Another Last...

We have been talking a lot about "the last..." this year. The last pep rally, the last high school football game, the last semester of high school, the last choir trip, the last choir Christmas concert, and today we had another last.




The last prom.





It was not as sad as I thought it might be. You see, the year started off with Kori being sad about all the "lasts". But now, she is not sad at all. I hear her now talking about all the first. The first college class, the first church trip with the "college class", the first semester of college, the first time to vote, the first mission trip, the first time Daddy lets her stay out past midnight. All things that she now is very much looking forward to. "The first..." she is ready.

Just to be with you...

Would you do anything for Him?

Happy Valentines Day!

What else is there to think on today, the day of LOVE! I am so thankful for the love that I receive from my Valentine, my sweet husband, Jeff. He lets me know every Valentines Day how much he loves me. The first thing he said to me today was "I love you, Happy Valentines Day!". It made me feel so good (as good as you can feel at 4:30 in the morning).

But, love is more than a good feeling. It is a verb. It means doing and showing every day. Throughout scripture we are assured of God's love and reminded that the proof of God's love is that Christ died for us. Love is not meant to make us feel good, but to motivate us to respond to others in a way that show's His love for us.

How can you think of Valentines Day today without looking at what John had to say about love. 1 John 3:1 says " What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it - we're called children of God! That's who we really are." (The Message) He loved us so much, He calls us His children! Can you think of a greater love? The creator of all things, all things I love, like the beach, my children, the mountains, HE LOVES ME AND CALLS ME HIS CHILD!!!!! What love!

Let us love today not only in word or tongue, but in deed and truth (v18). Let us today show the love of God by sharing that love with others. The love that only He can give. The love that saved me from my sins and guarantees me a life forever with Him.

Happy Valentines Day! I LOVE you all!

Interesting?

I have not had anything new to blog about lately. So...after reading Donna's blog I decided to do what she did. List 10 interesting and random facts about myself. I must explain that I don't think I am too interesting of a person, so I will name 10 random facts about myself.

1. First, I love a list. That is why I liked Donna's entry so much. I made of list of things to write before I even began this entry. I keep a list at work of things I need to do, and I have about 3 list going right now of who to invite to Kori's graduation party (4 months away). I love a list!

2. I love the Rocky movies! All of them, 1-6!!!! I love to watch them with friends (Katrina, Jana, Wendy) who can appreciate the story. It is not about boxing, it is a love story!!!!!! And...Sylvester is not too hard on the eyes either.

3. I love ice cream. If I am ever sad or stressed, I always wish I had some rocky road ice cream (maybe that is why I like Rocky Balboa so much, hum.?....?...). I like it in a sugar cone but my favorite is in a bowl with a little bit of milk poured on top. That will cure anything!! When my brother had surgery, instead of taking him flowers, I took him ice cream. He understood completely.

4. I love television. It is my guilty pleasure. The odd thing about it is, I like to watch re-runs of old shows I have already seen. Like...Reba, Everybody Loves Raymond and Seinfeld. I know what is going to happen but I still enjoy them. I also love to watch the news! Crazy combo.

5. I love to be around the water, but not necessarily in it. I love being at the beach, but I don't like to get in, and I don't like the sand, especially if it touches me. I could sit at the lake or at the beach and stare at the water for hours. It is so comforting to me. It reminds me of how huge God is and yet He still loves me.

6. I don't like housework. I now should be cleaning and doing laundry, but I hate it! I would much rather be doing exactly what I am doing now. (or maybe watching TV and eating ice cream). When I am rich, I will have someone clean my house for me.

7. I love music, but mostly because of the lyrics. I only like a song if the words speak to me. Otherwise..I don't want to listen to it.

8. I always wanted all 3 of my kids to have the same initials, but it never worked out that way. But, now after they were named, I realized they have my initials (SKWL) . Shawn Kori and Will. I love that! I look at it as a little gift that God gave me.

9. I love calendars. As I sit at this desk I can see 4 different types of calendars. I am not sure why, I just like 'em.

10. My family is the most important thing in the world to me. They are the first thing I think of when I wake up, and the last thing I pray for when I go to sleep. They bring me more joy than anyone I know (on earth) and I would rather be with them than anyone else. Anyday!

I hope you will share your most interesting facts with me as well!

Happy 18th Birthday Kori!

18 years ago today, at this moment, I was at St. Vincent's Hospital not feeling very well. Little did I know I was about to experience the greatest joy I had every experienced. At 11:37 a.m. we welcomed Kori Lynn into our lives weighing in at 9lbs and 5 ounces and 21 inches long.

My prayer for Kori today is that she will be all God wants her to be. That she will answer only His call for her life (not mine) and love Him with all her heart. I pray that she KNOWS Him in a very real way.

I love you Kori! Bud's forever!

Mommy

Answered Prayer!!!

It is snowing!


Don't tell me God doesn't hear the prayers of His children! What a great day Will has had playing in the snow!! He has not only had fun, but has experienced the joy you feel when you realize God hears our prayers! He came in after a little while, and said "Mom, now pray that the snow won't stop!" What a blessing!

Let it Snow!

Tonight the weather man said it may snow this week. Jeff said "did you hear that?"I acted like I didn't care. I said, " I don't believe anything those weather people say and I am not going to let them trick me this year into believing that it might snow". I told him I didn't care if it snowed or not but...

I want it to snow! I really, really do. I have been asking God to let it snow for about 4 winters now. So far...no snow. Will, my 10 year old, cant remember ever playing in the snow. I want him to play in the snow while he is still a little boy.

I am asking God to please let us have some snow this year so Will can know how much fun it is to throw snowballs and build a snowman and make snow angels. Please pray with me!!!! I really want it to snow this winter. But...don't tell Jeff. He still thinks I don't care. Oh, and don't tell James Spann. If he thinks he has one believer, he may shut all the schools down and have the grocery people stock up on milk and bread! It never snows when they do that.