First Day Back!

Yesterday (Tuesday) I went back to work full time and got home around 4:40. I made my daily call to the court house to find out that, indeed, I did have jury duty today (Wed....first day of school). I was very bummed. I have only been called one time in 3 1/2 months...this is my last month to serve.
I called a sub, sent emails to my closest co-workers, principal, and typed up my plans, sent them to Beth to print out and give to my sub. Then today, during a break this morning, I called in to tell Barbara that I was still there and if I didn't get picked, I'd be back in. However, out of a large crowd, 31 got picked. Then out of 31, 13 of us got chosen. Then after we met all day, before we went to the jury room, one was let go. The rest of us deliberated, then went on to the end when a sentence was given.
I got home, after meeting Clyde for dinner, around 8:15. Long day....well, tomorrow is another day. I look forward to MY first day of students!

Hummers!!!

I just walked out back to pick the last few blackberries and received a gift! I was carrying the camera in case I saw my daily visitor. I was pleased to get a couple of shots of this little bird. So cute!

2nd week of "IT"!

I am thankful for a young minister that has a passion. He aches for the homeless, for the lost soul, for they that mourn, and on and on. Yesterday our sermon series on "It" was titled "IT is Love and Love is IT". Is there anything better than love? My notes from the sermon sum up like this...

Our mission is to 1. Help people fall in love with God 2. Help people follow God...

We want to make our church "new" like the 1st church. "IT" is....radical love to the homeless, the sick, the forgotten, the poor...WHAT WE LOVE SHOULD NEVER REPLACE WHO WE LOVE". Jon also said "Your stuff can't get you into Heaven, it can keep you out of Heaven". IT is all about a new YOU. IT is a commITment to a radical love (to complete strangers). Love supports, sacrifices, love never fails. **when you get close enough to share a person's pain, you are close enough to show them love.

Of course, these are the points I took with me that I can actually remember. There was SO MUCH more and not everything I wrote can be exactly as Jon said, but I hope close!

No pics from church...but I will post a few from the garden.

Both my sister and my friend said something about their flower pots not doing as well now as at the beginning of the summer. I sure think that's the way it is for all of us. As we all know (but don't always do!), just shear them back (a good haircut) and keep on watering and the "love" will improve them a lot. Sometimes it's just not worth the work....so for those, I would toss. However, I have one that is special to me. It was the prettiest hanging petunia I have ever received! It was given to me by Becky for Mother's Day in May. It was full and perfect....only for me to let it die. I didn't take a picture at its worse, but Clyde said to throw it away. I could NOT do that. So, I gave it a haircut, fed it and watered it...it's not big as it was, but it is coming back. Here is a picture of it, and of a few other container flowers that are making it through to the end of summer.

Camping out!

We decided to take the boys camping yesterday afternoon until today (Sat.). The Horse Park was full and Boonesborough had a bunch of spots, so that's where we went....two adult tents and one for the boys! The spot Becky chose was perfect for kids and tents. Lots of shade, the playgrounds were beside us, a short walk to the bath house, and a place for the boys to ride their bikes on blacktop (right beside us). The weather last night was cool and perfect for a fire. Uncle Jason even visited for a night by the fire and to watch the boys play.

Home on Sat. for us, London and an afternoon at the pool for the Keiths. Tonight we tried a place on the river called "Riptides" and it was a thumbs up all around. The atmosphere was fun, the food great. So, we will try there again.

Camping at Ft. Boonesborough!

Perfect Day!

This is my last Friday morning at home before school starts for another year of learning at "The Mill"! The day could NOT be more beautiful. I have been outside since 8:30 or earlier....wet from the dew, but now 11:45 is dry and sunny. I got a few close up pictures of the hummingbird that visits daily. The butterflies are out in full form. I started the morning spraying "Sevin" on the Crepe Mrytle and knockout rose bushes...still being nibbled on by the Japanese beetles. I also picked a couple of cups of very ripe blackberries....I don't get many, but I get a few cups every few days...enough for a cobbler.

Yesterday Maggie, mamaw, Aunt Martha Ross and Nana ate lunch at Abuelos...thanks for the treat Aunt Martha. MJ loves dipping in the salsa and sour cream; hope her stomach has a strong lining! After lunch, we played at the mall play area and she did great. Two ladies kept commenting on her smile! Then we got a big oatmeal raisin cookie and apple juice and headed home for a nap. Mom (Becky) and Jessica had been at work (Woodford Co. High) all morning then had to leave school for cleaning, etc., to be done in their rooms/hallways, so they finished at home. I left Mag with them...hope she napped.

Last days of my summer!

This is Thursday, Aug. 6th, and I have not blogged for a couple of days. Becky used my camera one day for a visit to the dentist....Maggie's 1st visit! I haven't had much going on so I didn't miss having it.
Becky and her wonderful co-worker, Jessica, have been going into work since last week, so the boys have been to daycare and I have had "Miss Maggie". We went to see mamaw and papaw last week for a short visit. She didn't warm up too quickly so she wasn't her same "wild girl" self. I have loved being with MJ, she cracks me up.
We had our neighbors, the Rice's, over on Tuesday for a meal. It was rainy outside so we sat in the kitchen. I had planned it for the patio, but the food, conversation, and time together was just as good inside. We enjoyed having them. They are the perfect neighbors...we are blessed.
Last night was Wed. so we got to go to dinner with Jason. We all try to make this a weekly visit to catch up and just get a hug! We usually go to Cracker Barrel, but sometimes we go to Cheddars or Logans with him. It's his choice! He lives in Winchester and has been wanting to move back to Lex. to be closer to work, us and church. So, we spend lots of time looking for that right house for him. We thank Aunt Martha (great realtor!) for being so patient with him and taking us from house to house....this is a need I pray for daily, God's guidance and wisdom.

Yesterday I took mom to her friend, Lena Davis', funeral. She was a Godly woman and one mom said "if Lena isn't in Heaven, none of us has a chance"....meaning Lena is in Heaven. This has been her hearts desire for many years. She was a prayer warrior and prays until she has an answer. I want to be more like her. Mom met Lena years ago in Okeechobee, Florida and lived in the same mobile park. She is Tricia's aunt. She was loved dearly by her family and host of friends.

Becky may blog this, Maggie's first dentist visit. They really like this dentist a lot. I think MJ got a good "checkup"!

Austin sat very nicely Becky said for his cleaning.

Maggie at nana's house while mom was at work.

Maggie dancing to Sesame Street music.

Maggie is watching me as I blog and I am signing off to spend a great day with my favorite little princess! She is a doll. We are very thankful for her! I love you Mag.

Lord's Day

This is the day "IT" came to Southland. So far this day has been special to me, because ALL my family was present! That is IT to me.....great service, good music, and a perfect weather day AGAIN! We just ate at Red Robin, good fellowship....and now I am quickly blogging some thoughts....and, of course, a few photos of lunch!

From the things I remember from Jon's sermon, "It" is a "radical commITment" to a radical power. A radical commITment to a radical new mission. We need to completely surender to IT. We need to serve ALL people; in Luke 4: 18-19 Jesus served poor people. Jesus invited people to join his family....He was radically inclusive....radical compassion and love.

We need a "new church"...like the 1st church in Acts 2. Jon said "if we live like everyone else, we will wind up like everyone else." "It" is the chance for us to start over, and get IT right.

For four weeks, we have placed yard signs out about "IT", we have had bumper stickers, and other stickers to place on things we own....for the next four weeks, we will hear the message God has placed on Jon's heart about "IT". I can't waIT for IT. One quick thought and I will think longer about my goals for me this school year; I want my behavior, my spirIT, just any action/reaction I have with my co-workers and the students I serve, I need to be more like Jesus. They need to see Jesus in me.

When I asked Matthew what he learned in church today, he said he learned to make good "choices". His mommy said we call it good "decisions" and he said he understood!