It's Out of My Hands

By Matthew West

There you go changing my plans again
There you go shifting my sands again
For reasons I don't understand again
Lately I don't have a clue

Just when I start liking what I see
There you go changing my scenery
I never know where you're taking me
But I'm trying just to follow you

It's out of my hands
It's out of my reach
It's over my head
And it's out of my league
There's too many things
That I don't understand
So it's into your will
And it's out of my hands

There you go healing these scars again
Showing me right where you are again
I'm helpless, and thats where I start again
I'm giving it all up to you

Move me, make me
Choose me, change me
Send me, shake me
Find me, remind me
The past is behind me
Take it all away
Take it all from me, I pray

Family Night Edition #10

Wow! A whole 10 family nights. And they have been worth EVERY minute!

This week we had to do what every southern family is doing right now just not publishing.

Celebrating the start of the football season!

So we had us a Razorback family night. Oh, yes we did.


We decorated the "tailgate" of my car with Hogs pennants and we all wore our Hogs gear.


Here were some decorations donated by the Massey-my-stuff-got-shafted-to-the-garage-when-the-baby-came-stash. We also put up the Fight Song and a mug shot of Petrino and Casey Dick.


We had nachos, bratwrst and boneless hotwings!


We even did a little face painting. Go Hogs Go!


Check out my little cheerleader and future football player


Um...don't ask


Then we had to begin with some spring training. What better way to start than with an obstacle course! We had to walk across some planks to a football throw into a basket. Then hops to some lines, weave thru the chairs and then get our trumpet out and CALL THOSE HOGS! Here's Belle kicking it off.


Momma helping Lukey with the hopping


And here's Dmac on the run


Here was the football toss thru the hoop


The calling of the Hogs


Then we had the kids act out some football cherades. I'm sure you can guess what this one was...


For this one, Belle needed a volunteer...for the tackle...nana was afraid...


Lukey got to act out the whistle


We ended the evening back inside (after a few baths) with some "Hog Wild for Cookie Dough" and "Woo Pig Chewey".

And a football game, of course.

But I couldn't leave you without this video...sorry that it's sideways and my computer isn't really cooperating to turn it right now. But you'll get the gist of it.



For some more ideas and the lady that started it all go here and visit Heather.

Woooooo....Piiiiig....Sooooooieeeee!

A Leaf

This is me, folks.

Not the way God made me or wants me to be, for that matter. It's what I have allowed myself to become.

And we talked it about this morning. I have become this dried up, shriveled up, almost dead looking thing. Do you see those schorched edges? That's me too. I'm floating along still in The River of Life, b'e He said He will never leave me nor forsake me. However...

When I begin to let the circumstances of this world around me have their influence on me, I begin to draw my stem up and out of The River....

When the rains come, I try on my own power to refresh myself by closing in my tired and jagged leaf tips around the water beginning to pool in my center.

It just draws my stem further out of The River...

When I realize what I'm doing and let go and allow The River to feed me again, I begin to feel the True Water pumping thru my veins. But they have been dry for so long, that sometimes even this process can be uncomfortable to my fragile soul.

But I stay...and bask...I soak up The River and it is good!

But then...look...a pebble in The River. Did the Maker place it there to test my faith or did the lawless one ask to try to throw me off...again...

Feeling my strength somewhat back, I think I can handle it. But you see...that stone just lifts me completely out of The River. Zero connection. Notice The River is still pulsing right along around me.

My everything begins to dry again.

Only when I say enough and cry out will The River begin to swell and carry me and my wretched sinning self away, but The River STILL won't MAKE me drop my stem back in.

It's my choice.

Today I'm choosing to drop my stem back into The River. Oh, River...fill me...wash me again...keep me full and flowing out for You!

"...Everything that touches the water of this river will live." --Ezekiel 47:9a

Chicken 'n' Dumplins Chores Gone, They Are

Because of Yoda and what looks like Anakin...
The Learned and the Learner...
My bestes girlfriend and my baby boy...

I want to be like Papa Joe...

Family Night Edition #9

Tonight was all about her.

This week's family night was moved up to Tuesday night as we celebrated Belle starting Kindergarten!


Here we all are with our big girl. Notice the backpack! She got that from the school, isn't it cute?

Then we headed out to Stoby's, one of Belle's favorite places to eat. And it was a bonus, because KIDS EAT FREE ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS!

And we splashed in the puddles


The boys sat at one table...


We sat at another...


And these 2 fine people sat across from us!

Then we headed home to play Belle's favorite game of Life!



And she won!

And She Comes Home a Big Girl

After those excruciating hours of waiting...just waiting...occupying our time with work and other things...



Here she comes!

I've never been so happy to see that little...uh-um...BIG girl in all my life!

So, we hop in the car and the 20 questions start. What did you do today? about sums them all up though. All the waiting for THIS moment...

Belle: "We did way too much for me to even remember it all."

That's my girl!

Sunrise....Sunset....Swiftly flow the days...

10:00 PM Sunday night

She comes out of her room "Too excited to sleep"

11:30 PM Sunday night

She almost sleep walks out of her room "unable to sleep"

8:00 AM this morning...a snuggle with Daddy


8:30 AM this morning...a Champion's Breakfast!


Aunt Becky got her the "first day" outfit, but it was WAY too hot outside for jeans, so that outfit will come at a later time. So for today, she wore this cute little cotton yet trendy outfit that my Mom got her with some cute Puma-ish shoes that match.

8:45 AM this morning...

We headed out. Toward what we knew would be a tough day. Daddy tried to start in the car, but I told him to stop b'c if he did she would. He pulled it together...for now.

When we got out, she jumped out, put on her backpack, grabbed her lunch pail and took off.

Excuse me. Um, I think you have my heart with you! Can you slow down, please!

8:55 AM we rounded the corner to this:

They rolled out the red carpet, literally for the Kindergarten Stars!


And the diva extraordinaire was none other than Mrs. Thacker herself...the principal. We laughed and laughed!


Check 'em out! That's the reading teacher and the music teacher. They were the emcees.

So we headed inside and she took off again. Going right where she knew to go.

When did she get so big?


A photo op with Dad and Bubba. Dad looks good right here, doesn't he.

That will change...


Then came the photo op with me. Don't I look PETRIFIED?!?!? I was actually just trying to keep myself from crying.


A kiss for Bubba...


A quick chat with Mrs. Jennifer...


And this is what we saw as we walked out...

As we left David said, "Bye Princess" and after rounding the corner my Little Man says, "Bye Bye Pencess!"

Oh...could we stop please!

But the tears came...they pooled...they trickled...

...and then I looked at David. Let me just say...he took this even harder than I. His little girl was no longer little. I watched him fight it all right along with me.

But don't worry...the PTO had organized a "Boo Hoo Breakfast" for us. Just for us! See...



We even got this cute memento! Yup, that's a handkerchief with the Wampus Cat paw print and "Boo Hoo".

9:20 AM...


Go, my darling Belle. Enjoy this day...YOUR day.

Just be careful and bring mine and your Daddy's hearts back home safely.

As we, now 3, got in the car to go home, Lukey says, "Where my Belle?"

Make that three hearts that need to be returned home safely...

In 4 more hours...

And it's only 9:00 on Sunday night

9:00 PM Sunday

Normal Bedtime routine...she prayed...David prayed over her. That she would be a light in her classroom...that God would continue to be her anchor at all times...that she would find favor in the eyes of those she comes in contact with.

You know...the typical Daddy prayer for his baby girl the night before kindergarten prayer.

He kissed her good night.

His last Daddy kiss to his little girl. For tomorrow, she would officially be a big girl.

I climbed in next to her and snuggled down for "Our song". As I sang the first line, the tears came. And I knew I couldn't control them. You see...these are the words that I have sang to her since before she was even born. The words are:

Tell me why, the stars do shine
Tell me why, the ivy twines
Tell me why, the sky's so blue
And I will tell you just why I love you

Because God made the stars to shine
Because God made the ivy twine
Because God made they sky so blue
Because God made you...that's why I love you

Ok. Here come the tears again.

But, as my tears started, Belle began to cry. I asked her why she was crying and she kept saying "because I don't wanna grow up!"

Oh, precious one. How much more I don't want you to. But God gave you to me to prepare you to be fully released one day.

I'm not looking forward to that day, you know.

She asked me to stay until she fell asleep. Of course I will my darling one.

So, as we both lay there...each dealing with our own sorrow, we talked. About things. Girly things. Mommy/daughter things. Thru our sobs...

Then, as I held her close, her sobs began to give way as mine increased.

As she snuggled closer, I held her a little tighter.

As she began to give way to the dreams in her head, I began to have visions in my head too. The ones where I sang that song to her the very night we spent our first night together in the hospital. Oh, and this story.

As she sighed as she slipped off into the twilight, I breathed her in. Deeply. Smelled of her...this little baby of mine...my Belle...my miracle gift sent directly from God's hand.

"Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap." --Luke 6:38a

Thank you, God. Because she IS my "running over".

Family Night Edition #8

"And all of this was brought to you by the letter "P"!"

At least that's what Big Bird always said.

This week's family night was in honor of Belle starting Kindergarten on Monday. It was Letter Night and we celebrated the letter "P"


Here are the People who Participated in our little Party.
Belle is wearing Pink
Luke is wearing Pea Green
Momma is wearing Pink
Daddy is wearing Purple (and he said Pants and he wished he had Penny loafers!)
Nana is wearing Pink
Uncle John is wearing Pumpkin, Peach or Persimmon...however you look at it


A Photo with Nana

We then went on a hunt for all of the things in the house that start with the letter "P" and labled it with different "P"s.


Belle found the Potty


Luke found a "Piderman"...classic


And someone found me...the Parent

Some others we found were a Purple crayon, Picture, Piggy bank, Princess doll, Player, Purse, Plate, Pink sleeping bag, and...


A Pretty cute little boy and...


A Pair of Premier earrings I got for Belle

Then, thanks to some friends and family who gave some Moolah, we headed to Playworld!








...and ate some PePPeroni Pizza!







Then, we headed home for some Peach drink and a Peanut butter pie! Yum!




And this...this is just one Pretty Perplexing Person!

Another successful family night! Thanks for stopping by!

And if you would like to see some other great family night ideas, head on over here and see the lady that started this craze!