Random Thoughts

So as you can imagine things are crazy in our world right now. We are just about 2 weeks away from moving to Charlotte and there is so much to be done, so many people to say bye to and so many doctor's appointment to catch up on. Please, if you have any free time just drop by and pack a box or pick up a kid so I can pack a box! So many emotions are swirling around and truly it just depends on the day as to whether I'm fine or whether I cry off and on all day long. There is part of me that is so excited to partner with Elevation and see what God is doing in Charlotte and then there is another part of me that is already missing my family and friends here in Atlanta. Well I don't really have much to say other than, "I have never squeezed in so many appointments with every kind of "ologist" there is before now." (gotta sqeeze it all in before the insurance ends on the 30th) Please continue to pray for us as we adjust to a new house, a new rooming assignment (SG and Rylee will be roommates), a new church and a new city. We will be sending out an email shortly with all our new contact info. (didn't think that would be a wise move to splash it all over my blog)

Charlotte Bound

It is with mixed emotions that Phillip accepted the position as Family Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC yesterday. We are so excited to be a part of what God is doing in Charlotte, but we're sad about leaving family, friends and our wonderful church, North Point. Please continue to pray for us as we "put feeet" to this move. As I sit here in the mountains relaxing on family vacation I am overwhelmed at the thought of everything that awaits me when we get home. Phillip's official start date has not yet been determined, however we know we will definitely be there by the first of the year, maybe earlier. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us during this time. Not only do we value your prayers but we appreciate them more than words can say. If you want to check out the new church here is their website: www.elevationchurch.org

Airplane to Raleigh

So sorry for such a long stint away from blogging. All I can say is, "I'm a slacker." Anywho, I just wanted to request everyone's prayers as the girls and I board a plane tomorrow and fly to Raleigh, NC to visit Phillip's parents. (for 12 days) Now, the flight is only an hour but I still have my concerns about the airport, the plane ride, and no one being there to help me if something crazy happens. (and I can almost guarentee that something crazy will happen) So if you are here in the ATL over the next 12 days, check on Phillip to see if he's making it ok without his girls around and we will be back on Monday, October 8.

THIS IS LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY

My wonderful sister sent this story to me in an e-mail and I just had to share it because it is hysterical!!!! Thanks Christina!


When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women,
so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check
for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman
leaving the stall.
You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has
been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern
"seat covers" (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty You
would hang your purse on the door hook, if th ere was one, but there isn't -
so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn
over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down your pants, and
assume " The Stance."

In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd
love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or
lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance."

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover
to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your
mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would
have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one
that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now,
you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That
would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still
smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits
your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and
you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet.
"Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious,
tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing
altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of
course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare
bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the
uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was
any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be
utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never
touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, "You just don't KNOW
what kind of diseases you could get."

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused
that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the
inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt
and runs down your legs and int o your shoes. The flush somehow sucks
everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper
dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet
toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found
in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors,
so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the
line of women still waiting.

You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very
end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe.
(Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe,
plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you just might need
this."

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left
the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is
your purs e hanging around your neck?"

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with public restrooms
(rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what
really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked
questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal
can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

This HAD to be written by a woman! No one else could describe it so
accurately!

Send this to all women that need a good laugh AND, don't forget to have a
mammogram!!!!!! It could save your life!

A Friend Is Like A Good Bra...
Hard to Find
Supportive
Comfortable
Always Lifts You Up
Never Lets You Down or Leaves You Hanging
And Is Always Close To Your Heart!!!

Rylee's 1st Birthday Pictures

Ok guys here are the most adorable pictures of the most adorable baby in the world. Hope you enjoy!!


www.sundrapaul.com/rylee.htm

Teachable Moments

I have been trying to write this blog for almost a week now and things have been so crazy that I haven’t got to finish it, so here goes. (pray for no interruptions)

In the lives of toddlers and preschoolers there is almost an endless opportunity for “teachable moments.” However, most of these “moments” are teaching them right from wrong, or to share, or their shapes, colors, letters, etc… I got the opportunity the other day to have a spiritual, teachable moment with Savannah Grace.

Last Wednesday SG had an ENT appt. to have her ear tubes checked. While we were in the office we noticed out the window that 3 police cars had blocked off the traffic going towards GA 400 and 2 Alpharetta fire trucks were parked in the parking lot of the pediatric center. Obviously this made me a little nervous and I couldn’t help but wonder if the office was on fire and we didn’t know about it!! Anyway, we never heard any fire alarms so we went on with our visit and then went to the audiologists to get some earplugs for swimming. Everything went very smoothly and her ears look great. On our way out of the building I noticed that everything was the same as when we saw it in the office and I began to dread trying to get out of there and driving home. As we were going out a lady and her kids were on the way in so I politely asked her if there had been an accident or something. She promptly responded with a “no” and went on to explain that there was a child in the pediatric center that needed to be life-flighted to Scottish Rite. So the 3 police cars blocking the traffic allowed the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta helicopter to land on the road and shortly after that 3 EMTs wheeled out a small child on a stretcher and secured him into the helicopter. All the while I was trying to explain to SG what was going on because she had 101 questions. As they were packing up to fly off I thought that it would be a great moment to share with her and teach her how to pray for others, even when we don’t know there name or exactly what their need is. So right then and there we stopped and I said a pray for this child and when I was done SG said a sweet prayer too. When we got done praying we watched as the helicopter took off and felt the “big windy,” as SG called it, in our hair. Once the helicopter was out of sight we headed to the car but on our way she stopped to tell the fire fighter “thank you” for helping the baby. (Because we saw the fire trucks she was convinced that the baby had touched fire so she kept asking me why the baby had touched the fire. It’s so funny how little kids link and/or relate things together)

Obey the First Time

Ok, in the past I haven’t ever really posted anything inspiring or philosophical so I thought I would give it a shot and see how it goes.

One of our most used phrases with Savannah Grace these days is, “Obey the first time.” I am so tired of telling her EVERYTHING 5 or 6 times. Sometimes I want her to obey the first time just because and other times I need her to obey the first time for her safety, but she doesn’t seem to understand that.

The more I say this phrase and the more I think about ways to make it “click” with her the more the Lord has revealed to me how this phrase relates to my relationship with Him. He has showed me some areas in my life where He is saying, “Obey the first time.”

As frustrated as I get, daily, with Savannah Grace and as much as I think, “If she would just obey the first time her life would be so much easier.” As much as I want her to know that I say all of these things because I love her and right now I know what is best for her, God has showed me it’s the same way with us. He loves me so much and knows what’s best for me and He knows that if I would just obey Him my life would be so much better. I am sure the Lord gets frustrated with me and wonders why I don’t trust Him enough to just obey, even though he has been so faithful to my family and me.

Well I have never professed to being perfect and this is just the latest installment to this “work in progress.” And now that the Lord has shed His light on this place in my life it has given me a fresh cupful of patience for Savannah Grace. If you think about it, lift both of us up in your prayers as we work through this life lesson together.

In what areas of your life is God calling you to obey (the first time He asks)?