! However, it didn't happen that way! We drove all the way there only to be called at 3:30 (our appointment was at 4:00), and be told it wasn't going to happen today! The property needs to be resurveyed, which is a long story itself. The survey will have to be done this week plus cost around $900!!! My patience was wearing thin. It should close the beginning of next week. Sometimes, I get so angry at myself. That is such a minor setback in life and things could actually be so much worse.

My first question to God was "Why does my patience need to be tested like this?" I guess He could ask me the same question! All in all, I have to know that God is in control of it. God has made it so evident that this is where He has us and so I know He's going to take care of things...maybe not the way I would, but who am I?

The funny thing is, we have been working with Ben on not getting upset when things don't go his way. Oh, what a lesson learned!!!!! Things didn't go my way. I didn't get my big, fat check for the closing costs on our new house and we have to ask for an extension on the closing date here. But did I fail in the way I handled it? I can honestly say, around six years ago I probably would have lost it and thrown a mini fit on someone. But, although I was pointed, I didn't even shed tears over the fact that this company was not doing what they were supposed to be doing. I just looked at the attorney and said "Do what needs to be done and take it out of our proceeds." It seems God is helping me stay in check with my son.

Overall, this is so miniscule compared to the problems of others. As I sit here, I can name at least five people, without thought, who have it harder than I do. So, "close the sale in Your time Lord" has to be my prayer!

My First Attempt

This is my first attempt at blogging. My aunt, Sharlene, told me I needed to get started so I thought there could not be a better occasion than her son's wedding. Nathaniel and Kim asked Ben and Anna Kate about a year ago to be the ring bearer and flower girl in their wedding and, of course, we were all very excited. The kids had a blast and we are so glad Nathaniel and Kim thought of them. Congrats to Kim and Nathaniel too! Nathaniel had to spend quite some time in Iraq so this was a GREAT celebration for them!

I figured it would be a long time before we could get four generations all dressed up like this again, so we took advantage of it. I even wore a dress for the occasion. That doesn't happen often these days!

Here are Ben and Anna Kate in their wedding garb. Ben thought he was Bruce Wayne, while Anna Kate would have probably rather been referred to as "Your Highness".

Anna Kate wouldn't dance with Ben when the wedding party danced and he was devastated! So mommy stepped in to do a little boogie with him! He was absolutely the cutest...I'm not real sure where he got his moves. He was even sliding on his knees. He's already asking when we can do that again.

Anna Kate got to dance with Papaw and Uncle Greg which was a highlight of her evening. Anna Kate's baby blues are the only thing that would ever get Papaw on a dance floor!