July Happenings

I know it has been a while since my last post...

things have been busy!!!

To go back to the beginning of the month,

Darrin and I went out to California to visit

my brother and his wife. We had not been on

a trip ALONE (without children) for nearly 12 years.

We thought it was time!


And it was!!!

I love my children!!!

But time with just my husband is important!

And we don't do it often enough, for sure!!!!

We had a great time with Kory and Shelley!

I LOVE California and want to move there!

The weather alone is reason enough for me!!!!

Seriously!

We went to the beach, did San Francisco, ate out

a bunch! I slept in late! Read!!! And just simply

RELAXED!!!!

It was refreshing, rejuvenating and needed.

It was a blessing!

Here are a few shots from our trip!

Shelley and me in Santa Cruz

The farmer's market in Campbell

Sea Lions in Santa Cruz

A stop on the 17 Mile Dr, headed to Carmel

Headed to the beach in Santa Cruz to boogie board!

Obviously, San Francisco!

It was good for us! It was so good to be with Kory and Shelley! I miss family! Kory and Darrin are more like brothers than brother-in-laws! And I have to tell you that Shelley feels more like a sister to me than a sister-in-law. I so wished we lived closer, but maybe one day!!!

We're going back at Christmas, but we ARE taking the boys with us! They will love California just as much as we did!

What a wonderful trip!!!

Guard Your Heart!

Received an email from a family friend who spent time with their teenagers in family worship recently over this...

I thought it was good!

We started by opening up an online article about the Governor of South Carolina, and reading a few excerpts from the Governors illicit love letters. The Governor says: ...In all my life I have lived by a code of honor and at a variety of levels know I have crossed lines I would have never imagined. I wish I could wish it away, but this soul-mate feel I alluded too is real... We talked about what it means to have a code of honor, to cross lines, and to have a soul-mate. We talked about the Governor's wife and his children and what they must be feeling now.

We read an online comment from a reader:
Ceaser wrote on 06/26/2009 07:26:20 PM: Anyone who is dating or new in a relationship, or in this case having an affair, knows that person is new and exciting. It's easy to spew all this mush and gush when you are trying to pursue someone and wanting to impress them. You always want what you can't have, but believe me, if they were to be together, it would get old just like anything else. In these letters, they are in a bubble. They don't have to share a mortgage, raise kids and deal with day to day issues. The person represents freedom, excitement and no ties or boundaries. It's a fake and pretentious fantasy world that they convince themselves is real and will last forever and be perfect. He only thinks his wife isn't what he needs because they aren't in that "honeymoon phase" any longer. Well, in any established relationship, who is? Romance is necessary, but I'd rather be in a "real" relationship than a pretentious one.

We watched the video of the Governor's humiliating news conference. We listened to Steve Green sing Guard Your Heart, while the lyrics flashed on the screen. The teenagers asked a lot of questions.



Guard Your Heart by Steve Green
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see

What appears to be harmless glance?
Can turn to romance
And homes are divided
Feelings that should never have been
Awakened within
Tearing the heart in two
Listen, I beg of you

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don’t trade it for treasure
Don’t give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It’s high price to pay

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

The human heart is easily swayed
And often betrayed at the hand of emotion
You dare not leave the outcome to chance
You must choose in advance
Or live with the agony
Such needless tragedy

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don’t trade it for treasure
Don’t give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It’s high price to pay

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
Don’t trade it for treasure
Don’t give it away

Guard your Heart
Guard your Heart
As a payment for pleasure
It’s high price to pay

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear
Guard your Heart

God's Word - Alive and Active!!!

Today, while I was doing my Bible study, an assignment was given to spend tome slowly reading a particular Psalm. I love the book of Psalms and always can find God there to speak to me no matter what is going on in my now.

The Psalm I read was so perfect (because that's just how God rolls!)

I wanted to share this with the few who actually read this!

My prayer is that you would hear God speaking to you, no matter where you are in your now!!

If you're....

• going through a difficult time Psalm 116
• going through a season of joy & thanksgiving Psalm 145
• needing confession & restoration Psalm 51
• struggling with identity & self-worth Psalm 139
• in a time of crisis Psalm 143
• needing wisdom & instruction Psalm 119
• longing for intimacy with God Psalm 42
• wanting wisdom & encouragement Psalm 37
• wanting to be reminded of God's greatness & power Psalm 18

As you are reading, let God talk to you!

What does He say?

Pray these words to Him, but also let Him speak to you through the words!!

I hope this blesses you as it did me!

Jon & Kate +8

I have not watched Jon & Kate +8.

I have caught it a couple of times,

but I wasn't a devote fan.

But, I did watch the season premiere,

and was saddened because it sounded

as if they were already separated and

thinking of divorce.

And then I didn't watch it again.

I know too many going through this

already in my life to need to watch it on TV.

I'm sad for all of them (my friends & Jon & Kate)

I found this letter that was written to Kate.

I think it is great!

It is Biblical!

It is tough!

It is wise!

It is truth!!!

Don't know why I wanted to post about it, but I did.

I think we MUST look different than the world!

I know we MUST act differently than the world!

She Would Have Been 9

Rayin, my little girl, would have been 9

this Father's Day.

I don't know if I have ever blogged about her.

I should do it more often!

For some reason this year is

really hitting me and I'm

not sure why.

I suppose I don't have to have a real reason,

some years are just more difficult!

So I have been sad and moody today.

I called a girlfriend and cried

on her shoulder for a bit!

Someday, not today, I will write about

her and tell you the little there is to tell.

I'm just so ready for Heaven when I will

be able to see Rayin and my mom again!

But for now,

remembering my little girl,

Rayin Wynter Ann Stephens

6/18/00

VBS!!!

There is some to update, it has been awhile since my last post!

School got out, so my days are spent with 3 energetic boys and

most days we are at the pool!

But last week was VBS!!!

Our theme was Science Smash!

I taught the younger Bible Study!

I'm waiting for better pictures from others, but I wanted to

post a few of my room where I taught and of me!

WARNING!!!

I was a crazy scientist who loved Einstein and tried

to make my hair like his!!!

Professor Fern AlDiHyde!!!!

I had a great, exhausting, wonderful week of VBS!!!

I love telling children about Jesus and His love for them!!!

I love worshipping and jumping around praisin' Jesus!!!

On a Day Like Today

On a day like today, I wish I was somewhere else...

Whether it be a memory,

a person,

a song, 

a smell...

in my mind I am somewhere else.

I just spent an entire 7 days with my brother and sister-n-law.

Can't tell you when the last time that happened.

It hasn't been since we were both single and there were no kids running around.

I s'pose my reminiscent mood has to do because of that.

It was SO GOOD to have him around!!!

I cried when he left.

On a day like today, I want to go back to an easier time.

a more innocent time

a time 

where my mom was

when I was the kid that was being taken care of

On a day like today, I find my mind on reverse in fast motion

going back to when I was in school

looking forward to summer.

On a day like today, I am thankful for memories.

for good memories

for songs that make me remember

for smells that I will never forget 

and for precious family 

whether they are here on earth with me or in Heaven.