You know you are TOO BUSY when...

1) your 7 year old daughter says, "Mom, you might want to consider tackling these clothes sometime soon!!!" And this is only one of the three dirty clothes baskets/hampers that we use!

2) that same 7 year old daughter says, "Mom, are we going to be in a hurry today??!!!"

3) you go to Wal-Mart (or the grocery store of your choice) 6 times in one week because you didn't have a weekly dinner menu prepared in advanced! (Fortunately, I drive past Wal-Mart at least twice a day during my normal route.)

4) over the past 2 weeks, you have several posts you wanted to put on your blog but didn't get a chance to - instead you posted 4 entries and 19 pictures all at one time!

I can't really explain why we have been so busy except to say that life happens. A very wise friend told me one time that BUSY means "Being Under Satan's Yoke." When we are so preoccupied with daily tasks that we can't think straight, we are certainly not thinking about God and His will. I tend to become so focused on my "To Do" list as a means of survival that I miss out on the opportunities that God gives me to reach out to others, to laugh, to enjoy the moment, to relax, etc.

So tonight I'm staying up late to do what I have wanted to do for the past 2 weeks - post 19 pictures and blog 4 posts, even if it is all at one time! Be sure to read this post and the 3 that follow. ENJOY!

Here's Faith Wrenn helping her dad wash his new truck. "Unpictured" here is Tanner and Faith Wrenn washing my van as a surprise for me. How sweet!

The work is done and now it's time to play. Tanner and Shawn play a little one on one.
That's right, it's time to stop and shoot some B-Ball. Now go play with your children, your grandchildren, your spouse, your friends, your neighbors, or whoever else God puts in your path.

Too Busy Part 2

We came. We jumped. We laughed - A LOT!

So often, Faith Wrenn wants me to jump with her on the trampoline when it's time for me to start dinner etc. But not today. Today, we jumped until we couldn't jump anymore. Well, now that I think about it, we actually jumped until Faith Wrenn and Tanner had an argument and they both had to go inside. But still, we jumped and laughed until then.

Then I got brave and let Tanner, Faith Wrenn, and a neighbor "popcorn" me on the trampoline. I took these pictures while laying down on the trampoline with 3 kids jumping all around me.

Take time today to do something that will make you laugh!

Too Busy Part 3

This past weekend, Tanner went on his first youth retreat. We dropped him off at the church Friday night and didn't see him again until Sunday after worship. We have a fantastic youth group and the leadership is top notch. Tanner had a great time and was in need of some serious sleep when he got home!

Here's Tanner with the marshmallow sculpture the 6th grade boys made of one of their youth leadersIn Tanner's absence, Faith Wrenn decided to surprise him by putting together one of his new lego sets. She enjoys putting things together; Tanner not so much

Time to get started

636 pieces later and WAAAH LAAAH....project complete!

This reminds me of what God does with us and for us. He takes the pieces of our lives and puts them together to make us exactly who He wants us to be. Sometimes from our perspective, pieces seem to be missing or not to fit properly. Sometimes pieces fall off and have to be put back together with special care. Sometimes, we become frustrated because we can't see the big picture. But through the entire process, trusting God is what holds all the pieces together.

Too Busy Part 4

We made another firewood delivery to some folks in need of wood because they heat their homes with woodburning stoves only. My grandparents had a huge tree cut down in their yard and gave us all the wood our truck and trailer could hold. Shawn still has his grandfather's woodsplitter which made cutting the wood a lot easier. Notice who's unloading the wood....which means Faith Wrenn has the camera. Hey, that's MY job!

Taking pictures is a tough job and will wear a girl out!
And then there was the super bowl...we went to some friends' house who had their projector system hooked up! We thought we were sitting in the stands in Tampa.
I had Tanner and Faith Wrenn stand in front of the screen to put the size of it in perspective

And just when I thought I was making real progress with my "To Do" list and starting to regain my sanity again, I was handed this...

Every Thursday morning, I go to Faith Wrenn's school and make photocopies for all 6 of the 2nd grade classes, BEFORE I go to work. I really enjoy volunteering. Last semester, I was able to help out a lot because I wasn't working. Now, it's tax season and back to work for me. Anyway, yesterday Faith Wrenn's teacher told me she had a project for me - copying the 19 books found in these notebooks for all 6 teachers!!! One down and 18 more to go!

Did I mention I only have an hour each Thursday morning to do this??!!! I am very much a task oriented person who needs to get things done so they don't hang over me. I have already been trying to find a block of time to go to the school to work on this. You know, some time when I can get in the building, not have children with me, that doesn't interfere with my job, dinner, or homework time. I need a secretary to do this scheduling!

So, if I don't post again (other than my weekly family posts) for another few weeks, you'll know why. Oh, did I mention that the size of the pages in the books are slightly larger than 8 1/2 x 11 which requires me to work hard at not cutting off any words. They also must be double-sided. You know what happens. One side prints correctly, but the other side messes up. Then both pages have to be copied AGAIN!

God is going to use this project for His glory though. He's going to have me in the workroom exactly when He needs me to be there to talk with a teacher, staff member, parent, etc. Again, it all goes back to trust, and I'm trusting God with the details of this project, with my schedule, and with my sanity!

Almost Wordless Wrennie Wednesday

Faith Wrenn just puts a big ole smile on my face!!! Enough said.

Here a book; There a book......

"T-Man Tuesday"

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:4

Tonight, we went out to eat with family to celebrate my cousin's 18th birthday. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the restaurant and then 30+ minutes to get home. On the way there, Tanner read the new book he checked out from his school library today.

On the way home, he read the OTHER book he checked out today because he had finished the first one! WAY TO GO T-MAN!!!
Tanner has always been an excellent reader, but he just hasn't liked to read until now. His new found desire for reading has been sparked primarily by his Language Arts teacher (who happened to be the vice principal at my high school 20 years ago!)

Anyway, watching Tanner read so much (and actually enjoying it) has been a blessing. It has been one of the best things about public school.

Prior to this school year, Tanner attended a small Christian school for 4 years. I know the transition hasn't been the easiest thing for Tanner (he is in middle school now!) But, I admire Tanner for trusting us (his parents) as we seek God's will regarding his education. God made it very clear that we needed to get out of our Christian comfort zone and get involved in our community - starting with the public school system.

I pray everyday for Tanner to be salt and light in his school. After all, "Nineveh" is our mission field.

Very early in the morning...

"My Man Monday"

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

My husband's alarm goes off promptly at 4:15 a.m. every (work) morning. But before he leaves our room, he prays with me. This morning, I snapped a quick picture of the clock when he finished praying - before I rolled over and got my snore back on!

I am so grateful for my praying husband. Praying together brings us closer to each other and closer to the Lord. It lets me know what is on Shawn's heart and what is important to him. When he prays specifically for me, it makes me feel secure and valued. I am definitely blessed!