I just finished reading The Shack. It was a tough one, it took me several weeks to get through it. I had to stop for a while then I picked it back up and finished it. Our church just started a series based off the book so I knew I needed to finish it. I have to keep reminding myself that it is a novel, but so much of it seems so true.
One paragraph toward the end of the book really stuck out to me and I've read it over and over.
If anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again.
LOVE IT!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
It's Kinda Crazy Around Here!
It's like Jon and Kate plus Eight trying to get all the kids to look and smile at the same time. I think Seth was trying rip Great Grandpa's glasses off (yikes).
Great grandma and Seth
Drew LOVED great grandpa playing the mandolin! He wanted to play too.It's been one of those weeks aroung the Ferguson house. When we got back from Atlanta it seemed like life started spinning around us. I could hardly keep my head up to breath.
We visted Jeremy's grandparents yesterday. They are really neat people. They are like 90 something years old and still living on the farm on their own. It's actually pretty amazing they have been married 70 years, how crazy is that? They have a real simple lifestyle. When we left there I told Jeremy that I think I would like to live on a farm in the middle of Illinois with no cable TV or air conditioning. He didn't even respond to me (shocker). Then I realized I was having a temporary moment of insanity, because I like having neighbors and cable and especially air conditioning. I think more I was just longing for the 'simple' part of their lifestyle. How do I get that? Is it possible with 4 kids and a job and school and commitment after commitment to have a 'simple' lifestyle?
On another note, Drew is going through a major bad phase of screaming, hitting, biting, scratching, you name it he's doing it. I've had so many different opinions on how to handle it I don't know what to do. Most of the time I'm so exhausted from dealing with everything else going on I just ignore it (which I know is not the right thing to do). Any suggestions out there?
Some good news, last week my good friend Chantelle found out they have a baby girl waiting for them in Ethiopia. They got their referral last Thursday and I am sooo happy for them. She is about a month or two old and just perfect. Please be praying for her safety and health. She has already had a rough start to her little life but we know she is a lucky lucky little girl and will be home soon!!
We visted Jeremy's grandparents yesterday. They are really neat people. They are like 90 something years old and still living on the farm on their own. It's actually pretty amazing they have been married 70 years, how crazy is that? They have a real simple lifestyle. When we left there I told Jeremy that I think I would like to live on a farm in the middle of Illinois with no cable TV or air conditioning. He didn't even respond to me (shocker). Then I realized I was having a temporary moment of insanity, because I like having neighbors and cable and especially air conditioning. I think more I was just longing for the 'simple' part of their lifestyle. How do I get that? Is it possible with 4 kids and a job and school and commitment after commitment to have a 'simple' lifestyle?
On another note, Drew is going through a major bad phase of screaming, hitting, biting, scratching, you name it he's doing it. I've had so many different opinions on how to handle it I don't know what to do. Most of the time I'm so exhausted from dealing with everything else going on I just ignore it (which I know is not the right thing to do). Any suggestions out there?
Some good news, last week my good friend Chantelle found out they have a baby girl waiting for them in Ethiopia. They got their referral last Thursday and I am sooo happy for them. She is about a month or two old and just perfect. Please be praying for her safety and health. She has already had a rough start to her little life but we know she is a lucky lucky little girl and will be home soon!!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Heart for Africa!!
We had a blast this weekend in Atlanta at the Heart for Africa event!! It was absolutely one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. They are such an amazing group of people who have fully committed their lives to being the hands and feet of Jesus to the orphaned children of Africa. 
Jeremy and I look forward to what God has planned for us with Heart for Africa. It was a great celebration but we also had to remember why we were there. That there are millions of orphaned children living alone today with no food, no clean water, no one to love or care for them. Check out the Heart for Africa webiste:http://www.heartforafrica.org/
We had a blast with Chantelle and Eric!!
Here we are 7 1/2 hours later presenting the Uhaul full of the goodies to Janine Maxwell from Heart for Africa!
We asked for donations to to fill a container that will be shipped to the orphanages in Africa. Wow, did people step up!! Chantelle and I joked about how cool it would be if we had to pull a Uhaul full of stuff. We actually had to pull the biggest Uhual we could get! It was so amazing thousands of diapers, strollers, bouncy seats, rocking chairs, underwear, and more and more!! Thank you to all who gave!!! This will be such a blessing to the children and caregivers!Monday, February 2, 2009
Way to go CJHS Cheerleaders!
Well we made it through the weekend in Nashville, the kids were all great and the girls did awesome. Saturday morning Riley had a lot of preperations getting ready. First it was off to make-up, then off to get her hair done, and then glitter! Wow, did they use some glitter, it was head to toe. And of course, Ella was tagging right along, I had to fix her hair the same as the girls, they even put make-up on her and of course she got sprayed head to toe with glitter also.
Somewhere in the middle of the afternoon about 15 minutes before they performed something over took my body and I turned into the psycho crazy cheer mom. Right before your squad performs they allow the parents to come down onto the floor and sit right in front of where the girls perform. Well, I was determined to get front row dead center (and I did!). So it got a little crazy, I could feel myself getting a little 'nutty', but I REALLY wanted to get a good seat. I was pushing Drew in the stroller and was prepared to use it if needed!
Once I got seated (front row dead center) I could see Riley peeking through behind the stage. Then I really lost it, I just started crying like crazy. I had all of these emotions going on, first off I was really nervous for them because they have practiced for months and many hours for the next 2 minutes. And secondly I couldn't believe she was this old and she looked so grown up and I just couldn't take it. Jeremy didn't sit by me (for obvious reasons) but I saw him look over at me like 'oh crap now she is crying'. I didn't want Riley to see me so I put the poster I was given in front of my face it said 'Work It'! ha ha!
Then the girls came out and did amazing! It was the best I had ever seen them do. There were probably over 30 parents and family that came. We were all in orange and black and screaming and yelling. Some parents had cow bells and air horns. It was awesome!! I could barely talk I screamed so loud. They ended up winning the Spirit Award beating out over 30 squads. In their division they placed 11th, some were really bummed about it (the other squads had a lot of tumbling). But they did amazing and the best that they could and were were thrilled. Riley was lovin life, she was so happy and was ready to do it again! The spirit award is the best! Thats what cheerleading is all about, spirit!
Somewhere in the middle of the afternoon about 15 minutes before they performed something over took my body and I turned into the psycho crazy cheer mom. Right before your squad performs they allow the parents to come down onto the floor and sit right in front of where the girls perform. Well, I was determined to get front row dead center (and I did!). So it got a little crazy, I could feel myself getting a little 'nutty', but I REALLY wanted to get a good seat. I was pushing Drew in the stroller and was prepared to use it if needed!
Once I got seated (front row dead center) I could see Riley peeking through behind the stage. Then I really lost it, I just started crying like crazy. I had all of these emotions going on, first off I was really nervous for them because they have practiced for months and many hours for the next 2 minutes. And secondly I couldn't believe she was this old and she looked so grown up and I just couldn't take it. Jeremy didn't sit by me (for obvious reasons) but I saw him look over at me like 'oh crap now she is crying'. I didn't want Riley to see me so I put the poster I was given in front of my face it said 'Work It'! ha ha!
Then the girls came out and did amazing! It was the best I had ever seen them do. There were probably over 30 parents and family that came. We were all in orange and black and screaming and yelling. Some parents had cow bells and air horns. It was awesome!! I could barely talk I screamed so loud. They ended up winning the Spirit Award beating out over 30 squads. In their division they placed 11th, some were really bummed about it (the other squads had a lot of tumbling). But they did amazing and the best that they could and were were thrilled. Riley was lovin life, she was so happy and was ready to do it again! The spirit award is the best! Thats what cheerleading is all about, spirit!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
More Cheer Pics...
The whole family came!
Grandpa got everybody souveniers. Drew is very happy with his! (I have no pics of Seth, he came with us and he was so good all weekend)
Proud Daddy!
Proud Momma!
Garrett and Lindsey came along for the fun! Pics from Cheer Competition..
Drew gave the nervous mamma a good luck kiss!
The stage they performed on! It was a big place!
The two girls all done-up and ready to get the party started!
Of course, Ella had to have make-up and glitter also.
Glitter, glitter and more glitter!
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