Have you seen this?

WOW. . .

Trusting in the Lord. . .

Honestly, I’m not much of a hymns person. I’d much rather listen or sing praise songs or contemporary Christian music (I love the Newsboys!!!!). But right now there are lyrics to a hymn going through my mind. . .

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise,
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

Today was “Axe Day” at The Home Depot corporate office. Ten percent of the employees were laid off, including Prince Charming, whose last day will be Friday. We knew this was a strong possibility. Since he has only worked there a little more than a year, we weren’t sure of what his severance package would be.

This is the 4^th time in our 21 year marriage that Prince Charming has been laid off. The other 3 times, we had a cushion in the bank. This time, we have none . . . we are living paycheck to paycheck. And with 4 teenagers in the house, including one who will be in college next year and one with special needs that we don’t yet have a plan for, and adoption debt, things are. . . tight.

But God has always taken care of us. Good things have come from each time Prince Charming has lost a job. Usually we’ve ended up financially ahead.

We are blessed that he has two months of severance pay/benefits and then will receive a lump sum equal to one month’s pay.

As Prince Charming calmly told me the news this evening, I reminded him that each time he has lost a job, he has been a great witness to those around him. Everyone else is usually freaking out, but he is trusting God. He actually was encouraging his boss who was very unhappy about having to tell employees they no longer had a job.

So, we are looking forward to seeing what God is going to do. Prayers are appreciated, though!

11,000 words

Czarina and Fatso

Space Cadet and Hoodie Girl (in a rare appearance without her hoodie)


Space Cadet and Czarina:

Hoodie Girl and Fatso

Hoodie Girl:

Czarina:

Space Cadet:
Fatso

Festival of Life

This Friday and Saturday hundreds of teens from all over Georgia descended on Dublin, GA for the Church of the Nazarene's annual Festival of Life.

The purpose of FOL is to help teens develop and use their talents for God's glory. The two day event has teens competing in different categories such as sports, academics, performing arts, visual arts, writing, etc. First place winners (and those who make a sports team) go on to compete at TNT (Top Nazarene Talent) at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville in April. (Regional Bible Quiz finals are also at TNT, but the teams for that are decided at State Teen Finals in March.)

This was my 4th or so time at FOL. I love going to FOL. For me, it's like a vacation. I get to chill out, watch really talented kids perform, and it doesn't cost me anything because the church pays the way for chaperones.

Hoodie Girl loves FOL and has been hoping for a chance to go to TNT. She has a really good shot at making the B Quiz Team so we thought that might happen. At FOL she entered 4 art categories and prose. In art she placed 1st in two categories and 2nd in another, and in prose she placed 1st. So now she has 3 entries for TNT, in addition to possibly quizzing.

This was Czarina's first time at FOL. Czarina is a bit shy of trying new things and especially going to new places. She was okay with this trip, and enjoyed her first stay in an American Hotel. "This is the life!" she said.

Czarina entered 3 art categories and poetry. She said several times that she did not want to win anything because she did NOT want to go to TNT (which is a 4 day event).

Czarina placed 2nd in two of the art categories. . . and FIRST in poetry!

(The girls were teasing me because when Anastasia got called up to get her first place medal, I started crying. Can't help it. It's what I do.)

Czarina wrote a song in Russian a month or so ago. Hoodie Girl helped her translate it into English. This is what she entered as poetry.

Czarina is not sure if she wants to go to TNT. I told her that the Jonas Brothers live in or near Nashville. I told her its like a 4 day party. They have a great concert on the first night, and lots of great food. And Trevecca has a beautiful campus. PLUS we get 3 nights in a hotel, and the hotel keeps the pool open after hours just for the TNTers. (Georgia usually has 2 or 3 busloads of people going to TNT, and we all stay at the same hotel.) She is thinking about it. She needs to decide fairly soon, because if she doesn't go then the 2nd place winner will represent Georgia.

Cookie Monster

Are these not the cutest cupcakes you've ever seen?


see more crazy cat pics

I wish I'd seen this picture when my kids were still young enough for a Sesame Street birthday party. . .

Cats can be very useful

see more crazy cat pics

This is just a little bit scary. . .

Fatso has been interested in politics for may years, as evidenced by these pictures:

Here he is (in 2004) at the County Republican Headquarters in our county. He has been going to meetings and some conventions with Prince Charming since he was 13.

(That same year Space Cadet and Hoodie Girl, 15 and 9 respectively, went to a meeting or two themselves. It's not really their "thing", but Hoodie Girl became a life long supporter of our local sheriff after he gave her a beanie baby named "Righty"):

Here is a "photo op" with our local State Representative. Fatso was running for president of his co-op Elections Class and got State Representative Billy Horne to endorse him!

Fatso's campaign poster:

Prince Charming pointed out that Fatso turns 18 just before the 2009 convention season starts. Prince Charming is always a delegate or alternate for the county and district conventions. He's been to the state convention a few times also. Guess who else is hoping to be a delegate this year? Since at the precinct and county levels there are usually more spots open than people to fill them, chances are good he WILL be a delegate.

WOW. . .

I just don't understand it. . .

see more crazy cat pics

Why I love having teenagers. . .

. . . they can COOK.

Prince Charming always has a hard time thinking of things he wants for Christmas. This year (last year?) he came up a list of foods (mostly desserts) that he would like someone to make. So Fatso, Czarina and Hoodie Girl all gave him coupons for baked goods (they didn't want to all bake at once!)

This week Fatso came up with his OWN RECIPE for a Moon Pie Cake. It was delicious! (Fortunately Prince Charming is generous and shared his gift with the family).

Tonight Czarina and Hoodie Girl are each having a friend spend the night. They asked me, "Can we make dinner tonight?" Um, yeah, I can live with that!