Monday, May 16, 2011

Best quotes of the week

The last week has been packed! We had a district council, a ballet recital, a 12 hour shift, school lunches, etc. My mind sometimes can't stop at night, thinking about it all.

It has been a crazy week. But listening to what has gone on around me has brought a smile to my face, during a crazy week!

Some of the best quotes are as follows:

"God told me to give twenty dollars at church today" from Emma before we head out the door. Dave and I look at each, and are so proud, that our daughter has conversations with God. Then about 5 minutes later, Emma hollers, "God changed his mind, I am giving a five".

"Mom, can we use our goggles in the bathtub, and use bubble bath and turn on the jets?"

"Happy Mother's Day Part 2!"

"GO EMMA" from Maggi as she cheered her sister on during her ballet recital, when the rest of the place was completely quiet. I love that they are each others best cheerleader.

"we are at about 40% of our budget", THANK YOU LORD.

"let me introduce Amy, my best friend" from Dave as he introduces me at a service.

"Cartwright Family, you are the first team to arrive. . ." from Emma who wants her entire family to be on the amazing race.

"your testimony ministered to me" from a dear lady I saw at district council

and today, my dad said, "I am proud of you" (enough said)

These are just a few things that made me smile. I think I had a few more, but at the moment they are not coming to me. Next time I am grabbing a pencil. . .

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day










I love you so much
There is no way I can possibly put into words how proud I am of you
You're absolutely beautiful
Sometimes when our eyes meet
it's like gazing into a reflecting pool,
I see in you glimmers of my past.
do you see in me hints of your future?
You are everything I ever prayed for.
There's nothing about you I'd Change.
I love you more than you will ever know,
more than you will ever ask.
There's nothing I wouldn'g give for you,
nothing I wouldn't do for you.
You are my daughter,
And I willl always love you
with a love so immense
so eternal
I could never find a way to squeeze it into words.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

YARD SALE

I am not a yardsaler.

For one, I worked the weekend shift for so many years, I didn't have the opportunity.

Secondly, I like to sleep in.

The thought of getting up early, and going through someone else's stuff, does not sound like fun at all.

But to have my own yard sale.
Different story entirely.

On our journey to get to Costa Rica, we must "purge" our house.
When we board the plane we will have the ability to check in 20 suitcases.
That is it.
So how do you go from a home, to 20 suitcases?

You guessed it, YARD SALES.



I have only ever had one yard sale before and it was with my sister and sister in law. We all only had a few things, but collectively we did well.

So the thought of putting my things on a table, for all my friends and neighbors to look down on was not all exciting. In fact, the thought of it is humiliating. But to have my "home" on those tables, has been a heavy burden for me. See my stuff is not junk. It is what makes my house, my home. I had to put a price tag on the water fountain I got for mother's day, the turkey plate I use every year, the "this" and the "that". It was too much for this mama.

For months, I have tried to plan, how will I decide, what will I keep, how much is this worth, will it fit in a suitcase, is it worthy to be in the precious 20 suitcases. . .

And today was the day.

We have gone in the attics (I have 2), closets, play room shelves, bedroom closets, sock drawers, shoe baskets, videos, kitchen drawers, holiday decorations, garage bins, garden tools, under the couch, and sort, priced, and decided what was going where.

It has been so hard for me. It has been a process. I have tried so many times, to "Count it all joy", and then I think, "it is just stuff" or "you can't take it with you" or from Dave's now infamous sermon "don't store up your treasures where thieves and moths destroy". . .

So many thoughts.

During the yard sale, my girls and my sweet friends little girls, sold baked goods and coffee, and later icees, for victims of the Alabama tornadoes. And it occurred to me, that those victims, didn't get to pack their 20 suitcases. They had a few seconds to grab their most precious things, their family members, and get to safety. And how blessed am I, to have the time to sort through my stuff, and choose what I want to save.



I would be a liar if I said, that is how I approached it, or even now that is where my thoughts ended up. I still feel a little sorry for myself. But I am much better than I was 24 hours ago. Being at the top of a hill, it a totally different view than the bottom. Looking back down this, I can say things like, "I really didn't need that beautiful centerpiece from Pottery Barn, I mean who want something from a barn in their house anyway". . . or "who really needs dishes to match the season".

I surprised myself a time or two, I let go of my water fountain, but kept my Grandma Lamm's deviled egg platter. I mean come on, who but a bride from the South needs a deviled egg platter? But my aunt gave me that, and it is the only thing from my Grandma Lamm I have. I can't sell that.

I have a long way to go on this journey.

I was recently given a journal, and it is speaking directly to me some recent passages are . . .
"when you are shake out of your comfortable routines, grip my hand tightly and look for growth opportunities. Instead of bemoaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new. I lead you on from glory to glory, making you fit for my kingdom, say "yes" to the ways I work in your life. Trust me"

Do you see how that was written just for me?

and today. I was up at 2:30 this morning. Feeling really sad for myself, and this is what I read, as I was faced with the challenge of the YARD SALE.

Do not fear what this day, or an day, may bring your way. Concentrate on trusting Me and doing what needs to be done. Relax in My sovereignty, remembering that I go before you, as well as with you, into each day. Fear no evil, for I can bring good out of every situation you will ever encounter.

So here we are, with the first step done. We did great today financially. God blessed us richly.

I was also blessed by a friend who stayed with the me the entire time (minus the hour she was gone to a soccer game for her children) she gave from her own home to contribute to our success. She spent hours over here, sorting things, pricing things, cleaning things, and praying over me. She made sure I was well the entire time. She counted it as her own success.

Another friend, has spent hours listing things on Craigs List. She has her own busy life, full time job, and the demands of her own household, but she makes sure that I am at the top of her list of things to do. She even took our leftover unsold things, and will have a yard sale at her home next week to try and sale those items. Who does that for a friend? As a result of a craigs list sale, one man came over late at night to buy an icecream maker. He paid an inflated price, but walked away with a prayer card, and a promise to make a financial pledge. (Is God awesome or what)

I am so humbled by it all. My mind can not comprehend it.

I am sorry that this is so long. . . I am trying to settle my mind down, and this was one way.

I thought that I would be so sad tonight. But I am relieved. Glad that is over, thrilled to have clean closets, attics, and drawers, and even happier that I can park in the garage again.

And I feel



just a little closer to Costa Rica.