Just some notes I joted down in this little brain of mine:
1. While looking in a book for children on the anatomy of the human body, Luke (age 5 yr) gazed at the picture of an actual heart and it’s labels. After reminding him that God made our bodies and that our heart actually looks like the one in the picture, Luke said, “No it doesn’t. The heart in the book doesn’t have Jesus in it like mine.” Giggling and crying as I typed that….
2. At bedtime tonight, I pressed the play button on Abigail’s CD player for her routine roundup of Michael Card...but, for the first time ever, she made a request for something different: Chris Rice. I obliged.
3. Speaking of Chris Rice, Andrew wants to know why he sings a song about smelling the color nine. I explained it to him later. He now gets it.
4. When in Auburn, AL, this past weekend, I stopped at a busy red light to wait my turn to proceed. Looking to my right, a large (LARGE!) deer waltzed out of the brush next to the street and looked at me before stooping to eat the grass. It was eerie. Strange. Weird. Alabama….
5. One of the deacons in our church is very tall. At small group Sunday night, he was referred to as “the church bouncer” since he’s the GO-TO guy when a man is needed on Sunday mornings to care for unexpected visitors in great need. We were reading Mark 1:16-45.
6. I noticed Sunday morning during Sunday School that the fire code for our church/school fellowship hall only allows for 51 persons in the room at a time. Oops.
7. Seems I do most of my mental note taking on Sundays…..
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Last week, the entire school celebrated the “100th day of school”. As a graded project, my son Andrew was instructed to come up with his own idea of representing the number 100 to his class. I gave him a framed stretched canvas and he began searching the house and hunting drawers/corners for all those plastic toy pieces that usually infest any house with young children. You know, those toys that come in birthday goodie bags, from the pizza place when you redeem your arcade tickets, etc. Yeah, I’m glad he found a use for them because I was about to throw most of these things away!
We had fun putting this project together. Besides helping him with the hot glue gun from time to time, he found the objects and placed them on the canvas. I was proud of his accomplishment and I could tell that he was excited to present it to his class.
The heat is out in our home. I remember waking this morning and saying to Mitch, “It feels unusually cold in the house.” We both checked the thermostat and then the Weather Channel. The temperature at the time was 32 degrees outside so we chalked up the cold house to the colder outdoor temps, thinking it would warm up at the day progressed.
I left mid morning to shoot a wedding in Auburn but got a phone call from Mitch just before the ceremony started: “It’s cold in this house because the heater is broken. Someone’s coming out in a little bit to look at it and possibly fix the thing.” When I got home this afternoon, Mr. Heater was at our house assessing the situation. Seems the board is broken and the part won’t be available (hopefully) until Monday, two days from now.
So, the kids are double layered, all the beds are weighed down with extra blankets, and I can still hear small pops from the fireplace. I’m gonna snuggle extra close to the preacher man tonight. I hope he doesn’t mind cold toes.
I decided to start menu planning. I mean, gosh….I’ve only been married for 11 years and am six & a half years into motherhood. Starting now makes sense, I guess (I crack myself up). Tonight, Mitch is giving me two hours ALONE to leave the house and do whatever I want to do. Menu planning will be one of the things I do as I sit alone at the coffee house. Another? Maybe I’ll just sip and listen to the music on my iPod. Or, maybe I’ll go pick a friend’s daffodils to put in my kitchen. Wait, I might browse the bargain books at Barnes & Noble. Better yet, can I just take my pillow?
My friend, Heather, tells me all the time that I need to go to bed earlier or else I’ll die at an early age. I wish I would listen to her.
My friend, Jennifer, tells me that there are some things that can wait until morning to accomplish. She’s right. I wish I would listen to her.
My friend, Leslie (who is also my “boss” since she’s the school principal), always tells me to go home instead of staying late at work everyday. I wish I would listen to her.
My husband tells me often that I need to cut down on my responsibilities. I have listened to him – but as soon as I shorten my TO DO list, I add something else to it.
It’s 2:57 AM….and I haven’t learned a thing, have I?
I think I might just have to purchase this once it’s released on DVD. AMAZING!
My husband just celebrated his 40th birthday! For a party of sorts, we gathered at a local pub and ate dinner with sweet friends from church….because being surrounded by friends is right where Mitch wants to be.
We had a private section upstairs for our noisy bunch. It was so much fun watching everyone mingle, swap seats, laugh, and share food.
Mitch shows off his birthday present from me – a pair of brown Sketchers that HE picked out.
We were visited by a ballerina….she even had her shoes with her. Seriously, Allison was hurting after this attempt at stretching.
Kristen steals a quick kiss from Brandon’s cheek. Sitting across from these newlyweds was hilarious. They always make us laugh. Go Kansas! 
Ummmm…..half of a photo fail, thanks to the pastor. “Hey Ira and Liz! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
Well, if you knew this couple, you’d automatically know why this picture is blurry. They are a barrel of true laughter, often unable to contain themselves – like tonight, for example.
Jennie explains trigonometry and calculus to her peeps. HA! Just kiddin’….she’s just telling them about something she just finished sewing. I need to take lessons from her!
Ryan and Beth….getting married in 2 months!
They told us soon after this picture was taken that they were going to eat fast and then head home to watch The Social Network.…nerds. Love ya, Robin and Philip!
Chrissy and Chad just found out they are having a baby boy! They are ecstatic! The ultrasound pictures were passed around as Chad kept grinning from ear to ear. It’s about time we have some more boys in our church. The girls have them far outnumbered!
Mitch, I could write sooooooo much here but know that I love you deeply. So glad God gave us each other….I’d rather be with you than be with anyone else in the world. Some of my favorite moments with you are the times when we are alone in the car listening to Keller, Chandler, or Driscoll preach. Our words are rich as we talk about how God is weaving the gospel in our lives – in our marriage, our parenting, and friendships. Thank you for leading me, loving me, and pushing me to Christ. You are an amazing father whom our kids adore. Babe, I find joy in serving and helping you. May God give you another rich 40 years, plus more.
….because that’s how we roll.
The McGinnis Message 
