Spring Musical (Zech & Isabella)

Bible Drill

Sarah, Zech, and Isabella all participate in a program at church called "Bible Drill". It is a program that teaches them to memorize the books of the bible and passages in the bible. They have to memorize tons of scriptures each year. As they are learning, they are also learning how to use their "sword" (the Word of God is likened as a Sword).

Zech and Isabella are in the regular bible drill. They have to find their books and passages and recite their versus all in 10 seconds. If you were to hold your bible out with two hands (closed) and someone else with a timer randomly picked a book in the bible and had you find it in 10 seconds could you? They have 4 drills. One of them is the caller will tell them a reference and then they have 10 seconds to remember the verse and step across the line. If they are called upon they will have to say the reference and then the verse and repeat the reference again. You are allowed up to 12 errors to go on to Associational drill and then 8 errors to go onto state. Zech had 1 error and Isabella 2. This is Isabella's first year, but last year of regular bible drill for Zech. His goal is to make perfect at state! Go Zech and Isabella. This Sunday is our associational drill and the weekend after Easter is the state drill.

Sarah is involved in the Youth program. It proves to be much more difficult in it's scoring. They are scored on how still they stand, whether or not they only look at the judge (that is what they want), if they can prove by tipping their hands and bibles that they really found the scripture verse, recite their verses, who steps across the line first, and so on and so on. Many things receive points. They have to memorize the books of the bible as well and find them in 8 seconds. They also have to find random passages in the bible as the caller recites it to them and they have only 8 seconds to find that passage. Three other divisions are identifying verses, doctrinal verses, and bible answers. All three divisions have to be memorized completely. They are called upon by any number of words within the passage and given a "start" and the youth have to find it in 8 seconds and have their index finger upon that verse. Two of the divisions allow the children to read the passage (even though they have memorized it) from the bible, and one division asks them to recite it from memory. We only have 3 youth in this bible drill because it is very difficult and many drop out before the end. All three did exceptionally well in the church drill. Sarah in all her practice never made it past 208 points (180 is necessary for church, over 200 is necessary for associational, and over 280 is necessary for state, 300 is perfect). Sarah scored in the church drill 293!!!!!! 7 points away from being perfect!!!! She was smoking up there she was going so very fast.

We still have associational drill this coming weekend to get past, but all three passed the church drill with flying colors! We are so very proud of all three because they have worked tremendously hard in this program!

After associational the regular bible drillers go on to state. Although in the same place and at the same time, Sarah's bible drill is only regional, after that she can go to state. Only 2 children from each region advance to state.

Turning 40!

A couple of weeks ago I started a new bible study and in reading the intro the author mentions the reason for her starting this adventure was that she was turning 40 and her life felt "half over". She wanted something to show for her "hopefully" next 40 more years. I was about to turn 40 and I kept watching the wrinkles grow closer and closer together on my face, the circles under my eyes getting darker, and the grey hair that I've had for a while now turning greyer. Now after the mirror on the wall showing me that I wasn't the fairest in the Land and now the book reminding me that my life might very well be half over, what was my feelings of turning 40? I struggled in my mind and in my heart I must say. However, I'm there now and it's not that bad!? "yet"

My wonderful husband doted on me with flowers, perfume, a pedicure, a Natalie Grant CD, shopping trips, and more. My children plotted with him to make me a gourmet meal from their Nintendo "Personal Trainer Cooking" and spent 2 1/2 hours preparing a wonderful meal. My Sunday school class took me out to eat and another Sunday school class created a wonderful lunch in my honor. I received money for shopping or whatever I wanted. I broke my diet several times and ate "unhealthy" food and more. Several friends called, including my birthday buddy! We had spring break so I didn't have to teach school or do school. This week and this celebration has been wonderful and it created a wonderful setting to turn 40 and see what lies ahead in this new decade.

Going back to the book, the author goes on to say something that inspired me and causes me to desire the same. In the book of Ruth, Boaz replies to Ruth a statement, "And now, my daughter, do not fear, I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are an excellent woman." (Ruth 3:11) I would love that if in 10 years or the next however many years of the life God has given me, for the town, city, or "group" of people I have been given to live around, they would say the same of me. That I have lived this life as an excellent woman. Not for pride, not for stardom, not for anything else, but God has given me a chance to show Him through an excellent life. So turning 40 is a challenge to live in an excellent manner and I pray He will allow me a chance to glorify Him throughout this next adventure He has so wonderfully given to me!

Thanks to all who made a wonderful birthday and turning 40 excellent!

Balance?!? Can it be found!?

I am somewhere in between Balance and Insanity?! I can't seem to find the true balance to anything anymore. When I was in elementary school I balanced my schedule very well (or should I say my mom did) and I did exemplary on the balance beam. When I was in middle school I learned to balance friendships, relationships, broken hearts, and drill team. High school brought more new "balances" to my life and I either ignored them or I challenged them or rebelled against them. Now I was a "good" child comparatively but not "good" in the eyes of the Lord. After high school and into the "real" world I learned to balance life on my own and also experienced "not" balancing life right! Job, new apartments, car payment and insurance, bills, checkbook, and more didn't always balance out right. I learned, steered myself in the right direction, or so I thought, and tried again. At the age of 20, I realized I had utterly failed at trying to balance it all and surrendered my life to Jesus, believe that He died on the cross for me and would forgive me of my sins and help me balance out my life.

In that direction I began to live my life balanced for Jesus. Although many people believed I lived unbalanced, completely leaving out the world and putting Jesus in everything. I didn't accept that then and I still don't accept it now and Jesus is still the balance of my life. However I find myself still trying to balance?!

As a homeschool mom and a pastor's wife, I've discovered that there are many balances that I must maintain and many more that I've let go of. You see I have not just one person reallying on me for their complete education, but I have three. I focus on one and the other two get left out, but when I focus on all three, sometimes there is a tug and pull of things I must let go of. Who needs the most help today seems to be my answer? Then my household duties of cleaning, washing, folding, putting away, keeping everything general in balance of the house get put on the side. However if I put those above the schoolwork, then the schoolwork fails. Same thing with kids clothing. The other day I cleaned out closets and drawers for spring/summer change and only to find that the rest of the house and the school work was out of balance and a mess. But that is not all I do. I also have to balance between 3 bible studies, one children's study, ladies ministry team, ministry events along the way, people to see, places to go, errands to run, meals to fix and make sure they are balanced, lectures to make, not to over exasperate my children, ladies team website, any pertinent information my husband drops along the way, taking care of him and respecting him, and I could go on and on. Where is the balance? I mean really? When I focus on one, the others fall by the wayside? When I focus on the wayside, the important stuff gets put on the back burner. But school can't, ministry can't, my family can't but put "away", nor do I want them to be.

So where is the balance? Honestly I'm struggling with the balance. However I know the answer lies within Jesus arms. If I stay close to Him he will lead me through. He will help me take care of all the "balance" issues and people will see Him through me leading a balanced life. I'm struggling but I go to Him because He holds me in His hand and won't let me go. So if I'm overbalanced or under balanced I still won't fall! Thank you Jesus.

And the Winner is . . . .

Sarah's regional spelling bee was this morning. 21 children from around the county were present representing all schools. There were public schools, homeschools, and private schools. All kids were either elementary or jr. high. After 7 rounds, Sarah was asked to spell the word "seltzer", but it was pronounced, "selsor". Although she asked for the definition, she didn't ask for another pronunciation. Not sure that you can say the T or not, but in my Texas, redneck world, I pronounce the T and therefore I'm sure in our practicing I did the same thing. Unfortunately she did mispell that word and was eliminated. However she placed 7th out of 21.

Although if she had placed 21 out of 21, Mike and I are extremely proud of her and her hard work and determination to get to the regionals! Sarah is so very bright and serious student. She tries very hard in school and for that she gets an A plus from her teacher/mom! I love you Sarah and I am so very proud of you!

IBC Root Beer

I love root beer! It is the one soda drink that does not have caffeine and therefore I can drink it in the middle of the day if I want too! Because of my horrible insomnia, I limit my caffeine to only mornings. Around our house, as of late, we have been eating very healthy. Veggies galore, chicken and fish, fruit coming out our ears and only high grain, high fiber whole wheat breads. No white breads, no white potatoes, no sugar, no a lot of things. We are all getting used to it little by little. I still will let the kids splurge every now and then because they need more "fat" in their diet than us. Although we are getting used to the "healthy" way of eating, I still like my treats every now and again. So as I was perusing the grocery store, I ran across "diet" IBC root beer. I thought I would give it a try and it was yummy. So most days to get me in between lunch and dinner (my stomach rumbles sometime between 2:30 and 3:30) I enjoy a diet IBC root beer or a Sonic diet cherry Limeaide. They both seem to get me over till dinner.

Yesterday however I opened a bottle of my diet root beer and without thinking I needed to leave in about 10 minutes. Now I like to take my time drinking my drinks so I grabbed it and headed out the door. About 3 or 4 minutes later I took the drink in my hands and swallowed a mouth full and then immediately thought, "Oh my goodness, this bottle looks like a beer and if a cop or someone who knows me sees me, they are going to think I'm drinking a beer!" I guess I need to back this story up a bit, because you have to understand that I am a very, very conservative Baptist Preacher's wife and therefore I believe that drinking is wrong and can cause of stumbling block to the weak (those who are not mature in Christ or those who haven't accepted Christ yet as their Savior). I will not consume or purchase alcohol in the least bit of way. Buying the IBC diet root beer is not big deal because it comes in a package that clearly says what it is. But taking it out of the package, it just looks like a beer bottle. So what did I do??? I hid it between my legs, drove home, finished my root "beer" and threw the bottle away. I made a mental note about never drive and drink an IBC "diet" or not diet root beer in the car again. LOL!