Hello again folks. It's been a while. There has been snow and snow and some ice, sleet, and some more snow around here. I believe we're up to 9 snow days but that's o.k. according to the kiddos from school as they've heard that the law in Illinois states that you may make up 5 snow days; any beyond 5 is simply an act of God and you do not have to make those up...I guess time will tell on that one. Personally, I'm thinking we can go to school on Casmir Pulasky day and make up one there.
But to my point..."do your best and be a leader." I've been reading a new book and it is, of course, about sports. That is the theme in our house. This book is called "Playing with Purpose" and offers mini biographies of the big three quarterbacks drafted in 2010: Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow. The book is written by Mike Yorkey. The cover says, "inside the lives and faith of the NFL's top new quarterbacks."
Sam Bradford is an only child from Oklahoma who was the #1 draft pick in the first round of the NFL 2010 draft---this is big deal in case you are not a sports person. This is a super big deal and he has held is own as the starter for the Rams. He earned a guaranteed $51 million this year and in a recent interview he stated that he has not purchased any big items...unless you count his pool table. So, he's driving his college car, living in an apartment in St. Louis and probably has it furnished much like most of us did just out of college...except he has the pool table. His parents did not do sports on Sunday as that was the day to go to church and worship. He is a leader in his faith and was in college as well. Sam has been vocal about his faith in Jesus Christ and was a leader in the FCA on campus at Oklahoma. In college he began a pregame ritual in which he reads I Samuel 17; the story of David and Goliath. He was quoted as saying that it was not so much that he felt that he was always going up against giants, but that he knew God was with him, it gave him courage to be a leader on the field, too. It also taught him focus on God and not the battle at hand that might seem overwhelming. Great lesson there! Check out this link to "I am second" spots with both Sam and Colt. Sam is a Heisman Trophy winner...again, a big deal in the sports world.
Colt McCoy is the oldest of 3 boys and the son of a small town football coach. Sports go way back in his family and being one of three boys is probably why he hits a soft spot in my heart. His parents felt that small town was the atmosphere in which they wanted to raise their children. He graduated from the smallest bracket of schools which is very unusual because he was then recruited to a rather large and well known college to play as a Texas Longhorn. Check out his interview at his last game as a college QB at Texas where he was out of the game fairly early due to an injury. This did not make a dent in his dream to become an NFL QB. He, too, went on to be drafted first round in 2010. He, too, had some awesome parents. His dad would drop his boys off at school and say as they jumped out of the car, "do your best and be a leader." Their philosophy was that parents should aim high with their childrne. Think I Corinthians 9:24 here: "do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize? The McCoy's had 4 principles that they wanted to pass along to their children: 1. They would prepare their children for the path and not the path for their children, 2. They would prepare their children to do their best, 3. They would prepare their children to be leaders, and 4. They would prepare htier children for open and closed doors...great stuff there!
Then there's Tim...America's sweetheart. His parents were career missionaries in the Philippines. Tim is the youngest of 5 and born to his mother when she was 37 and in a foreign country. It wasn't an unexpected pregnancy and they had, in fact, prayed for "Timmy" before his conception. Wow! The problem is that just before the pregnancy, she contracted a disease from the drinking water. She was in a coma and consequently treated with some very aggressive antimicrobial drugs. These drugs, known to cause severe birth defects, were the reason the doctors there suggested they "discontinue" the pregnancy. This, was not an option. They returned from the Philippines where the family is still very involved in ministry. Their children were homeschooled through high school and due to a homeschool friendly law in Florida, most played sports at local Christian or public schools. Tim is also a Heisman Trophy winner and nominated a second time. The thing Tim is most widely known for is his evangelism under his eyes. Those little black things under a football player's eyes are actually smudges made of beeswax, paraffin, and carbon and their purpose is to reduce glare. Tim felt convicted that he needed to use that space as he knew that the camera would be on him as the QB. His first verse was PHL under one eye and 4:13 under the other. He continued this tradition throughout the remainder of his college career. What an awesome idea!
This has caused me to think a lot more about my kids, especially Colton and Brett who are now teenagers...what have I taught them about living real life? I think that being a leader is important; God needs leaders and not merely bench warmers. So, we've started adding the line, "do your best and be a leader." Where are you to be a leader? In school, with your friends whether they are Christians or not. If your Christian friends are making poor choices, lead them to make better ones. Be a leader in doing God's work--in Awana, as a camp counselor, helping people of all ages, be a leader, be a leader.
So, today as I ask myself, Lord, did I let You order my steps, I think He might say to me, "did you do your best and were you a leader?" Something to ponder.
Have an awesome day tomorrow; do your best and be a leader!
I am second with Sam and Colt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WcmW8egqwE
Colt McCoy's interview in Rose Bowl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHgEESzcGRA
Tim Tebow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozq00UCykK0
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Birthdays
Birthdays...there are some I hate (mine) and some I love (my kiddos). Today finished our annual "birthday season," that occurs between November 22 just before Thanksgiving and MLK Jr. day. Within that fairly short time frame, 4 of the 5 of our family members have their birthdays. Paul's birthday is rolling around in a few months and by that time our wallets usually have recovered.
Here's the whole story. My birthday comes between Christmas and New years. As the story goes, the doctor asked my parents if they would like the baby to arrive before New Year's or after. Being the fiscal manager he is, my dad chose before, of course. This is where you will easily conjure up thoughts of a pity party...but anyway...so every year I received the occasional one gift at Christmas with the statement, "oh, by the way, this is for your birthday, too." Then there were the birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper. Add to that the fact the birthdays were just not celebrated at our house outside of your choosing the birthday meal. Mine was chicken and dumplings or fried chicken. I don't remember much else except Katie's since she was the next older and her favorite foods (ready for this?) were cabbage and liver and onions. Ick.
So, as an adult guess what I kept telling people? "I'll never (gotta watch that word with God) have a child around Christmas. My oldest was born just a mere two weeks before Christmas and then the second born in early January and then the youngest born the day before Thanksgiving. Wow, way to go, huh? That plan worked out really well, didn't it?
With that as the backdrop here is what we do at the Masters house. Each birthday is celebrated as a wonderful day created by God and a day of thanksgiving for the bundle of joy that God so chose to give us. We do not put up any Christmas decorations until after the first December birthday passes. We also take down the decorations before my birthday. I know that may sound strange. We always have a real live tree so the shorter time frame actually works quite well. We always look forward to those decorations going up and we are still in the holiday mood when we take them down. Oh, and we wrap birthday gifts in birthday paper and Christmas gifts in Christmas paper. Just a thing. We also do treats for wherever we'll be that day--school or church or wherever, and we do a cake of the birthday person's choosing. Brett is a confirmed chocolate-aholic...no kidding! His cupcakes were chocolate cake with chocolate chips iced with chocolate icing with chocolate chips. His cake was a Culver's concrete cake in the brownie overload variety. Yummy!
All that to say, I constantly think about memories of childhood and how they have left their mark on me whether bad or good---mostly good. I also think of how these memories we are making will play out in the minds of my children. Will they celebrate birthdays like we do or differently? We're here to make memories and leave an impression (that mark) on our children. It must include how they God and the world He created. This is my most important job.
In this, my the Lord order my steps.
Have a great week and my God Bless You!
Lisa
Here's the whole story. My birthday comes between Christmas and New years. As the story goes, the doctor asked my parents if they would like the baby to arrive before New Year's or after. Being the fiscal manager he is, my dad chose before, of course. This is where you will easily conjure up thoughts of a pity party...but anyway...so every year I received the occasional one gift at Christmas with the statement, "oh, by the way, this is for your birthday, too." Then there were the birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper. Add to that the fact the birthdays were just not celebrated at our house outside of your choosing the birthday meal. Mine was chicken and dumplings or fried chicken. I don't remember much else except Katie's since she was the next older and her favorite foods (ready for this?) were cabbage and liver and onions. Ick.
So, as an adult guess what I kept telling people? "I'll never (gotta watch that word with God) have a child around Christmas. My oldest was born just a mere two weeks before Christmas and then the second born in early January and then the youngest born the day before Thanksgiving. Wow, way to go, huh? That plan worked out really well, didn't it?
With that as the backdrop here is what we do at the Masters house. Each birthday is celebrated as a wonderful day created by God and a day of thanksgiving for the bundle of joy that God so chose to give us. We do not put up any Christmas decorations until after the first December birthday passes. We also take down the decorations before my birthday. I know that may sound strange. We always have a real live tree so the shorter time frame actually works quite well. We always look forward to those decorations going up and we are still in the holiday mood when we take them down. Oh, and we wrap birthday gifts in birthday paper and Christmas gifts in Christmas paper. Just a thing. We also do treats for wherever we'll be that day--school or church or wherever, and we do a cake of the birthday person's choosing. Brett is a confirmed chocolate-aholic...no kidding! His cupcakes were chocolate cake with chocolate chips iced with chocolate icing with chocolate chips. His cake was a Culver's concrete cake in the brownie overload variety. Yummy!
All that to say, I constantly think about memories of childhood and how they have left their mark on me whether bad or good---mostly good. I also think of how these memories we are making will play out in the minds of my children. Will they celebrate birthdays like we do or differently? We're here to make memories and leave an impression (that mark) on our children. It must include how they God and the world He created. This is my most important job.
In this, my the Lord order my steps.
Have a great week and my God Bless You!
Lisa
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The week ahead...
The week ahead--how interesting. Today it is frigidly cold (I think) and tomorrow it appears that snow will be coming back (ick). We have basketball practice tomorrow night, then three sets of home games on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A free evening on Friday and basketball on Saturday. Brett turns 13 on Saturday (yeah!) with a sleepover through the Martin Luther King Day on Monday. This will be a fun week. An ice cream cake from Culver's will need to be purchased, pizza and popcorn fully supplied along with a little soda for the special day. Oh, and I need to check in on his fabulous gift that I scored on Ebay.
Now, what to have done for the week? The laundry has been my thorn this weekend. Every time I went to put in what I thought would be the last load of darks, it appeared as if someone had located that long lost pile in their room. You know the one, the one that I've mentioned a number of times to PUT in the laundry. I must say that laundry is about my least favorite chore. I think I'd rather clean a toilet. Just a personal preference. I've also found that some folks feel more like they are accomplishing things when they complete one load a day. I feel best when I do all the laundry at one time, it's done and put away, and we can forget about it for a week. So, the last load is in the washer (this is significant in my odd little ocd mind).
The dishwasher will be started as we get off to school tomorrow.
I'm updating the chore list to make it more appropriate for teenagers :).
The coupons are clipped; they still need to be organized.
My closet is still not cleaned out. This time of year, I take the new items I received for Christmas and birthday and make myself get rid of the same number of items.
This week will also hold some "to-dos" for a variety of volunteer positions as well.
So, how to organize? My new favorite tool is a notebook. I have it organized by "job" as in Awana, Youth SS, Mom, St. Paul's, etc. Then within "mom" there are locations for pertinent information for each child, things that are due by the date (say the D-Now applications and amounts needed), any class information, etc. It seems to work well.
My prayer this week is that once again, the Lord would literally order my steps and that His will would be done in our home, in our activities, and in all of our life.
God Bless You and May God Order YOUR Steps, too,
Lisa
Now, what to have done for the week? The laundry has been my thorn this weekend. Every time I went to put in what I thought would be the last load of darks, it appeared as if someone had located that long lost pile in their room. You know the one, the one that I've mentioned a number of times to PUT in the laundry. I must say that laundry is about my least favorite chore. I think I'd rather clean a toilet. Just a personal preference. I've also found that some folks feel more like they are accomplishing things when they complete one load a day. I feel best when I do all the laundry at one time, it's done and put away, and we can forget about it for a week. So, the last load is in the washer (this is significant in my odd little ocd mind).
The dishwasher will be started as we get off to school tomorrow.
I'm updating the chore list to make it more appropriate for teenagers :).
The coupons are clipped; they still need to be organized.
My closet is still not cleaned out. This time of year, I take the new items I received for Christmas and birthday and make myself get rid of the same number of items.
This week will also hold some "to-dos" for a variety of volunteer positions as well.
So, how to organize? My new favorite tool is a notebook. I have it organized by "job" as in Awana, Youth SS, Mom, St. Paul's, etc. Then within "mom" there are locations for pertinent information for each child, things that are due by the date (say the D-Now applications and amounts needed), any class information, etc. It seems to work well.
My prayer this week is that once again, the Lord would literally order my steps and that His will would be done in our home, in our activities, and in all of our life.
God Bless You and May God Order YOUR Steps, too,
Lisa
Friday, January 7, 2011
Welcome Weekend!
Weekends--love them...they bring a little break from the schedule, they allow us to get things done--like chores :)--around the house. Weekends offer more time for a fun, leisurely breakfast and a thought out evening meal and a lovely Sunday crockpot lunch. Sometimes the weekdays just don't allow for those things. So weekend, welcome!
This weekend will bring an Upwards Basketball game, chores (they love those, right?), a FREE Saturday evening, and church on Sunday. I love my Sunday School class--my 7/8 grade girl class--this might surprise you that I, the mother of boys only, teach 7/8 grade girls. It's been so much fun and my co-teacher who is all of 25 is a hoot to work with. Sunday evenings also bring the 24/7 program from Awana for middle and high school age students to go deeper in their walk with God. Good stuff all around!
On the menu this weekend will be our own version of breakfast sandwiches with eggs, whatever else you want on it, and english muffins. It's great that the boys are now able to do this one by themselves! For lunch, it will be the big grab--leftovers. Since it is so cold out I think that tomorrow night will be a baked macaroni and cheese.
These last few months have been definitely a time of change for our food budget and the amount of food. Here's something I didn't think about until we got here so to speak. You know how "tacos" included one package of tortillas, one package of cheese, and one pound of burger? Not anymore at our house. Our recipe for baked mac and cheese is struggling to morph into the appropriate size to feed the parents and the little one plus the two teenagers--YIKES! I've tried to add half the recipe and something is still off so it doesn't quite taste the same (not that it matters to the teenagers) and if I double it, I don't have a pan large enough.
I read a post not long ago about a Mother of teenage boys who said that before EACH meal she had them each eat a slice of bread and drink a glass of water...hmmm?
Welcome weekend--visit again often! This weekend, let God order your steps--in the morning when you wake up and wish perhaps for more sleep, on Sunday in church, and Sunday evening as we prepare for next week.
Lord, please order my steps!
God Bless You,
Lisa
This weekend will bring an Upwards Basketball game, chores (they love those, right?), a FREE Saturday evening, and church on Sunday. I love my Sunday School class--my 7/8 grade girl class--this might surprise you that I, the mother of boys only, teach 7/8 grade girls. It's been so much fun and my co-teacher who is all of 25 is a hoot to work with. Sunday evenings also bring the 24/7 program from Awana for middle and high school age students to go deeper in their walk with God. Good stuff all around!
On the menu this weekend will be our own version of breakfast sandwiches with eggs, whatever else you want on it, and english muffins. It's great that the boys are now able to do this one by themselves! For lunch, it will be the big grab--leftovers. Since it is so cold out I think that tomorrow night will be a baked macaroni and cheese.
These last few months have been definitely a time of change for our food budget and the amount of food. Here's something I didn't think about until we got here so to speak. You know how "tacos" included one package of tortillas, one package of cheese, and one pound of burger? Not anymore at our house. Our recipe for baked mac and cheese is struggling to morph into the appropriate size to feed the parents and the little one plus the two teenagers--YIKES! I've tried to add half the recipe and something is still off so it doesn't quite taste the same (not that it matters to the teenagers) and if I double it, I don't have a pan large enough.
I read a post not long ago about a Mother of teenage boys who said that before EACH meal she had them each eat a slice of bread and drink a glass of water...hmmm?
Welcome weekend--visit again often! This weekend, let God order your steps--in the morning when you wake up and wish perhaps for more sleep, on Sunday in church, and Sunday evening as we prepare for next week.
Lord, please order my steps!
God Bless You,
Lisa
Thursday, January 6, 2011
I live a Sporting Life!
Yes, I live a very sporting life and by that I mean that we spend a good deal of time involved in sports. For instance, between Tuesday evening through the first week of February, we will be playing basketball four nights a week and Andrew will also play on Saturday morning. Are we crazy? I think we must be. Our suppers this week have been EASY. Tacos, Chicken alfredo in a skillet, and home made pepperoni pizza calzones. I think it may be pancakes tomorrow night. Easy, easy.
This, too, shall pass. There will be a time when we are not shuffling here and there and I know I will miss it! So, for now, let's ride this roller coaster and make the most of it. These gifts of mine, gifts from God, are our biggest job. My favorite quote from Steve Martin in Cheaper by the Dozen, "if I screw up raising my kids, nothing else really matters much." So, come out and check out good middle school basketball games and watch the boys grow literally before your very eyes!
And, Lord, again please order my steps tomorrow so that what I do, what our family does, is ordered by You.
God Bless You,
Lisa
This, too, shall pass. There will be a time when we are not shuffling here and there and I know I will miss it! So, for now, let's ride this roller coaster and make the most of it. These gifts of mine, gifts from God, are our biggest job. My favorite quote from Steve Martin in Cheaper by the Dozen, "if I screw up raising my kids, nothing else really matters much." So, come out and check out good middle school basketball games and watch the boys grow literally before your very eyes!
And, Lord, again please order my steps tomorrow so that what I do, what our family does, is ordered by You.
God Bless You,
Lisa
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Basketball--hmmph!
Basketball is another sport that nearly everyone in our family participates in. This evening was the first of four game nights this week for my children. One plays on the "C" team and two on the "A" team for our local Christian School. Our games this evening were away at a Lutheran school about one half hour to the north of us. The "C" game was good and was only lost in the last minute as those five boys were exhausted! There are no substitutes and they each play their hardest. The "A" team has a total of 7 players but were completely outscored and outdefended tonight. It was like watching football on a basketball court...that aggressive and I personally lost count on the fouls...it was difficult to watch and frustrating for the boys.
So, how to ask the Lord to order these steps? Lord, please forgive me for unkind words and unsportmanlike conduct. May I not get a technical called on me! Please Lord, order my steps in my actions every minute of every day!
God Bless You all!
Lisa
So, how to ask the Lord to order these steps? Lord, please forgive me for unkind words and unsportmanlike conduct. May I not get a technical called on me! Please Lord, order my steps in my actions every minute of every day!
God Bless You all!
Lisa
Monday, January 3, 2011
What shall we say then, if God is for us, who can be against us?
I've always enjoyed the verse and it was the topic of our family devotion this morning...really, if God is for us (that's the if statement), {then} who can be against us? So, the question becomes is God for you? Are you a believer saved by the blood of Christ on the cross. I sincerely hope that you are. God sent His Son to die on the cross for your sins. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...we do not measure up nor can we ever do so. God, in His great love for us, sent Christ to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. See, the price had to be paid for the wages of sin is death, someone had to die. Christ took on the weight of our sins and bore them to the cross where He willingly allowed his body to be crucified in a despicable death. The best news is that He rose again in three days just as He promised and in that resurrection, He defeated death and sin and satan himself. This redemption (salvation) is a free gift and it is impossible to earn or work your way to Heaven, it is only available as that free gift with the belief in God and the acceptance of His Son as your Savior and Lord, as your leader taking the lead in your life.
So, if God is for you (and me) then who can be against us? In reality, no one can be against us. It may appear that we are persecuted in this world, sickness, financial difficulty, other issues, etc. but with God on our side, we have a future and a hope that this life was meant to be lived in abundance, in love, in the fellowship of His believers and we have the most awesome hope of Heaven as our future home.
As we are early in this 2011 year, please accept Christ as your Savior if you have not already and please share Him with others as you live. Let's let God order our steps as we walk daily to work, school, the store, etc. living for God and sharing His love with those around us.
God Bless You today!
Lisa
So, if God is for you (and me) then who can be against us? In reality, no one can be against us. It may appear that we are persecuted in this world, sickness, financial difficulty, other issues, etc. but with God on our side, we have a future and a hope that this life was meant to be lived in abundance, in love, in the fellowship of His believers and we have the most awesome hope of Heaven as our future home.
As we are early in this 2011 year, please accept Christ as your Savior if you have not already and please share Him with others as you live. Let's let God order our steps as we walk daily to work, school, the store, etc. living for God and sharing His love with those around us.
God Bless You today!
Lisa
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Brand New Year
It's here! 2011 has arrived and we have been given the opportunity to experience another great year. This year my goal is that the Lord would order my steps---really--that He would lead me to do exactly what He wants daily and not just the big, overall picture but in the day-to-day things of life. How would He want me to act, to say, to do in this situation or that. This will be a challenge; I am up for the challenge!
My goals as a Mom will be to provide a home complete; to have an environment in our home that is conducive to learning, to feeling totally comfortable, and one in which we can all be ourselves and enjoy each other's company.
To that end, I am planning the menu for January and trying to take into consideration the many basketball games and practices, church on Wednesday nights and on Sundays, and the other events that compete for our time in the schedule.
Along with the menu, I am setting up our cleaning schedule so that more than just the weekly chores are completed in a timely manner.
May God bless you this year and may we all look back next December and say that the Lord surely ordered our steps.
Lisa
My goals as a Mom will be to provide a home complete; to have an environment in our home that is conducive to learning, to feeling totally comfortable, and one in which we can all be ourselves and enjoy each other's company.
To that end, I am planning the menu for January and trying to take into consideration the many basketball games and practices, church on Wednesday nights and on Sundays, and the other events that compete for our time in the schedule.
Along with the menu, I am setting up our cleaning schedule so that more than just the weekly chores are completed in a timely manner.
May God bless you this year and may we all look back next December and say that the Lord surely ordered our steps.
Lisa
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