One Hour Alone is in Thy Hands...

I am making a time chart of my week, this week. I am dividing my days into thirty minute intervals and keeping track of how I spend each one.

In a study I am apart of, we are reading through the book, Spiritual Leadership, by J. Oswald Sanders. It was first published in 1967 and is a timeless classic. It is a practical approach to leadership that God calls each of us to, as His followers. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to measure and challenge their place of leadership. 

One recently read chapter discusses the use of time. 

It says things such as:

"The quality of a person's leadership will be in part measured by time: it's use and it's passage."

"Leisure is a glorious opportunity and a subtle danger. A discretionary hour can be wisely invested or foolishly wasted. Each moment of the day is a gift from God that deserves care, for by any measure, our time is short and the work is great."

"Hours and days will surely pass, but we can direct them purposefully and productively."

It goes on to talk about how others my have more influence, more money or more ability, but none have more time. We are all given the same amount of time each day, and we are responsible for the strategic use of our time. 

The chapter balances out the urgency with reminding us that "our schedule is God's to arrange at his pleasure" and encouraging us to find a "balanced approach to time less it become his bondage and his downfall."

The nuggets of wisdom and the challenges from this book are impeccable. The Holy Spirit has worked through it in my heart, by calling me to a higher level of discipline and care in some areas of my life. Yet, as with any book I read, I know that what God calls me to does not have to be measured by a book, it is an individual calling that comes only through my intimacy with the Lord. This book is useful and relevant, but not my sounding board, the scriptures alone are that. 

Bringing me back to the beginning. 

I am making a time chart this week. 

I will be interested to see how my, seemingly busy, days unfold. In what areas do I spend less time than I would like to spend? What foolish areas of my life are receiving more time than they should? Am I spending my time in accordance with my priorities? 

This should be interesting.

These lines were engraved on a sundial:

The shadow of my finger cast

Divides the future from the past;

Before it stands the unborn hour

In darkness and beyond thy power;

Behind its unreturning line

The vanished hour, no longer thine;

One hour alone is in thy hands,

The now in which the shadow lands.

~author unknown~

I'M FREE!

We were at the park a few days ago. We've been to the park at least once a day all week. Most days, we've been twice. On Wednesday, we went to the big park. It's on the way home from the gym and we love it. 

There was a little boy close to Noah's size following him around. To both boys, I said, you boys look like you are about the same age, I bet you could play together. I asked the boy how old he was. 

He worked really hard to get three fingers up. It took work, people. Putting three fingers up isn't easy. But when he didn't say anything, Noah stared at him. 

I could tell Noah was getting a little perturbed with his lack of language. 

Finally, Noah said:  

 free (three)?

are you free?

say free.

if you're free, then say, I'M FREE.

can you say it?

f-r-e-e!

just say it. I'm free.

Mom, he's free. I don't know why he won't just say it.

Sometimes we are like the little boy at the park. We are free. God has redeemed it, whatever IT is. Sin, shame, failures, hurts...all of it. We are covered by our Savior's love and grace, yet we won't say it. We don't live it. We look at the world dumbfounded when, all the while, we should be yelling...

I'm Free.

If your free, then say it...I'M FREE!

Another lesson chalked up the the innocence of my almost three free year old.

The Run-Down

Before you give me un-due credit or start calling me crazy, this is how ironing goes in my house.

I take Mr. Ingram's dress shirts to the cleaners. 

My request from him: wear it two (or three) times if you can before throwing it in the floor. Throwing things in the floor means I get to choose the place I think they belong. I usually choose hanging it back up. Sometimes, it makes it to it's great reward, the cleaners. 

Before you call my husband the smelly kid, let me expand. 

1. He changes clothes often. It must be hereditary, Noah does the same thing. 

2. If he wears a shirt to church on Sunday and takes it off afterwards, is it really dirty? Not unless he spilled grape juice or slobbered Matzah bread on it or the dirty high schoolers throw a paint ball at him. 

3. He doesn't even have body odor issues. ~ I know that you are chomping at the bit to know this~ If anyone in our family has b.o. issues, it's yours truly. I require deodorant or I smell like I just left the gym an hour after a shower. ~and that is because you know you are nosey and like knowing embarrassing stuff about people~

I take a few of my items to the cleaners. I wear them a few times in between trips unless it has snot on the shoulder, which is common.

Brad does his own ironing. He's a champion ironer. I am typically asleep when he leaves the house. Sleeping is my hobby. It's one thing that I am really good at. 

When I do iron, it's usually the night before (Saturday's for church) or five minutes before. I don't have an ironing day. I tried that once. It didn't turn out so good... for anyone. 

My biggest problem is that I leave clothes in the dryer way too long. Then, I re-dry them. Then, I leave them in the dryer way too long, again. Then, I re-dry them. Then, well... you get the picture. 

I just wanted to clarify from the previous post. I did NOT mean to sound like I have it all together. 

If there is one thing I do not have, it is IT all together. 

One Thing That My Mother Never Told Me

I am a big fan of ironing. Not necessarily the actual ironing, but the results it produces. I even have this silly motto about ironing. I'm cheesy.

Did you know that there is a suggested order in which to iron a shirt? Only months ago was I enlightened on this useful tid-bit of information.

Years of ironing and I've been doing it ALL wrong. I was ironing in the opposite order of what is suggested. 

This conversation came up again recently with my brother-in-laws. I enlightened them on my newly acquired wealth of knowledge. No doubt, they appreciated my two cents. Gotta love a yappy sister-in-law. :)

Here it is, the suggested order...

Collar

Shoulders

Cuff

Sleeve

Other Cuff

Other Sleeve

Front 

Back

...or at least this is the order that I was taught.

Do you iron in this order? Is there a better way?

Maybe the real question is do you even iron? There's no shame in the wrinkled game.

A Day to Pray

Two things are pressing on my heart this morning and have been my prayer since waking. 

~Today marks the one year anniversary of the passing of sweet Lilly, Mandy's three and a half month old niece. Lilly's parents, Richard and Jennifer, are full of strength and resiliency. They are an example to me. The entire Thomas family is on a vacation this week. Please join me in praying for their family today. This is not a day that they ever thought would hold meaning for them. It is a tragic milestone and one more item to pass through on the road to healing. 

~My dear friend, Sarah, and her husband, Jody, fly out this morning for a twelve day tour of the Holy lands. There is an itinerary on Sarah's blog as well as specific ways we can be praying. 

Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Fly Away With Me

I eat my words.

I actually enjoyed making an airplane for my dude to take to M.D.O. 

It's been a while since I pulled out a can of spray paint and enjoyed cutting up a card board box.

It was oddly therapeutic.

My very literal first born is too much like his mamma for his own good. He was not about wearing the airplane at the parade. He was convinced that he was going to 'take off.' 

The conversation went like this:

n: I don't want to wear it.

m: Why?

n: I will take off and start flying around and I don't know how to land the plane. I am not a pilot.

m: It's not a real plane. It doesn't really fly.

n: Is it pretend?

m: Yes, it's just pretend.

n: But I saw the puh-pell-a's spin.

m: Just because they spin doesn't mean that the plane will fly away.

n: I'll just not wear it in case it flies off. Ba-member, I told you I don't know how to land?

m: Yes, I REmemeber. But, remember that I told you it isn't real?

n: Okay. I'll not flap the wings, just in case.

And so he didn't.

Parking Enforcer, Kayt.

It didn't last long. 

This is how he spend the rest of the parade. 

They are so sweet together. 

Noah is her keeper.  

This is what you get when you have an independent seventeen month old who would rather watch the fish than take a picture and a brother who thinks she's crazy.

Once at home, he was ready to soar.

She's her daddy's daughter. 

Bad habits starting early. 

I don't even know what day it is.

We have had a long week. 

Brad's grandpa, our Papa,  passed away last Sunday night. 

He lost his three year battle with cancer to gain his eternal reward. 

He left behind a family that adored everything about him. From his keen sense of humor to his spirit rich in generosity, he was a precious man to many, many people. He loved and served the Lord and modeled a marriage that rivaled the greatest of love stories. His class, integrity and character are well known and admired.

Though we find much joy in his life and legacy, we are sad to lose the man whose smile enriched our lives. We have fluctuated from great joy over his healing to great sadness of life without him. 

The funeral on Thursday was a tribute to his life and service full of honor and God's mercy. 

Grandparents are such a special treat. Many of us are blessed to have grandparents in our lives that have impacted us greatly. I only hope I can preserve Bob's legacy in the lives and hearts of my children, whom he adored. 

Between mingling with strangers, chatting with friends and seeing family, I have lost track of my days. 

Yesterday, we were at my in-laws house seeing family members off. We brought the munchkins home for a nap and Brad and I  collapsed napped for three hours with the kids. Sheer exhaustion.

Last night, my in-laws watched our kids and my nephew while we went out with one of our favorite couples, Aaron and  Tara. We had such a great time. We always do. I only wish we lived closer, a nine hour drive makes weekly dinners a challenge. 

I can only pray that when I leave this earth, my family and offsprings will talk about me with as much admiration and respect as what was paid to Bob last night. He was a servant, faithful to his God. 

What. A. Legacy.

MDO Gone MAD

My two and a half year old has a project due for Mother's Day Out on Thursday.

Is this crazy or is it just me?

If he were a seventh grader, I would understand. 

If he were a fifth grader, I would understand.

If he were a third grader, I would understand.

But he isn't. 

He is two and half. --Okay, okay he will be three in April, but I am not calling him a three year old yet. He is TWO. And he is my baby. Please don't tell him I said that; he would be appalled. ---

I just was not sure if I am the only one who thinks this is insanity at it's finest. 

Stay tuned to see what transportation item we can conjure up...

Straight from TRL

*disclaimer: I am not naked*

My name is Ashley!

Woooo Hoooo!

I would like to give a shout out to my mom!

It's her birthday!

Wooo Hooooo!

And she is like the awesomest!

Like, ever!

Yeahhhh!

And I like TOTALLY love her!

______________________________

I needed a something a little light hearted in my day. Hope you don't mind it coming from TRL.

Do you even know what TRL is, mom?

Probably not. Sorry. 

Translated:

Happy Birthday, Mamma.

I am so proud to call you my mom.

I love you more than all of the of the cute shoes I wanted to buy you for your birthday. ;-)

Hugs and kisses from your favorite daughter.

I love you!

L-lysine is Cool

Remember when I posted about this issue that I have with mouth sores?

You gave me many useful suggestions and I had good results with some of them. Shortly after the post, I was at the cool little mom and pops pharmacy near our pediatrician's office and the pharmacist recommended L-lysine.

Lysine is an amino acid used in helping repair tissue and vitamin C absorption. It has several other useful causes, but I won't bore you with those. 

Bottom line: it helps speed the recovery of mouth sores. 

Since that time, I have been taking L-lysine. I don't take it regularly, just when I feel like I am about to get a sore or if I bite my cheek (which used to be a sure sign that I would get a sore). 

Thus far, I have yet to have the hint-of-a-sore turn into a real sore like the disgusting ones in my mouth at the time of my post. 

If you, too, get mouth sores, I would recommend L-lysine. It's proved to be a pretty beneficial product in my life!