Life on the "Edge"

This past week I had some major frustrations that I would not have experienced before the addiction of a 3G smart phone.  I was in the woods of East Texas, at my folks' home for Thanksgiving, and there was no, zero, zilch, nada 3G service in the area!  Just that little "E" that means "edge" that basically means "good luck in getting service on that little smart cellular device now!"
As I was laying in my bed the last night there, trying to skype with a friend on it, and having very little luck, I had some thoughts go through my head.
First of all, 3G...hmmm...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all "3" in one "G"od!  And the fact that when I'm spending time with Him, near to Him, in His Word; well, its then that I have really great connection!  I'm fast! I'm quick to recall a certain verse, quick to avoid those fiery darts of the devil, quick with kindness and to show His love. Communication with Him and with others is so much easier when connected with Him.  I hear Him clearly when He speaks.
"Edge". Living life on the "edge", not always a good thing.  Out there on the "edge", communication with Him is harder because I don't feel connected. I'm "searching", but often searching in areas where connection With Him will not be found.  I'm slower to recall a verse when I need it. I'm slower and often am hit by one of those fiery darts. Kindness and love are not always there either. Lets face, service is just real slow in so many ways!

There are some people who are still not sold on the "smart phones" and the many ways to use them, but I for one am very grateful for mine and the many ways I have to stay connected with friends and family.  And now, I even look at in a whole new way, thanks to those deep piney woods of East Texas!

Guilty Pleasures

I've been thinking about those two words a lot lately.  Doesn't it make you think of things like manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, Starbuck's, good chocolate....you know the really GOOD stuff,  just those things that we enjoy so much we almost feel guilty at times enjoying them?

Lately, its been more of the smaller things that I'm considering guilty pleasures.  The things that make me complain until my heart is made right.  You know the types of things...a dirty toilet (at least we have one, and honestly, more than one), toys strewn all over my house (at least my children have toys and a home to play in), having to unload the dishwasher (really?? all I had to do was rinse and put them in there and I have great cabinets and drawers to put them all in!), dust and filth on my tv (yeah, that big screen one in the living room), my computer that is so stinkin' slow sometimes I want to throw it out the window (but without it I could not chat with friends on the other side of the world), cooking supper (with the groceries I was just able to run by Walmart and grab), piles and piles of dirty laundry (at least I have a washer/dryer and more than enough clothes for my family to stay warm for the winter....and smelling clean of Tide and Bounce! aaah!!!), the long five hour drive home for Thanksgiving (thankful I have a family I can go home to and hurting for the ones that don't or can't), Christmas music (though honestly, I've cried more over Christmas music already this year than I ever have before, some of those songs are just SAD!), my church (how blessed we are to live where we are free to worship the God of the universe anytime we want! and how sad, so very few of us really enjoy taking advantage of that fact), PTO at my kids school (we work like crazy for no pay, but oh how thankful for a school where parents want to be involved!), the Bible that sits right here beside my big comfy reading chair (wow! 66 chapters that tell all. 66 Love Letters to you and me from the very Creator of the universe!!!)

Guilty pleasures?? Yeah, I would say as I sit here in my big comfy chair with my laptop on my lap, kids playing in our big front yard, dogs in the backyard, husband at work, dinner in the oven, Christmas music blaring on the iPod, and suitcases already semi-packed to go home next week, yeah, I'd have to say I have a few of those!

Thanking God today for all those little things. Those things I take for granted every day that others would consider major luxury.  May our little bubble of suburbia be burst and allow us to spread blessings across the street and around the world and shine His light in this dark world!!  

Twas The Week Before Thanksgiving

Twas the week before Thanksgiving and all through our house
There was rushing and running, no one a louse
The dog was sitting by the fire without a care
In hopes that the kids would soon NOT be there.


The children were bundled and sent off to school
With the mutterings of "these clothes aren't cool"
Daddy off to work and mom left alone
Updating her status on her iPhone.


When up in the attic there arose such a clatter
She sprang from her chair to see what was the matter
Away to the stairs she flew like a, hmmm....flash (?)
Tripping over mounds of laundry in the hallway stashed.


The light in the attic, so dimly lit
Showed the Christmas decor had finally been hit
Then what to her wandering eyes should appear
But about 20 more tubs full of Christmas cheer.


With a room full of chaos, every where she roamed
She knew in a moment, she must be in her home!
There were toys and messes strewn in every room
And you could hear her grumble as she dug out the broom.


"Now really! Now really! Now really, my son!
Oh daughter! Oh daughter! Thanksgiving has come!
From the dirtiest of  floors, to the top of the wall,
Clean it up! Clean it up! Clean it up all!"


As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When she's met with an obstacle, she looks to the sky.
So up from the house her prayers, they flew,
With pleads of mercy and grace, and of course patience, too.


And then, in a twinkling, she felt the calm
Time spent with Him was always a healing balm.
As she gave Him thanks, for the blessings galore
Down from the heavens His praises they poured!


She was filled with awe, from her head to her feet,
Thanking Him daily for the times that they meet.
A bundle of worries she flung off her back,
No problems too big, there's nothing He can't hack.

Her eyes-filled with wonder, her heart filled with joy!
As she cleaned and dusted and picked up a toy!
And prayed for the boy in the hoodie, and the girl with a bow
And asked Him to make their hearts as white as the snow.

She sang and she danced, no longer gritting her teeth
As she tripped over legos and hung up a wreath.
She had a life full of blessings, no reason to yell
She had a God and family that loved her, and knew this well!

Her faith wavered, at times, over every little thing,
But today she gave it to Him, the Master, the King!
That sweet baby Jesus, no longer in the manger lay;
But now was her Comforter, her Friend, throughout the day!

She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And cleaned up the house, then turned with a jerk.
Hanging decorations on, yet, another tree,
She was as amazed and thankful as she could be!

She sprang to her computer, and just had to blog
About the peace that came in the Christmas rush fog.
And I heard her exclaim with a grateful heart
"Thank You, Gracious Father, for the kick start!"

"Toss! Toss! Hehehehehe!"

Jason treated me to the traveling Broadway show, "Wicked", this past weekend.  I have been to New York City probably 10 times since the show opened there, but I had never seen this particular musical.  I had heard rave reviews, but for some reason, had never seen it.  We had a grand time and it was quite a day!
The whole story is kind of the story around the "Wizard of Oz".  I never knew that the Wicked Witch was nothing more than someone who had been taken wrong her whole life.  She tried to do good, but others would belittle her or make fun of her; this can most definitely make one bitter.  One person would befriend her, Glinda, the Good Witch.
Glinda tried to make Elphaba (the wicked witch) into what she was, by teaching her how to "toss" her hair (thus the title of the blog) and laugh and to always find the good in things.  Though they started out as enemies, they ended up as friends and learned much from the other.  
My most favorite part of the show was when they sang "For Good" to each other.  If you have not heard it, here are the lyrics:

(Glinda): 
I've heard it said 
That people come into our lives for a reason 
Bringing something we must learn 
And we are led 
To those who help us most to grow 
If we let them 
And we help them in return 
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true 
But I know I'm who I am today 
Because I knew you... 

Like a comet pulled from orbit 
As it passes a sun 
Like a stream that meets a boulder 
Halfway through the wood 
Who can say if I've been changed for the better? 
But because I knew you 
I have been changed for good 

(Elphaba): 
It well may be 
That we will never meet again 
In this lifetime 
So let me say before we part 
So much of me 
Is made of what I learned from you 
You'll be with me 
Like a handprint on my heart 
And now whatever way our stories end 
I know you have re-written mine 
By being my friend... 

Like a ship blown from its mooring 
By a wind off the sea 
Like a seed dropped by a skybird 
In a distant wood 
Who can say if I've been changed for the better? 
But because I knew you 


[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/for-good-lyrics-wicked.html ]

(Glinda): 
Because I knew you 

(Both): 
I have been changed for good 

(Elphaba): 
And just to clear the air 
I ask forgiveness 
For the things I've done you blame me for 

(Glinda): 
But then, I guess we know 
There's blame to share 

(Both): 
And none of it seems to matter anymore 

(Glinda): 
Like a comet pulled from orbit 
As it passes a sun 
Like a stream that meets a boulder 
Halfway through the wood 

(Elphaba): 
Like a ship blown from its mooring 
By a wind off the sea 
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood 

(Both): 
Who can say if I've been 
Changed for the better? 
I do believe I have been 
Changed for the better 

(Glinda): 
And because I knew you... 

(Elphaba): 
Because I knew you... 

(Both): 
Because I knew you... 
I have been changed for good...


As that was being sang, I could not help but to think back over the friends in my lifetime and see how the friendships with them have molded me and made me who I am today.  There are some, like Elphaba, who have had tragic happenings in their lives and then some like Glinda, who truly have had everything given to them on a silver platter.  Sometimes like Elphaba, we allow those tough times to make us bitter, and sometimes like Glinda, we fail to see the big picture, that there is far more to this world than "me".
Individually, I'm not sure Glinda and Elphaba would have learned so much.  I'm not sure if the writer of "Wicked" realizes this or not, but we were designed to do life together.  We learn from one another. We grow with one another.  I've traveled and shopped and laughed with friends.  I have sent some away from my house not knowing if I would ever see them again, but trusting God to hold them.  I've sat with friends in ICU waiting rooms, I've sat in hotel hallways and lobbies, cars in parking lots, hospital rooms, living rooms, bedrooms and funeral homes... we have shared life. We have cried on each other shoulders. We have prayed for and been prayed for.  We have depended on and been depended on.  We have taken the meals and have had the meals brought to us.  We have lived life together. We have worshiped our God together.  And together we have grown.  And I thank God for those friendships that grow closer because together we are seeking Him.  
"I do believe I have been 
Changed for the better 
Because I knew you... 
I have been changed for good."


I love you, dear friends, and thank God for the moments we have shared!

"Sista Friends"

"Big Apple Friends"

"Very special 'younger' friends" :)

"sweet friends"

"growing up friends"

"beach friends" 

"believe it or not friends!" :) 

amazing friends!

"encouraging friends"

"lifetime friends"

Cornucopia of Blessings

Cornucopia?  That's just a really funny word...and yes I did have to spell check it!  Did you know this "horn of plenty" dates back to ancient Greece and the year 1508?!!  Its used for decorating purposes and is a symbol of abundance and when it comes to blessings...that is just the word I needed to use!  I have been blessed! Blessed and surrounded by love!

Tonight I choose to view my life at this time of the year as a cornucopia, and God as the One who fills it with fruit..."blessings".  I'm about to make a list, don't you love making lists?  Making a "blessings list" is always, well, its always a blessing!  Its so easy living in the Bible belt, blessed with many simple things, to just take what all we've been given for granted.

I was reminded of that earlier as I was talking to my son and praying with and for him.  My heart's desire is for my children to grow in their love for the Lord...to honestly love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength! Then to love others, to put others needs before our wants and to have a spirit of gratefulness for all that He has blessed us with.  As I tucked him into bed and came back in the living room and sat down, God whispered to me..."do you?  Do you really love me with all of you heart, soul, mind and strength? Do you seek to serve others with needs before you fulfill your wants? Are you truly grateful for the blessings I have placed in your life?"

Well, Ouch! God!  That hurt, but what a blessed reminder!  So, here's my list:

1. lets start with the obvious, the God of universe!  The very One who created everything. I mean everything!  He desires to have a relationship with me.  He wants me to spend time with Him. If I had to choose just one thing to be thankful for, it will always be my relationship with Him.
2. my parents, married over 45 years and still very much in love, they have been an example of a godly couple to many folks over the years.  My childhood was not perfect, there are no perfect ones, but I always knew I was loved and for a child, that is what they NEED to know.
3. the hot guy that walked into my little East Texas Baptist church back in the mid-80's to "check out the new girl in town" (which happened to be me) and stole my heart.  I have known many amazing and godly men in my life, but when I think of someone who is a true leader, full of humility, compassion, strength, patience, love, a man's man, but yet full of gentleness and mercy, well, I think of Jason Aultman.  He is all those things.  There are days I feel so very unworthy to be his wife and wonder why in the world God would choose to bless me with a man like him, but then I just thank Him that He did!
4. my children's daddy...okay, same person as #3, but not only is he the ultimate husband, he is the ultimate daddy as well.  I love to hear Landri's giggles as she squeals "tickle me, daddy!" I love to watch him coach Turner's teams...whatever season it may be.  I love to watch the three of them walk out of the garage and crawl into Daddy's truck every Friday morning, because Daddy takes them to breakfast every single Friday morning of the school year.  Mostly, I love to hear them pray together, especially when they know I'm not listening! 
5. Antioch Baptist Church!!  What a major blessing in our lives.  I often wonder what my life would be like if I didn't marry a preacher, but I can't think of doing anything else and I cannot think of doing "life together" with a better group of folks than those in our "family" at church. God shows up every Sunday in a mighty way and it is so much fun to have a front row view of all the amazing things He is doing at Antioch!  On the very rare occasion we are not able to be there (and trust me those occasions are really once in a blue moon!) I miss it. Like honestly, heart wrenching! I just love worshiping our Lord and Savior with these brothers and sisters!  We just have a blast!
6. "Friends in our lifetime, came just at the right time" (words from a song sang at our wedding)...how I can look back over my life and see how God has placed the exact person in my life at a specific time because He knew it was who I needed!  There have been friends who were in my life to be an encouragement for me and then there have been those that God led me to be the encourager.  Some have been for a season, and some I know will be there for all time. Old friends, young friends, near friends, far away friends, hug your neck on Sundays friends, and talk with you every day friends, friends I rarely see, and friends I see every week; you all are so very dear to me!  You. Are. A. Blessing!!
7. Discipleship.  Yes, discipleship.  Its something fairly new in my life, but what a blessing.  I had the wonderful blessing of discipling one of my high school seniors last year for a while and this year I'm meeting regularly with two of our college girls and a couple others when time allows.  Sharing with these amazing young ladies just blesses my socks off!!  Molly, Marissa, and Megan, I love you girls so very much and pray for you daily!!  I am also being discipled!  Crazy as it sounds, this old chick has someone discipling me...we just met today!  We are going through a book "Strong Women, Soft Hearts" together and wow! Its amazing how God leads someone else to a book that He knew was exactly what you needed at this time in your life.  Well, that is what He did....He led Jerene to get me this book and it is life changing!  Thanks so much for the influence you are having on my life, dear friend!  I love our times together!
8. my CrossTraining Class (thats a fancy name our youth pastor came up with for Sunday School).  Every Sunday morning at 9:45 I have the awesome opportunity to meet with some of the most amazing 11th and 12th grade girls around!  We don't always agree, but we always love!  We get into some great discussions and try to be transparent and allow God to break our hearts for what breaks His.  It is such a blessing to see Him working in their lives and in turn, seeing them do things to bring glory to the Father!  There are many hurts, fears, & insecurities this life throws at these young ladies and my desire is to love them, above all else and point them to Him at every opportunity! Oh how I love you girls!!
9. my heart that has been turned toward Missions...whether it be across the street or around the world, God is breaking my heart to show His love to those I come in contact with every day. We are not all called to go to Africa, but we can serve where we are.  Right now.  Whether that be leading my children, my CrossTraining class, Discipling, or even encouraging those who are on foreign soil serving our Lord...my ministry is right where I am. Today. Period.
10. Pain...that may sound like a strange thing to be thankful for, but I realized today that I was thankful for pain.  The pain that is deep. The kind that only God can heal you of.  Many of us go through many different things in life and we keep it all pushed down inside of us so everyone thinks all is okay.  We can't live our lives until its dealt with.  We will never have that abundant life in Him, until we really, truly allow Him access to those areas of deepest pain.  He wants to fulfill our deepest desires, they came from Him, He put them in us and little by little, He is restoring. He is filling. But yes, I'm thankful for pain, because without it, I'm not quite sure I'd be so grateful!

Well, there's a start.  These are the big things, but don't think the little things don't matter.  They do!  In fact, all of these broken down, would have a list far too long of little things that make them the big things! If that makes sense at all!  Its those little things like a husband getting up and fixing breakfast when your parents are in town, dirty little hands of your child bringing you flowers they picked themselves, a cup of coffee with a friend, the song that just came on the radio you really needed to hear...those little things..."God Smiles"....add them all up and I have my list of gratefulness.   Yes, Turner, we are blessed!  We are blessed to be blessing, now let's do it!  Because truly our cornucopia runneth over!!!!

Hang Ups Sting

Has anyone ever hung up on you?  Ouch!  Doesn't it hurt? Stings! Or make you so mad you want to hit something!  There are more ways to be hung up on than just with a phone.  Life can "hang up" on you very often.


That call from the doctor.


The spouse walking out.


The rebellious teenager.


The toddler that will not quit whining..


The empty bank account.


The mail box full of bills.


The parents who just do not understand life as a teenager now.


So many "hang ups" in life.  How we handle them is what the world is watching.  Does this mean we have to take these "hang ups" lying down like a door mat? No, absolutely not!  God calls us to action.


"What action is that?" you ask, oooh! Glad you asked!!


First of all we have to realize what He tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We are not promised a life of bliss and abundance, He tells us there WILL be trouble...."hang ups"....but what is our action here?  Take heart! Trust Him! Rest in the knowledge that He has overcome this world!

1 Peter 5:6-7 “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)

Our next action? Humble ourselves before Him and give Him all our worries.  Sometimes its really easy to take our worries to Him, cry out to Him, but way too often I tend to pick them right back up and continue to worry.  Taking action today...laying it down, leaving it there! at His feet!

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (NIV)

Another difficult step at times, Trust!  Its often very hard to trust in what we are not sure of...remember being the child on the side of the pool with a parent in the deep end telling you to jump to them?  It was terrifying, you knew they loved you, but trust was still scary.  That first time or two was frightening, but it seemed the more you did it, the easier it got.  In fact, it became where you didn't even think about it, you just jumped!  You just trusted!

Thats how it is with God.  Trusting can be hard on different "hang ups" in life, because you just don't understand.  But trust, we must!  Jump into the arms of the Father and in doing so, you're comforted through those "hang ups" in life.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (NLT)

With these steps of action, we then learn to encourage others in the same way....as God comforts us, we can turn around and comfort others.  Maybe that "hang up" you're experiencing right now is the very thing God will use in the future to encourage and comfort someone else.  He knows what He is doing and nothing goes without His notice.

I'm choosing today, right now, God's way.  Satan may use many avenues in my life to throw a "hang up" at me, but I will not allow him to have a victory!  Because I'm believing the words of  1 John 4:4 "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

So, let the world "hang up" on me anyway it chooses, I've got a direct line to the God of the universe and I'm trusting Him. He. Is. Faithful. He. Is. Enough!!

To Live a Life that Leaves a Legacy

(this blog dedicated to the memory of Jill Jarvis Attebery)

There is a song I hear quite often on the KLOVE's radio station, and I also have it on my Itunes account and probably the CD of it too, but its the song Legacy, by Nichole Nordeman.  If you have not heard it, here are the words:

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

(and here it is in video form if you want to hear it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbi4nSrhRxo&feature=related

What an awesome message!  The things we do on this earth, they do matter!  They will make a difference in the lives of all those we come in contact with.  

Two years ago today, I had a precious and dear friend of mine taken from this earth in a horrible car accident, leaving behind her husband and an almost 3 month old new baby boy.  I remember the night that baby was born, I wasn't there at the hospital, but she kept texting me to let me know how things were progressing.  We had waited and prayed for this child for years and now God was blessing her with the whole experience of being a "mommy".  I still have the sweetest picture on a shelf in my living room of her holding that baby...a picture of His amazing grace!

She was a "mommy" on this earth, in the world sense, for only a short time; but actually she had "mothered" many over her years on this earth.  I watched her as she went on mission trip after mission trip and discipled young lady after young lady...leaving her legacy.  And now, today, two years later, I know missionaries on the field that served with her, beside her and was encouraged by her.  And young ladies too numerous to count, that had their lives changed by the God of the universe because of Jill's influence in their lives.

She loved life. She loved people. She loved to laugh. She loved to serve. She just loved.  She got "it", that we are put on this earth to make a difference, and she did!

Thanking our God today for the awesome legacy she has left behind and the lives I'm still seeing touched today! Mine included!  I'm reminded of the words of Jill herself, that are written on a bookmark in my Bible:

"How awesome it is that NOTHING around us, in us, near us, or anything like that can separate us from God's love! (Romans 8:35-39) May you rest in the promise of Romans 8:28-'that ALL THINGS work together for GOOD for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.' God's words NEVER FAIL!"

We had plans to have lunch the week after her accident, we had actually set it up the day of her wreck.  And I can rest in knowing that one of these days we'll be eating at the same table again...and better still, in the presence of our Lord!  (for today, God, can you just give her a hug from me?)

a moment caught a two years ago when Landri and I got to keep Bryce

(we had to take him shopping and get Christmas clothes!)