2012 Scripture Memory Challenge

Back in 2009 Beth Moore challenged her blog community to memorize 24 Scriptures in 12 months.  Now I've gone to church and Sunday School my whole life, and as a kid I was encouraged to memorize Scripture, but not so much as an adult.  So this was a new venture I was not sure that I could accomplish.  The first year I didn't tell too many people that I was doing it, just in case I could not make it to the finish line.  That year was a difficult year with a move for us.  (I don't do change well.)  And the only way I made it through with my sanity was because of the work God's Word was doing in my life.  Much to my surprise, I made it to the finish line!  And promptly stepped up to the starting line for the next year because who knows what the future holds?  I did know I wanted to walk with God like that through whatever came.  For 2010 Beth did not do it officially on her blog, but I wanted to keep it up because I knew that I needed it.  I had been amazed at the accountability it was to post a comment on her blog with my verse, so I decided to put mine here on my own blog.  In 2011 Beth hosted it again, and is taking 2012 off.  So I decided to post mine here again. 

Please know that it is in no way a "look at how great I am."  I am a work in progress, and trust me, I have a long ways to go--just like everyone else.  It is simply an accountability.  If I know I want to post it, I'm going to really do it! 

This is also an invitation to join me!  Over the past three years, God's Word has truly become more alive and active in my life.  The difference is motivation to take every opportunity to encourage anyone who will to do it with me.  You will not be disappointed.  God promises that His Word will not return void.  It is powerful and effective to do work.  I don't know about you, but with all the uncertainty and trouble we face, I need the stability of God and His Word. 

This is my plan for this year.  Beth set up a habit of choosing a new verse on the 1st and 15th of each month.  So I will keep that pattern, but I will only post once a month.  If you would like this to be your accountability too, I would invite you to post a comment of the verses you are memorizing. 

A few things you may want to know if you are starting with me:
* Get you a spiral index cards to write them in.  It is easy to take with you to work on wherever.  (There is also a SSMT app for iPhones and Androids.) 
*  You do not have to choose the ones I'm doing.  If they resonate with you, by all means, do them with me.  Pick ones that you need at this time in your life and they will come to mind more often and be easier to memorize.  They will come up in your personal Bible study, Sunday School, sermons...be on the look out and God will give you the verse that you need.
*  Does it have to be word for word?  No.  It is what I try to do, but if you are meditating on His Word and letting it change the way you think and react to life you are accomplishing the goal.  Don't get hung up on perfection and quit. 

If you have any questions, just ask.  I would love to encourage you on your walk with Him!

Are you ready?  Here we go!

These are the verses I'm memorizing in January.  (Yes, there are three.  One just really got me in Bible study and I had to add it.  Next time there might just be one because life happens.  Do what is best for you.)

Psalm 21:7
For the king trusts in the Lord;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
NIV

James 1:19-20
My dearly loved brothers, understand this:
everyone must be quick to hear,
slow to speak,
and slow to anger,
for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.
HCSB

1 Corinthians 4:3-4
It is of little importance to me that I should be evaluated by you or by [any] human court.  In fact, I don't even evaluate myself.  For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this.  The One who evaluates me is the Lord.
HCSB

You can read more about my Scripture Memory journey here.  Again, please hear my heart that this is not a brag thing.  I hope that it is an encouragement and resource if you are searching for a verse.

Wakin' Up Hugs

One of my favorite things about being a mom are those hugs when the kids first get up.  We call them "wakin' up hugs."  This morning SweetTate came and crawled in my lap.  I told him, "I love wakin' up hugs."  He said, "Mom, I'm just going to let you hug me" and tucked his arms in between us to keep them warm.  I'm sure that he was thinking just let me wrap my arms around him, as opposed to monkey hugs--another favorite--where he wraps his arms and legs around me and can hang on all by himself even if I walk around!

I happened to be sitting at the table doing my Bible study when he came in.  His comment made me think of my wakin' up hugs with my Heavenly Father.  Some mornings I'm clinging to Him with all my might.  Other times I just need to let Him hug me.  This weekend I heard Beth Moore speak and she made the point that we have to operate out of a present awareness of His love.  That fills us up so we have what we need to love others.  If we try to love others without knowing that He loves us, we will run out of energy really fast.  His hugs come in lots of different forms.  It may be a sunrise.  Maybe a fresh insight from His Word.  Or one of His little ones coming into your arms to just be with you.

Thank You, Father, for these precious moments and the reminder of Your love for me.

Good Quote

Speaking of New Year's resolutions...one thing I want to do more this year is write.  Before I used the blog as a reference for the scrapbook, but of late, I have kept it up to date.  Well, until this fall.  I also used the blog as a way to update family far away.  Now we are all on facebook.  Yes, yet another blog-dropout because of fb. Then there was the whole "everyone will think I'm a dork if I write what is really on my heart."  Guess what?  The 10's of people...OK 10 people...who read this love me and know I'm a nerd.  :)  So here's to the new year and we'll see what happens!

Cleaning out the kids' backpacks is like opening a time capsule!  SweetDoll had art work from Vetran's Day!  And a donut that had been there since at least before Christmas.  Yuck!  Then there are also some treasures.  SweetBoy's teacher gives them a quote to memorize each week.  She always picks really good ones.  This one caught my attention.

"Success is not final;
failure is not fatal;
it is the courage to continue that counts."
~ Winston Churchill

2011 Recap

January is almost over and I'm just now getting a handle on the new year.  I saw this on another blog and thought I would use it to recap 2011.

1.  What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

Road trip by myself and followed the "shortest route" directions on the Tom-tom.  Wow! Those were some back roads!  But I made it to my destination safely.

2.  Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

It seems that I always say I want to "exercise more."  (Who doesn't, right?)  Finally in June I got my rear in gear to doing it.  I decided to train to run a 5k.  Since then I have consistently worked out for 6 months.  Woo-hoo! That is another first for me.  I haven't made it to a 5k--that is this year's goal.

3.  Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, I have a new nephew and cousin this year!

4.  Did anyone close to you die?  No

5.  What countries did you visit?

I stayed in the good ol USA, but we visited Arizona and went to a Rangers' Spring Training Game.  That was a blast!

6.  What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A finished 5k under my belt, among other things...not so much things, but new attitudes.

7.  What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Um...I got nothing.

8.  What was your biggest achievement for the year?

I completed Beth Moore's challenge to memorize 24 Scriptures in 12 months.  Allowing God's Word to work in my life is a huge achievement.

9.  What was your biggest failure?

I don't know what it is about this house.  I can't just leave it and play with the kids.  I have felt like a failure as a mom--working on that one.

10.  Did you suffer illness or injury?

Just sore ankles, then sore knees from running.  As long as I don't overdo it, they are good to go.

11.  What was the best thing you bought?

New washer and dryer--no more buzzers!  I love it!

12.  Where did most of your money go?

I have three kids.  Enough said!

13.  What did you get really excited about?

I had the opportunity to speak at a friend's ladies' retreat.  The music leader chose music and introduced each session perfectly, and we had not discussed it.  I only requested that we sing "Jesus Loves Me" before the first session and she took it from there.  That was a God thing!  And I was so excited to be part of it!

14.  What song will always remind you of 2011?

"On the Road Again"  Oh my goodness!  We traveled a lot this year it seems!

15.  Compared to this time last year, are you:

-happier or sadder?    Happier!

-thinner or fatter?     Definitely more fit.

-richer or poorer?     Same

16.  What do you wish you'd done more of?

Play with and enjoy my kids.

17.  What do you wish you'd done less of?

Obsess about things out of my control.

18.  How did you spend Christmas?

This year was a little weird.  We usually spend several days with each of our families.  A blizzard was in the forecast for the time with my parents, so we cut our time short--it didn't amount to anything.  The news guy said he had seen bigger blizzards at Dairy Queen!  In between visits we rested.  That was really nice.  Then it was off to SweetHeart's family.  We had a fun time with cousins!

19.  What was your favorite TV program?

Biggest Loser--those people are inspiring!  I don't struggle with weight, but I have plenty of issues that I feel like there is just no way I could do that.  Maybe if I can conquer a physical challenge, then I can build up some mental and emotional perseverance as well.  Yes, it is the inspiration for the 5k.  And yes, they would run circles around me!

20.  What were your favorite books of the year?

I enjoy reading, but I don't do it nearly enough.  I really enjoyed Tim Tebow's book Through My Eyes.  A lot of football, but I love the quote, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."  That is applicable to so many things in life.

21.  What was your favorite music this year?

Travis Cottrell Jesus Saves, and Point of Grace How You Live

22.  What were your favorite films of the year?

I'm a Pixar fan, but don't know that I would normally classify one as a "favorite."  This summer we watched Cars 2 at the drive-in, a first for all of us!  That was the coolest!

23.  What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

*Crickets*  36.

24.  What one thing would have made your year immeasurable more satisfying?

Being more settled.

25.  How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Fashion is not my forte. at all. in any way.  With a little help from some friends, I am becoming a little bolder in wearing things that fit instead of being blousey.

26.  What keeps you sane?

Taking a walk/run and working on my memory verses.

27.  Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

This is a lesson I have learned before, but it keeps coming up and I want to focus on it this year again.  To do and be what God has created me for, I have to set my heart, mind, and eyes on Him if I want any hope of success, joy, peace, happiness, satisfaction...all those good things I desire.  Believe Him!

Balancing Act

While I was at Colorado Springs for the Hearts at Home Conference, I spent a little time at Garden of the Gods.  I would love to go back when I have more time and I think the family would love it!  It is a place at the base of Pike's Peak where these massive red rocks seem to have been tossed out there for some reason.  This is from a distance.



Then I drove down to walk around these rocks that are just towering giants!  It is hard to get a perspective in these pictures. 

I saw pictures of this next formation and saw it on the map, but decided that I better get started home and not take the time to find it.  (Now that I have looked better at the map, I don't think it would have taken that much time.  Just FYI if you ever go and want to take that tangent road.)  It is called Balanced Rock.  Countless people stop to take pictures by this rock and no doubt try to push it over, but it still stands.  Even in this setting of seemingly out of place red rocks, this one is different.

So here is the God Stop I want to share.  I had just been to a Mom conference where I was renewed and energized to jump back into life as a Mom, and I see this picture.  In this scenic place, what do you think when you see this rock? 

Beauty, strength, awesome, balance, constant... 

I know this sounds silly, but if you were the rock, how do you think you would feel? 

Unstable, big responsibilities balanced at one point, odd--why can't I have a base like the other rocks?, easily toppled, worried that the next storm or wind, man or child would push me over... 

I don't know about you, but many days that is how I feel as a Mom.  The reality is, God placed me in this place with these people at this time for a purpose.  I am not out of place.  I don't have it all together and often feel unbalanced, but if I will keep my focus on Him, He will hold me through every storm that may come.  It is His strength that gives me stability and holds me together.  My job as Wife and Mom is imortant.  Any beauty that may come from my life is because my Creator.

This Momma says, "Thank You, God!"

(I didn't take the picture of Balanced Rock.  I found it on Rian Houston's site.)

For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and

in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:16-17  NIV

2011 Fall Catch Up

We are just about caught up!  This fall started with the first day of school.  I cannot believe my kiddos are getting so big!  I have one more year with SweetTate and then he will join them on the first day of school on the porch for the picture.  Crazy! 

For our traditional First Day of School ice cream, Mamaw, Meme and Granddad were here.  That was a real treat!  (They were here to attend a funeral.  We would rather had them for a happier occasion, but it was good to see them.)

Fall also brings with it football, of course.  The kids have each run with the school flag down the field after we scored.  They think they are so cool!

It also brings the routine of gymnastics every week.  This year all three kids are participating.  Like everything else here, it is 30 minutes away.  Thankfully it is on the same day, but the boys are in one class and SweetDoll is in a different class which makes for a long evening.  We really like the coaches and they are all learning balance and corrdination that will help them in whatever sport they do. 

SweetBoy has a show lamb again this year.  This is "Thunder."  He decided on that name really hoping it would inspire the weather to let it rain a lot!  Snowflake and Lightnin', his predicessors seemed to have that affect!

Then the craziness of the fall sets in...but it is a good crazy.

A friend contacted me last spring about doing a retreat at her church.  I was so excited to be part of what God was doing there with those ladies!  We had a wonderful day, and it was great to reconnect with my friend who I hadn't seen in a while.  The adventure to this story is that I put in the address to the Tom-Tom and said "shortest route."  Whoa!  I went about as straight as the crow flies on some back, back roads!  But I arrived safe and sound.  On the way home, I found a little more traveled roads.  ;)

Then it was time to meet my newest nephew!  We had a cousin's wedding that my brother and his family came down for.  It was great to see them!

That brings us to SweetDoll's birthday.  And is anyone surprised that she wanted to go ride horses?  No.  So that is what we did.  We had just had a good rain and the pasture didn't look quite as dry as it had been.  It was pretty and a fun day!  That place also has a great spot to take pictures!

 I love these kids!

A while ago I was reading Jill Savage's blog and she was having a giveaway.  The prize...tickets to the 2011 Hearts at Home conferences.  Eleven years of being a mom and I have never been to a conference specifically for Moms!  Oh it was good!  Just what this weary Mom needed!  Part of the adventure here was that it was in Colorado Springs.  I had not ever been there, but it is absolutely gorgeous!  More on this on the next post, and there is more about the confernce on my guest post on her blog!  If you ever have an opportunity to go to a Hearts at Home conference, you will be blessed!  Here is a picture of Jill and I. 

Fall is also our town's festival where SweetDoll rode in a float for the first time.  The boys did the bike parade and they all had a good time.

And of course the festival in SweetHeart's hometown.  Mamaw's corn chowder. Y.U.M!  It was good to be with family there too.

And there you have it.  Whew!  You are all caught up--well, the reader's digest version anyway.  Now I feel like I can post something without feeling like I left something out.  And I have a backup of my scrapbook.  ;)  Thanks for following along!

Go Rangers!!

I want to interrupt my string of catching up with a shout out for my Rangers!  We love us some baseball at the Sweet house, and we could not be more excited that the Rangers are back in the World Series!!  Sadly, the only game we have seen in person this year is the Spring Training game we saw in Surprise, Arizona.  But we are with you all the way!  Go Rangers!