We Need to be Connected

"Wrennie Wednesday"

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11

Faith Wrenn has learned how to link rubber bands together and make a chain. She apparently found a rubber band stash in her Sunday School class and made one of her chains at church.

The sermon that morning was about God using people to grow us. Our pastor talked about how God created us to be linked or connected together with other people. He said that we can't obey a lot of the Scriptures if we don't have other people in our lives (i.e., being a part of the body, loving one another, etc.) - this really spoke to me.

Anyway, after the service, Faith Wrenn was playing with her chain while we walked to the car. She was using it as a jump rope when she said, "Hey Mom, this (chain) looks like what Pastor Jeff was talking about. We have to be connected to God and to other people!"

It brings tears to my eyes when Faith Wrenn and Tanner actually "get it" - you know, when they truly understand God's Word and take it to heart. Faith Wrenn was playing with her chain again this afternoon and made a comment about needing God and other people.

God used a handful of rubber bands hooked together to teach a 7 year old (and a 38 year old) an important truth. Isn't He amazing?

Monkey See, Monkey Do

"T-Man Tuesday"

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Saturday night I asked Tanner and Faith Wrenn if they would be willing to donate some of their stuffed animals to a local children's home for Valentine's Day. Faith Wrenn was hesitate because her stuffed animals are very special to her and she is "collecting" them. Initially, she said no.

Tanner said he would be glad to give his stuffed animals away, and he went to his room to get them. As Faith Wrenn watched Tanner put his animals in a bag, she was inspired. Once he was finished, Faith Wrenn headed straight for her room with Tanner close behind to help her.

As Faith Wrenn debated long and hard about if/which animals to give away, Tanner encouraged her and offered pros and cons to make the decisions a little easier. With Tanner's prompting, Faith Wrenn did donate several animals. It was Tanner's example of selflessness that made Faith Wrenn want to follow suit. His generosity was contagious.

May we never forget that someone (i.e., our child, spouse, friend, co-worker, family member, neighbor, stranger, etc.) is always watching us and that our actions can have a positive impact on them. May we be like Tanner and imitate God through our actions (Ephesians 5:1.)

A Man After God's Own Heart

"My Man Monday"
"Encourage one another and build each other up." 1 Thess. 5:11

I am so grateful to have a husband who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and who is growing in his faith. Recently, Shawn's prayer has been for God to fill his heart with compassion for other people. (Mercy is not one of my husband's strong suits. He's more of a "pull yourself up by your boot straps & get things done" kind of guy.) But, he truly has been asking God to change his heart and to love people through him.

Here's how God has answered this prayer in the past week:

*Last Thursday, I walked into our bedroom to find my husband putting some socks into the pockets of a nice jacket. The next morning, he gave the jacket to someone at work who is struggling to make ends meet.

* Friday night, we were at a restaurant with my family waiting to be seated when Shawn got a phone call from another co-worker who was in a difficult situation and needed some help. Without hesitation, he and I were in the car heading to help. Dinner had to wait.

* On Sunday afternoon, we went with another family from church to help some folks in need of firewood. This required Shawn to borrow a wood splitter from his grandfather, get it in working order and then use it to cut large logs into firewood.

WOW! God is up to something GREAT in the heart of my husband! And I'm so thankful that Shawn is pursing God and is willing to have his heart transformed by Him.

Me and My Man

Take Your Daughter to Work Day

"Wrennie Wednesday"
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11

While you all were enjoying MLK Jr. Day on Monday, Faith Wrenn had to go to work with me - thanks to the relentless stomach virus that is still circulating amongst some of our family members.

She did FANTASTIC! She helped around the office by doing things like watering the plants, moving furniture (on wheels), taking things to other people for me, picking up cans after the recycling truck left them on the ground, etc. She really was a great helper, and she never once whined or complained. I was sooooo proud of her!

We did pack her a bag of fun things to do while we were there all day. Here's a few pictures:

My desk is L-shaped and it made a great hideout for my little spy while she played on the computer and with her PSP. Fortunately, there was plenty of room for her and my feet!
Smiling faces from cool hideout places!

"T-Man Tuesday"

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

Here is my T-Man with a few of his favorite things: his X-Box 360 controller, his bandana, and his cellphone. I am amazed when I think about Tanner turning 13 this year!

We had a "teaching opportunity" this weekend that reminded me that he is definitley growing up and that God has given him a noteable ability to discern between right and wrong (by God's standards, not the world's.) My prayer for him is that he will continue to seek the Lord and His will as he gets older.

"My Man Monday" - on Tuesday

"Encourage one another and build each other up." 1 Thess. 5:11

To say that Shawn, my husband, is a positive person would be putting it mildly. Not only does he see the glass half full, he automatically starts looking for ways to add more to the glass!!! I admire this about him.

He also likes to take care of things ("to do" lists, etc.) immediately. Opposites really do attract! Often times, God uses this quality in my husband to keep me motivated and on track. Usually, I come up with an idea or "a project," and Shawn takes the steps to make it happen. THANK YOU LORD FOR MY HUSBAND!

"Wrennie Wednesday"

READ POST BELOW FIRST - then you'll understand these pictures!!!!! SORRY, inexperienced blogger error!

The picture above is of Faith Wrenn's spy gear. She and her friends love to play spies. She has a wonderfully vivid imagination.

Faith Wrenn got a keyboard from Nana at Christmas. She sings, plays, and dances to music all the time. She has an ear for music.

This is a picture of Faith Wrenn's science lab kits. She wants to be a research scientist who discovers a cure for something like HIV/AIDS when she grows up. Until then, she will be honing her skills via concoctions made in her own laboratory at home.

THANKS FOR THE PICTURES FAITH WRENN! YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB!

***START READING RIGHT HERE FIRST***

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11

Not only has Faith Wrenn been setting her own alarm for school and actually getting up when it goes off, she is also checking the weather every night and laying out her clothes for the next day - WITHOUT BEING TOLD!

When I walked into her room the other night to turn off her night light, the picture to the left is what I found in the middle of her bedroom floor.

This girl is very prepared! When she commits to doing something, she goes all out. I admire her motivation and determination.

Case in point, she just saw me typing this post and was inspired. She took my camera to her room and took pictures of some of her favorite things to share about herself on today's post. Now let's see if I can upload them. Hmmmmmm.........

Obviously, I'm having blogger issues! I did upload the pictures, but they are ABOVE this post instead of after it. Even tried to delete them, but couldn't get that to work either. I'm so glad God started working on my perfectionism years ago......

If you go back to the pictures at the beginning of this post, they should make sense now.

I'm a work in progress, how about you??!!! Hey, is there a "Blogging for Dummies" book? Could be a birthday idea.....