The Sweetest Things

Valentine's Day is this weekend, and it has made me think about the sweetest things that I have ever been given or experienced.  This past year has definitely changed my perspective on this holiday, so when I think about what has been so special in my life, the little things are what come to mind.  When I think about who has loved me better than anyone else in my life, my kiddos are the obvious answer.

So here are the sweetest things I have ever received from my loves:

A jam session in the car with Xavier.  Just a few weeks ago, on our way home one Sunday night, my JAM Jordan Feliz, The River came on the radio.  I cranked it up and belted it out.  Instead of being mortified, Xavier added some dashboard percussion.  And he didn't end it after that song.  In fact, we had a little worship service all the way home.  It meant so much to me that he would connect with me like that.  I am truly blessed.

A compliment from Emma Gracie.  Also not too long ago, I was still in my jammies one morning, and Emma told me I was "so pretty."  I hadn't even brushed my hair or my teeth yet that day.  And she is literally my physical clone - and she is very aware of this.  So, by her complimenting me, that inadvertently means that she was having self-confidence that day, as well.  The best compliment she can give me is to love herself.  I am very proud of the lovely young lady she is growing to be.

A cuddle with Johnny Honny.  These happen often, and they are always the exact thing I need.  I don't know how he does it, but his hugs and cuddles actually find a way to wrap themselves around my heart.  I literally feel it within my chest when he wraps his little arms around me.  It has always been this way, and I pray it never, ever changes.  Everyone should be as lucky as I am to be hugged from the inside out.  God knew exactly what I needed when he sent this dear boy to be part of my family, and I am so very grateful.

As Valentine's Day approaches, I hope each of you are able to reflect on what you have in your life and realize that the love you have in your life may be so much more important than any flowers or candy or jewelry or cards or even fancy dinners.  And this love may show itself on some random Tuesday, instead of some commercialized date on the calendar.  I hope you all truly feel loved this year.

Something Beautiful

A few weeks ago, I blogged what I called "Not a very nice post."  In that post I shared some personal information about what a very trying and difficult year 2015 had been for me.  I warned closed-minded and judgmental people not to read it, asked that I not be given advice, and said quite frankly that I just really needed a friend to share with. 

Well, what happened was I got some very kind words of support from some great people, most people didn't read it and therefore, still don't know my story, and some people read it and chose to judge me, gave me unsolicited and unwanted advice, and caused me to doubt myself and eventually delete that post.

After making some unexpected changes in my life, like deleting my facebook account and changing churches, this is what I have decided:  Phooey on "those" people!

"Those" people told me that I need to be careful what I share, that people need to earn the right to hear my story.  Phooey on them, I say!

"Those" people told me that I was too broken to be of any use to anyone else because I have real problems and real emotions.  Phooey, phooey, phooey!

"Those" people told me that I am not in a place to be of service to God in their church until I seek professional help because I asked for a friend.  You guessed it: P.H.O.O.E.Y.!!!

"Those" people said that one day I might be surprised that God may use this to help someone else.  I'm honestly running out of "phooey" here - stick with me on this one.

This is what I have to say to "those" people.

Shame on you!   My story is my testimony.  True, right now it may be a testimony in the works, but it is a testimony all the same.  While my faith in people continues to dwindle because of all the "phooeyness" that people create, my faith in my SAVIOR grows stronger every day.  And it is because of this that MY story deserves to be told and heard and shared.

And for "those" people who believe I am too broken to be any good for anyone or to be of service to God, just know this - I am EXACTLY as broken as I am supposed to be.  I might be caught in the muck and mire from time to time, but that is where God finds his soldiers.  He didn't come to heal the righteous, he didn't come to call the qualified.  He came to save the sinners and qualify the called.  And if the only people the church is looking to use are those who have no issues in their lives, who have it all figured out, who are never stressed or need a friend, or never post their feelings on social media, well then, maybe that is the problem with the church: they are looking for perfection, when it only can be found in Christ.

And to "those" people who said that I may be surprised to find that God may use this part of my life "one day"....  Let me tell you this!  I am all too familiar with how God can use the pain in your life to help others.  In fall 2003, my infant son died.  Every day of my life since then, God has been using that part of my life to connect and help others.  So I am very aware of how God works in this way.  But the truth is, God doesn't have to wait until I am all fixed and better and "cleaned up" to use this part of my life.  He can and IS using me right now, whether I am good enough for you or not.  All he needs is for me to be willing and obedient.  And he has as much of that as he needs.

So, to "those" people, phooey!  You may have shaken my faith in the building of the church and in the people who attend, but you have not rattled my faith in my Heavenly Father at all.

To the rest of you, this is who I am.   I am a Type I diabetic who struggles with taking care of myself.  I am a mother who struggles with being overwhelmed by the everyday demands of life and often makes mistakes with my kids.  My husband was unfaithful to our marriage last year, and we are currently in counseling, because although Jesus allows for divorce in this situation (Matthew 19), he COMMANDS that we love and forgive (the whole Bible) - and we choose to follow his commands.  I am a daughter who does not love like I should.  I am a woman who needs friends in her life.  And I am a sinner, who needs God's forgiveness and grace every single day.

In the words of Steven Curtis Chapman,

And God’s says
I’m gonna turn it into something different
I’m gonna turn it into something good
I’m gonna take all the broken pieces
And make something beautiful like only I could
So put it all in the hands of the Father
Give it up, give it all over to
The only one who can turn it into
Something beautiful
Something really beautiful

Something Beautiful

Xavier ISSMA - Ballad for the Dance - Group I Timpani Piece

Xavier participated in the regional ISSMA contest today at Bloomington North High School.  This was both a familiar experience for me, as well as new territory.  I participated in this contest from 7th - 12th grade as a choir student, doing many solos and several different types of ensemble numbers.  However, there is a huge difference between being a female choir student and being a Band Mom.  The experience was none-the-less enjoyable, and I adore watching my little (BIG) buddy perform.

This was his first experience in the ISSMA south competition, as he has participated in the ISSMA central group at Perry with Franklin Township in the past.  And he was given a Group I Timpani solo piece.  The timpani is a new instrument to him and obviously, we don't have one of these instruments at home - one of the interesting parts of being a percussionist is that you get to work with many types of instrument, and most of them you can only work on at school.  Additionally, if you place with a Gold with a Group I piece, you get to go to State competition.  And Band grades base on your score.  So there is a lot on the line with this performance.

So, here is my little buddy, playing Ballad for the Dance, on Timpani.  He got a Silver rating for his performance, but I am none-the-less proud of him for taking on such a challenge.

Here he is getting ready to play.

And now for his performance:

And here he is with his Silver ribbon.  Way to go, Xavier!   We are very proud of you!!!!

We're on a journey. Wanna join us?

At the beginning of the year, our family decided that we wanted to read the Bible through in a year.  James has read it through a couple of times actually, but it is something I have never done, and we wanted our kids to have the experience, as well.

I heard in an interview a while back that Billy Graham has been reading one Proverb each day, every day, for several years.  He reads the one that corresponds to the date in the month (i.e.: He reads Proverbs 5 on the 5th of the month).  Since Proverbs was corresponding with our Sunday School class, I figured that was a good way to start.  So, January 1st (actually, January 3rd since I got the idea during Sunday School) we began reading the Proverbs like Billy Graham does.  

Then, I researched and found a couple of example one-year reading plans and adapted them to our program.  I mixed it up a bit, so you don't have to jump right into Genesis and so that all the "begat, begats" and rules/numbers books aren't all together.  Below is the reading plan I came up with.

We decided that after we have finished the reading, we will take a field trip to the Creation Museum in Cincinnati to learn more about what we just finished reading.  We will be taking the trip the end of April 2017.

At the beginning, this was a goal for Sunday School, but now, I figure I can share it with all of you and you can join along if you like.  

You can either read to catch up, or you can just start with whatever date you are finding this.  If you get behind, that's okay.  Just start again on the new day and you can read what you missed later.  And if you want to join us on the field trip to the Museum, we'd love to have you!

Bible Reading Plan
You can copy and paste this to your own document, or I do have it in Excel and PDF forms as well.  Just let me know if you want a copy.

Date	Reading	Completed
1/1/2016	Proverbs 1
1/2/2016	Proverbs 2
1/3/2016	Proverbs 3
1/4/2016	Proverbs 4
1/5/2016	Proverbs 5
1/6/2016	Proverbs 6
1/7/2016	Proverbs 7
1/8/2016	Proverbs 8
1/9/2016	Proverbs 9
1/10/2016	Proverbs 10
1/11/2016	Proverbs 11
1/12/2016	Proverbs 12
1/13/2016	Proverbs 13
1/14/2016	Proverbs 14
1/15/2016	Proverbs 15
1/16/2016	Proverbs 16
1/17/2016	Proverbs 17
1/18/2016	Proverbs 18
1/19/2016	Proverbs 19
1/20/2016	Proverbs 20
1/21/2016	Proverbs 21
1/22/2016	Proverbs 22
1/23/2016	Proverbs 23
1/24/2016	Proverbs 24
1/25/2016	Proverbs 25
1/26/2016	Proverbs 26
1/27/2016	Proverbs 27
1/28/2016	Proverbs 28
1/29/2016	Proverbs 29
1/30/2016	Proverbs 30
1/31/2016	Proverbs 31
2/1/2016	Ezra 1-3
2/2/2016	Ezra 4-6
2/3/2016	Ezra 7-10
2/4/2016	1 Samuel 1-3
2/5/2016	1 Samuel 4-6
2/6/2016	1 Samuel 7-9
2/7/2016	1 Samuel 10-12
2/8/2016	1 Samuel 13-15
2/9/2016	1 Samuel 16-18
2/10/2016	1 Samuel 19-21
2/11/2016	1 Samuel 22-24
2/12/2016	1 Samuel 25-27
2/13/2016	1 Samuel 28-31
2/14/2016	2 Samuel 1-3
2/15/2016	2 Samuel 4-6
2/16/2016	2 Samuel 7-9
2/17/2016	2 Samuel 10-12
2/18/2016	2 Samuel 13-15
2/19/2016	2 Samuel 16-18
2/20/2016	2 Samuel 19-21
2/21/2016	2 Samuel 22-24
2/22/2016	Ecclesiastes 1-3
2/23/2016	Ecclesiastes 4-6
2/24/2016	Ecclesiastes 7-9
2/25/2016	Ecclesiastes 10-12
2/26/2016	Nehemiah 1-3
2/27/2016	Nehemiah 4-6
2/28/2016	Nehemiah 7-9
2/29/2016	Nehemiah 10-13
3/1/2016	Esther 1-3
3/2/2016	Esther 4-6
3/3/2016	Esther 7-10
3/4/2016	James 1-3
3/5/2016	James 4-5
3/6/2016	1 Peter 1-5
3/7/2016	2 Peter 1-3
3/8/2016	1 John 1-3
3/9/2016	1 John 4-5
3/10/2016	2 John, 3 John, Jude
3/11/2016	Genesis 1-3
3/12/2016	Genesis 4-6
3/13/2016	Genesis 7-9
3/14/2016	Genesis 10-12
3/15/2016	Genesis 13-15
3/16/2016	Genesis 16-18
3/17/2016	Genesis 19-21
3/18/2016	Genesis 22-24
3/19/2016	Genesis 25-27
3/20/2016	Genesis 28-30
3/21/2016	Genesis 31-33
3/22/2016	Genesis 34-36
3/23/2016	Genesis 37-39
3/24/2016	Genesis 40-42
3/25/2016	Genesis 43-46
3/26/2016	Genesis 47-50
3/27/2016	Galations 1-3
3/28/2016	Galations 4-6
3/29/2016	Ephesians 1-3
3/30/2016	Ephesians 4-6
3/31/2016	Philippians 1-4
4/1/2016	Colossians 1-4
4/2/2016	Exodus 1-3
4/3/2016	Exodus 4-6
4/4/2016	Exodus 7-9
4/5/2016	Exodus 10-12
4/6/2016	Exodus 13-15
4/7/2016	Exodus 16-18
4/8/2016	Exodus 19-21
4/9/2016	Exodus 22-24
4/10/2016	Exodus 25-27
4/11/2016	Exodus 28-30
4/12/2016	Exodus 31-33
4/13/2016	Exodus 34-36
4/14/2016	Exodus 37-40
4/15/2016	Joel 1-3
4/16/2016	Amos 1-3
4/17/2016	Amos 4-6
4/18/2016	Amos 7-9
4/19/2016	Obadiah
4/20/2016	Jonah 1-4
4/21/2016	Leviticus 1-3
4/22/2016	Leviticus 4-6
4/23/2016	Leviticus 7-9
4/24/2016	Leviticus 10-12
4/25/2016	Leviticus 13-15
4/26/2016	Leviticus 16-18
4/27/2016	Leviticus 19-21
4/28/2016	Leviticus 22-24
4/29/2016	Leviticus 25-27
4/30/2016	Numbers 1-3
5/1/2016	Numbers 4-6
5/2/2016	Numbers 7-9
5/3/2016	Number 10-12
5/4/2016	Numbers 13-15
5/5/2016	Numbers 16-18
5/6/2016	Numbers 19-21
5/7/2016	Numbers 22-24
5/8/2016	Numbers 25-27
5/9/2016	Numbers 28-30
5/10/2016	Numbers 31-33
5/11/2016	Numbers 34-36
5/12/2016	Deuteronomy 1-3
5/13/2016	Deuteronomy 4-6
5/14/2016	Deuteronomy 7-9
5/15/2016	Deuteronomy 10-12
5/16/2016	Deuteronomy 13-15
5/17/2016	Deuteronomy 16-18
5/18/2016	Deuteronomy 19-21
5/19/2016	Deuteronomy 22-24
5/20/2016	Deuteronomy 25-27
5/21/2016	Deuteronomy 28-30
5/22/2016	Deuteronomy 31-34
5/23/2016	Joshua 1-3
5/24/2016	Joshua 4-6
5/25/2016	Joshua 7-9
5/26/2016	Joshua 10-12
5/27/2016	Joshua 13-15
5/28/2016	Joshua 16-18
5/29/2016	Joshua 19-21
5/30/2016	Joshua 22-24
5/31/2016	Judges 1-3
6/1/2016	Judges 4-6
6/2/2016	Judges 7-9
6/3/2016	Judges 10-12
6/4/2016	Judges 13-15
6/5/2016	Judges 16-18
6/6/2016	Judges 19-21
6/7/2016	Ruth 1-4
6/8/2016	1 Kings 1-3
6/9/2016	1 Kings 4-6
6/10/2016	1 Kings 7-9
6/11/2016	1 Kings 10-12
6/12/2016	1 Kings 13-15
6/13/2016	1 Kings 16-18
6/14/2016	1 Kings 19-22
6/15/2016	2 Kings 1-3
6/16/2016	2 Kings 4-6
6/17/2016	2 Kings 7-9
6/18/2016	2 Kings 10-12
6/19/2016	2 Kings 13-15
6/20/2016	2 Kings 16-18
6/21/2016	2 Kings 19-21
6/22/2016	2 Kings 22-25
6/23/2016	Job 1-3
6/24/2016	Job 4-6
6/25/2016	Job 7-9
6/26/2016	Job 10-12
6/27/2016	Job 13-15
6/28/2016	Job 16-18
6/29/2016	Job 19-21
6/30/2016	Job 22-24
7/1/2016	Job 25-27
7/2/2016	Job 28-30
7/3/2016	Job 31-33
7/4/2016	Job 34-36
7/5/2016	Job 37-39
7/6/2016	Job 40-42
7/7/2016	1 Chronicles 1-6
7/8/2016	1 Chronicles 7-9
7/9/2016	1 Chronicles 10-12
7/10/2016	1 Chronicles 13-15
7/11/2016	1 Chronicles 16-18
7/12/2016	1 Chronicles 19-21
7/13/2016	1 Chronicles 22-25
7/14/2016	1 Chronicles 26-29
7/15/2016	2 Chronicles 1-3
7/16/2016	2 Chronicles 4-6
7/17/2016	2 Chronicles 7-9
7/18/2016	2 Chronicles 10-12
7/19/2016	2 Chronicles 13-15
7/20/2016	2 Chronicles 16-18
7/21/2016	2 Chronicles 19-21
7/22/2016	2 Chronicles 22-24
7/23/2016	2 Chronicles 25-27
7/24/2016	2 Chronicles 28-30
7/25/2016	2 Chronicles 31-33
7/26/2016	2 Chronicles 34-36
7/27/2016	Psalms 1-5
7/28/2016	Psalms 6-10
7/29/2016	Psalms 11-15
7/30/2016	Psalms 16-20
7/31/2016	Psalms 21-25
8/1/2016	Psalms 26-30
8/2/2016	Psalms 31-35
8/3/2016	Psalms 36-40
8/4/2016	Psalms 41-45
8/5/2016	Psalms 46-50
8/6/2016	Psalms 51-55
8/7/2016	Psalms 56-60
8/8/2016	Psalms 61-65
8/9/2016	Psalms 66-70
8/10/2016	Psalms 71-75
8/11/2016	Psalms 76-80
8/12/2016	Psalms 81-85
8/13/2016	Psalms 86-90
8/14/2016	Psalms 91-95
8/15/2016	Psalms 96-100
8/16/2016	Psalms 101-105
8/17/2016	Psalms 106-110
8/18/2016	Psalms 111-115
8/19/2016	Psalms 116-120
8/20/2016	Psalms 121-125
8/21/2016	Psalms 126-130
8/22/2016	Psalms 131-135
8/23/2016	Psalms 136-140
8/24/2016	Psalms 141-145
8/25/2016	Psalms 146-150
8/26/2016	Song of Songs 1-4
8/27/2016	Song of Songs 5-8
8/28/2016	Isaiah 1-3
8/29/2016	Isaiah 4-6
8/30/2016	Isaiah 7-9
8/31/2016	Isaiah 10-12
9/1/2016	Isaiah 13-15
9/2/2016	Isaiah 16-18
9/3/2016	Isaiah 19-21
9/4/2016	Isaiah 22-24
9/5/2016	Isaiah 25-27
9/6/2016	Isaiah 28-30
9/7/2016	Isaiah 31-33
9/8/2016	Isaiah 34-36
9/9/2016	Isaiah 37-39
9/10/2016	Isaiah 40-42
9/11/2016	Isaiah 43-45
9/12/2016	Isaiah 46-48
9/13/2016	Isaiah 49-51
9/14/2016	Isaiah 52-54
9/15/2016	Isaiah 55-57
9/16/2016	Isaiah 58-60
9/17/2016	Isaiah 61-63
9/18/2016	Isaiah 64-66
9/19/2016	Daniel 1-3
9/20/2016	Daniel 4-6
9/21/2016	Daniel 7-9
9/22/2016	Daniel 10-12
9/23/2016	Jeremiah 1-3
9/24/2016	Jeremiah 4-6
9/25/2016	Jeremiah 7-9
9/26/2016	Jeremiah 10-12
9/27/2016	Jeremiah 13-15
9/28/2016	Jeremiah 16-18
9/29/2016	Jeremiah 19-21
9/30/2016	Jeremiah 22-24
10/1/2016	Jeremiah 25-27
10/2/2016	Jeremiah 28-30
10/3/2016	Jeremiah 31-33
10/4/2016	Jeremiah 34-36
10/5/2016	Jeremiah 37-39
10/6/2016	Jeremiah 40-42
10/7/2016	Jeremiah 43-45
10/8/2016	Jeremiah 46-48
10/9/2016	Jeremiah 49-52
10/10/2016	Lamentations 1-3
10/11/2016	Lamentations 4-5
10/12/2016	Ezekiel 1-3
10/13/2016	Ezekiel 4-6
10/14/2016	Ezekiel 7-9
10/15/2016	Ezekiel 10-12
10/16/2016	Ezekiel 13-15
10/17/2016	Ezekiel 16-18
10/18/2016	Ezekiel 19-21
10/19/2016	Ezekiel 22-24
10/20/2016	Ezekiel 25-27
10/21/2016	Ezekiel 28-30
10/22/2016	Ezekiel 31-33
10/23/2016	Ezekiel 34-36
10/24/2016	Ezekiel 37-40
10/25/2016	Ezekiel 41-44
10/26/2016	Ezekiel 45-48
10/27/2016	Hosea 1-3
10/28/2016	Hosea 4-6
10/29/2016	Hosea 7-10
10/30/2016	Hosea 11-14
10/31/2016	Micah 1-3
11/1/2016	Micah 4-7
11/2/2016	Nahum 1-3
11/3/2016	Habakkuk 1-3
11/4/2016	Zephaniah 1-3
11/5/2016	Haggai 1-2
11/6/2016	Zechariah 1-3
11/7/2016	Zechariah 4-6
11/8/2016	Zechariah  7-10
11/9/2016	Zechariah 11-14
11/10/2016	Revelation 1-3
11/11/2016	Revelation 4-6
11/12/2016	Revelation 7-9
11/13/2016	Revelation 10-12
11/14/2016	Revelation 13-15
11/15/2016	Revelation 16-18
11/16/2016	Revelation 19-22
11/17/2016	Malachi 1-2
11/18/2016	Malachi 3-4
11/19/2016	Matthew 1-3
11/20/2016	Matthew 4-6
11/21/2016	Matthew 7-9
11/22/2016	Matthew 10-12
11/23/2016	Matthew 13-15
11/24/2016	Matthew 16-18
11/25/2016	Matthew 19-21
11/26/2016	Matthew 22-24
11/27/2016	Matthew 25-28
11/28/2016	Mark 1-3
11/29/2016	Mark 4-6
11/30/2016	Mark 7-9
12/1/2016	Mark 10-12
12/2/2016	Mark 13-16
12/3/2016	Luke 1-3
12/4/2016	Luke 4-6
12/5/2016	Luke 7-9
12/6/2016	Luke 10-12
12/7/2016	Luke 13-15
12/8/2016	Luke 16-18
12/9/2016	Luke 19-21
12/10/2016	Luke 22-24
12/11/2016	John 1-3
12/12/2016	John 4-6
12/13/2016	John 7-9
12/14/2016	John 10-12
12/15/2016	John 13-15
12/16/2016	John 16-18
12/17/2016	John 19-21
12/18/2016	Acts 1-3
12/19/2016	Acts 4-6
12/20/2016	Acts 7-9
12/21/2016	Act 10-12
12/22/2016	Acts 13-15
12/23/2016	Acts 16-18
12/24/2016	Acts 19-21
12/25/2016	Acts 22-24
12/26/2016	Acts 25-28
12/27/2016	Romans 1-3
12/28/2016	Romans 4-6
12/29/2016	Romans 7-9
12/30/2016	Romans 10-12
12/31/2016	Romans 13-16
1/1/2017	1 Corinthians 1-3
1/2/2017	1 Corinthians 4-6
1/3/2017	1 Corinthians 7-9
1/4/2017	1 Corinthians 10-12
1/5/2017	1 Corinthians 13-16
1/6/2017	2 Corinthians 1-3
1/7/2017	2 Corinthians 4-6
1/8/2017	2 Corinthians 7-9
1/9/2017	2 Corinthians 10-13
1/10/2017	1 Thessalonians 1-5
1/11/2017	2 Thessalonians 1-3
1/12/2017	1 Timothy 1-3
1/13/2017	1 Timothy 4-6
1/14/2017	2 Timothy 1-4
1/15/2017	Titus 1-3
1/16/2017	Philemon
1/17/2017	Hebrews 1-3
1/18/2017	Hebrews 4-6
1/19/2017	Hebrews 7-9
1/20/2017	Hebrews 10-13