Hungry

This year two of our children are in school where many children are just plain hungry. I know that we have a large enrollment in the free and reduced lunch program, but I'm talking about emotional hunger.

My youngest was feeling a little depleted herself. She asked last night when Daddy's lunch hour was. I got the follow-up asking when she realized that he couldn't be her lunch date. I am horrible at thinking of doing this for the kids. I get so caught up in getting things done that I it just never crosses my mind.

Today was different. I stopped the "busy-ness" and grabbed some chicken nuggets (her love language). The smile on her face was huge once she saw me.

Her plan was to eat outside with a friend, but I felt bad for having to leave the 2nd friend out. So we decided to eat inside with the class.

She dove into her bag at lunch. The "hungry" girls begged to sit by me. Each girl had her own question. I realized as one girl interrupted yet again that my daughter was eating her lunch "alone" next to me. This frustrated me as I left (my daughter and I did walk through the book fair together - alone). I realized that my frustration wasn't at the children. I had hugged them, answered questions-told stories. My frustration is with parents-this world. These kids are so hungry. My kids get tucked in at night after a good meal, a bath, family time of some type, but so many kids in our Country go to bed "HUNGRY".

Lord, let us feed your sheep....

My gifts continue...#254-295

*daughter who drives cautiously
*quiet time at home
*a daughter who weighs wise choices and respects others
*lunch with my baby girl
*hugs from school kids that really need them.
*a teacher who is joyful
*green budding forth all over town
*watching people believe in mission of an organization and responding with time and money
*sharing God's message for the night with our kids.
*sharing prayer with friend
*walk that gets heart racing
*warm shower water
*words from women that make you think
*a free cup of my favorite coffee
*children who love the Lord and seek after Him
*a day of rest
*the presence of God with me today
*ability to fold clothes
*cool breezes of Spring
*revelations from God
*a day off from routine
*a husband who prays for me
*a good nights sleep even through a storm
*a day to catch up
*planning birthday parties
*a clean smelling house
*revelations from Your word
*anticipation of a date night
*an honest mother's heart as she aches for her dead son
*conversations that remind me to pray for my children's school more diligently
*Godly friendship and birthday celebrations
*Philip turning on my heating pad before bed
*a day of rest
*an understanding husband
*movie day with baby girl
*a celebration of an announcers long career
*a familiar voice calling the game
*a road win
*family helping when I can't
*relief from pain
*songs of healing (for the heart) after a day of pain
*cool breezes

GOOOOAL!

Magnolia Cup 2011 Winners- TFC 2000 Blue Boys

This weekend Trippe's soccer team had a tournament in Clinton. They played their league games on Saturday as a part of the tournament. Wynn had a Saturday morning piano competition so the girls and I stayed here. After game 1 Philip called to say Trippe's team had won 5-1 against JFC. He thought they might play well and go farther in the tournament than we had first thought. We jumped in the car and headed for Jackson.

On our way, Philip called back to say they had beat the next team 6-0. We arrived for game 3. Our boys happened to lose that one, but they had played their hearts and bodies out all day. They were just plain worn out. We were entering Sunday as the first place team so our game didn't start until 11:30. We got to sleep in...which is relative with 6 people in one hotel room.

The winning goal!

We played game four against the first team that the boys had played Saturday. We discovered this team to be a little tougher, but we won.  This set the boys up for the championship game. They had not gone this far in a tournament before and they were very excited.

The game began and Gulf Coast scored fairly quickly. Our boys were tired. Half time came and went. About halfway into the 2nd half, our boys scored. The game was tied. We had watched the previous game end so we knew that they were making championship games go to a shoot-out. Our game ended in a tie. We went to the shoot out and it too ended in a tie....the drama. Next up was SUDDEN DEATH! (what an unfair way after a weekend of hard playing) Trippe was first up to kick (feel my stomach sinking-I was immediately sick). The other team went first...the referee lined the ball up...the kicker aimed, shot and missed! Next up, was my BABY. He stepped up, confidently, set the ball, kicked and SCORED! TFC 2000 Blue Boys won the Magnolia Cup!

The humble boy getting his medal

Thankfulness

I've begun this journey of gratitude. This exercise of discipline. I am looking for the gifts that God places before me. What do I see? My list tells a story-a journal of God at work in our lives. This act of gratitude is a journey toward a joyful heart. It makes me stop and see the blessing in all things.

I sometime find myself writing the same thing down on several days, but I feel my gratitude toward that thing is growing even more. After a long, cold winter, I truly  find myself grateful for the warm sun shining on me.  Is this what God does? Opens my eyes, and my heart to the simple things.

My study of the 1000 Gifts book has lead me to ask today...What do I want? When Jesus looked at the blind man and asked him this question, the answer was "I want to see." That too is my answer, I want to see more of Jesus in my everyday. I want to slow time and enjoy the simple things that God has put before me. I read today that I have to be disciplined to be thankful for the good so that when I face the hard time I can be grateful for God's presence.  God is good, all the time and He loves me. These are two truths that I cling too!

My gifts list continues to grow....#200-253
*for teachers who love to teach
*for older girls who open up about their day
*Monday's car madness-because kids talk to you
*challenge teachers who love my kids
*a day beautiful enough for Sarah's horse ride
*a barbecue valentines dinner the family likes
*clean sheet day
*6 deer feasting on fields
*a cross in the brittle broken trees
*a long ride & visit with husband
*uninterrupted conversation
*retro music that remembers
*parking passes
*a night with friends
*beauty of ice hanging from the mountainside
*morning snuggles with a sweet baby
*your name from a baby's sweet voice
*morning ride through the backroads
*old girlfriends laughter as stories are told
*the heart of a new father as he waits to receive his adoptive daughter
*time to counsel new moms
*smiles of two new drivers as they pass their driving test
*time with daughters
*quiet time to re-group thoughts
*repairman who are smarter than me
*birds singing as I open windows at the beginning of Spring
*a clean house
*a washing machine that will go through 1 more load
*lots of coupons to clip
*hearing the joy in a friends voice as they share about their new job
*girls mexican night
*a brave little girl in her first piano competititon
*a warm sunny day
*birds singing in the spring morning
*birds soaring across the blue sky
*girls singing loudly and "rocking" the van
*sunshine warmth
*boys soccer that finally makes the finals
*wind blowing
*lunch outside
*kids eat "free" Sunday
*friends who love you enough to help
*birds flying wildly in the blue sky
*freckled faced boys who score the winning goal
*full orange moon to light the night sky
*dog kisses after a night away
*buds on pear trees
*forgetting my Bible-I missed reading!
*a walk of praise
*reconnecting with a friend
*daffodils
*a clerks heart softening after years of prayer
*saving $111 at the grocery store
*medicine that relieves a headache