The Unveiling!

OK, with a little help from the Target Clearance aisle, yardsales, mom's antique stash, and some Japanese wrapping paper, we've pulled our bedroom together. We still don't have one of windows finished, but you can get the idea from the pictures below. I wish I had a before picture of our pale pink walls and floral linens - you would see how dramatic the change was.


An overview: you can see our $10 prints from Target (one over the desk and one over the bed) and our yardsale linens - thanks Judy!








The two little prints are the wrapping paper Matt still had from his stay in Japan in 1995!









The desk







One window covered









One window not covered







and finally our little suitcase that I swiped from Mom a couple of months ago now matches perfectly!

Painting Roulette

Why is the color in the can never the color on the wall? Instead of spending all that time matching color samples why not just go to the paint store and say "Surprise me!" because that's what really is going to happen anyway. It's like painting roulette. Now granted this has always worked out well for me in the past. It seems God sovereignly matches colors better than I do. But this time, well I'm sure there's a good reason for the new color on my walls, I mean Matt and the boys like it, it's just that. . .well . . . it's orange!! Oh, call it what you like: "rusty peach", "pumpkin", "warm yellow" everyone knows what you're talking about. It's orange. It's orange in sunlight, it's orange in lamplight, it even glows orange in the dark.

Now orange is not a bad color per se, but you have to remember where I live. I live in Knoxville. Home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers; Vol Country; The Mecca of Volism. Orange means something in this town. At the sight of orange, men grab their beers and their remotes, while women put on their tackiest earrings and burst into "Rocky Top!" (OK, perhaps a slight exaggeration - but not by much!)

Well, I tell you one thing. It's much harder to sleep-in now. Hey, wait a minute - maybe that was God's sovereign plan!

What did you say!?!

My friend Ara sent me a link to a speech evaluation test. It asks questions about how you pronounce certain words or what descriptive phrases you use. Then it scores your speech for it's "Yankee" or "Rebel" influences. Pretty cute. I only scored 73% Dixie which must be the influence of my English teaching Grandma and my Midwestern husband. (Note: for any international visitors this probably won't be appealing unless you want to know what a "crawdad" is. Sorry, I couldn't find an Aussie test, Terri!)

If you take the test, leave a comment and let us know your score.

Happy Father's Day

Thanks Dad for teaching me many things - especially how to find the humor in most any situation. I'll give a little humor back to you on Father's Day! Thanks for being a great dad.

. . . part 3

The justification was complete, but now the sanctification began. God was turning this immature, self-absorbed teenager (sweetie, you know it's true) into a godly man. How? Well, God definitely does the work of our sanctification by His Spirit, but he has tools in his belt which He uses at His discretion. One of these tools is relationships. It's one thing to believe scripture in the quiet seclusion of your home. It is quite another to walk out those truths in relationships. So along came accountability, encouragement, godly examples, and good ol' fashioned conflict to shape Matt - as iron sharpens iron!

Now to what relationships do I give the most credit? Yes, roommates, accountability partners, bible study leaders, caregroup leaders, and pastors have all been vital, but in Matt's life there are 4 men (little, yes) who have done the most to encourage the sanctifying process in his life. They are Samuel, Joshua, Noah and Gabriel. From the day he laid eyes on Samuel, Matt has desired to be a godly example for his boys. That desire has motivated him to die to his flesh in order to glorify God in their eyes. Where once selfish ambition reigned supreme, he now sacrifices his wants daily to benefit his family. He loves his little men with such affection. They have a wonderful dad.

Matt, I don't pretend to know God's full purpose in the invitation you received for a movie night 15 years ago, but I do know that part of it was to start a process of sanctification (not done of course) that would be a blessing especially to your family. Thank you for your affection, patience and kindness toward us. Thanks for having a great sense of humor and adventure. Thanks for perservering with us through difficult times. We love you!

Samuel: "I like having dates with you, Dad."

Joshua: "Thanks for working hard and not complaining."

Noah: "I have a great time with you, Daddy."

Gabriel: "I wuv you, Daddy. Daddy at work."
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see you good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matt. 5:16

. . . part 2

So this Matt fellow shows up on the 11th floor of Andy Holt Apartments. The movie that night was The Cross and the Switchblade starring Erik Estrada and Pat Boone. (I'll leave the movie reviewing to Cap.) Although he was not necessarily impressed with the movie, there were a couple of things that stood out. One was a "devastatingly" beautiful girl (but that's another story) and the other was authentic Christianity. The people Matt met that night were passionate about God, the gospel, and the church. They weren't like most of the folks he had met at U.T. They were endeavoring to live for others, instead of themselves, and to invest in eternity, instead of today's pleasures.

God was drawing Matt to himself. God was showing Matt through various circumstances the futility of the things he had pursued and at the same time was showing him the great value of knowing God. He heard, understood, and by God's grace, responded to the gospel. God had captured Matt's heart. He started reading his Bible. He began attending Cornerstone Church of Knoxville and Volunteers for Christ, Cornerstone's campus outreach.

Then the real work began.

As Sands Through the Hour Glass . . . (part 1)

In January of 1991 a thin, bushy headed fellow who worked in the University of Tennessee bookstore was invited by two co-workers to a movie night in their apartment in Andy Holt Apts. This fellow, named Matt, jumped at the opportunity. He was a freshman at U.T. and had endured a difficult first semester. He was looking for friendship and just plain old something to do. Well his plan was to occupy an evening and make some acquaintances, but God had a different plan (or at least a much more developed one) in mind.

To be continued . . .

Gabe and Marshall

Gabriel and Marshall had a joint birthday party today. Even though we don't watch the show, we thought that a Thomas the Tank Engine party was a good idea since both boys have the middle name "Thomas." Here's some pictures:

The two birthday boys








A bench full of 2-year olds









The Cake







Marshall's sister, Ashlee








Brother 1









Brother 2








Brother 3









We're tired and we're hot (and one of us is 36 weeks pregnant), but we're smiling!

Who's driving?

Samuel has recently moved up from the back of the van to the middle. He can now see the dash and his overall interest in driving has increased. This new interest has resulted in some new comments/questions.
"Mom, what's the speed limit?"
"Mom, I think you may be going to fast."
"Mom, did you put the signal light on when you changed lanes?"
"Mom, don't you think we should get gas now?"
(After rain) "Mom, the road may be slick so please drive carefully."

There is hardly a time that we go anywhere together that I don't get some direction now from my middle-seat driver. His tone is usually very respectful and his desire most times is to be helpful, but occasionally he can forget his inexperience and presume that he knows more than mommy. His tone instead becomes condescending and his desire is to accuse mommy. When these times occur he is reminded of his job to honor mommy - not because mommy is a perfect driver, but because that is the job God has given him.

I saw these interactions in a different light this morning. When I awoke this morning, I immediately thought of a conversation I had with someone yesterday in which God was being accused. This person felt that God had not answered prayer and had instead been neglectful. I, too, have had these opinions before. I have felt that God was overlooking my troubles, either abandoning me to my circumstances or even creating difficult challenges for me that would hurt me. Then I thought of Samuel, sitting in the middle of the van, having a bit of knowledge as to how to drive a car, but having no control over how the car he is riding in is driven. The desire rises up in him to exert some control, to instruct the driver on how it should be done. Hypothetically, what if Samuel got out of his seat, accused me of poor driving and tried to take the wheel from me? Or alternatively, what if he got out of his seat, jumped out of the van and refused to get back in until I agreed to drive the way he wanted me to? Would he be safer driving the car himself? Would he be safer left on the side of the road? No, of course not.

Do you see where I'm going with this? I don't care for analogies that have God in a car so I won't spell it out, but you can see it I'm sure. Aren't we like my hypothetical Samuel at times? We demand that God do things our way or let us drive ourselves. We threaten to abandon what God's doing rather than patiently riding along to discover the lovely destination He has planned for us. What's painfully obvious is that I am not a perfect driver and sometimes Samuel's comments are helpful, but God's ways are perfect. He is never in need of my counsel, and especially not my criticism.

This God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the Lord?And who is a rock, except our God? --Psalm 18:30-31 (All of Psalm 18 is very helpful in this case.)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord,or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. -- Romans 8: 33-36.

If you are struggling with these thoughts: accusing God of neglect or even cruelty, questioning His character, please consider Job 38:1 thru Job 40:5. I'm not saying that we cannot go to God with our questions and confusion, but I am saying that we should remember our proper place. We are not able to control creation on our own. We do not have the knowledge of how things should be as we often think we do. Our job is to honor the God who loves to be our refuge in difficult times. When we consider Him, His power, His character, His authority, we will lay our hand on our mouth as Job did:
Then Job answered the Lord and said: 'Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.' -- Job 40:3-5

Gabriel

The boys favorite song about Gabriel to the tune of "Rubber Ducky" as sung by Ernie on Sesame Street:

Gabie Baby you're the one.
You make having a baby fun.
Gabie Baby we're awfully fond of you.
(Doo doo doo be doo)

Gabie Baby, joy of joys,
You make lots of baby noise.
Gabie Baby you're a very good baby it's true.

Everyday when I make my way to your bedroom.
I find a little fella who's hungry and would like to eat soon.
("bwekfist time" he's hungry!)

Gabie Baby you're so cute.
Even when you burp and poot!
Gabie Baby today you turn two. . .
Gabie Baby I tell you it's true. . .
Gabie Baby we're awfully fond of you!!

Happy Birthday little cutie pie.

Mansuetude

I'm intrigued by one of the words in the National Spelling Bee yesterday. Mansuetude means "gentleness of manner, mildness." Obviously not a common word in our culture or they wouldn't have used it in the Spelling Bee. Ironically, most folks would equate that word with weakness, but I submit that it takes a lot more strength to exhibit mansuetude than to scream and throw a fit when things don't go your way. Who is the stronger? the one who has self-control or the one who doesn't? the one who is ruled by truth or the one who is ruled by circumstances and emotions? Seems like it wouldn't hurt to get to know this word a little better.