If Day

February 19, 1942, was a fascinating day for Canada. It was "If Day"--a World War II staging of a fake Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The intent was to show what it would be like "if" Canada fell under the harsh occupation of Nazi forces, so that Canadians would support the war effort more fully.

As one person described the event, "If Day brought home the reality of Nazi occupation. Manitobans got a very bitter taste of nearly every aspect of Nazi brutality." The key word there is nearly. While "If Day" was a valiant attempt to educated people about danger in the world, it cold not begin to recreate the actual suffering that was sweeping Europe.

Real trials in life are not ifs--they are whens. In fact, life's most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. It is there, in actual seasons of heartache and loss, that we gain greater insight into life, faith, and our need of God. To that end, James wrote, "My brethren, count if all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2-3).

Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we will learn the lessons taught. There are no "ifs" about it--it is an important way to grow. Someone has written:

Though you cannot see the outcome,

Trust the Lord--He knows what's best;

Be assured He sees your trial,

And He's with you in your test.

Tough times can teach us to trust.

Therefore, seek a relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you "will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His "living water." Live "your life...hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). A person who has that kind of relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How wonderful to know that we serve a loving God who has control over everything. How different would we do things if we could see the big picture the way that He does? My guess is that a lot of us wouldn't change much because we couldn't possibly understand the big picture OR we would try to "fix" things and end up making them worse. Trials will come. Tough times will come. And hopefully we learn from them and lean on the Lord more because of them. Three times in the less than a week this verse has been brought to my attention: 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Last week my SIL referred to it when blogging about a difficult road that they are currently traversing. Then Monday night, at our women's bible study, it was the key verse for the night. Our leader had printed it out on bright green "bookmarks" for us to place in our Bibles to help us remember to place our "worries" in the Lord's hands. Then this morning, our principal said that he was going to share with us the teacher's bible verse and then he quoted 2 Timothy 1:7. Three times in less than a week!!! I know difficult times will come, and I'm beginning to believe that the Lord has placed this verse in my path to prepare me for something. What? I don't know. It would be nice to have a wonderful little handbook that tells me all about what's coming and how it's going to turn out. However, that's not the way it works. Instead, whatever comes my way I have to trust in the Lord and know that He knows the who's, what's, why's, and how's even if I don't. And I'm glad that He does because I would just make a mess of things!

Hope every has a very blessed Wednesday!

Go Vote for Cutie Number 5!

So, I have this friend whom I once taught with. It's actually only been 8 years ago, but it seems like several lifetimes ago:-) Thanks to all the latest technology, blogs, and facebook, I've been able to reconnect with her over the past few years. Anyway, she went from teacher to stay at home mom just like me. And now she's turned photographer! And her photos are AWESOME! I'm telling you, she's got talent people! To kick off her new blog and business she's running a cute kid contest and I've entered Jesse. You can vote here on her blog once per day per computer. You can also find the button to her blog on the right hand side of my blog. Click on it and it will take you straight to all the cuteness! And if you're on facebook you can vote once per day there. Search for MG Photography, become a fan, and leave a comment every day below the picture of your choice. I'm partial to cutie number 5! So please go vote!!! And thank you in advance!

One busy month...

One would think that once you make it through the hustle and bustle of November and December, that life would settle down. Not so in our family...February is always a busy month. Trey's birthday, Valentine's Day, and the auction always make for a fun packed month. I thought that I was being "smart" this year and decided to postpone Trey's birthday party until March. I thought that this would make our February less hectic! Ha! The joke is on me...as you've seen, we were busier than ever this year! Lots of birthday celebrations, Super Bowl and Friends Day, singing and more singing, not to mention SNOW made this one exciting month!!! However, the best thing that happened this February was the birth of our new nephew/cousin, Hinson! While Trey really, really, really wanted him to arrive on his birthday, Hinson arrived 3 days after which was almost a month before his due date! We are so thankful and blessed that he arrived safe and sound and that he is doing really well. Unfortunately, due to the extended sickness that was also a big part of our February, we had to wait a while before meeting him. When we finally did, the boys couldn't wait to hold him and snuggle him up. And they absolutely can't wait until he's big enough to romp around with them!!!

ACA's 3rd Annual Auction

February 20, 2010 we attended ACA's 3rd Annual Auction and we have photos, videos, and a YouTube photo montage to commemorate it! The auction is our school's biggest fundraiser and showcases artwork done by each class. It is a wonderful opportunity to visit with other parents and see what our kids have been up to! We get to enjoy a fabulous meal, wonderful entertainment, and awesome artwork done by our kiddies all in the company of family and friends! A while back, I shared with you that the even number grades were busy painting their quilt squares. Once again, the quilts turned out fantastic and as always sold for mega bucks! I will have to content myself with photos of Trey's class quilt...however, I didn't walk away empty handed this year...

~~Trey and the second grade quilt~~

~~Trey's Quilt Square~~

~~The K3 Dragonfly Mirror ~ of which I am now the proud owner!~~

~~Jesse's Dragonfly~~

~~Lauren, Ryan, and Jesse~~

~~Vera, Ryan, and ???~~

~~Trey and Cora Jane~getting ready to take the stage~~

~~The kindergarten through 5th grade performing~~

~~Trey~~



~~The students performing Nothing But the Blood of Jesus~~



~~The students performing Lord I Lift Your Name on High~~



~~Showcasing all the Quilt Squares~~

A Bowling Story in Pictures

The youth at our church are always busy with something! And by youth, we mean everyone from sweet Baby Kate to the teens, not to mention the parents and grandparents:-) President's Day was a school holiday, and we used the opportunity to hit the bowling alley! We had 6 lanes going, and I couldn't tell you who won a single game but I can tell you that everyone had a blast!

I have a friend in You...

Valentine's Day was Friend Sunday at Pine Level FWB church. The children's choirs once again wowed us with their amazing performance! We are very blessed each time we hear these sweet voices sing out their love for the Lord.

God's Musicians Choir

God's Musicians Choir
I am a friend of God

Joyful Noiz Choir
Jesus Loves the Little Ones

Joyful Noiz Choir
Everyone Ought to Love Jesus

Our Valentine's Day

First Daddy's present...

Big Game Hunter!

Now it's Trey and Jesse's turn...

they were extremely good about sharing the opening...

Toy Story for the Wii and the obligatory chocolate, of course!

Playing their new game in 3D!

It's Snow Baby!!!

Words cannot adequately express the EXCITEMENT of my boys the night that it snowed in South Georgia!!! Trey has been praying for snow for several years now, and ironically enough Phil and I had discussed taking the boys on a "snow finding" trip President's Day weekend. Luckily, we didn't have to go anywhere, for Friday night the snow came down right here in good ole South Georgia! It had been about 20 years since it snowed here, and I had just as much fun in the snow this year as I did then! If the ground hadn't been so wet, it probably would have accumulated to several inches. Unfortunately, our yard was soaked! Thankfully, we have a large deck that allowed us plenty of room to play! We all had a BLAST and were sad to see it melt away the next morning. However, seeing snow for the first time made for a winter that my boys will never forget!

~SNOW ANGELS~

~SNOWBALLS~

~SNOWFLAKES ON THE TONGUE~

~SNOWBALL FIGHT~

~OUR SNOWMAN~

~SNOW MUCH FUN~

9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:9-11