A Broken Heart

Skip and Seth about 5 years ago

Last night was rough. It was the eve of Skip leaving us again. He is starting his new position on Tuesday, but today he had to go to some appointments in Corpus, such as getting an inspection done on our possible new home. I know that this transition is only for a couple of weeks, but my son Seth had a total meltdown last night. He flat out did not want his daddy to go. Normally when Seth gets upset about something, Skip can have a little talk and everything is okay in a few minutes. This time there were uncontrollable tears as his little heart broke. I tried to pray with him, and reassure him that we will still see daddy almost every other night, but all Seth could think about was himself and his desire to have more time with his father. My boys have been spending so much time together since we moved to Victoria and Seth did not want that to stop.

The tears Seth shed made me think about my relationship with Jesus. Am I crying out for time with him? Is the time I do spend in His presence making me long for more and more time with Him? Am I sad when I don't see Him working in my life? Do I stop at nothing to make the time to pray and praise him daily? Seeing Seth long for more time with his earthly father was an excellent reminder to me to be broken hearted for time with my heavenly Father.

Blast From the Past

I couldn't resist sharing this photo Annie found in one of my nightstand drawers. It was our senior year of high school (only in the friendship stage). We didn't begin dating until we were 21 years old, so this is pretty cool to have. We were both on dates with other people, but someone snapped this picture. Isn't my baby a cutie!

"Lovin A Music Man Ain't Always What it's Supposed to Be"

It's funny but the Journey song "Faithfully" keeps going through my mind. Especially the part that says, "I'm forever yours...faithfully." I know that God is forever faithful to me and Skip so I'm not going to worry about what the future holds, but instead I'm holding tight to Jesus.

Skip and I are moving back to Corpus. We have been on quite a journey(no pun intended), and I wouldn't trade any of it. It is crazy to many of you who read this because I keep so much of my ministry stuff out of our blogs. We are so excited, and sad at the same time for those we will leave behind(our pastors and their wives are THE BEST, and my sweet bible study girls). All of our family is behind us 100%. Skip can explain things so much better than I can, so go here for his words.

Please keep us in your prayers as we begin this transition. We have to find another home because ours is being rented at the moment. Too weird, I know. I don't want to go through another six months apart from Skip, so we are needing a quick miracle. Thankfully our landlord will let us out of our current lease. I hope to share more as things progress.

Friday Fun

Oh my goodness! Is that not the cutest puppy EVER! Annie and I went to Corpus yesterday to take back one of Ashley's friends who was hanging out for the week, and Annie got to spend lots of time with Saddie (her best friend Abby's new puppy). They found this precious teacup Yorkie at a shelter. I was also able to have lunch with two of my best buddies at McAlister's which is fairly new to the area. I loved it!
Here is Abby and Annie in one of their many embraces throughout the visit. They haven't seen each other in a few months, so we let them play for half the day. I think they changed clothes a bazillion times. I guess little girls have to have just the right outfit while playing doll houses, gymnastics and polly pockets.

As I was about to leave, Annie took a picture of me and Dena. Dena and I met two years ago and became fast friends.

Friends are so great as I mentioned here, but they don't hold a candle to the best relationship in my life- Jesus Christ! If you don't know Him, I pray you find Him this Easter. Wishing all of you a very Blessed Easter holiday and God Bless!

Thankful Thursday

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19-20


My thankful list this week is all about music. I love MUSIC!!! I also love hearing it played in my car, on the computer, and especially through instuments being played in my home.

1. I'm thankful for a praised filled night of worship at church last night. We prepared our hearts for this big Easter weekend, and for those who may be coming for the first time.

2. I'm thankful for my friend Liana who made me remember that there are people walking into church during praise and worship who need us and need us to point them to Jesus. Worship time is not all about us, but it is about Him! Let's be Jesus to someone this weekend. Please stop and read an excerpt of her fiction story here. It will make you think.

3. I'm so thankful that my sweet Skip is teaching our son Seth to play guitar. I'm thankful that Seth is stopping me throughout the day to hear his notes that he's strumming, and that he has opinions on who really should be in the top twenty of greatest guitarists. I think every mom loves seeing her son develop some of the talents of his father. My prayer is that he uses these gifts one day to honor the Lord.


May there be joyful music filling your life today! If you would like to join in on Thankful Thursday, then go here and leave a link.

Friday Fun!

Today is one of those day's I just woke up smiling! God is blessing me despite of what I deserve and I want to praise Him for that.

Here is what is making me smile the most:

*Taxes are done. We have such an awesome accountant that is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Super Accountant Woman! I mean it, she has some made skills. Thanks Karen (not that she reads my blog or anything).

*It is Spring Break!!! Actually we were going to wait until next week to start, but I am starting now. One of the perks of homeschooling is you CAN take a break whenever you need to. However, at our rate we will be finishing this year's work sometime in 2012. Hee Hee.

*My big cup of coffee next to me. I'm telling you that I have my combination of hazlenut creamer, splenda and Folgers Breakfast Blend down to perfection. I love it EVERY TIME!

*We're going to dinner at our friend's house tonight. They are such sweet people that we love to hang out with, and so do our kids.

*THAT TIME of the month is over! You know you want to shout Amen with me. At least my family does!

HAPPY FRIDAY AND WEEKEND TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful Thursday

I have so many thankfuls circling around in my head, but today I want to focus on friendships.

Romans 12:9-10 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

1. I'm thankful that God has surrounded me with friends that I can trust. A couple of these friends I see less than twice a year, but they are my prayer partners, my confidants, and my encouragers. A couple of these like Robin and Julie I've never even met in real life, but they know my heart and my hurts more than many friends I've known for years.

2. I'm thankful that the friendships that are not based on where we go to church or where we live, but instead on a common love for one another and for Christ. I might not see these friends for quite some time, but when we talk or get together, it is like we were never apart. I wish everyone could be so understanding and forgiving.

3. I'm thankful for the friends that hold me accountable spiritually. Liana, Sara and Tiffany, you have thrown so much time into praying for me and challenging me to live for Him and Him alone. Thank you for that!

4. I'm thankful for my sweet treasured real life pals that I get to chat with weekly. You keep me laughing and having fun through this crazy roller coaster ride of life. You know who you are and you hold such a special place in my heart.

If you have a list of thankfuls to share, join in with a link at Sting My Heart.

It's Official: My Nephew's a Star(well, soon to be)

We have been praying and praying, then waiting and waiting, then praying, waiting, and praying some more. FINALLY yesterday we got the call from Matt that he got it! He had been auditioning for only the biggest upcoming motion picture in preteen history-HSM3. It was some pretty tough competition let me tell you. Matt has no real training in dancing or singing, but obviously the director and producers fell in love with him.

Let me tell you about this sweet boy. I was there on the day he was born, I've babysat him, changed his diaper, watched his soccer games, and even put him in time out a time or two when he was younger. I've also seen him develop such a love for entertaining. At age 23 months Matt was ring bearer at my wedding. I've never seen a child able to stand for such a long time and look so precious in front of a large crowd. At age two he could do a Michael Jackson impersonation that had our whole family laughing hysterically. I was there watching him in a parade after he won Little Mr. Cowboy in Victoria, waving to all his adoring fans at age 5. I visited him in LA a year ago and watched him excitedly talk about one day having his dream come true to be in movies as we took a bus tour of Hollywood. Well, his day has arrived. He gave a call to me and the kiddos yesterday to let us know that he will be Jimmy the Rocket in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3!!! We are so proud of him and we can't wait to go watch him walk the red carpet when the movie premieres. I don't know how, but we WILL be there. If you want to see a little bit about the new guy that will be making a splash on your children's heart, it is Matt Prokop, nephew of me. Yipee! I am so excited for him. When I spoke to him on the phone he said that he knew God had given this role and he wants to do his best. I told him not to forget who he belongs to. I told him, "You are a child of God. Don't forget that." Please cover him in prayer for all that the enemy will try to rob from him. Fame is a huge responsibility and he will soon have to face it head on. It can also be such a platform for Matt to be a role model of truth.

Here is Matt's small role on Hannah Montana he did a year or so ago. I wanted to tell everyone yesterday, but today is the day I get to spill the beans to all my sweet friends. And for all those who want an autograph, yes I will do my best when I see him later this year. For now, his life is all about getting ready for rehearsals, filming and learning lines. You Go Matt! We love you!!!

His Word to Our Ears

Here are some scriptures that God is having me memorize right now. Not only am I memorizing, but I am believing them.

"The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame" (Romans 9:33).

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal. 6:9).

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me"(2 Corinthians 12:9).

Now for my favorite of the moment- "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:13-14

*I would love to hear what verse or verses have special meaning for you today.

Also, just for fun. What color is your bible? The one I've used for the last 4 years is pink and green. Does that surprise you?

To Home School Or Not? Don't Let Their Smiles Fool You

Okay, do you think I've given it enough time to be able to tell if home schooling is for me or not? It has been a little over 6 months, and I'm still completely overwhelmed and twitching a bit. I Don't THINK the twitching is a normal reaction for HS moms. Maybe it is, but the moms have a secret pact that they never share it with a first year rookie mom.

Today I was sharing with a veteran HS mom that I wasn't sure if I was going to give it another try next year or not. By her speechless reaction you would have thought I said that I hate my children, I never want to be with them, and I'm turning in my mom badge. In all reality, it is the complete opposite. I feel like I was such a better mom before home schooling. Here are a few of the many reasons why:

1. Most importantly, I had time for me. Me time=happy time=fun mom.

2. My words were sweeter. I wasn't correcting all the time, teaching all the time, and settling conflicts all the time.

3. I actually had time to shop for dinner each day and make special treats for the kids when they came home from school.

4. I miss my dates at lunch with my hubby and our Friday mornings at home alone on his day off.

5. I know they are not getting as good an education as they did last year. There I said it. Yes, they are brilliant children by some blessing I don't deserve, but I know they could be getting better. Having to teach three children at three different grade levels is tough. Don't let someone tell you it's not.

I can't believe I'm sharing all this, but I need to see in writing what I'm feeling right now. Many of these reasons are just excuses and all can be worked on if I put forth the effort. I also want to make clear that I respect all the HS moms out there and would never in a million years want to make anyone turn away from this important personal decision. In fact, my HS friends Angie and Mollie have been so supportive and helpful that they alone make me want to keep trying. I know God will show me the path we need to take in the future, but for right now, I'm just not feeling it.

*Just by getting alone on the computer to type this post was a great feat in itself. I was interrupted 15 times. I guarantee you that I wouldn't be on the computer right now, but playing with them if they had been in school today. I'm just saying...

A Hint of Summer

Don't be mad if you are still in middle of winter. We had temps in the mid 70's today, but it felt much warmer in the sun. My kids couldn't resist playing in the water in between home school subjects.

Our beagle Triscuit is trying to figure out what these crazy kids are doing. Would you look at that cute thing! She is getting so big.

Just Thinking

I have such a desire to share some thoughts with my dear blogging friends, but I just can't seem to get the words out right. This has been such a strange season the last year of my life, and I'm still trying to see how God is working it all for good. I do know He is working it ALL for good! His love for me and my family is a constant, and I feel it everytime I pray, everytime I cry, and everytime I start to dream.

I have been dreaming a lot lately. I daydream a lot about the things I want to do for Him, and the things my family will do for Him. It is hard because it seems there is always opposition. The opposition is often financially, but other times it is people and circumstances. It is also hard when you have vision and passion, but yet you can't implement. I think that is where God comes in and makes a way. He is making some ways, but not in ways that will please everyone. Please be patient with my random thoughts, and know that I do have a purpose in what I'm writing, though I'm not making much sense. Just pray that I will trust God for the things to come, for patience and strength for the experiences ahead, and for wisdom to seek God's will and not my own.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am dedicating my Thankful Thursday to one of my biggest blessings, my daughter Ashley. She has had to go through a lot this past year leaving all her friends behind in Corpus, saying goodbye to her church youth group, she began home schooling when she is the most social outgoing person I know, and for putting up with her younger siblings day in and day out with very little friend time. She has relied a lot of mom for that friendship need. I wish I could have done things differently for this sweet precious child of mine, but I know I followed God for this year. In all honesty, I am glad I was spared a lot of the drama that comes along with junior high, but I know that this transition was very tough on Ashley.

*I'm thankful for your smile that greets me every morning.

*I'm thankful for your hugs.

*I'm thankful for your obedient heart.

*I'm thankful for your willingness to help out when I need you.

*I'm thankful for your sweet spirit, and your love for animals and children.

*I'm thankful for your humor, your creativity, and your artistic talent. You may look like me, but you are just like your daddy. Well, except for the part about loving animals of course.

Since Ashley has been BEGGING for a blog for the last year, I finally let her set up her own yesterday. If you get a chance, go by a say hi to her. She is a much better writer than her mom, and I can't wait to see what silly and fun things she comes up with each day.

*If you would like to join in on Thankful Thursday, please go here and leave your link and a comment.

Prayer Request

Many of you followed along with me here a year and a half ago when Skip had his left hip replaced. That hip is doing great, but his right one is in really bad shape. Today was Skip's breaking point, and he made an appointment that was long over due. We will be seeing this doctor in Houston next month to see what our options are for getting the other hip replaced. He is doing a very new surgery that cuts down recovery quite a bit. Skip has a muscle condition that makes things a little tricky, but I know God is more than able to bless Skip with complete healing through this next surgery. I would just ask for you to pray for Skip's comfort until he awaits our next step, I pray for our insurance to cover as much as possible, and I pray for strength and faith for the road ahead. My husband has lived in so much pain for the last 12 or so years, that I would love to finally see him pain free. Thanks guys!

I couldn't resist showing this picture of my sweetie next to his favorite band when we went to LA several years ago. Look at how SKINNY he was! That was definitely before his gourmet chef days.

From the Inside Out

I was in a bad mood coming into church this morning. I was negative, and full of self pity about stuff I don't feel like sharing with you, but... God is so good. From the moment this song began, and I began to listen to this song, my heart just immediately softened. I repented from my selfishness, and just praised God. I felt an immediate overwhelming need to cry. I didn't care who was around. I just let it out and thanked God for who He is and what He has done for me. I don't deserve it, and never will. Will you read these lyrics, sing along, and tell Him how much you love Him today?

A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

*BTW- Skip blew me away with his guitar solo. We are no Hillsong, but I was amazed at how beautiful the band sounded.