Loving Because

Are we control freaks? Oh, I know we all are at some things. We like things a certain way, we want the laundry folded & put away just so, the sink free of dishes, & other things that we consider important, but do we want to control people? Surely we don't. Can it be said of us that we allow other people to be themselves? Do we get upset because someone didn't do something or behave the way we thought they should? I'm not talking about destructive, blatantly hurtful, or sinful behavior but behavior that really has no bearing directly but behavior that we just don't like for whatever reason.

Do we allow others to be themselves? Do we allow others the opportunity to behave without judging their behavior? Do we accept their behavior as just that and nothing more? We cannot control others or their behaviors. We cannot make people do things we want them or don't want them to do. It's ok to confront someone about their behavior as long as it is done in love and concern and not an attempt to make them see things your way or try to make them do what we want them to do.

One of the most freeing things is to stop expecting people to behave how we want them to behave, our way, the way they "should"(our controlling). Then we will not be continually disappointed, hurt, jealous, angry or offended. Allow others the opportunity to take care of themselves, & in return, we should take care of ourselves. That's a hard enough job...being concerned about ourselves & our physical, emotional, spiritual well-being that we don't have time to worry about the expectations we have in our mind that someone else should meet to make us happy or complete.

Do we want to control or do we love? It's very easy for us to sit in our comfy chair and think about what others should do, when perhaps we have no clue what is going on in their life or perhaps how God is trying to work in their lives. We want to justify our behaviors because theirs isn't up to par. Heaven help us. God have mercy on us as we sit not knowing what all is going on; not having the all-seeing Eye of the Father. Lord, convict us of our self-absorbed, narcissistic behaviors. Convict us if we feel that somehow we deserve special treatment? Help us, God & show us how to love how You love.

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
~hosanna by hillsong

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love,
I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps,
but I don't love, I'm nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr,
but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere.
So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do,
I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.

1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)

Fall Chili Supper

We have an annual fall chili supper & festival for the kids at church....it includes, jumping inflatables, chili, cake walk, games, & trunk or treat, where the kids go to everyone's trunks to get candy. Lots of great chili & desserts!

Several of the youth decided to get in the back of this truck & hide to scare the kids as they walked by...not sure they were successful but they had fun anyway...Sarah is laying in the bed hiding!

Graeson jumping!

Graeson in his Army costume!

Cole, Clay & Ike posing!

Storm Ready?

Monday night we had a round of storms pass over the state. The tornado sirens were blaring so we prepared to get ready. Tom got the computer & the external hard drive with all of our photos ready for the safe room. I grabbed my contact stuff, some tennis shoes & some jeans, a baseball cap, my purse & the checkbook, Clay grabbed his football, football jersey, PSP, and his school work, which is hilarious in itself. Chandler grabbed his phone & some special baseball stuff. I found him watching the storm from the garage...in this hilarious get-up (it's Clay's nonetheless)....I said are you ready for the storm....He just laughed & said "yep"! I guess at all times you should try to have a sense of humor! I love this kid!

50th Wedding Anniversary

This October Tom's parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. The family planned a big celebration for them. Everyone had a wonderful time. We were able to see some friends we haven't seen in a long while. Several people commented that it was like an old church convention....I said yes, but with cake!! We were happy to celebrate with them. 50 Years is an absolute accomplishment now-a-days! Congrats to them!!!!

Doris & Verlon

The napkins!

Guest Table

The majority of the crew...there were a couple missing!

The entertainment!

The Family!

First Newspaper Photo

The NLR Cross Country team made the NLR Times Sports Page for Conference. Chandler's first newspaper photo! He made the School State Team & will be going to the state meet. He also lettered this year! We're very proud of all of his hard work!

Razorback Game

My aunt wanted to take the "older" cousins
to the Razorback game at War Memorial.
They had a fun time being together since they don't get to see each other a whole lot! After the game we all met at Crackerbarrel before they headed home! Lots of laughs & good times!
Thanks Aunt Frances!

Homecoming 2010

Homecoming week leads to the Homecoming Dance...and Chandler & his friends were set to go. We all met at the Old Mill to take photos before hand & then they set out to Crazy Hibachi for dinner & then on to the school. All the kids looked great, but boy times sure have changed since we went to a Homecoming dance. Ours was after the actual football game & we wore our jeans or whatever we wore to the game. Today the dance is a week before the game & kids dress up in formal or semi-formal attire....whatever happened to the good ole days? Maybe they did away with them when your kid attends a school that has more people in two grades than the population of the town you grew up in....Anyway, everyone looked great!

Chandler...stylin'

The Group

Taylor & Chandler

Taylor & Chandler