It's finally clicked...



Tybee Island, Georgia

 Over the past week I had the pleasure of enjoying the company of my parents and oldest neice.  I was so nervous on the day they were traveling to Savannah due to all the tornados that hit North Carolina.  I called my Dad that day to discuss with him the trek ahead and he seemed calm and fine with it, me, well, I was a nervous wreck.  I had the weather channel on and was tracking their route on mapquest.  I remember the prayer I silently said while watching the storms blast through Raleigh.

Heavenly Father, I ask you today to please be with my family while they travel through these storms.  Protect them in the shadow of you hand and keep them safe.  Help them to arrive  here in Savannah relaxed and unaware of the seriousness of what they are traveling through.  I thank you Lord for all you have done for me and thank you for hearing my prayer, my request, my plea for safety.  All honor and glory is yours, Amen.

I have good news to report, they arrived at 1:15am in one piece.  It wasn't until the next morning that I told my folks just what they had driven through.  I put on the weather channel and they stared in awe at the pictures.  My mom was flabergasted at what they dodged.  I didn't tell them what my prayer was but as my folks were telling me that they drove through Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina moments before the twisters and then drove through Dunn, North Carolina moments after the storms, it appears that they were kept safe in the middle.  I smiled inside myself knowing that my prayer had been answered.  God hads protected them with the shadow of his hand for the entire trip.  They couldn't have timed their travels any better...and I personally feel they were timed so perfectly due to someone else having a hand in all the arrangements.  While it may have been a looonnnggggeeerrr trip then they intended, the fact is, they arrived safely.



Dad and Matthew at One Eyed Lizzy's on the River Walk

 I had a great time showing my parents around Savannah.  It was a good week and for the most part, all of us, including the two children, got along.  I've been trying since we moved to Savannah to find the happiness that Chris has.  Not that I don't like the area, I just haven't clicked with it yet.  But, I had a moment on the beach with my folks, Matthew, and Meagan all down at the water.  I sat back in my beach chair, took a deep breath, and released it to God.  I looked around at my surroundings and suddenly felt very blessed.  Blessed to be able to live in an area with so much to offer.  Blessed to live in an area close enough to the beach that I can spend the summer with Matthew at the shore.  Blessed to live in an area with a church that we have fallen in love with.  Blessed to have a husband who loves his job even on the worst days because he's able to do what he wants to do in life, what he enjoys doing.  Blessed to be in an area that gives me the opportunity to spend family time down at the river.  I am blessed to have it all, right here where God has placed us.  Between the river and the ocean, I'm home.  It's a shame that it's taken me this many months to see it.  But, the more I think about it, the more I realize, that was God's plan all along.  He guided me, nurtured me, comforted me and then showed me.  When he knew I was ready, he gave me the glimmer I needed to shake me outta my funk and realize, this is home.  I was excited to share this revelation with Chris.  He just smiled and I could see his shoulders start to relax.  He told me that he's felt this was home all along.  He knew back in the fall of 2009 after he interviewed for a different company in Georgia that we would ultimately end up here.  He also shared with me that he knew I'd come around once I took a deep breath and looked around.  He's amazing to have so much patience and confidence in me.  I do love him so.



Mom and Meagan at One Eyed Lizzy's on the River Walk

 Our family is so blessed.  I took great pride in showing my parents all around Savannah.  I know my parents have been worried about us but I think on this visit, they noticed a change.  I think they could see and feel that we were finally home where we belong.  I haven't seen my parents as relaxed as they were here last week in a long time.  I can't even remember the last time I saw my Dad sit on the sofa and just read a book.  All of us were so relaxed that most mornings, we slept in.  I was in awe at how great Matthew and Meagan got along the entire week.  Matthew even mentioned the night before everyone was to leave that he was going to miss having Meg around.  That made me feel good.

Matthew and Meagan on the Tyblee Island Pier

Onward and upward though.  No time to think about our past visitors for the sheets have been cleaned, the bed remade, and Blaze has taken up residence in the guest room once again.  While I'm looking forward to enjoying some time with Chris and Matthew...we are anxiously awaiting our next houseguest so I can once again, show off my new home. 

God is Good....All the time!

A different Palm Sunday...

Yesterday, as many of you know, was Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday of course leads into Holy Week.  The week our Lord was crucified and rose from the dead.  Yesterday was our first Palm Sunday service at our new church, Savannah Christian, here in Savannah.  As long as I can remember, Palm Sunday has always been a time for celebration.  There has always been children coming into the church waving palms and a choir singing Hosanna.  That's how it's always been.  Well, not yesterday.  I'm impressed with how our Senior Pastor approached Palm Sunday.  There was no celebration, no palms, no children waving them, no choir singing and walking down the aisle.  None of that.  Instead, there was a tomb on the stage.  A tomb just as they would have put Jesus in when he was buried. 

Towards the end of the service, the santuary grew dark and a narrator appeared on the stage.  Within moments, two men with torches came into the santuary.  These were the men who removed Jesus' body from the cross.  These were the men who were going to prepare Jesus' body for burial.  Seconds later, you could see more laterns and hear women crying and before you knew it, there was a crowd of people coming down the aisle with a gurney holding Jesus' body.  His body was covered in cloth.  Women were weeping and they took the body into the tomb.  Moments later, they exited the tomb and moved a large boulder infront of the opening.  With that, the crowd left the santuary, women still weeping, and the room sat dark.  Then, a few Roman Soliders appeared.  One stood in front of the tomb, guarding it.  The other two starting down the aisles asking people to leave.  We all waited until our aisle had been dismissed and we sat there in silence, looking at the tomb.  It brought chills to my arms.  I tried to imagine myself actually being there.  Actually being one of the women weeping while walking with Jesus' body.  I couldn't imagine.  This portrayal of Jesus' burial that had played out in front of us was amazing. 

The entire sermon was based on how Jesus gave his life for our sins.  He was sinless and sacrificed himself for us.  Before we were even born, even thought of, he made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so that we may be with him in paradise.  How remarkable.  How amazing is our God?  It's an enormous concept to take in.  How could one person do that for all of us.  How could one person go through all that pain, and yet, never open his mouth.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  Isaiah 53:6-7

Can you even imagine?  Jesus' death was an intentional, atoning sacrifice for people with a hopeless sin problem.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13

To know that I am privaleged enough to have a God who sacrifced his only son for me, for my sins, for my transgressions, for my iniquities.  Why am I deserving of that?  What have I done to deserve that type of sacrifice for me?  It makes you stop and take pause and think about everything in your life that God has given, changed,  taken away, provided, blessed, and so on. 

The Pastor pointed out the part of the crucifixtion story where two theives were crucified on either side of Jesus.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!"  But the other criminal rebuked him.  "Don't you fear God", he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong."  Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.:  Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."  Luke 23:39-43

Which criminal are you?  Are you the one who wants to see the power of Jesus, who wants to insult and mock our Lord?  Or rather, are you the one who even in your most sinful moments, asks God for mercy.  Do you take the time to say to the Lord, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom"?  Can you fanthom the sacrifice made for you and for me?

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkenss came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit  my spirit."  When he had said this, he breathed his last.  Luke 23:44-46

You went where???

I have to share this story if only to just brag a little as a proud mom and to share my complete and utter joy in the choices my son makes.

Recently, I went to school and picked up Matthew just as always but to my shock and horror, he informed me that he had visited the principal's office that day.  I'm amazed that I didn't drive the van off into a ditch with this relaxed and somewhat breezy comment.  My eyes grew huge and I immediately started interrogating Matthew as to what happened.

Here's a synopsis of that conversation...(names have been changed to protect the not so innocent)

Mom:  WHAT?!?!  Are you kidding me?  What happened and am I going to get a call?  What did you do?  Matthew Allen, I swear by everything holy and just in this world, if I get a call from the office due to bad choices you made, you won't be able to sit for a month!

Matthew: MOM!?!?  Hold on, hold on, hold on.  Ok, so, today was April Fool's Day and so some of the kids thought it would be funny to put glue in some of the desk chairs.  I saw someone put glue in Katie's chair and so I wanted to clean it up, so I tried to.  Then, when we all went to music, two of the kids hid in the classroom and decided to put glue in more chairs.  When we got back from music, Daniel, Jake, Peter, and I all got sent to the office.  But I didn't do anything Mom.  I promise.  I only tried to clean up the one chair before Katie sat in the glue.  I was so scared Mom, I thought I was going to pee my pants. 

Mom: You better be scared to death to go to the office.  Why were you sent?

Matthew:  The teacher thought I put glue in the chairs because some of the kids said they saw me with glue but I was cleaning it up.  So I got called into the principal's office and she said, "Are you a witness or Did you do it?".  I was shaking so bad Mom, I was scared but then, I knew that I could speak strong and with confidence because I didn't do it and I knew I was telling the truth.  God was with me because I spoke the truth and was strong in my voice.  I told the principal that I saw the boys stay in the classroom when we went to music and that earlier in the morning, before we went to reading, I saw them put glue in Katie's chair so I tried to clean it up.  I told her that I didn't put any glue in any chairs but didn't want Katie to sit in it so I tried to get that chair all cleaned up.  The principal asked my name and wrote down everything I said and then sent me back to class.

Mom: What did your teacher say when you got back to the classroom?

Matthew: She asked me why I didn't tell her what I had done when she sent me to the office and I told her that I was waiting for a chance to tell her in private in the hallway.  Remember how you told me that I can always speak to the teacher in private if I ask her to step into the hallway like in Fort Wayne?  That's what I wanted to do but she sent me to the office before I could.

Mom: So what did your teacher say after you told her that?

Matthew:  She said ok.

Mom: So am I getting a call from the office?  Did you get in trouble?

Matthew:  She just took my name and statement.  She asked the other kids for their phone numbers but she didn't ask for mine so I think I'm safe.  The other kids didn't come back to class and I think they got suspended.  I didn't do anything though Mom, I promise! 

Mom:  I'm very proud of you Matthew for standing up for yourself.  It's tough to stand up to other kids when you know they are going to get into trouble.  I'm very very proud.  But, if Dad or I ever get a call from the office because you misbehaved, I'm telling you what....

Matthew:  I know, I know, I won't sit for a month.  I won't Mom.  I promise.  I want to make choices that God would be happy with.  That's why I talked so strong in the office.  God knew I was telling the truth.

-end conversation-

Wow!  I'm amazed everyday at how God works in each of our lives.  I'm amazed everyday at how mature my son is getting.  To do the right thing and try to make proper choices makes me one proud Mom!  Matthew is growing into such a bright young man with endless possibilities.  He has a good heart, a great spirit, and is good at anything he puts his mind to.  I'm not saying he's perfect...no child is.  But I can honestly say that I am blessed.  Blessed to have such a gift from God.  I love being a Mom.  It's the best job in the entire world...well, most days!!