Mmm

If you stand close enough to the screen and hold your palms up to it,

you can feel 7:24pm in August somewhere.

It's like gas logs in February for your soul.

If I Ever Find That Groundhog...

Last week, my kids were out of school several days thanks to snow storms. Then on Thursday night/Friday/Saturday we had another snow storm and we have YET another one coming tonight and still another coming potentially this weekend.

Our kids school celebrated "Groundhog Day" on the one day that they were actually in session last week and it got me thinking:

Has Spring ever ACTUALLY arrived on March 1st? I mean, anywhere but in Columbia, SC (the hottest location on the planet?)

I have never seen it arrive here in Asheville regardless of Pauxatawny Phil or Nibbles the Groundhog from the WNC Nature Center. Stop it already.

Just stop providing hope of Spring being just 26 days away.

It will get warm when it gets warm.

In April. And even then, it could still snow. Blurgh.

Coffee Moment

Last week, we were watching a show called "The Middle" on ABC (8:30 on Wednesday's) and I found myself laughing outloud. HARD.

This show was killing me.

Mostly because of this little clip right here:

Mom's aren't allowed to turn off their cell phones and take a few minutes to themselves!
Duh.

Seriously, check out this show. You will laugh-I think whether you are a mom or not.

Universal truth is universal comedy. If you can't laugh, you'll cry.

Also, you might end up having a fight at the end of the night if your husband doesn't watch with you and you try to rehash why this one scene made you laugh so hard...might as well make him watch too. (The dad/husband is really great in the show)

Slappy Goes Sledding

Just like the rest of the family, Slappy enjoyed the 14 inches of snow that we received over the weekend.

Yes. That is her going down the hill in the sled unattended. What?!

Then we decided she clearly needed family time, so she climbed in the sled with Amy Noll and Asher. Good times.

Pocahantas

Just do yourself the favor and say yes to clicking play.

Sesame Street on Hulu

If you start watching one clip, they play continuously and so we started watching them as the snow fell rapidly on Friday afternoon.

This was the kids favorite and we have laughed a lot about it since then.

Enjoy!

Ever Feel Like This?

Last night, one of our college friends fathers died after going in for a general surgical procedure.

Just really an unexpected blow.

It's a real ding dong dandy. But not so dandy.

We'd like for the hits to cease for a little while.

But I've been reminded lately that God is not to be found in our circumstances like a giant Magic 8 Ball. Often I believe I can read how pleasing my life is or isn't to God by my circumstances (like reading tea leaves or something). If things are good, then I'm on solid ground. If bad, then I need to shake things up until they get better. But I'm learning you can't just grind out life working harder until it gets better.

These things are going to keep coming. That is life.

Someone else is GOING to die.

Someone else is GOING to lose their job.

Someone else is GOING to get married and have great joy.

So have I. I am going to experience great highs and great lows in my life. Who is God going to be in the midst of these things to me?

God doesn't say anything on the topic except this:

He just says..."I AM."

He just wants me to open my hands and take what he is trying to place into them in the midst of whatever is going on-good or bad.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

My life isn't a Magic 8 Ball that I can read how pleasing my life is or isn't to God by my circumstances either. I'm just trying to open my hands and see how God wants to fill them.

Now in HD

As many of you know, we are sports crazies in our house. Whatever the sport, we watch it. But we tend to really really like sports that are what some would call "Olympic Sports" like tennis, soccer, cycling, and of course the upcoming Winter Olympiad. Wow, I am so excited about that.

But, many nights this week have been dominated by the Australian Open. Just tonight, South Carolina men's basketball beat Kentucky 68-62! At halftime and right after we watched the highlights and we immediately switched over to watching the Open.

But we were a bit disturbed by Venus Williams because it DEFINITELY looked like a full-moon was coming at us in HD on our screen. Wanna see why?

Flesh colored underwear. That barely covered her

ahem-assets.

Fantastic.

Thanks Venus!

It's made the Open more well...OPEN.

Always a Question

I'm sitting at my favorite coffee shop in Asheville next to the bathroom and everytime a person walks out, I have to wonder...

Sunday Morning Come On Down

My friend Heather had this video up on her Facebook wall and it made me laugh-so I thought I would repost it here.

This is sometimes what it looks like to run Bible study with high schoolers.
Their questions are only slightly more sophisticated than Ben's in the video, but no less rapid-fire. Oh and the polar bear question? I've definitely gone down that rabbit hole. And had girls crying over Jesus killing endangered animals. Definitely.

I have stepped away from most of my friends; high school and grown-up, in the last few weeks simply because I haven't had a lot to give away. I am doing my best to find time to be quiet and restore myself, but the discipline is difficult and I am still exhausted. The only good thing, is that I have found myself to be so totally emptied of myself that anything of substance that is "good" to come out of me is straight from God. He has to fill my tank because I am incapable of doing it myself.

Be with me when I am fearful
to make me faithful.
Be with me when I am faithful
to make me fruitful.
Be with me when I am fruitful
to make me humble.
For it is only by your grace
that I was chosen to serve you;
only by your strength
that I am even able to serve;
only by your faithfulness
that I am still serving you today...

-Ken Gire
Moments with the Savior