Moses

I am reading through the Bible this year and so far I am THRILLED with my decision/commitment.  This is NOT easy for me b/c in the past, I have tended to put Bible reading and prayer at the end of my “to do” list.  And YEP, it rarely was accomplished.  I am greatly enjoying reading through the Old Testament.  I can’t believe I just made that confession!!!

Of course, some of my favorite childhood memories from Sunday School include Old Testament stories.

My favorite?

Moses.

Hands down.

My favorite as a small child was the story of Moses’ birth and his mother’s journey to save his life.  I remember my mom reading the story over and over and over from a book that I so hope she still owns.  I loved that the Princess “found” him and raised him as her own.  Kinda makes me think about God adopting us into His kingdom and loving us so beautifully.

As I grew older, my fascination with Moses increased all the more as I realized the similarities in my own life and Moses’ life.  I don’t mean how I can relate to his mistakes……I am referring to the fact that we share a common trait:  NOT BEING eloquent with words and being slow in speech and tongue (well, I am definitely not slow to speak but I did have a big time speech impairment – a tied tongue).  I love that God didn’t seem to care about all of that.  He even provided Moses with a brother who was gifted with delivering words.  Hmmmmmm….I have a brother who is an EXCELLENT pastor and can relay messages so clearly and effectively.  Love that parallelism.

Yikes!  I could go on and on about Moses. And to think I am only in chapter 7 of Exodus!  Good stuff.

I hate to admit that I am finding a few more parallels that I am not so happy about!  Uh-hum.  Should I even mention the excuse thing he had going there?  Takes one to know one. 

Anyhoo, it is time for bed but I just had to share my random thoughts about my man Moses.  My favorite childhood Bible story still has lots to teach me as a grownup!

A purpose

My teaching job is a calling but it is also labeled a “job” for obvious reasons.  It provides insurance, pays the bills, puts our kids in a good school district, etc. in return for me to carry out tasks that I have accepted and agreed to complete. 

As everyone fully knows, a job can simply be just that.  A JOB.  WORK.  I am proud to admit that most of the time, my job as teacher truly feels like a calling, a pastime, fun, and not just a job.  I will also confess that there are moments (or days) that I go ONLY because I committed to it.  It is my job. Honestly, once I get to school and get in the groove, I am quite content and feel blessed to have this calling.  Lately, it seems like my thoughts of thinking that I am doing this only to help my husband fulfill his calling into the ministry have transformed into the fact that teaching my littles is what I am called to do.  The means in which the Lord placed me back into teaching full-time in a public school did indeed revolve around the fact that we needed an income (the husband is on full-time support which means we depend on others’ donations to pay him).  

I was reminded ever so gently on Friday that my job as a pre-k teacher (both special education and general education) is not only a job AND a calling but also a purpose.  As I gear up to accept another special needs kiddo into my classroom and arms tomorrow morning, I have caught myself wholeheartedly believing that over the weekend.  True, this new little tyke will be a HUGE challenge but there is a purpose for him in my life (and my classroom). 

Definition of purpose:   intention, resolution, determination

I have a true intention to meet the needs of this little guy and the 23 other littles placed in my care.  I am determined to love them, nurture them, teach them, and cheer them on as they develop into the humans they are called to be.  That is my purpose.  True, I have other purposes outside that school, but as I prepare to face this new challenge,  it has warmed my heart and given me strength to know that I am where I need to be and that the new little guy is entering a new environment and purpose tomorrow morning at 8:00am.  

But I am still coveting your prayers that God’s purpose for my life would continue to be revealed to me and I will be obedient to follow. That there, my friends, is the biggest purpose in all my life.

12 so far

12 boxes are packed, inventoried, labeled, and ready to be loaded on one of four ocean containers heading to Africa.  

Notice I said 12 so far.  Not done yet.  Almost but not yet.

Most of the items in the 12 boxes are personal items our family will need during our 2 month stay in Zambia.  A few contain ministry supplies.  

Oh!  Guess I failed to mention that I actually have a job while we are in Zambia.  I am quite pleased to have an assignment but I must confess that I am a bit apprehensive about my task.  I will be teaching the Zambian cooks at our housing complex how to “cook American” for the 400+ Americans who will be participating in Camp LIFE this summer.  Fortunately since camp is broken up into 8 weeks, not all 400 will be attending at the same time.  Still, I will be responsible for planning and preparing meals for at least 80 people per week.  Yes, I love to cook.  Yes, I have a lot of experience.  Yes, I have cooked for large crowds. 

BUT… I have never prepared many meals in a foreign land.  I have never cooked for 75 plus people for 7 weeks in a row.  And I have never taught a non-American how to do it our way.  

So…..yes, I am a bit nervous.  I am also honored.  Holly, a fellow FLMI staff member, responded to my doubts of being able to do this by smiling at me and saying, “So isn’t it great to be out of your comfort zone??”  Well, that was not exactly my first thought but sure, I’ll go with it.  I will embrace the task and the challenges that accompany it and enjoy my time of serving in Zambia.  I might be apprehensive but I really am excited.  

I did not take pics of the contents of the previous boxes. (UUGH!)  I do, however have a spreadsheet of all the items being shipped thanks to my sweet husband!  

So what items are we shipping?  Well, to give you an idea, I bought more Crisco tonight that I will EVER buy in my entire life.  (I plan on making homemade rolls that we affectionately call “Diet Pills.”)  Also, in the photo below, notice the 16 containers of cornmeal to be used for homemade cornbread.  We also bought 42 large boxes of instant vanilla pudding for my homemade cookies.  This is just a small sampling.  The husband and Greer (his boss man) bought pallets and pallets of other items today at Sam’s for me to use in the kitchen.  I read in the paper that Sam’s CLub recently laid of thousands of people.  Well, after the purchases the ministry has made over the past few days, they can rehire those poor people.  (You are welcome!  :) Glad to help.)

Tomorrow the husband will begin loading two 40-foot ocean containers which will contain our twelve boxes along with a gazillion others filled with important items for the children and our Zambian staff.  These containers will take approximately 100 days to arrive at their destination in Zambia.  By the time they arrive, the husband will already be there!  While this summer seems a long way off, in just a few short months we will be back on an airplane on our way to Zambia.  We plan to be there for eight weeks this summer!  The husband will be there for 11 weeks. 

Will twelve boxes be enough?

Better keep packing!!

The porch

I love the image of the good ole southern porch.  My Nanny happened to be the owner and resident of one such porch.  I have millions of memories from my trillions and trillions of miles swinging back and forth on her black porch swing in Mississippi.  Nanny’s porch was never extravagant for she was the very opposite of the word.  But her porch was always neatly kept and freshly swept, ready for all to see as they drove down the “main” street in that small southern town.  Something about people waving as they drove by and honking their horns made me somewhat giddy.  I was especially overjoyed when folks drove by and then turned around in the church parking lot (two houses down) and came back to say hello when they saw us gracing the steps of the porch.  I played with cousins on that porch, made a mess with watermelon slices, and chatted with my daddy’s childhood friends. Oh the porch was so comfortable and never boring.  I think I really liked not having to be productive or do much of anything.  It was a nice place to just be.

I had the privilege of joining my dear friend, Tiff,  at her church’s ladies’ event last night.  She was the speaker and I loved listening to her eloquent words.  Her topic?  Friendship!  She made many great points but I walked away with the porch thought.  I love porches and have coveted many porches in my time.  I want a porch full of flower pots, rocking chairs, and a swing.  I want a lovely wreath on the door and an attractive door mat to greet my guests.  I want it to look good!  

Isn’t that like our relationships?  We want to look so nice and all together on the outside, enjoying entertaining passers-by (aka acquaintances).  We want our relationships to be like a comfortable oasis where we are secure yet cautious. But do we really want our guests to come in for a cold glass of lemonade or iced tea?  To sit on our sofa and discuss the photos in our photo frames?  Maybe that is not too uncomfortable for some.  But what about allowing them to enter our closets – the deep, ugly, unorganized compartments of our lives that we are not always so proud of.  

Do you have closet friends or just the many folks who you wave to from your porch?  Do you ever open your heart and share some things you rather just keep behind closed doors?  

I have learned about friendships the past 2 years as I have been blessed to walk through this journey of friendship with Tiff.  I have discovered that there are many things in my life that have been absent but that I have really needed.  I have learned that having fun and taking care of myself is necessary to being a happy and effective mom.  I have learned that my life is so much more beautiful when you allow the Word of God to dwell in your heart – to truly hide God’s Word in your heart – and to apply it in EVERYDAY situations.  I love that I have a friend who prays scripture over me and encourages me to welcome God into my closets too.

I am thankful that I have broken away from my porch habits and opened up my closets and permitted a dear friend to enter in and see my mess.  A friend who still loves, accepts, and encourages me.  There have been some lovely porch times, sipping iced tea and just chit chatting about nothings.  How grateful I am that I have opened up my door, let her come in and sit on my stained sofas, eat my cranberry bread, and then dig into my closets.

And for some reason the piles of junk in my closets seem easier to manage when I share them with a dear friend.

So behind

I am obviously waaaaaaaay behind on my blogging.  So much for keeping up with it in the new year.  

That is okay.  I made a few other pacts with myself and have been putting more effort into those than blogging (obviously).  

Where, oh where do I begin?  

Let us start here: 

New Year’s Eve

Yummy fondue with two of the kiddos (Pumpkin was invited to her very first overnight New Year’s Eve party).   We decided to lay low this year and stay home and not invite others over.  The children enjoyed all three courses of fondue, esp the chocolate/peanut butter dessert!  

Made you laugh?  Pumpkin received a Spa book for Christmas.  Apparently, she has been reading it and putting some of the info into practice.  

Fall comes in January here in Texas!  My folks always have great piles of leaves in the new year and the children enjoy playing and posing in them. 

Last weekend I treated myself to a weekend of scrapbooking.  Got quite a bit completed on my 2009 family scrapbook but also invested some of the time in just chilling out.  The week before the retreat was a brutal week (the worst I have had this year) so I was pleased as punch to do something I wanted to do (although I missed my family).  

We finally signed the girlies up for gymnastics.  They were tickled!!!  

Pumpkin is thrilled to be taking gymnastics with her new buddy, Madi.  

My beautiful daughters ready for the dance with their daddy last night.

Oh my!  They make my heart smile. 

What else has been going on that is not in pictures?

I committed (with a friend) to read through the Bible this year.  So far so good.  I am actually at the point of craving my time in The Word. That fact just THRILLS me.  I must confess that the book of Job got a little long but I persevered through it!  :) My sweet friend directed me to a blog that is leading us gals though our daily reading.  I LOVE it.  We are reading through The Chronological Bible.  My only issue so far is that I am reading the NIV version and Wendy (the gal who is blogging) is using another translation.  Apparently the folks who arranged the NIV thought the life of Job was plopped in the middle of Genesis so we have not been reading the same thing.  Oh well.  We will get back on the same track very soon. 

Visions of Zambia are dancing in our heads this time of year.  I know, I know…we don’t go until May, but we are currently preparing to send two ocean containers to Zambia this week in time to arrive for camp this summer.  I will post more about that soon!

So that is the scoop on the recent happenings at the Knight household.  Stay tuned for more info!  (Hopefully soon. )

13 things

Happy New Year!

The husband and I had an ABSOLUTELY incredible time alone on our anniversary.  I do believe that we were in desperate need of quiet time sans kiddos.  We experienced an amazing meal at Old Hickory (at the Gaylord Texan) and shared in sweet conversation.  I can’t recall a time when our conversation was sweeter.  Truly a priceless gift.

I must confess that typically the husband and I stumble to start up dynamic converstion when we are alone.  If we do have a quick time of connecting, it pertains to the children or money.  We seem to always have a lot to talk about on those subjects.  I was hoping to avoid our normal topics and connect on a deeper and stronger level.  Hmmmmmmm…….so how does a couple accomplish that?

Well, as we were seated in a lovely dining room, I felt like the Lord telling me to ask about 13 things.  What?  13?  Oh!  I got it.  13 years of marriage so we shall talk about 13 things.  Not knowing how this would flow, I took a shot at it and I apparently had perfect aim.  We sat there for almost 3 hours with plenty of words (and heart) to share.  I LOVED it.

Each of us came up with our own list of memories that stick out the most from our years as Mr. and Mrs.  I will spare you the complete list but here is a summary:

We named obvious things like the births of our children (esp. that first life-changing one), moves, job changes, etc. I was stunned that the husband mentioned several small things such as surprising little date nights, little notes, etc.  The majority of our favorite memories didn’t cost a lot of money (well, the children were costly) but they did require some time and effort.

It struck me that time and effort are a BIG part of what build strong relationships (husband and wife, parent and child, etc.).  The things that have stuck in our minds and hearts are not the high dollar items (although the dinner we were enjoying at that time definitely qualifies and will surely be included on future lists).

Not only do the “little” things make a strong impact on our family but we also realized that most of the “big” events in our lives such as job changes only make us stronger.  The things we recall that were super joyous proved to provide challenges too.  The events that were initally challenging turned into blessing upon blessing.

Just for fun, here is a sample of the list:

1. Birth of our first child

2. Moving to Maryland 8 days post wedding

3.  The husband jobless for 2 years – and we had two babies in 15 months during that time

4.  The Twelve Days of Christmas

5.  Trip to Disney World

6.  Our ten year anniversary

7.  Our little house

8.  Basement living

9.  Care Group in Maryland

10.  Crawling into bed with each other nightly

11.  The husband’s 27th b-day.  Apparently my efforts to make his day extra special were well received.

12.  This time last year (no prospect of a job AGAIN)

13.  My going back to teaching full time

14.  My 9 years of being a stay-at-home mom raising our babies

15.  The years we were dirt poor and had nothing to give each other -we got VERY creative!

16.  Little notes randomly left for each other

I could go on……….but you get the point.

Picture of the husband in our suite at the hotel…

The husband actually takes pictures now.  Our new camera rocks but one thing it has produced is pictures of ME.  In the past, I have always been behind the camera but now the husband is exploring the many features of our new Canon Rebel.  This was taken at our breakfast our first morning at the hotel.

After breakfast we went to the ice sculpture exhibit featuring the Grinch.  I think they said the temperature inside was 9 degrees.  Aren’t we so cute all bundled up?

Now I am looking forward to 13 more years with my man!  (And 13 more . . . and 13 more . . .and 13 more . . . . . .)

Where did the time go?

One week off from work and another one left to be enjoyed.  I am a happy momma. I thought I would have tons of time to post but it seems that I have been involved in other endeavors.  

I have certainly enjoyed time with my sweet, sweet MAN whom I married 13 years ago TOMORROW.  I LOVE THIS MAN WITH ALL OF MY HEART!  I can’t believe the years have flown by but in some ways it seems like I have been with him every day of my life.  It is hard to think of my life without him in it.  He absolutely brings me joy and is a MAJOR blessing in my life.  

I often wonder why on earth we chose December 28 as our wedding date.  My parents like to remind me of a comment I made about 13 years ago.  It was a few days before Christmas and I was frantically finalizing plans for our big wedding (we had over 625 people in attendance) and for some reason NOBODY wanted to answer phone calls from an anxious bride-to-be on December 23.  Dad caught me stomping through the house muttering, “Why on earth did they put Christmas THREE DAYS before my wedding?!?!?!”  

Yes, I apparently got it all wrong.  My son just read this over my shoulder and told me that I only have myself to blame, NOT Jesus.  Thanks sweet eleven year old!  But at that time in my life, all I could really focus on was MY WEDDING.  I am not too proud to admit that fact but I find it interesting how the tables have been turned since then.  The husband and I quickly discovered that our special day, the day that at one point in time seemed even more important than the celebration of Jesus’ birth, easily got put on the back burner.  We find that by the time our anniversary rolls around shortly after Christmas day, we lack the energy to truly celebrate.  It has been a constant struggle.  

Honestly, I am ashamed of myself for not working harder to make December 28 more sacred, extra special.  BUT I have parents who value marriage and love the two of us.  They try to assist us in taking time out to focus on each other.  So it really should not surprise me that my parents gave us two grand nights at the Gaylord Texan AND free babysitting.  Tomorrow I will dump  drop off the kids at Nana and Papa’s house and spend two glorious days with my husband. 

Happy Anniversary Dear Man!  I am absolutely thrilled to be your wife.  The rings on our left fingers still make me feel all giddy inside.  I still can’t believe you chose me!  WOW!  

And thanks for fathering these three monkeys!  

Little Miss (age 7)

The Lad (age 11)

Pumpkin (age 10)

So now EVERY year at Christmas time when I am reminded once again how precious my life is simply because of a baby born over 2,000 years earlier, I am also reminded of another WONDERFUL gift in my life.  My husband is truly a gift.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

A lot of things going on around here lately.  Somehow we are keeping up our normal schedule AND having extra fun celebrating Christmas.  Yes, it has been crazy but I am really trying to enjoy  my family and making memories with them.  

Making a gingerbread house with the girlies…

A

My new Christmas hairdo…

We took two of the kiddos (Pumpkin was at a slumber party) to the big children’s Christmas parade downtown last Saturday.  It was a bit nippy but we had a grand time.  The highlight was seeing actress Selena Gomez.  :) 

After the parade we met up with the husband’s family for lunch.  We found Santa in Preston Center and took a few pictures of the kids.  

Pumpkin’s honor choir performed at Northpark mall on Tuesday.  I took the entire day off to watch her and of course enjoy a bit of shopping and lunch with a dear friend.  Gran and Grandaddy came to watch and eat lunch with our little singer. 

I surprised the kids (and Daddy) with Christmas goodies on Tuesday night.  I had milk and gingerbread cookies out on the dining room table when they came home from a trip to the grocery store.  They were thrilled! 

Pumpkin had her 3rd/4th grade choir program tonight.  She had a solo and did SENSATIONAL.  I really am impressed with her talent.  She has a sweet sweet voice.  I cannot claim that she inherited my genes in that department!

I hope you are having a rich and memorable holiday season.  My prayer for our family -and yours- is that we will focus on the true meaning of Jesus’ birth.

early

Gift giving came a little early this year for the husband and yours truly.  

For once I was not the one to tear into the package on the doorstep.  I had it in my mind that I would wrap up our joint camera and share the joy in opening it up with my beloved in front of our children.  

But no.  The husband beat me to it.  I think he might be more excited about our NEW CANNON REBEL camera than I am.  

So…..I am looking forward to taking many and BETTER photos.  In fact, the girls are finishing up the Gingerbread  house as I type.  I am thinking this just might be a good time to test out the new gift!

This time last year…

I was living in a sea of confusion.  I was allowing the unknown to pull me down into dark, cold waters.  

I was living in “When we figure out what we were doing, then I will get serious about growing in the Lord.” I wanted to have everything figured out and our life mapped out.  True, the news on November 4 last year that the husband would be jobless come the end of the year, was devastating but I somehow held on to the hope that maybe, just maybe the lay off would push us over on the other side.  You know, the side that is greener.  

I had no idea. 

Funny how I thought greener meant a better paying job for the husband, a move into a better school district, a bigger house, and the freedom for me to be a 100% full time stay at home mom.  

Well, we certainly landed in a new pasture.  

And at the beginning, I most certainly did not see it as green at all. Brown maybe.  

The Lord has softened my heart, opened my eyes and is definitely still molding me.  

I have been reviewing how I was thinking this time last year.  Actually, I realized that the husband and I were flying back from Guatemala on this very day (I wrote this post a week ago so my dates are now off).  We had flown down there to seek out where the Lord would use us down there.  We were ready to make a move down there to start an orphanage sponsored by our church.  Obviously, that was not the answer.  

Two weeks later I was running around Boone, North Carolina with a realtor while the husband had an 8 hour interview with Samaritan’s Purse.  Obviously, that was not the answer either.  

The week of Christmas, as the final days of employment ended, we had somewhere around ZERO leads.  

Zero!  Hmmmmmmm.  And we were to feed the children?  

Well, God did indeed provide for us.  Like that surprises any of us!?!!??  

We are on a very foreign land now (literally and figuratively speaking).

Does it look anything like I had envisioned?  Absolutely NOT.  

Is it beautiful and refreshing?  

Yes!

Hard to maintain at times?  

Yes!

The biggest thing the Lord has taught me since last November 4 is that serving the Lord and finding HIS will for your life does not require for you to leave some strings attached.  

Cut those ties, dear ones.  Knock down the gate and explore a whole new land God has for you.  

Just be careful.  

We got double land for our dollar…..

I got a classroom full of preschoolers 9 months of the year and a foreign land called Africa the other 3 months of the year. 

Now I must cultivate what has been given to me……