25th anniversary

Twenty-five years ago today, Jesus interrupted my atheistic existence. Twenty-five years!

How did I celebrate? By delighting in my real life. The day began with Louie, a diaper, and a baby bottle at 5 a.m followed closely by making social skills pictures for Jona and unbraiding Keona's hair.

Today we had the joy of going to Keona's summer theater class' final show (she was delightful--the big sister of the tribe, gently helping younger ones remember their lines...). Today Jonathan had an incredible time at kid's college learning Flash. Today God guided a dear man to find us a used mini-van in GREAT condition to replace our totaled SUV for within what the insurance company had given us. Today Bear and I enjoyed a quiet hour of eating great food while Granny watched the kids. Today I worked with the Wilsons on editing the anonymous DVD.

Today--fabulous today.

I'm quiet confident that without Jesus' intervention, I would not have seen today. So to live it and breathe it, to touch it and love it...this truly is amazing grace.

University Park Baptist Church

Joy. Family. Warmth. Destiny...This weekend was an experience I'll always treasure.

I am so thankful that Father God gave Christie and I the opportunity to partner in ministry with Dr. Alexander and the church family at UPBC in Charlotte, NC. What a community of faith!

By God's grace, I pray that all in attendance were ministered to through the messages. Personally, I know that my life has been enriched by sharing life with you all.

Thank you Pastor, Kathyrn, Valerie, Kevin, Donna, Cheryl, T, Brad, Dale, and the many others that made our stay so refreshing and fruitful. Thank you church family for receiving the message and the messengers with such warmth. Thank you all for your love, your incredible hospitality, for your generosity, for all the laughter, for the late-night desserts...and mostly for what your example has sown into our lives.

my dear keona

Yesterday, my baby girl turned 5. How did that happen? Here are few of my favorite moments over the last 24 hours:

• having my hair done (around 3 times so far) at Keona's new beauty station
• hearing her say, "Look mom! I just turned 5 and my legs are already taller!"
• savoring her intentions to "live next door so we can always play together when [she] grows up."
• during family devotions this morning, smiling in response to Keona's sincere question: "Mom, does Jesus wear a red cape?"

Maybe he does...

at the stoplight

Around 10:30am this morning, a dear lady ran a red light and we collided in the intersection. I had the two oldest children with me. My kids and the woman are fine, thank God. The car is not. The ER doctor said I'd be sore for 2-4 weeks but currently I just ache and feel very stiff :-).

I didn't want to go to the hospital by ambulance because I knew that would frighten my kids. Bear and Granny drove to Springfield in record time, and as soon as they came I explained to the kids that mommy needed to go check her neck at the doctor. Jonathan began to cry.

"Mommy, are you going to die?!!"

"No Jonathan, mommy's not going to die. I'm going to be just fine."

"Mommy if you die, who is going to speak?"

"Excuse me?"

"If you die, who it going to speak? Who is going to tell the people about Jesus?!"

"Oh buddy, I'm not going to die. But you and your sister and your daddy...all of us can speak about Jesus."

"I can't yet," Jona said, "I still say 'uhm' too often."

My precious, precious children.

spiritual roots

Amy and I landed in Austin around 3pm today and we spent the afternoon and early evening with Kermit and Cindi, the pastors of my home church in Austin. I have roots here.

Cindi's dad was pastor when I was a college student. Pastor baptized me in water as a new believer. He officiated my wedding. He dedicated Jonathan. Glad Tidings was my home church throughout college and when I returned while Barry and I served as campus pastors at the University of Texas.

Roots. They feel good. These dear people remember me as a college student. They've prayed for me, supported me, taught me, been proud of me...and every few years I get to return. Even driving into the parking lot made my eyes moist.

For those who stay while others go, thank you for giving us roots.

he's not using it

"Keona, what are you doing with those two $5 bills?"

"I'm giving them to Averi for her birthday," she replied as she stuffed the money into an envelope. I explained that children give other children gifts for birthdays, normally not money..."So," I concluded, "go ahead and put the money back into your Dora bank."

"I can't," she said.

"Why?"

"It's not my money. It's Louie's money," she explained as she stuffed the bills back in Louie's green piggy bank.

"Honey, you can't give Louie's money away," I said as Bear and I tried to suppress our laughter.

"Why not?" Keona asked, "He's not using it."

home again

Friends, I apologize for dropping off the planet AND for the multiple copies of attempted blogs you received recently. Our webhost decided to automatically change everyone's passwords and my webmaster was in Africa...so I was unable to post blogs for a week and then evidently all the attempts posted at once.

Our road trip was fabulous. I'm so grateful for the concentrated time in the car, seeing the beautiful countryside, walking around NYC.

Here are some closing quotes from the trip:

"This natural stuff Alicia buys for toothpaste sure tastes terrible!" Granny (about the cortisone creme she had mistakenly smeared on her toothbrush)

"I like NYC. But, wow, there's no place like home." Jona (as we were pulling into the driveway)

"I wouldn't cry so much if the dogs had eaten Jona's shoe instead of mine!" Keona (tearful and tired)

"I'm glad we don't have a van mom. I like our SUV because I'm closer to you." Jona