Days that are Seared into your Memory

Today will be one of those days. I remember the day Daniel proposed. The day Daniel's mom called and told us to drive to Memphis that Deborah (Daniel's sister) was in the hospital for what they thought was cancer. The day that Daniel signed his record deal with Sparrow Records. Some moments are simply seared into your memory and you will never forget them. Some are wonderful, some are scary, some are life altering. Today Deborah called and asked if we'd heard from his mom. That she had some tests run today. She's been having some pains the past couple of months. She was diagnosed with Acid Reflux and then was to continue further testing. Today Daniel's dad called and said she had a MRI today and there is a mass on her liver and the doctors think it is cancerous. She will go in for a biopsy on Monday to see if it is cancerous or not, so we have to sit and wait and pray as we are stunned by this news. This could become one of those life altering moments. I know it will be forever seared into my memory. The dreaded phone call that a loved one is not ok. That the fun you've been having with friends is suddenly clouded with worry and fear.

So we wait and pray and trust the One who created us all that He is in control and His timing is best and His ways are higher than ours.

I am and there in none besides me.

This is the phrase that the Bablyonian people took on as their mantra. They lived this way day in and day out. I am worried that it is mine as well. Today is my birthday so I feel like I have some kind of right that life should be all about me today. But what about every other day? Don't those selfish thought creep in then as well? Oh how I long to give and serve and make a difference in this world. I have been doing the Beth Moore Bible Study on Daniel and it has been so enlightening. I was nervous about all the prophecy and usually take a stance that well whatever happens in the future is going to happen and God will take care of it. If I read about beasts and other things in Revelation I just gave up because of a lack of understanding. This Beth Moore study though has sparked interest and understanding and I'm loving the symbolism and revelation of the prophecies from the book of Daniel. So if you are looking for a new study then I'm challenging you to check out the Beth Moore study on Daniel. Whew. It is rocking my world! And making me re-think some things in my life. Is it really all about me? Of course not, but am I living that way?

From Fall to Christmas Overnight

This is the first year that I've actually put out Fall decorations thanks to my good friend Casey's influence. Her house looked so cute as you look around and see glimpses of fall all around.

Saturday I convinced Daniel to help get all the Christmas stuff down from the attic. He declared that one of the large bins was going in the garbage this year and we were getting a few smaller ones that would be more manageable. He says this as he's handing it down to me from the attic and I'm feeling like a wobbly ballerina doing an arabesque to reach the box and then realizing how heavy it was and almost dropping it right then and there. I totally agreed on his plan of action for this year. New boxes here I come.

I didn't try and put the tree up, but I did set out the other knick knacks that announce to everyone that Christmas time is here. And I got Daniel to burn me the new Bebo Norman Christmas CD that we purchased from iTunes. I have NEVER gotten things out and ready this early in the year. But for some reason I'm extra excited this year. I think as I learn more about Christ and who He was I'm even more thrilled that He came to earth. That is definitely something worth celebrating!

Miss Katie

I'd been subbing at the same elementary school all week last week and I'd noticed on the wall with the teachers names there was an extra one....Miss Katie. I thought maybe it was an old student teacher or something and they hadn't taken her name down. Then on Friday I came in and got to meet Miss Katie. She is a 21 year old Down Syndrome lady who comes in on Friday's and gets to be the PE teacher for a day. Every Friday she comes and assists and leads exercises. The kids were wonderful to her. Even during our morning duty they all told her hello. It was super sweet and such a great opportunity for her. I would watch her remind students (and sometimes me) of the rules. If a class didn't do too well she would apologize. Her mom is a teacher here and apparently since she was 18 she's been coming every Friday to help out.

I was so glad that I got to meet her and at the end of the day she gave me a big hug.

Life in the Fast Lane

I got my first speeding ticket on Saturday.

I was heading to Smyrna from Clarksville (through Nashville) on I-24 and I was going 70 ..that's an appropriate speed for the interstate, right?!? But through Nashville (parallel to the stadium) it's 55mph not 65mph. UGH! So I see the cop and immediately slow down and immediately he pulls out and I know that I'm caught. BUT I'M ABOUT TO BE AT THE SPLIT OF I-24/I-40. Soooo I kept going....I created a little chase, not on purpose, but I was gonna be splitting left and you are supposed to pull over on the right hand side. So we went through the split and then I pulled over safely on the right. I DIDN'T CRY! And he was very very nice. He told me my options, pay the ticket or go to traffic school (they even have that online now.) And he told me to be careful pulling out onto the interstate.

When I got home Daniel had a card waiting for me that said- Cheer Up- I'm behind you all the way...(open to the inside)...If I can keep up!!!

At lunch yesterday, I told my parents which initiated stories about all their tickets from years past. Apparently fast driving comes from my dad's side of the family. :) He had lots of fun ticket stories that put my 70 in a 55 to shame.

Available on iTunes

I feel like we've hit a milestone. Daniel's EP is available on iTunes!!! Go check it out. We also thought that they would take away his old CD, but they haven't yet. They probably will when they release the whole album. (It is set to be in stores Feb 26th.)
And....one station added it to their playlist last Friday (too bad it's in Michigan and I can't listen to it.) But other stations have the opportunity to add GOD IN ME this Friday. Now we just have to wait and see if they will add it or not. :)
I have been so excited, but of course I forgot about "reviews" and of course there is already a not so hot review. Please pray that I won't take these reviews to heart and that Daniel will not get discouraged by bad reviews. It's crazy when there are 100 good things said we tend to focus on the 1 bad. ugh.