Still Stealing Kisses

http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2009/12/still-stealing-kisses.html

Today's devotion taken from the above site: Lysa Terkeurst

When Art and I were first married, we struggled. A lot. We both brought in loads of unrealistic expectations into our marriage. And instead of our first years being blissfully romantic, they were spent sifting through layer after layer of hurt, disappointment, anger, and grief.

For years my marriage felt more like a life sentence than a blessed partnership.It was tough, really tough.

But one sticky, hot, Mississippi afternoon I caught a glimpse of something that I've never forgotten. Peaking out a window with cracked green paint peeling from the sill, I watched as Mamaw pulled a rusty yard chair over to sit by Papaw.

Like a piece of a puzzle settling into place, Mamaw fit just right by her man. No conversation ensued, no catching up was necessary, just a look and a nod and everything was understood. It was their waltz of doing life together that had been perfected over time.

And it made me cry.

Tears slipped from my eyes and dripped down my cheeks splattering onto an old linoleum floor well worn from years of activity. Years of making his favorite breakfast of biscuits with giblet gravy. Years of running after their babies, grand babies and even great grand babies. Years of pacing the floor trying to chase away the grief of losing two of their six children.

I grabbed my camera and swiped the back of my hand across my cheeks.

"Kiss her Papaw," I said in a voice to soft for his hearing aid to catch. Mamaw knew he hadn't heard and so without missing a beat, she leaned over and kissed him instead. My camera clicked. And with that one click a legacy of love was captured.

I loved that moment.

I loved it then.

And I especially love it now.

It has been years ago that Mamaw laid Papaw into the arms of Jesus and kissed his cheek for the last time on this side of eternity.

But last Thursday I pictured her seeing him again. Seeing him whole and healthy and able to hear her slightest whisper. And I love that thought.

I also love the thought of Art and I one day sitting in old yard chairs able to speak volumes with just a glance and a nod. Still stealing kisses between the activity of all our kids.

And still thinking of the words Papaw once wrote to us in a letter I've read hundreds of times. "Life is more than just the living of it. Now, you two discover it together."

They did.

And by the grace of God we are too. We really are.

The greatest of legacies aren't necessarily built around the big moments of life marked with anniversary dates and wise words spoken to the crowds. They are built around peeling window sills, rusty yard chairs, and secret kisses when you thought no one else was looking.

But they were.

Pictures-Weekend Fun

After a fun Christmas parade in town with lotsa sunshine and yummy coffee, we headed to the library for Jase's madrigals to perform.

And they sounded great as always!

A couple former students/madrigals joined in too ;)

And while they performed.....our monkies played under the big huge table.....

Seriously....I can't take them anywhere anymore!!!

Jase and I then took 3 of his students back down to Millikin University for their Christmas Vespers Concert and let me just say......AMAZING!!!! You should seriously check it out sometime.....it was sooooooooooooooo beautiful!!!!! We then hit Avanti's on the way home but it was so busy we decided to do takeout and literally showed everyone what true hungry rednecks do: Buy a tub of Fettucini Alfredo, grab some plastic forks, hop in the back of our van, and dig in.

To which my dear hubby did the same ;) And then we finished up with some yummy Culver's ice cream for dessert.....what a great day!

Today ended up being beautiful too, I woke up feeling like poop on a stick....fighting a cold....debating whether or not to go to church. But I did and was so glad I did.......Pastor preached another AMAZINGLY FANTASICAL sermon I will have to post about later. Came home, ate lunch, my dear hubby cleaned up the kitchen, then let me take a 3 hour nap!!!! Then made us all pancakes for supper...that were oh so yummy....and cleaned up the kitchen AGAIN!

I seriously think I'm gonna keep this guy forever ;)

We did go see Paw-Paw Doc tonite and just wanted to request prayer for him again. The goal was to have him back home by Thanksgiving but that didn't happen. And now it looks like we're looking at long term for nursing home ;( We have alot of mixed feelings.....it's just so hard to have to "help" make these decisions with him. It's so sad......but yet he's getting excellent care where he's at. They told us he is now in end stage kidney failure. We have so much peace about him being where he's at because just thinking about bringing him home when he has gone down hill so much is a scary thing. I don't think any of us could afford to hire around-the-clock care and that's the point he's at now. So please just keep him in your prayers that he would feel the peace that passes all understanding thru this season.

Hope you all had a great weekend and enjoyed the sunshine today!!!

In the Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6HmW15Bxo4

I Wanna Be in the Light----By DC Talk

I keep trying to find a life On my own, apart from You
I am the king of excuses I've got one for every selfish thing I do
What's going on inside of me? I despise my own behaviour
This only serves to confirm my suspicions That I'm still a man in need of a Saviour


CHORUS: I wanna be in the Light As You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the Light All I want is to be in the Light


The disease of self runs through my blood It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed To bring this sickness under control
Tell me, what's going on inside of me? I despise my own behaviour
This only serves to confirm my suspicions That I'm still a man in need of a Saviour


Honesty becomes me [There's nothing left to lose] The secrets that did run me
[In Your presence are defused] Pride has no position [And riches have no worth]
The fame that once did cover me [Has been sentenced to this Earth]
Has been sentenced to this Earth


Tell me, what's going on inside of me? I despise my own behaviour
This only serves to confirm my suspicions That I'm still a man in need of a Saviour


[There's no other place that I want to be] [No other place that I can see]
[A place to be that's just right] [Someday I'm gonna be in the Light]
[You are in the Light] [That's where I need to be] [That's right where I need to be]

Something Miraculous

"We can refuse to walk in obedience to God or cower in fear from our calling and He will undoubtedly still accomplish His agenda. As for us, however, we will pass up the fulfillment of our own entire life-purpose and we - and perhaps even "our father's family" - will miss a mighty work. Frighteningly, perhaps even a mighty deliverance. One of our biggest obstacles in our most important moments "for such a time as this" is the difficulty of the destiny - serving task."

"None of our purposes will be fulfilled easily. All of them will require the most difficult decisions we think we can make. Decisions that we may feel will practically kill us. Then God does something miraculous and we become something we're not. That's when "who knows" becomes "I know."

~Beth Moore

Pictures-More Family Gatherings

More family gatherings for Thanksgiving....and celebrating Ellie's bday!

And more horsey.....Uncle Matt is such a sport!!!

Fun with cousin Alyssa

And Gabe got a new CAT tractor with a battery operated screwdriver....just like Paw-Paw's that he can take the thing apart and screw it back together.....what a great gift!!! Thanks Uncle Bob and Aunt Jo!

Look at those game faces!!!

Little CindyLouWho is peekin out!

Quick Cobbler

So I took this to MOPS this morning and everyone loved it and wanted the recipe.
So here is the easiest, quickest, yummiest cobbler ever!

2 cans of pie filling
1 yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter

Grease bottom of 9x13, dump pie filling in. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top.
Drizzle melted butter over top of that. I filled in with a little bit of water too
so all the cake mix would be wet and not so dry.
Bake @ 350 for 45 min or until golden brown.

Yum, yum, yum.......today I made cherry and it was amazing! Enjoy!

Dear Triple S....

You are almost 28 weeks old now.
You have become a very, very, very active little monkey in my tummy!
You never stop moving.
You make my tummy jump frequently.
You kick so hard people stare at my tummy and say: Whoa!
But that's okay......because you are just like your big brother & sister.
Daddy & Mommy prayed for a laid back baby this time around.....
But we love you just the way you are already.
Even if you are another energetic and onery monkey.
We are so excited to meet you and cuddle with you.
Did I tell you yet that you like to dance in my tummy?
Gabe keeps asking when you are coming here ;)
Ellie just keeps patting you thru Mommy's tummy.
You like to poke my belly button ;)
When you hear the piano, you start jumping, just like your brother & sister did!
We are praying for you that you will continue to grow big and healthy.
And that you will grow up to be a mighty warrior for Jesus!
We love you Triple S........See you soonly!