Summer Reading

I'd rather read than eat. You wouldn't know it from my size 14 behind. Actually what I really love is eating ice cream while I'm reading, but seriously I LOVE reading. That is a gift from my Mom (Thanks mom!) who is an avid reader.

Kicking off my summer reading in grand style, I will indulge in the quietness of the North Georgia mountains and read uninterrupted whilst my children get lost in the woods, attacked by bears, or at the least go play with other redneck children in the campground. Camping and reading go together almost as good as beach chair, sand and reading.....
So want to know what book I'll have my nose in this week?

1)No Other God's by Kelly Minter- OK I cheated and started this book today, but I heard about it from Beth Moore's LPM blog.

2&3)Mark Driscoll's two books- Vintage Jesus and The Radical Reformission-- I've been wanting to read some books by him. I love listening to him preach/teach online.

4)Crazy Love by Francis Chan-- Got this tip from John Piper's website. Looked interesting.

I'll give you my book reviews in a few weeks. Wish us a fun camping trip. We'll be gone until Sunday!!

Camping

Did I tell you that I love to camp? Now let me qualify that statement. I like to camp in a CAMPER. My tent days are gone. The last time I tent camped, my girls were 5 and 2 and there was a thunderstorm, and well need I say more?

My favorite camping partner is my SIL Lynn. I love her so much, and camping with her is sheer enjoyment!. Girlfriend knows how to have a fun time. We spend more time eating and laughing than anything else. Wayne and Craig take turns as the Grill Masters which means we usually have steaks or chicken.

No camping trip is complete without a campfire. That's when we listen to Wayne and Lynn tell stories about their mama, who is now in heaven. I love it when my girls get to hear stories about their sweet grandma they never got to meet. Sometimes like to imagine Jesus walking her over to the edge of heaven and letting her look down on all of us. I know it would give her pleasure to see what a good man Wayne became. I know she enjoys seeing the girls grow, and then probably wonders why Wayne married a girl that can't make homemade biscuits.:) How did I get down that rabbit trail?
Anyways back to our Memorial Day camping trip-

Wayne and Ginger make relaxation their number one goal

When you play poker with Lynn and Wayne you gotta watch them-- they CHEAT!

The Grill Master

Next camping trip-- 2 days from now!!

When God moves...

You can see it, feel it, make no mistake about it! I have such little faith, and the only remedy I know is to ask God for faith when I have none. When our faith is at it's weakest, He shows himself to be strong!

God is at work in our volunteer clinic. It makes me so full of joy to see His supernatural power all around me!

" Now unto Him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY more than we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory both in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, both now and forever AMEN!" Eph. 3:20-21

I don't wanna brag, but--

my girls totally rocked the house on awards night at SCA!

Virginia's class quoted a passage from Ephesians
Then she collected her smart girl awards with her 4.o GPA

She also got an awards for Christ likeness- must get that from her Daddy!
Leslie and her pals quoted a passage from Revelations. She did great and I was really glad she did not throw up in front of all those people.
She's not just a pretty face, she got an award for mentoring younger students. May be a preschool is in her future.
Best of all, school is over!

When I feel overwhelmed....

I love to read this verse:

Isaiah 41:13
I am the Lord your God,

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you,

DO NOT FEAR!

This has been an overwhelming week.
I am a natural born worrier.
I cannot worry when God is holding my hand.
He even told me,
DO NOT FEAR!

Piano Girl

She played "Ode to Joy" and it was beautiful! I am so glad that she let me talk her into starting back on piano lessons. I could listen to her play all day. When I'm lucky, she asks me to play a duet!

Birthday gifts......

What is the best birthday gift you have ever given? By far, it was my husbands 24th birthday, when I woke him up about 5am in labor. I would venture to say that 11 hours of labor to produce his offspring was the greatest birthday gift he ever got. We were both 24 and actually very unprepared to try and parent a screaming red haired baby girl. She was a gorgeous baby with red curls all over her head. She is even more gorgeous today, and she and her daddy share more than just a birthday. They both:
1)have VERY long legs.
2)get a kick out of teasing/tormenting people they love.
3)are very quiet and kinda just watch what's going on around them before jumping in.
4)think things through for a long time before making a decision(wish I could master that one!)
5)are loyal to people they love
6)have beautiful blue eyes
7)love to sleep in
8)enjoy making and creating things
9)are the biggest gifts from God to me!

Yeah, actually, I think I am the one who got the best gift!

Happy Birthday Wayne and Leslie!