Balancing Act

While I was at Colorado Springs for the Hearts at Home Conference, I spent a little time at Garden of the Gods.  I would love to go back when I have more time and I think the family would love it!  It is a place at the base of Pike's Peak where these massive red rocks seem to have been tossed out there for some reason.  This is from a distance.



Then I drove down to walk around these rocks that are just towering giants!  It is hard to get a perspective in these pictures. 

I saw pictures of this next formation and saw it on the map, but decided that I better get started home and not take the time to find it.  (Now that I have looked better at the map, I don't think it would have taken that much time.  Just FYI if you ever go and want to take that tangent road.)  It is called Balanced Rock.  Countless people stop to take pictures by this rock and no doubt try to push it over, but it still stands.  Even in this setting of seemingly out of place red rocks, this one is different.

So here is the God Stop I want to share.  I had just been to a Mom conference where I was renewed and energized to jump back into life as a Mom, and I see this picture.  In this scenic place, what do you think when you see this rock? 

Beauty, strength, awesome, balance, constant... 

I know this sounds silly, but if you were the rock, how do you think you would feel? 

Unstable, big responsibilities balanced at one point, odd--why can't I have a base like the other rocks?, easily toppled, worried that the next storm or wind, man or child would push me over... 

I don't know about you, but many days that is how I feel as a Mom.  The reality is, God placed me in this place with these people at this time for a purpose.  I am not out of place.  I don't have it all together and often feel unbalanced, but if I will keep my focus on Him, He will hold me through every storm that may come.  It is His strength that gives me stability and holds me together.  My job as Wife and Mom is imortant.  Any beauty that may come from my life is because my Creator.

This Momma says, "Thank You, God!"

(I didn't take the picture of Balanced Rock.  I found it on Rian Houston's site.)

For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and

in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:16-17  NIV

2011 Fall Catch Up

We are just about caught up!  This fall started with the first day of school.  I cannot believe my kiddos are getting so big!  I have one more year with SweetTate and then he will join them on the first day of school on the porch for the picture.  Crazy! 

For our traditional First Day of School ice cream, Mamaw, Meme and Granddad were here.  That was a real treat!  (They were here to attend a funeral.  We would rather had them for a happier occasion, but it was good to see them.)

Fall also brings with it football, of course.  The kids have each run with the school flag down the field after we scored.  They think they are so cool!

It also brings the routine of gymnastics every week.  This year all three kids are participating.  Like everything else here, it is 30 minutes away.  Thankfully it is on the same day, but the boys are in one class and SweetDoll is in a different class which makes for a long evening.  We really like the coaches and they are all learning balance and corrdination that will help them in whatever sport they do. 

SweetBoy has a show lamb again this year.  This is "Thunder."  He decided on that name really hoping it would inspire the weather to let it rain a lot!  Snowflake and Lightnin', his predicessors seemed to have that affect!

Then the craziness of the fall sets in...but it is a good crazy.

A friend contacted me last spring about doing a retreat at her church.  I was so excited to be part of what God was doing there with those ladies!  We had a wonderful day, and it was great to reconnect with my friend who I hadn't seen in a while.  The adventure to this story is that I put in the address to the Tom-Tom and said "shortest route."  Whoa!  I went about as straight as the crow flies on some back, back roads!  But I arrived safe and sound.  On the way home, I found a little more traveled roads.  ;)

Then it was time to meet my newest nephew!  We had a cousin's wedding that my brother and his family came down for.  It was great to see them!

That brings us to SweetDoll's birthday.  And is anyone surprised that she wanted to go ride horses?  No.  So that is what we did.  We had just had a good rain and the pasture didn't look quite as dry as it had been.  It was pretty and a fun day!  That place also has a great spot to take pictures!

 I love these kids!

A while ago I was reading Jill Savage's blog and she was having a giveaway.  The prize...tickets to the 2011 Hearts at Home conferences.  Eleven years of being a mom and I have never been to a conference specifically for Moms!  Oh it was good!  Just what this weary Mom needed!  Part of the adventure here was that it was in Colorado Springs.  I had not ever been there, but it is absolutely gorgeous!  More on this on the next post, and there is more about the confernce on my guest post on her blog!  If you ever have an opportunity to go to a Hearts at Home conference, you will be blessed!  Here is a picture of Jill and I. 

Fall is also our town's festival where SweetDoll rode in a float for the first time.  The boys did the bike parade and they all had a good time.

And of course the festival in SweetHeart's hometown.  Mamaw's corn chowder. Y.U.M!  It was good to be with family there too.

And there you have it.  Whew!  You are all caught up--well, the reader's digest version anyway.  Now I feel like I can post something without feeling like I left something out.  And I have a backup of my scrapbook.  ;)  Thanks for following along!

Go Rangers!!

I want to interrupt my string of catching up with a shout out for my Rangers!  We love us some baseball at the Sweet house, and we could not be more excited that the Rangers are back in the World Series!!  Sadly, the only game we have seen in person this year is the Spring Training game we saw in Surprise, Arizona.  But we are with you all the way!  Go Rangers!

2011 Colorado Camping

Have I mentioned how hot and dry it was this summer!  So when we went to Colorado where it was cool and rained every day, I don't think I'm exaggerating too much when I say it was refreshing to our mind, body, and soul.  These were some of my favorite memories from this year's trip.

SweetTate and Great-Granddaddy

SweetTate and his cousin spent so much time in the river, they were wet more than they were dry!  And loved every minute of it!

 My Dad and his brother cooking breakfast and swapping stories.

SMORES!!

Horseback riding...absolutely beautiful!  And one happy SweetDoll!

My Dad on the hunt!

This was our crew this year.  My kids had four of their great-grandparents here.  Pretty neat.

 Hike with Granny and Papaw around the lake.

SweetBoy thought there was gold in them thar hills!  No such luck!  Snap.

I loved this tree, but I thought this picture was especially cute with Grandma and Granddad enjoying its afternoon shade by the river.

Sighhh...makes me happy just thinking about it again.  :)

2011 Summer Rundown

It seems like ALL we did was baseball this summer, but when I was working on the summer scrapbook, I realized that we did squeeze in some other fun stuff.  Here are the hightlights:

SweetTate's birthday

We met Curious George.

SweetBoy's birthday.  Gotta love trick candles!

We saw Cars 2 at a drive-in!  (I thought that was so cool!)  It was our first time to a drive-in.  The drive-in promoted the movie by putting cars all around town with eyes in the windshields.  By the theater, they had several cars lined up there including "Frank."  I thought it was clever and cute!

Bowling...SweetTate got a strike and I asked him to show me that celebration again and this is what I got.  Such a ham!

Fourth of July with SweetHeart's family

Kid's nature hike at a state park

Trip to our favorite kids' hands-on center

Trip to cool Colorado where it rained every day!  That was so sweet!  We had the hottest, driest summer I have ever seen.  (I couldn't narrow the pictures down, so that will be the next post.)

SweetHeart's parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  We had so much fun hosting a reception for them.  Here they are with their kids and grandkids.  So blessed!

Aaaah.  Then we had a little break before school started!

Baseball 2011 Recap

When last I left you, we were gearing up for baseball at the SweetJourney house.  Oh. My. Word. did we baseball this year.  Having all three playing kept us hoping...well, literally driving 6 days a week to a ballfield here, there, or yonder!

SweetBoy had a good season.  He did a great job off the bench making the most of opportunities he was given.  He even tried pitching!  His team won the district tournament for the first time!  By that point it was late into the summer and our plans were up in the air about pretty much everything.  "It depends on if we are playing baseball,"  became a common phrase around our house.  After district, we advanced but that was as far as we got.  And it happened that it was the week before camping.  It would have been neat to advance to the next round, but it just didn't happen.  And since it didn't, we were really looking forward to a break from the heat in cool Colorado!  It was a record setting HOT summer and we had been out in it a lot!  Here is SweetBoy in action.

 SweetDoll's team had a rough beginning but continued to get better through the season and finished 2nd!  (There were only 3 teams, but hey, 2nd still sounds good!)  She had another good season and contributed to her team on the field and with her bat.  Great job, Sis!

 After cheering Brother and Sister all these years it was finally SweetTate's turn!  This was SweetTate's rookie season.  He loved every minute of it!  It didn't matter if it was practice or a game, he was ready to play.  He played well and had a blast!  It was so fun to watch him play.  And his favorite part...the free snow cone after every game!  (For some reason they are so much better than the ones you pay for.)

So for most of the beginning of the summer, this is where you could find us--on the ballfield or in the car on the way to a ballfield, but I would not have it any other way.  :)

Hello?

Blog?  I have a blog?  What was that password again?  I usually tried to keep the blog current for family and friends would know what was happening.  It also served as a reference when I was working on my scrapbook because, you know, I can't remember details that long.  Well, we had a crazy summer with baseball mostly.  Then we had a breather before school started.  And it has been a whirlwind ever since.  The wierd part is...I have finished my scrapbook, not only for last school year, but the summer also!  Crazy, right!  (My book should arrive tomorrow, and I'm so excited to see it!)  There was a sale to get it published, so I was really motiviated!  So here we are at another breather before the busyness of the holidays.  I think I'll catch you up...if you are still there that is.  See you soon!

Day of Prayer

I know that you thought I forgot my password, but I really didn't!  This summer was crazy busy with, you guessed it, baseball!  Then it was vacation and...you understand.  Many times I thought I would jump on here and give you a quick update, but it never happened.  Maybe I'll get to that soon, but the fall is not looking any calmer!  Anyway, these are some thoughts for today.

I'm doing Beth Moore's Bible study "Living Beyond Yourself." In one of the videos she told a story about prayer. They had a lady come in to do a devotional time for their office and she challenged them with this. "I'm going to give you each of you an index card. I want you to write a prayer request on it. Here is the deal....today is the last day you are going to ask for this particular request. After today, you are just going to thank Him for it." She gave them time to think about it, and then they had a prayer time to ask for their request. Beth said that was an intense prayer time, knowing it was the last time to ask for it! I would imagine so! Then Beth challenged us with the same charge.
I have thought about what I might write on my index card for weeks. I think I have decided on my "spiritual" thing that I really, desperately want. I just have not been brave enough to actually commit it in ink. But one thing I have decided on and will share is rain. If you live in this neck of the woods, I don't have to tell you how hot. windy. and D.R.Y. it has been this year. We have had less than 2 inches all year! That is about 12 inches below normal! I know 12 inches doesn't sound like a lot to some, but this country sure does thrive on it. And when it is not here, we are beginning to really hurt. On this day, when our governor has called believers to pray for rain, I'm thanking God for the rain He knows we need and has plans to answer that prayer.

It is amazing how my perspective changes when it rains. It is more than, "Thank You, God, for the rain." It is a confident, rejoicing, "Thank You, God! I knew You would send rain! You are so faithful!"
Even as the clouds look very promising as I write this and the radar looks like it might miss us, I'm thankful that my God knows we need it and will abundantly provide the rain at just the right time.
 
Thank You, Father!

You might be a baseball mom if...

For the past 5 years I have known the day would come that all three of my kids would play ball at the same time.  I have kind of dreaded it.  Three different teams.  Three different practices schedules.  Three different game schedules.  One frazzled mom!  But actually, I'm so excited for SweetTate to start!  He has some mad almost-five-year-old skillz and he is going to love it!  I can't wait to watch him play too!  His and SweetDoll's games are on the same day in the same place.  And SweetBoy's schedule will be winding down when theirs gears up, so I think I can handle it.  (Remind me of that in a few weeks!)

You might be a baseball mom if...
* you have scraped a page or two on your laptop in the car during practice
* you have the early bird supper at 4:45 before practice or games
* you know what an rbi, dp, and k mean and when it is a good thing!
* you have a repertoire of suppers to take to the ballpark
* you are horse from cheering for your favorite teams
* you also have DQ's number in your phone so you can place an order and pick it up for supper!
* you have shopped for boy's foundational garments--that was a new experience!
* you love to see your man playing with the kids
* you have a permanent cooler packed with snacks and drinks by the door
* you sit through rain, snow, wind, heat, cold, and sun to watch ballgames
* you know how to score a game for the coach
* you can wash a uniform Friday after the game and have it ready for a Saturday morning game
* when you hear the word diamond, shiney and sparklely don't describe your picture
* your heart has sunk too when they strike out
* your heart has soared when they get their first hit of the season!
* you jump up and scream when they score!
You might be a baseball mom, if you can't wait to watch your kids play!

Fearless Climb

After I wrote the last post about our rock climb adventure, I got to thinking about how I wasn't afraid to do that.  I have always wanted to repel. It just looked fun to bounce down a mountain—that doesn’t paint a very pretty picture, but you know what I mean—bounce with a rope safely attached landing on your feet! It looked like too much work to climb up, but getting down looked fun! Of course, this one I had to climb to the top first!  Usually I am a fraidy cat and fear will get the best of me and I won’t even try something out of my comfort zone. So what was the difference here? I mean, I strapped that harness on, clicked on the safety rope, and didn’t even hesitate all the way to the top. Where did that confidence come from? I was motivated—I had always wanted to repel, and it is not as much fun to repel only half way! More than that, I trusted the guy on the other end of the safety rope that was almost twice my size, knowledgeable about his job, and strong enough to keep me from falling. I had no fear to go to the top.

There is a God stop here. So many times I talk myself out of climbing higher in life because I am afraid. But here is the truth of the matter. My God is huge! His wisdom is perfect. He knows me and has had a plan for me since before the world began. (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 1:4) He is infinitely strong, and more than able. I just have to trust Him. How far could I go if I was so completely confident in my Father and His love for me?!

Ephesians 3:16-21
I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

This might be a familiar passage. It is one of the first chunks of Scripture that I memorized, and it became so meaningful to me. I love Paul’s writings, but sometimes it gets a little wordy. Break it down with me.

He prays that the believers would have the power to grasp what?
           How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ

And that they would know what?
          This love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

God is able to do more than in our lives if His power is working in us. What power?
          Power through His Spirit
          Power to grasp and to know the love of Christ

So through grasping and knowing the love of Christ, God is able to work powerfully in my life. Wow! That is the safety rope! I need to be harnessed in and fastened to it—grasp it and know it all the time, and especially when things get crazy. On our rock climb, SweetBoy lost his footing and the coach kept telling him to grab hold of the rope.  Our safety rope in life is God's love for us.  I can climb higher knowing His love for me is strong, sure, and more than enough to keep me from falling. If I have my safety rope fastened to anyone else, I have reason to be afraid!  But in God it is a sure thing!

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 94:18 NIV
When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.

I can climb with God all the way by knowing His love is my safety rope and keeping my focus on Him.  His faithful love endures forever (Psalm 136)—that is what anchors me and gives me freedom to be fearless.

All the way to the top!

This week we went to our local activity center.  (Boy, local is relative isn't it!)  We had not ever been there, but heard from lots of friends that it was very fun.  We did the batting cages...yes, we.  I got in there too!  And much to my son's surprise (and mine!) I made contact with a lot of them!  SweetTate was too cute!  SweetHeart got in their with him to help, but it wasn't long before he was ready for his solo shot and in one cycle he hit 5 out of 10!  Way to go little slugger! 

SweetDoll hit 9 out of 10 when she got her rhythm going.  SweetBoy was getting some really solid hits!  I am excited for the season to start!

Here is my honey!

Then we went to the rock climbing wall.  I have always wanted to repell, but never had an opportunity to do it.  SweetTate was not excited about getting his feet that far off the ground, so he didn't try it.  Surprisingly, SweetHeart did!  He is not one for heights either. 

SweetDoll said, "I'm going higher than you!"  And she did go higher than SweetBoy and her dad.  But not higher than Mom--I made it all the way to the top!  No picture proof because I left my phone on the ground, but I made it!  I don't know how people do that for long periods of time.  I have got to get in better shape!

It is a great facility.  We will definitely have to go back and bowl and play some more!  Fun day!

God Stop at the Grand Canyon

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything.  Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.... God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us."

Acts 17:24-25, 27

God often gets my attention with nature and teaches me something.  So when we went to the Grand Canyon, I totally expected to meet Him there.  As we were sitting at the Grand Canyon watching the sunset, we had been there all day and I really hadn't slowed down enough to think about it.  But He had been working on it all day!

When we watched the IMAX movie about the Canyon, it told the story of people who had come to the Canyon way back in history.  There were native people living there long ago.  Then explorers came who couldn't find a way across it.  Eventually some fellas on a log raft decided to float down the river through the Canyon looking for gold.  (Do you have the picture of logs tied together, kind of like a Huck Finn contraption on the Mississippi?  Good.)  One guy asked the other, "Is this the right river?" wondering if they were in the right place for treasure.  Then they heard the roar of the rapids, and despite their attempts to avoid them, the first crest and fall of the white water smashed their raft to pieces.  The man decided, "This is not the right river."

Several years later, another expedition team made their way down the river.  There were three boats with three men in each one.  They made it through the first set of rapids...barely.  The next set cost them a boat and a man.  The next set they decided to take it cautiously and walk around it as best as they could.  When they came to the next white water, three men decided they were done and walked away.  They liked their odds in the wilderness of the Canyon rather than the raging river.  They were never heard from again.  The rest of the team went on through the rapids--the last set they encountered. 

The movie showed modern vacationers riding rubber rafts on the rapids with screams of excitement.  I have been on a rafting trip in Colorado and it is very fun!  But I can imagine how not being in right equipment, not knowing the river and terrain, and not having a guide would be terrifying!

Now let's switch perspectives to the rim.  On our Ranger Guided Tour she pointed out some "green tufts" on the Canyon floor.  "How tall do you think they are?" she asked.  (In the top half of this photo.)

They are 80-foot Cottonwood trees that look like something an ant would crawl right over and never blink!

At one point we could see part of the river and the rapids.  They looked like no big deal from here.  But if that tree is that size, they were probably pretty significant when you are in the middle of them!

Here is another thing.  I don't know if you can tell from these pictures or not, but there is a pattern in the Canyon to some degree.  The way the river winds through the Canyon might look random from the Canyon floor, but from the top you can see how the curves and jut outs make the same formations.  There is a Designer who has a plan.

So what is the point?  When I'm in the middle of the raging water of life, I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me...I wonder if I'm on the right river...I feel unequipped...I want to bail and abandon the original plan...I feel alone.  But the truth of it is, I am more than just a minuscule part of creation.  God knows my name!  He knows exactly the situation I am in.  He is with me!  He knows what is around the bend.  To Him the future is history!  He has given me exactly what I need so I am equipped.  He has a plan for me and no matter what happens, He will work it out for my good and His glory if I will cooperate.  When I set my heart, mind, and eyes on God, He will give me His perspective. 

These are some of my memory verses that I have been working on this year that also came to mind as I was thinking about this.

Psalm 34:4

I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.  (NIV)

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (NET)

Isaiah 26:3

People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit.  Depend on God and keep at it because in the LORD God you have a sure thing. (The Message)

Judges 5:21b

March on, my soul; be strong! (NIV)

Father,
Thank You so much that You are a big God!  Huge!  You work on the majestic, grand scale and the human scale.  You know me and love me any way.  I am blown away by a glimpse of Your love!  Thanks for meeting me here, and reminding me that no matter what may happen, You are still in control.  Help me to keep my mind set on You and keep going.  Thank You that when we seek You, You promise that we will find You.  I love that about You!  Thanks for a great day with my family and with You.  In Jesus' Name...Amen.