Strawberry Bread

Thought I'd share! Its the BEST!! we make it every year for Christmas. I don't why we don't make it other times, but it is always a Christmas staple in our house.

VIP Holiday Cookbook Vol 6
Submitted by Susan Inskeep Gray/Burke VA

Preheat oven at 350.

Dry ingredients:
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teas baking soda
• 1/2 teas salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Liquid ingredients:
• 1/2 teas vanilla extract
• 1/2 teas almond extract
• 1 1/4 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 2/3 cup oil

Sift dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix remaining ingredients in separate bowl well. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until the liquids coat the flour. Pour into greased loaf pan (9x5) and bake approximately 1 hour.

40 Years

In the day and age that we live, anybody being anywhere or doing anything for 40 years is an achievement. You just don't hear of that kind of dedication and loyalty anymore. We career-hop, house-hop, relationship-hop, car-hop, church-hop... we're just a bunch of rabbits hopping from one thing to the next in search of something. We live among a generation that lives out the phrase, "if I don't like this, I'll just find something different" with the assumption that the something different will be better. But by doing this, I think we miss out on a completely different kind of satisfaction. The satisfaction of perseverance. There is a HUGE reward that we are completely missing and don't even know it.

Today, however, my family is celebrating that reward. 40 years ago today, out of circumstances that they didn't ask for or, at times, probably even questioned if this was the right decision, my parents got married. My parents were high school sweethearts. But life threw a kink in their high school lives. I was on the way. What would life look like if life had not been breathed into my mother's womb, well, we'll never know. But I think they loved each other at the very core and knew this was "the right thing to do." Its not always been happy. Its not always been pretty. Its not always looked like perseverance would triumph. But there has also been tons of laughter. And tons of fun. And tons of memories. And there is love... and Love.

So, Mom and Dad, thanks. Thanks for getting married. Thanks for hanging in there and persevering for our family. Thanks for knowing that divorce was not an option. Thanks for letting Love love through you to those around you. Bud and I (and now Kim and Kayla) have an amazing example of what real love looks like. Its not the fairy tale, pretty, rose-colored glasses kind of love. But it is totally worth investing our all in.

Thanks for loving each other and loving us. We love you!!

Next Generation of Raley Cousins

Don't have time to post much news today. Lots going on. Still processing it all. But got this picture from Mom and thought it too cute . . . so decided to share it with you!

The Current

My soul feels very heavy today. Not sure why I feel the need to blog today. But sometimes this is therapy for me . . . so bear with me. I have worship going on in my mind via my iPod . . . I had a longer than quiet time this morning . . . and yet, my soul is weeping uncontrollably and my body is close to that point. And I'm not even sure why exactly. There's so much stuff going on all around me. I won't even get into it. I'd be posting all day to go into all the details. I think the Spirit is preparing for something and I'm not sure. My mind says I should be looking forward to this week because I have sweet friends coming to town . . . and it may not be a long visit but I'm hoping to get sugar from sweet children later this week . . . then will be loving on other sweet children while their parents are out of town. On paper, it looks like a good and busy week.

But then there's my soul who is over in the corner just weeping. Weird place to be right now. Just weird. A friend talked yesterday about how he feels how he's living life in extremes right now. I hadn't put my finger on it but my heart agrees with that statement. I go from looking at flesh all around me to seeing God move in the most amazing ways in the matter of just moments. I feel like I have a split personality or something!

But all this is not why I'm blogging. During Sunday School class yesterday, God gave me such a picture of my life in Him right now. I can't remember exactly what our teacher was talking about (because my brain went off on this tangent) . . . but she was talking about being in the current of a river (I think). So, after processing for a few minutes, my mind went to the many times I've been in a boat. I first went to being in a sailboat because, well, you know me, I'd rather be sailing! But for this word picture, you need to be in a rowboat.

When you are in a rowboat, you have 4 choices as to what you'll do while in the boat: (1) Get to the shore and just do nothing; (2) Row with all your might against the current to get where you think your supposed to be; (3) Row with the current but do more steering than rowing, and (4) pull up the oars and let the current take you wherever it wills.

So, now. Current. Capital C. Current = God. Rower = you.

I know. Lightbulb is going off, isn't it? I was there too. I've chosen to live in everyone of these scenarios. Today though, I find myself at #3. I'm rowing with the current but trying to steer where I think things are/should be going. But that means I am justifying my steering because I think I know the will of God.

Where are you today?

We should all be #4. But it requires something that is of great price. Trust. To pull my oars up and stop rowing means I trust that the Current is going to take me where It wills. Oh, wait. Look at that. This is nice. I don't have to focus on guiding the boat. I can look around. Aren't those beautiful trees and look at that sky. Wow. Um, are we going faster than we were just a moment ago. Oh. Wait. Are those rapids ahead? What about those rocks that seem to be right in the way. Um, is that a waterfall ahead? Yeah, I'm feeling like I should lay down my oars in the water to help guide the boat. Seriously, I think I hear a waterfall ahead. Nothing good can come from that.

Trust . . . or lack thereof.

Today . . . this hour . . . this moment, I choose to trust the Current. Wherever it goes, I will trust that is where I'm supposed to go. Today, I will trust the Current. I will.

What God Said at Deeper Still

As I've pondered and chewed on everything God spoke while in Atlanta a couple weeks ago, I've been visiting the Deeper Still blog and the Lifeway blog that has been set up for this event. And I've decided that the blog with all of the notes really conveys much more thoroughly what was taught than I could ever communicate.

So here's the link . . .

Deeper Still - The Blog
http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/deeperstill/
(By the way, if you watch the cool video posted on June 30, pay close attn to min 3:40-ish... I was caught on film getting my worship on!)

Lifeway - Women - All Access Blog
http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/womenallaccess/?WN=20080626S1

. . . my prayer is that God will speak to you as you read the notes of this annointed speakers!

Fields of Grace

Not normally a "head-banger" in my taste of music, but our contemporary service was doing a sound check with this song this past Sunday and I fell in love with words. Enjoy!! My goal is to live where these lyrics take me . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HalpbqoVwYQ

Sometimes I Wish I Had God's Perspective

Now, there are many, many reasons why I wish that I had God's perspective. If only I could see with His eyes. But this weekend, I think He had to have been just shaking His head laughing at His children on Friday night. Well, a group of specific children who were gathered at Casa de Rushing to celebrate our freedom. We all gathered late afternoon for fun and food. It was a relaxing afternoon of just "being". It's been a long year and just "being" with friends just doesn't come around nearly enough because the topic of conversation usually centers around stuff with church. I obviously wasn't a part of every conversation, but I don't know that church stuff even came up once. We were just glad to be among friends. We decided after we finished eating to play a game. Every now and then, someone would look at the clock on say that it was getting close to the time we should leave for the drive to the fireworks. And so we continued playing. "Hm, it's getting a little close." "Okay, one more round." "Well, should we go?" "Okay, we have enough time. One more round."

Then. All of a sudden. It's as if we had never looked at the clock before. I'm not even sure how to describe it. But pandamonium broke out. You would have thought we just heard that the President was going to pass by and we had to get everything in order before he came by in about 4.3 seconds. Casa de Rushing is not a small house. It's very comfortable. But it quickly became very small as all of a sudden, like an alarm went off, we realized we had no time to get everything put away, children ready and loaded in vans, say goodbye to all, etc., etc., etc. . . I think at that point God had to be looking down and wondering if He was looking at mice on speed or something. We kept running around . . . and running around . . . "gotta get the kids shoes on . . . oh wait, we need to put the food up . . . hey grab the chairs . . . it was great seeing you . . . and we'll need a blanket . . . how about some water to take . . . the boys still don't have their shoes on . . . no, don't go out that door . . . this was fun . . . please get in the van . . . ok, where are we going to meet . . . please get in the van . . . thanks for coming over . . . have the Inmans left yet . . . can I ride with you . . . where's the bug spray . . . ok, where are we meeting . . . has cathybell left . . . please, just get. in. the. van . . . did we get the water . . . oh, wait, I forgot the chairs" . . . . . . . . all of this happened in the span of oh, maybe, 2 mins!! Everybody finally was out of the house and headed east to the fireworks. Whew! Happy Birthday America!

I Had No Idea . . .

Well, my head didn’t explode. But I did discover something about myself. I was missing something and didn’t even know it. You know how when you have an experience and then for whatever reason, you go for a long time without it. Then when you experience it again, you realize you have been starving for that and didn’t even realize it. But now, there is no turning back. Being in the wilderness doesn’t mean you have to compromise who you are and what God has called you to. And who I am is a daughter of a King. I will not relinquish my birthright just because the circumstances have come “this close” to consuming me. I choose to stand in the knowledge of Whose I am. I will not allow the passion that God has given me to adore Him to be squelched by others lack of passion or understanding. So there!

Now onto last weekend . . .

My weekend of going “Deeper Still” was more than anything I could have imagined or tried to plan on my own. Like I've said before, I am a spoiled daughter of the King. When the opportunity came up for me to go to Atlanta for this conference, I felt very strongly that two specific friends needed to go with me. I would have taken many friends if I could. But felt that these two specific friends needed the encouragement that this weekend would hold. Another friend supplied comp tickets for the event. I found a great hotel room and promised the girls as birthday gifts for each that I would cover the hotel expense. So they just needed to make the arrangements with husbands and family. God orchestrated every step. And off we went to Atlanta.

Both of my friends are in ministry and its been a long year. So even though we’d only be together for about 36 hours, I prayed that God would allow it to be a retreat for them. We arrived Friday afternoon, settled into our room, had a good dinner and set off for the arena. We weren’t exactly sure where we were going and ended up walking around to find where our seats were. Worship had already begun and it was pretty dark in the arena. But we saw were our seats were . . . and to our chagrin, we had to walk down front by the platform right in front of Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur. We hesitated for a moment . . . I turned to the girls and said, “I’m going; ya better follow!” And off we walked, right in front of God and everybody. But what a funny memory. Our friend who got the comp tickets completely set us up with incredible seats (we sat in the row right behind the speakers and praise team!) And they were reserved the whole time, so we could come and go without fear of our seats being taken. Another indication that God had plans to spoil us on this weekend.

I’ll post another blog that tells about what God spoke over the weekend. But needles to say, Beth, Kay, and Priscilla are three of the most anointed speakers I have ever heard. And they each had a specific word to share with the 18,999 woman in that arena . . . and yet, every word was for us individually.

After Friday evening’s session, we hung around to see friends and ended up being one of the last people to leave. As we begin to leave, we heard from somewhere in the building "AAAWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAA”. I look around and here comes a child whom I haven’t seen in probably 7-8 years. Except she’s not a child anymore. She has grown into a beautiful young lady. Kelly is now in college and this summer is interning at Lifeway. We connected a couple weeks ago through facebook.com and knew we both would be in Atlanta but two people finding each other among 18,999 women was going to have be a God thing. And a God thing it was. We didn’t talk long because it was so late. But getting to hug one of my children after so many years, well, words can’t tell. My friends who witnessed the reunion said that the look on our faces said it all. And it felt like we just stood there and hugged for 30 mins. What a sweet blessing! And I thought this weekend was going to be for my friends!

Saturday proved to be just as amazing with the words these leaders had to speak and worship among this group had to have been a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. Amy needed to head back to Florida because of a prior commitment. So during our lunch break, we spent the last fleeting moments of our girls weekend making a run to the airport. Suzanne and I headed back to hear the final sessions. Then we parted ways as she went east to visit family and I headed back to Nashville. As I drove the 4 hours back, it gave me time to reflect over the weekend. It really was the perfect weekend. I don’t know that anything about this past weekend could have been anymore perfect. The weather, the friends, the seats, the hotel, the parking, the speakers, the worship, the memories . . . He made it all perfect. And we left with the promise that we’ll try to make this a yearly event.

I Think My Head May Explode This Weekend

Just to warn you, if you see me walking around with a dazed look in my eyes, it's because of the weekend I'm about to partake in. I'm so very excited. I am meeting two friends in Atlanta for a Women's Conference. I'm not big on women's conference because I'm so not a girlie girl and don't get into all the girlie bonding stuff that usually happens at women's conferences.

But this weekend is going to be different. The wife of the minister I used to work for . . . and the wife of my current worship leader . . . and I . . . are all converging on Atlanta for the "Deeper Still" conference. It's such a God thing how this came about. I kept some friends kids one weekend because they both travel with the worship team for this conference. They offered to get passes for me if I ever wanted to attend one. So I asked if I could get 3. They obliged. I mentioned it to my two friends and asked if their men would agree to sending them to Atlanta for a weekend. And thus, the girls weekend was born.

I am blessed to have a handful of dear friends who love me beyond what I can imagine. We've never had a girls weekend. God orchestrated this whole weekend. I can not wait.

The reason, though, that my head may explode is because in one room, teaching and speaking God's word will be 3 of my favorite speakers: Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur. In addition, the worship is going to be lead by some of my favorites as well: Travis Cottrell, Mandisa, Angela Cruz . . . my head is about to explode just thinking about it.

Speak, Lord, Speak!!

I had a GREAT weekend!

Ok, this is going to be random. I'm going to be all over the place. But hopefully, you'll enjoy my latest musings about my weekend.

Last March I was visiting my grandmother's sister, my Aunt Jane, who will be 90 next year. She mentioned that her grandson, my cousin Will, who has lived in Australia for probably 10 years now, was bringing his whole family back home for a visit. I said to myself, well, that's a Hartge party waiting to happen! So I went ahead and made plans to go home. Apparently, several did as well. We had cousins from everywhere come to town for this unofficial family reunion. Between my grandmother and her sister, my Aunt Jane's kids and their kids and their kids, I think we were only missing 2 counsins. I think.

Anyway, anytime I go home, I always am excited. To be able to spend time with my family obviously doesn't come along near enough since we're seperated by 800 miles. And add Kayla into the mix now . . . well, needless to say I get excited about going back home. (Kayla has grown SOOO much. When I saw her last, in February, she had just turned a year old, was still in a rear-facing car seat, had just started crawling, wore 12 mos clothes, just started eating people food, took 2 naps, and jabbered on but we couldn't understand anything she said. More on what she can do now later.)

Dad and Kayla picked me up at the airport because Mom, Kim, and Bud were unavailable. As we were driving home, it was such a perfect summer Maryland day . . . in the low 80s - no humidty - light breeze . . . that Dad decided that we should go to the park. And Dad being the observant one that he is, said he was going to stay in the van for a few minutes. I thought maybe his hip was bothering him (because he just had the left one replaced 6 weeks ago, but he's doing amazingly well!) So I got Kayla out of her car seat (who is now facing forward . . . something new since I saw her in February), put her down, took her hand and we walked over the playground. Yes. We. Walked. Although she prefers to run everywhere, she is walking like a grown-up girl now. Sheesh. And has grown a foot, I think! Well come to find out, Dad wanted us to have bonding time. He knew that if he was out there with us, she would want him to do everything. So he was giving us time to get to know each other again. (I have to post a new picture, I mean really, it's my Kayla!)

She is the cutest. Seriously. The cutest. She still has little hair except in the back . . . kind of like a baby mullet. But it's slowly coming in. Mom thinks she gets that from me because I was the same way. But if she has my hair, she's one blessed girl because I have great hair (doesn't always look great, but it's healthy and I have a TON of it!) After the park, we went home and had lunch then laid down for a nap. Well, Kayla and Dad did. I did some work from my laptop. Then Kayla woke up. Her new favorite thing is bubbles which is a word she can say. So we sat out on the back porch and blew bubbles for 30 mins. She really does love them. And Dad and I got a kick out of blowing them for her and listening to her giggle.

Speaking of the back porch. My parents have the best. My Dad LOVES birds. He must have 10 different feeders and plants to attract them. All sorts -- flemings, hummingbirds, cardinals, etc. So to sit out on the back porch, well, it's just so restful between listening to the birds in the yard, watching the osprey family flying above, and the black squirrels running around. I told my parents that if I lived there, I would never get anything done because I would want to sit on the back porch all day long and just watch and read.

Anyway, Kim, Bud, and Mom all returned home and we went to meet my mom's immediate family (brother-sister and their kids minus 5) at a seafood restaurant that is just down the road and has INCREDIBLE food. Even missing the 4 cousins and my dad, we still had 14 people. I had soft shell crabs . . . they of course were delicious!

Saturday morning, we just hung out at the house. Bud, Kim, and Kayla are living with my parents right now while they get their house ready to put on the market. So ALL of us just hung out. Kayla, again, what a character. She loves to sing. She's learning one-syllable word songs. She gets stuck on that word though. She's learned the pitches and will just break out into song with no words and you know exactly what she's singing. But when she tries to add the words, she gets stuck in the loop. Row, Row, Row your boat becomes Row, row, row, row, row, row, row . . . until you start laughing at her and then she laughs right along with you.

When I was growing up, one of my earliest memories of my mom's mom, my Granmardi, is being at her house and walking up the steps in her house. There is a Christopher Robin poem we would ALWAYS recite . . . every time we went up or down the steps. Mom has carried on that tradition with Kayla. "There is a stair where I always sit. There is no other quite like it. It's not at the bottom. It's not at the top. It is the stair where I always stop." Kayla is the same as I was . . . every. time. She stops at a stair. It's not always the same one. But she always does it. And won't move until you say it. :~)

That afternoon, we headed to the unofficial Hartge (hart-je) family reunion. I'm telling you. I don't need to get married and have kids. There are enough in our family who are taking care of that. There were kiddos EVERYWHERE. I hadn't really thought about it. I got to catch up with so many aunts and uncles and cousins. It was a blast. We should do this more often.

The funniest thing though. Having lived in Tennesse for 18 years now, I get teased in Maryland because of my "southern" accent (what. ever.) Well, apparently, the same thing happens when you live in Australia for 10 years. I'm hugging and looking at this cousin whom I've known all my life (he's only 6 months younger than I am). But he starts talking and it's as if he was raised in a different country. We agreed not to tease each other because he says I sound like I was raised by Scarlett O'hera. But it was just weird. I'm expecting him to talk one way and well, my brain just hurt trying to wrap around this accent of his.

A great time was had by all. It was again the perfect summer Maryland day. We swam, ate, talked, talked some more, and either participated or watched a soccer game, botchiball, and/or horseshoes. We got home late and all slept very good that night.

The next day was Sunday and the WHOLE family was going to church. I think my Dad walked a little prouder knowing his whole family would be sitting in church with him. Mom and I sang. Then Bud, Kim, and Kayla headed to Virginia to see her family who they hadn't seen in a while. Later that afternoon, we headed to my aunt's house, who lives in my grandmother's house (where I used to recite the Christopher Robin poem) for dinner and horseshoes. Again, another perfect Maryland day. And on top of that, we realized it was my grandfather's birthday (who used to live in the same house.) A thundersorm was headed up the bay and we finished dinner out on the porch just in time before it started raining. Then after cleaning up, we headed out to the front porch which is covered and sheltered, to watch the storm roll through. 13 of us this time. And we sat there for probably for more than 2 hours just talking and remembering and watching and listening and laughing.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. And I have the best family. We may not always agree or get along . . . but we love each other.

(P.S. I have some pictures but I left my camera in Maryland. So I'll upload some pictures once my Mom sends it back to me.)

My Calling

Okay, apparently I've missed my calling in life. Most people would say it would have something to do with being administrative. Some would say it has something to do with music. Or maybe kids. Everyone has a calling. A mission.

My parents new calling is to completly spoil their new granddaughter. The political world's new calling is to drive me absolutely nuts with all the stuff going on with this year's election. There are complete strangers in Nashville who's calling it is to save me from getting a ticket in speed traps (it's happened 4 times in the past 2 weeks!) My friend Cathy Bell's calling is to make me laugh so hard I have to throw up (ask her . . . it's true).

Apparently, according to some (who have the last name Rushing) my calling is to make people cry when reading my blog. I don't mean to. One particular Rushing has even dubbed me the Hallmark Moment Queen. I think she looks forward to getting a card from me just to see what Hallmark moment I will create for her.

So, I now have two tasks set before me.

1) Start posting funny things. I've never been compelled to write funny things because, well, in addition to making me laugh, Cathy is one of the funniest writers I know and I have no ambition to strip her of the title. But I make a promise to at least try so that the boys who read this blog don't have to go crying into the night to find a tissue.

2) Figure out how to post a warning at the top of my blog warning readers to get a tissue before reading any further.

So for those of you who need a joke to come to when I make you cry . . . here goes:

Q: What's an Eskimo's favorite song?

A: Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow!

Our Babies Turn 10 Today!!

Where has the time gone!?! I don't feel any older (well at least in my mind). And yet. Our babies have turned 10 today. How is that possible? I used to laugh at people who said time starts to fly when you get older. And I think this is the first year that I have really started to believe that. 10. Un. Be. Lievable.

This time 10 years ago, I had just gotten on a plane after hours of trying to decide whether to leave or not. Amy was in the hospital and Dr. Presley said it would be at anytime. She just had to give them word that she couldn't go another minute. Yes, she was only 32 weeks but it'll be okay. God's in control and God knows when those babies will be born and the journey that lies ahead. From the time I stepped on the plane to the point of getting off the plane and turning my phone back on an hour later, our world was forever changed. God brought Blake, Tanner, and McKenna to us.

I say us because I don't think the thought has ever entered Carey and Amy's mind that these children were given just to them. This journey has affected many lives and they have graciously been willing to share these 3 miracles with those in their world. The names are countless who have been impacted by these 3 individuals that God created.

Oh the memories that 10 years hold. The laughter laughed. The prayers said. The tears cried. The sleepless nights. The diapers. The bottles. The books read. The games played. The miles travelled.

Today we celebrate you!

Blake: I celebrate you today because of the smile you bring to my face everytime I think about you. I love snuggling with you and just talking. I love how you know exactly what you want. I love how you see in your mind exactly how things should be and set about to make it happen. I love that Christmas will never be the same after being a part of the Dean Christmas Production. God has amazing plans for you and I can't wait to see what they are. Pursue God passionately. That's really all He wants. He'll make the rest happen as you run after Him and let Him fashion your character. He is creating a leader in you. Don't let others dictate to you who you are in Him!

McKenna: I celebrate you today because even now I can close my eyes and hear your laughter ring in my head. I love how you love your brothers. I love how you look at your Daddy with adoration. I love how you are your Mama's helper. I love that we both LOVE to play games for hours and hours on end. I love that without realizing it, you taught me to be a princess. God has formed your heart with such confidence that even at 10, you know you are a Daughter of a King! You are going to change the world, little girl. Always remember where your true beauty comes from. Stand strong knowing Whose you are!

Tanner: I celebrate you today because of the eyes God has given you . . . they are the same color as mine . . . and I love how you "smile" with them. I love you because you give me great hugs—always. I love how you weren't that excited about being a big brother and yet God has given you two a special bond. I love how you see the good in people. I love that you love to play soccer. I love that you love to read. I love how when you set your mind to do something, no matter how hard, you will accomplish it. In addition to the beautiful eyes God has given you, He has also given you spiritual eyes to see people on a deeper level. Don't ever let opionions of the world cloud that vision. It is a special gift.

Thanks for letting me be your Awa. I love you. Happy Birthday!

Peer Pressure

Well, apparently its quite the rage and I somehow missed it. After encouragement from a couple of friends, I finally gave in. The peer pressure was just more than I could take. So I succumbed. It's official. i have a facebook page. I don't know what to do with it other than add to the heading (like this blog) of One More Thing I Don't Have Time to Do! Although, as I was creating my account and trying to find friends (how sad is that), I did find one friend who I haven't talked to in a while. We caught up for 30 mins and that absolutely made my weekend. So we'll see. If you have facebook, I guess I need to be your friend. One pathetic moment while I was trying to learn my way around was right after I set the page up. I had logged out for a moment and when I came back... I noticed the sentence near the top of the page... "You have one friend." How sad is that. Thankfully I am secure enough in my relationships to know that I have WAY more friends than that. So whether you are on facebook or not, thanks for being my friend!!

One Moment

It's amazing how one moment can change life forever. Sometimes we are glad and thankful. Sometimes we don't understand the moments or why life has to change. There are many of these kind of moments in our lives. Few as breathless as when a child is involved.

I, along with countless others, have felt as if we couldn't breathe when news began to spread about the tragedy in Steven and Marybeth Chapman's family life this week. On the same day of celebrating their eldest daughter's engagement and preparing for their eldest son to graduate from high school in a few days, Maria, their youngest daughter (who turned 5 a few days ago) was killed in a tragic accident when her brother who was driving didn't see her in the driveway. Oh my heart grieves for this family, especially the brother. I don't even know this family other than following Steven Curtis Chapman's career (he's one of my favorite songwriters) as well as the ministry they began and support as a family through Shaohannah's Hope (http://www.shaohannahshope.com/). And yet, I feel like I am mourning as if this was one of my children.

This morning I heard an interview on the radio by Steven that gave the background on a song he had written called "Cinderella". The company I work for also published a book with amazing art that features his eldest daughter, Emily, and their adoptive daughters from China: Shaohannah, Stevey Joy, and Maria Sue. The lyrics of this song have echoed through the halls of our bulding for most of yesterday.

Oh, I will dance with Cinderella

I don't want to miss even one song

'cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

and she'll be gone . . .

So today, as we pray and grieve for this family who has opened their lives to us and helped countless numbers of lives through their music, their example, and their ministry of helping adoptive families . . . may we glean what God is wanting to teach us through this.

© 2007 Tucker Photography.(Left to right Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaoey, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily)

"I often hear talk in our circles about "God moments," times when something particularly amazing happens and we know God is involved. While I've experienced plenty of those and am so thankful for those times, I believe every minute we're drawing breath is really a "God moment." God is showing up in every moment and revealing something about Himself to us if we just have eyes to see it and ears to hear it, and most importantly, a heart to receive it."

~ Steven Curtis Chapman

From Cinderella © 2008 by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

She's 1 Year-Old Now

Nothing new to post other than she is just the cutest!!

Kayla and Daddy

I see you!!

My Dad and My Kayla!

This is the Day . . .

Ever have one of those days when you truly think it will not ever end. Kind of like the song, "This is the song that never ends. It just goes on and on and on . . .", that is what my day turned out like yesterday. And it was a Monday. Figures!

Sunday

12:41am -- I get to my car that's parked at the airport (following my birthday trip home). As I'm pulling out, I notice the gas light is on which I remember I didn't take care of before I left. It's after midnight. I'm not ABOUT to go to the gas station at this hour. The light just came on. I have enough gas to get to the house and back to the gas station in the morning.

Monday

7:45am -- I wake up and get ready for my day. I need to get Derby from the kennel then head to work.

8:30am -- Get in car. It won't start. What in the world? Did I leave a light on and the battery die. No. Battery seems to work for other things. Maybe it was on fumes when I drove in. For. The. Love. I'll give it a few minutes. Maybe in my attempt to make it crank, I flooded it.

9:00am -- Still won't crank. Oye. Start to walk to gas station about a mile away. Notice neighbor is home. "Can I PLEASE borrow your car to ride to the corner for gas?" Thank the Lord, my neighbors know me and trust me.

9:20am -- Gallon of gas added. Still won't start. Unbelievable. I really need a man in my life for no other reason than to take care of these kinds of things! Give it some more time. Maybe its flooded.

1000am - Still not cranking. Clicking away. Call work to say I'll be there at some point. Maybe. Sweet co-worker offers to send her husband who doesn't go into work until 1pm come look at it. A man. Not my man but a man none-the-less. Dear Jesus, please let him be able to fix it.

11:00am -- Man arrives. Has tools and everything. Thank You, Jesus, he knows what he's doing. Or at least looks like it. (Time will prove he does.)

11:30am -- Let's try more gas. Maybe it's so low that the pump can't prime. Sure. I thought that might be the issue. So off we go to the gas station again. Glad gas isn't $4.00/gallon yet . . . you'll see why in a moment.

12:05pm -- More gas added. Pump primed. Engine will crank but won't stay on. Tried it several times. The verdict? It's either the gas filter or fuel pump. Pray it's the filter . . . otherwise . . . cha-ching!

12:15pm -- Call AAA because they can maybe do something . . . or at least tow it. My membership has lapsed? Well, I haven't needed it, so I probably just forgot to renew it. I can renew and still get Roadside Assistance? Oh, good. What? My card is declined? Are you kidding me?? Let me call my bank. I'll call you back.

12:18pm -- Call with bank . . . I'm overdrawn $5? Well, I don't know what the deal is? I obviously messed something up in my check register. Can you help as here's the deal . . . [proceed to tell her of my morning] . . . and I have a birthday check that will more than cover it. Seriously? You can't do that? Have I told you the morning I've had already? Yes? And you still can't help?? For. The. Love. Someone remind me to change banks.

1:45pm -- Called a tow truck. Now sitting at the mechanic shop. What a day. Suzanne is coming by to pick me up. They are letting me borrow Jon's car until the morning. Car will be done tomorrow. All this and my dog is STILL at the kennel.

6:55pm -- Rest of the day went ok. Spent it with the boys and Suz. Then dinner with family. Now on my way to work because I had two things that were absolutely due today that I need to get done since I never made it into the office. Need my keycard to get into the building. What did I do with it? I'm sure I saw it either in my laptop bag or my purse. Where is that keycard? Hm. Um. Wait. Speaking of keys. How. Am. I. Going. To. Get. In. My. House?? The garage door opener is in my car and my house key is with my car keys. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I spent an hour at work. And was able to get in my house. Needless to say, I flopped into bed and asked God to please give me a better day tomorrow because I have NO IDEA WHAT He was trying to teach me through all this. [sigh]

And so my day that would never end, comes to an end. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

39 Down . . .

I have come to realize in my 39 years, I am a loved girl. The blessings that I've been given really are just more than one person deserves. And yet, my family and friends . . . and my God . . . just lavish me with love that just overwhelms me. I had a sweet dinner with friends . . . received flowers . . . and cards . . . and gifts . . . and balloons . . . and phone calls . . . and lunch to celebrate. Then I flew home to continue the celebration with family. I'm truly am a loved girl. I really, really am.

The gift that God decided to give me has just made me smile the most. For anybody that knows me, unless I'm at the beach, I like the cold . . . and winter . . . and SNOW. So the night before my birthday as I was having dinner with friends, God made it start to snow. By the time I got home that evening, it was covering the streets. When I woke up birthday morning, there was enough on the ground. Mom told me it was snowing the day I was born, so it seems appropriate that I love snow! Derby and I went outside to play. I love making snowballs and throwing them like balls for him to catch. He doesn't appreciate the snow nearly as much as Lellow used to. He liked to catch them when I threw them in the air. I miss my boy. So Derby and I just sat on the deck and watched snow that God gave me as a birthday gift. (Be sure to see my friend Cathy's blog for a slighty different take on the snow as my gift! http://www.radioactivesnowfall.blogspot.com/)

I think the next favorite gift is the gift of time I received. While home, Bud, Kim, and Kayla, stayed at my parents house just about the entire weekend. We had so much fun just hanging out as a family. I know they had better things to do with their time . . . but without realizing it, this was their gift to me which was more than any gift they could ever purchase.

I'm a loved girl.