Cardboard Testimony

There is more to a book than just the cover. 

Though the cover may seem appealing, the content may leave you lacking. And vice versa, some of the greatest reading material has nothing outwardly that appeals.  So it goes with every area of life, and churches are no different. Because my husband has been in ministry since we were married, I've known him in no other role. Our church is also our employer. Just like any job, a minister (or minister's wife) knows the ins-and-outs of their employer. We know what lies beneath the worship and the message and the smiles. Being on staff at a church allows you to know the heart of those leading the church, in a way many other members often never see. 

Is anyone out there getting nervous about what I am going to say?

I am so thankful for the churches the Lord has allowed us to serve in. The Lord has given us great provision in the places he has called us. The heart of the elders and ministers at our current church bless me. They really do. I can say with all honesty, that I admire the integrity, wisdom, discernment and love that the staff of our church has; my husband included. 

The Lord has stirred many things in my soul over the past year. The two most evident, are contentment and generosity. 

Jesus has shown me the beauty and the joy of having a heart that is content in him, content with my circumstances, with my resources, with my life, in general. I feel so ungrateful putting those words down, but my flesh battles the Lord's desire for contentment. My flesh longs for more, looks to the future, prepares for tomorrow, contemplates every move. But my spirit has tasted the goodness of finding enjoyment with each moment. My heart has found solace in being fully fulfilled by the job I am called to.  And my mind has found rest by not yearning for what is not mine, by not feeling that more of anything would provide the answers to my desires.  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

The second truth the Lord has impressed upon my heart is generosity. You see, generosity is easy for many, but not for the greedy. And that is me, greedy. I want what is due me, I cling to what I have, and I have a hard time giving of all I have, or at least I did. I still struggle, but as I've been reminded recently the antidote to greed is giving.  

I've never minded giving when it fit within logic. I am not talking about tithing, I mean giving...freely giving above what makes sense, above what fits into my budget. I would give to others when there was enough to keep a fair share for myself first. I looked out for number one. It is easy to give when it cost you nothing. If I give $20 to a neighbor in need when there is one hundred times that in the bank, what faith is there? But, when the need increases to several hundred dollars and that is ALL that is in the bank account, you better believe I was not that foolish. I had to take care of number one, remember? That was until the Lord began to reveal the greed that had taken root in my heart. As he began to show my sin for what it was, I was ashamed. I have been brought to tears on more than one occasion over my selfishness.  Jesus has began to give light to my heart and allow my mind to really grasp what it means to be only a manager, a steward. 

Our pastor has recently been teaching on the latter of my learnings. He has talked in depth about many of the things the Lord had already been stirring in my soul.  

Over a week ago, he preached out of Luke 16. In verse 9 Jesus tells us to use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourself, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

As he went on, the holy spirit so gently began to show me many ways I can use all I have been entrusted with to pour into the lives of others. As I use my earthly wealth to gain friends, I am leading them to a deeper knowledge of my Savior. I am also leading myself to that place. The thought of having a  welcoming crowd to await me in the kingdom thrills me. Many people have given of their wealth and because of that, I know the Lord. I am so thankful for the changes in my life since that beautiful day when I was in the 5th grade, and Jesus became the Lord over my life. It reminded me of the old Ray Boltz song (don't laugh).

As fifty plus members of our church walked out presenting their cardboard testimony for all to see, I felt my eyes fill with tears. These were my friends, staff members, volunteers, and devoted followers.  Their cardboard testimony was a statement of who they used to be. As they flipped their piece of cardboard over, the new sentence revealed what they have become. 

Some stated things like:

Convicted Felon---Small Group Leader

Three stillborn babies---Living with Joy and awaiting our reunion

Living with Cancer---By HIS stripes, I am healed

Christian Imposter---Truly in love with Jesus

Struggled with infertility, doubted God---Blessed by our child's adoption in 2007...and pregnant!

I thought Christian men were weak---I am one

God Robber----Giving of all I have been given

Born with a terminal illness and never expected to live to age two----I'll be three next month

Our pastor's wife walked out with her neurologist. 

Her cardboard read, "Diagnosed with MS in May of 2007" 

Her neurologists' said, "Her Unchurched doctor"

He flipped his to reveal, "Baptized Easter of 2008"

She flipped hers to reveal, "Worth It!"

There were so many testimonies of life change.  Each person's life had been changed through an outpouring of generosity by one or more people. This is why we use our earthly wealth to gain friends. This is why we give of all we have. Not to be caught in a bubble of Christianity, but to win as many to the Lord as we can while we live this short life. 

With that, I've spent over a week trying to think of my cardboard testimony.  I've turned it over and over in my mind. Not because I cannot think of one, but because I can think of so so so many. There are numerous changes the Lord has brought about in my life. 

My Cardboard Testimony:

Stingy---Steward

What is your cardboard testimony?

~Happy Birthday Noah~

I must give a quick shout out to my daughter for her sweet gesture in waking me up at 5:30am so that I am able to celebrate Noah's actual birthday. 

He was born at exactly 5:30am on April 16th. 

Twenty-four things I love about my 24 month old:

24. You make me laugh everyday. 

23. You always wake up with a smile on your face and an energy that I long for in the mornings.

22. You are the biggest sports fan I know.

21. You are a great eater, never picky.

20. You are so sweet to your sister. I love how you read her stories and talk to her in a sweet voice and always strive to make her laugh.

19. I love the way your hair will NOT lay down. You've always had your own 'style'. 

18. Your little hands. They are so chubby and sweet, and they working so hard at all they do.

17.  I love how you want to wear your slip-on shoes like daddys everyday, even to church. Anything to be more like daddy!

16. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt a part of my heart come alive that I never knew existed.  Thank you for letting me love you in a adventurous, new way.  A way that wanted to protect you and give you all the best and didn't know how to settle for less. A love that has challenged me to depend more on the Lord than ever before and has shown me the unthinkable love my father has for me, his own child. 

15. You are so smart and your memory amazes me. I love watching you learn new things every single day.

14. The sweet, sweet nature you were given. You interact so well, you play so well and I love how you already have compassion for others.

13. Thank you for always watching out for me. You take such good care of me and I love the protective instinct you have for your family.

12. You are great at brushing your teeth. I'm sure the Elmo toothbrush helps!

11. Thank you for being my trash nazi.  You are my little helper. You always clean up after yourself and especially after mommy and daddy. 

10. I love how you can hardly stay indoors. You have been an outdoorsman from birth, it's so fun! 

9. Your love for music is something I prayed for in you. You are such a great musician. I cherish that you have a music preference, it's cute. Thankfully, you have great taste; Lifehouse and Maroon 5.

8. I love the way you stop what you are doing each time an airplane flies over head. They way you listen with your mouth opened in awe reminds me to enjoy the simple things in life.

7. You sweet voice makes my heart smile. You sing your ABC's and Jesus Loves (You and) Me so well, like an angel.

6. I could kiss you and kiss  you and kiss you and kiss you. I never get tired of those sweet kisses.

5. You are such a great big brother. I pray that you and Kayt still light up when the other enters  the room, even in 20 years. 

4. You are so brave! I feel so sad each time I see your little lip tremble while trying to hold back tears. I love that you have such a gentle, yet strong spirit. 

3. You are a phenomenal basketball player. That form...it's pretty incredible.

2. I love the way you know the arrangement of our kitchen better than your daddy. You help him find the utensils he needs and unload the dishwasher so well.

1. How do I love you? It's impossible to say. For if I had a million days, and time enough for all the praise, I could not tell you all the ways...I LOVE YOU!

~From one of our favorite books How Do I Love You by P.K. Hallinan~

Happy Birthday Noah Hudson! 

Oh Yeah!

Guess who is having a birthday tomorrow? 

My baby will be TWO! It is hard to gage how quickly time passes until you have a child. Their growth is a tangible measure for how fast time flies and how much change can come about in a short amount of time. 

I am so proud of my little guy and the sweet person he is. When I was putting him to bed a few nights ago, I told him how much I loved him, how thankful I was for him and how proud I was of him. As I was about to shut the door he said, "Ashee, I poud of you!"  Thank you Noah...the feelings are mutual.

On our way out the door for MDO, Noah wanted to see himself in the camera. I intended to take a picture but accidentally had it in video mode. Just wanted to show off what a big boy I have.

I'm sorry about it being sideways, I don't know how to rotate a video. Don't you love how he holds the cheesy grin for so long? I have him trained well! 

I can't go without showing off my little angel as well...

She is so fun. She is loving her newly found independence in sitting.  I can't keep up with her once I put her on the ground. She's a roller! I could honestly eat her face off! I cannot get enough of her sweet baby kisses. I feel bad because I kiss her so much that sometimes I chap her cheeks...not good. You just can't get these days back though, I have to take advantage of those kisses.

Bye-Bye BaBa

Prepare yourself. You may not want to read this if you are not a mother. Mothers, proceed...you will understand.

This little guy is no more. Not Noah, the pacifier. If a two year old can have an addiction, my son did.  He and his "BaBa" were connected at the hip mouth. 

Last Saturday, I awoke to a muffled form of my name. And that was it. I had had enough of Noah trying to talk, but being hindered by that nasty thing.  After much coercing, I told Noah to say bye bye to his BaBa. We found a nice gift sack and collected his many pacifiers from around the house. We came to the conclusion that we would "mail" them to his cousin, Ty-Ty. This seemed only fitting since Tyson is a baby and Noah is a big boo-eee (Noah's words, not mine). He was so funny, he was holding the last pacifier and before he could drop it in the bag he had to get a few final sucks in. He finally, reluctantly dropped it in the bag and then gleamed with pride. 

That was it, no more BaBa.

Until he fell over a basketball 10 minutes later. 

"I need Noah's BaBa," is what he began to repeat over and over and over.  Day after day, the requests became fewer, and alas we have gone 2 days without even a single request. I have to admit, I almost gave in a few times. His face seemed so pathetic and you could see the yearning in his face. He would call out for it in his sleep. But we stood our ground, we were finished with that germ infested mouth ornament. For the record...I did wash it. Sometimes I felt as though all I did was wash pacifiers, but I never knew what floors or hands it had touched when I wasn't looking. 

One day last week, I found him in Kayt's room with all of the drawers pulled out and clothes strewn over the floor. She had 2 pacifiers that I had put in her sock drawer a while back in case she ever decided to choose the pacifier over her thumb. I had completely forgotten about them. He was sitting in the corner, viciously sucking away on a pink and purple pacifier. Can you feel the desperation?

Now I can proudly say that Noah has gone over a week without his beloved BaBa!!! Go Noah~

It just seemed fitting for Ty-Ty (or rather mom) to buy Noah a gift to celebrate the arrival at his new stage in life...big-boyhoood.  Does anything seem more appropriate for a big boy than a Potty movie? I think not.

I bought Elmo's Potty Time at Waly-World and it was just the perfect gift. We have now watched this DVD one-gazillion times. 

Thank you Sesame Street for bringing my child the latest in bathroom education.  The first time I watched it, I was a little shocked at all they reveal about using the potty. I had to laugh when the song played to introduced  the vast array of names you can call your urination and feces. I've had never heard many of these words. Of course, of all words Noah would hone in on dookey. Dookey? Come on. That was the one word I was hoping he wouldn't hear. It is so tacky. But he did, and he thinks it is hilarious to say. 

Tonight I took Noah's diaper off so that he could take a bubble bath and he sat down on his potty to 'attempt' to pee pee like Elmo.  After a few seconds, he stood up, encouraged himself with a quick "Yea Noah, almost" and ran down the hallway. Just as I was about to turn the water off, I heard my naked boy yell his new word. DOOKEY! And dookey he had. He had messed in the floor. Not just any mess, diarrhea! May I add that 95% of our house has hardwood floors yet he choose to lay his mark on the tiny bit of carpeted area.  

Of course Brad was not home, Kayt was screaming to be fed, Noah was running from me laughing, and I could see the bubbles reaching the top of the tub. Is that a run-on? I hope so because that chaotic 10 minutes felt like a run-on. 

This makes me curious, does anyone else ever feel as though when the husbands are gone all of the action happens? Maybe it's just in our house. Brad has managed to miss the majority of illnesses, a trip to the ER, many doctor visits, allergic reactions, hyper medication reactions, and now this. How do they do it?

As we leave the pacifier stage behind and enter into our attempts at potty training, I'm sure the Lord will have many great lessons in store for me on how to go with the flow!

Blown Away

Well, not yet I haven't. It is SO windy here that I fear I may blow away. No kidding, at least 50+ miles an hour.

But I'm also blown away by the long awaited events and nice surprises taking place today.

1. Jody's CD, The Hope of Glory, releases today. They are having a CD release party at their home church and I cannot wait for all the lives that will be impacted by this anointed worship music.

2. The Office!

I have been awaiting this day for months. We are total Office lovers and I get giddy on Thursdays because of this brilliant show. 

3. American Idol. Who is going home? Any guesses?

4. My hubby is coming home from work early! That always excites me!

Killer Biscuits

I received this email from a friend a few days ago:

Killer Biscuits Wanted for Attempted Murder

Linda Burnett, 23, a resident of San Diego, was visiting her in-laws and while there went to a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceri

es.  Several people noticed her sitting in her car with the windows rolled up and with her eyes closed, with both hands behind the back of her head. 

One customer who had been at the store for a while became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Linda's eyes were now open, and she looked very strange.  He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she'd been shot in the back of hte head, and had been holding her brains in for over an hour.  

The man called the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head. When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of 

her head. 

A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the head, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of the head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered.

On my way home from the grocery store yesterday, this is what happened in the back seat of my car. 

Poor Linda. I can relate.  

This Is Me

I was tagged by Tiffany at Southern Sass to answer  few questions about...drum roll please....who is Ashley. Tiffany is a really sweet wife and mother, but more importantly she is an avid lover of Jesus. I love reading about her heart for the Lord.  Tiffany and the others who have answered this set of questions before me seem to call this questionnaire a Meme. I don't really know what a Meme is, but since I am quite unfamiliar with so many aspects of the blogging world and the bloggyfessionals call it a Meme, then I will too!

Rule for the Meme:

-The rules of the game get posted at the beginning

-Each player answers the questions about themselves.

-At the end of the post, tag 5 friends by posting their names. Leave a message letting them know they have been tagged.

What was happening in my life 10 years ago:

-Life was much simpler.

-I could not even drive, but I was anxiously awaiting my 16th birthday. I was only 6 months from freedom, or so I thought.

-My parents were still married. 

-I'm sure I was crushing on a few boys. One of whom happens to be the man of my dreams. I was yet to find out all the Lord had in store for the girl with the braces and the boy with highlighted hair. 

-Yes I had braces late in life. I do have to commend myself for being great about color coordinating them based on holidays, seasons and school functions. Lame.

-Some of my best friends at this very moment were my best friends 10 years ago. The Lord has been so gracious to bless me with life-long, amazing friends.

5 things on my to-do list today:

-Start a load of laundry

-Get my kids up and ready to drop Noah off at MDO.

-Go to Hobby Lobby and buy supplies for Noah's birthday invitations.

-Help clean Amanda's house while she is at the hospital pushing baby Jackson Luke into the world.

-Take Kayt to the doctor for round 2 of the Rosefferin shot. Lord, please clear up this ear infection.

(In my mind, it's not even noon at this point.)

-Go to the grocery store. We don't even have milk or eggs. I may be there a while.

-Oh, just 5. This is the shortest to-do list I've created in a while!

5 snacks I enjoy:

-Apples with Peanut Butter

-Yogurt with Granola

-Cheese and Crackers

-Trail Mix Bars

-My splurge: Popcorn and a Coke!!!

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:

-Tithe

-Give Lion Song Ministries a big chunk

-Pay for my kids college education

-Put most of it into a retirement account/invest it

-Buy a family sized car. I would love a new Tahoe! 

I'm a realist and a saver. I have a terrible love for delayed gratification. Plus, there isn't anythings I need that the Lord hasn't provided.

5 bad habbits:

-Not washing my face at night.

-Leaving my shoes laying around wherever I take them off.

-Forgetting that my husband already knows how to drive and that he doesn't need me to remind him of the speed limit and that tickets are bad news.

-Leaving clothes in the dryer too long. I forget I have started them and just leave them in their for hours or days. Sometimes though, I just do not want to fold them so I try to forget they are there. I'm working on it though!

-Interrupting others. Maybe this should be number 1 since it's quite annoying. I don't mean to interrupt, I just get so excited. 

5 places I've lived:

-Amarillo

-Garland

-Lubbock

-Keller

-Althought I've only lived in 4 citites, I've moved 5 times in the past 3 years. 

5 jobs I've had:

-Babysitter

-Worked at a swimming pool concession stand

-Real Estate assistant

-Coffee Shop 

-3rd Grade Teacher

5 people I want to know more about; a.k.a. tag!

Megan

Kari

Emily

Lezlie

Marla

Stuck on Safety

No one is more committed to a child's safety than a parent. 

Or at least that is what I thought. 

Until, I met Mr. Cheese.

Mr. Chuck E. Cheese that is!

As you know, we recently visited his elaborate kitchen and play area. We had a wonderful time and will probably make ourselves a guest of his again in the near future. 

I'm sure you are all aware of how they 'tag' you and your children with an invisible hand stamp when you enter the door. They do this in the name of safety and I fully respect and appreciate their attempts at making sure my children aren't marched out the door in the arms of a stranger.

Since we took Kayt in in her carrier, they opted not to 'tag' her tiny hand, but rather her the carrier itself. 

Please note Exhibit A, the carrier.

The very large sticker they placed on the handle is the stickiest of stickers. I cannot get it off! 

Does anyone have any suggestions on taking a sticker off of plastic? 

This eye sore is really gnawing at me. 

Come on Chuck, get it together.

Safety first, safety last and safety in between (thank you Kanakuk), but please keep my children safe in a less tacky, or rather, sticky, manner!

My Undeserved Rewards

Children are a reward from the Lord. 

Psalm 127:3

Nothing rings more true in my heart. The Lord has been so gracious to bless Brad and I with two wonderful, lively, sweet, happy children. He allows us to find so much joy in their lives. We feel this way always, but have made so many fun memories as a family over the past week. I love the Lord more day-by-day for the people he is growing my children into. I am so unqualified to be their mother, but am so thankful that I am given the opportunity. Much like my salvation, Jesus has freely given me an undeserved reward. 

Thank you father.

Chuck E. Cheese

You would not believe how good my lil' man is at this game!

Soccer at the park

On the Go

Family Stroll

My Princess

Spring Carnival

My Loves

Tag #1: I'm Not Weird, I'm Gifted

I have a few tags to fulfill.
Better late than never right?.

Here goes with the first:

I was tagged by jessatsea who is sweet enough to read my blog. She is so cute and has a precious little boy. Her life before children seems to have been much more adventurous than mine, I'm very impressed.

Here's the low-down:

1. Link your tagger. Post the rules.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself (random and weird).

3. Tag 7 friends.

4. Leave a comment letting them know they've been "tagged."

I recently took it upon myself to point out five of my quirky attributes. Sadly, I know there are many more than 7 I've yet to list.

Does anyone remember when key chains were popular? In elementary school, collecting an array of key chains was the 'cool' thing.  The bigger your key ring, the better. Come to think of it, I don't even think I had one key on the ring...just key chains.  My ring would have put any janitor's keys to shame!  One year for my birthday, I believe I was 10 or 11, I received 4 key chains! Three of the four said, I'm Not Weird, I'm Gifted! The other was tie-dyed and had a peace sign. That never struck me as odd until several years later when I was wise enough to understand just what was being said.

Does that tell you anything?

Seven Facts about Moi...

1. My favorite sounds: 

birds chirping in the morning

airplanes flying overhead

my children's laughter

Christmas music

the sizzle of fajitas

2. For years, I thought the sniffles was a terrible disease. When I was feeling poorly, my mom would tell me I had the sniffles and tenderly nurse me back to health. I'm sure my teachers would roll their eyes behind my back when I would tell them, "I'm really sick. I have the sniffles." No wonder they never showed the amount of sympathy my mother did.

3. I think eggnog is a nasty word. Who would put two such words together and expect anyone to think the drink sounded appetizing? 

4. The way to my heart is through my feet. I like shoes a lot! It took Brad several years to learn that. The first few years we dated, he tried to woo me with objects that required electricity. Items like: fuzzy green lamps, fiber-optic flowers, and other things I just adored. -Please note my sarcasm.-

After I ran out of outlets to fill, he was willing to listen to what I really wanted.  Shoes!

5.  I used to have OCD tendencies. Thankfully, I am now much better. In the past, I did everything in even numbers or an even amount of times. I counted everything. All the time, just counted. If I did something to one side of my body, I would have to do the same action to the other side of my body just to be balanced. Two things that have helped free me of this; the Lord and my kids. The Lord really did bring me freedom in this area. Also, having children has given me no time to count.

6. I believe taking a walk can be so uplifting. Walks are a great way to connect. It makes the best of friendships better, the strongest of marriages stronger and the happiest of families happier.  Maybe it is due to the fact that I really encounter the Lord in nature. It is one of the ways he speaks to and loves on me. Being outside, getting exercise and enjoying another's company, a stellar combination.

7. Putting paper in my mouth causes me to gag. I can't help it. If I attempt to hold a piece of paper between my lips, my eyes begin to water and I gag. I never noticed this before I was pregnant. I think for me, it is one of those 'weird pregnancy things' that just never went away. 

I tag:

-Tara

-Amy

-Sarah

-Mandy

-Brittani (Because you were tagged at the same time I was and I'm not letting you off the hook.) 

-Kelly

--If I didn't tag you, I still have another one to get complete. Your turn is coming.--