Tonight I've been listening to my daughter play and sing Sweet Home, Alabama on the guitar. Amazing. She's really good.
Have you ever been on the sidelines of a game and seen a quarterback make history? Sometimes that is how I feel as a parent. I am on the sidelines of my children's lives... as coach, spectator, fan,,, and yes, critic. Then, it all begins to come together. I get to watch as the game unfolds. The ball is taken and the player begins to run. I am inspired and touched.
I am blessed to know this God-sent soul. It's the Christmas season and I think God's greatest gifts are the ones we see all the time. I notice my daughter as she changes into a young woman. Beauty, talent and inward growth has marked this year. I am seeing the rewards of disciplined work begin paying off. Wow.
I think of Christmas as a time that we give gifts to others. Well, God also gives his version of Christmas to each person. Our talents and abilities are God's presents to us. With each new life, there are the gifts; wrapped-up potential in each little body. It waits to be explored.
One of the greatest gifts of Christmas is watching those talents be presented to its bodily owner by God through the process of self-discovery. The joys of newly discovered talents and hearing the soul soar and express itself in song, athletics, and academics is a holy experience.
Lately, someone asked me where self-confidence comes from. After thinking about it, my answer ..tentatively, is that self-confidence comes from believing you have something worth doing --that you can do-- and a worthwhile reason to do it.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving us gifts to be discovered that lie within ourselves..... and that you want us to find them and use them. Thank you for the joy that is ours when we do begin using them. Thank you for the opportunity to watch others express their gifts. This honors and pleases you. Also, thank you, Lord, that the gifts never run dry.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
December post
Wow, December post..... that's amazing! I almost forgot how to sign in to my own blog! :)
Hmmm, where to begin.... Guess I'll just go with December.
Have you ever gone to a beginner band concert? Mariah had hers last week. These kids have only been playing as a band for a month and a half... Very cute and funny. Hot Cross Buns was a little shaky, but they nailed Merrily, We Roll Along! PCS combines band and chorus concerts for grades 4-6. It was actually enjoyable and not too long!
Chris has started basketball again. He's on a new team .... we're not terribly optimistic about the season, BUT, the motto 'it's not if you win or lose, but how you play the game' may be heavily applied. Chris could sure use a solid Christian friend, so if you think to pray for him, this is one specific request.
Stephen is still making us laugh. He thinks he has a heater in his stomach. It's true, he does generally run on the warm side, but lately he hasn't felt too well and is convinced his heater has malfunctioned. Today he happily came down the stairs and announced his heater stopped working last night and he was actually cold in bed. Between you and me, I think he's feeling better.
Last week marked the end of the Christmas Spectacular. This is our church's Christmas program.. It has 10 scheduled performances... only 9 this year because of weather problems.
The kids and I had a singing spot where we did Away in the Manger and Go, Tell It On the Mountain. We did a good job the last time, but I couldn't figure out why the audience was laughing! You know, Away In the Manger is really not that funny of a song. WEEELLLL, it turns out that while Kendra and I were doing our duet, Stephen was making ridiculous faces! I still laugh thinking about it. However, I we did visit about it later.
Kendra is working hard at school and is participating in Indoor Track. This Sat. is her first meet. She's not looking forward to it, because the coach has placed her in 6 running events.... Oh, did I mention long running events? She's probably not ready for them, but will just have to do her best. Also, her 'special interest' has ended, and she feels badly about it. So, my prayer request for her is peace and just a happy optimistic spirit.
Sales for Rick's team are going well, but the company is buckling down, and I'd say his region is really struggling. It's stressful that way. God is in control and will direct, so theoretically, there is ultimate peace there..... Perhaps you can pray for the reality of the theory for him.
OK, it's time to pick Mariah up from band.... so I'd better go.
Merry Christmas.
Love,
Carla
Hmmm, where to begin.... Guess I'll just go with December.
Have you ever gone to a beginner band concert? Mariah had hers last week. These kids have only been playing as a band for a month and a half... Very cute and funny. Hot Cross Buns was a little shaky, but they nailed Merrily, We Roll Along! PCS combines band and chorus concerts for grades 4-6. It was actually enjoyable and not too long!
Chris has started basketball again. He's on a new team .... we're not terribly optimistic about the season, BUT, the motto 'it's not if you win or lose, but how you play the game' may be heavily applied. Chris could sure use a solid Christian friend, so if you think to pray for him, this is one specific request.
Stephen is still making us laugh. He thinks he has a heater in his stomach. It's true, he does generally run on the warm side, but lately he hasn't felt too well and is convinced his heater has malfunctioned. Today he happily came down the stairs and announced his heater stopped working last night and he was actually cold in bed. Between you and me, I think he's feeling better.
Last week marked the end of the Christmas Spectacular. This is our church's Christmas program.. It has 10 scheduled performances... only 9 this year because of weather problems.
The kids and I had a singing spot where we did Away in the Manger and Go, Tell It On the Mountain. We did a good job the last time, but I couldn't figure out why the audience was laughing! You know, Away In the Manger is really not that funny of a song. WEEELLLL, it turns out that while Kendra and I were doing our duet, Stephen was making ridiculous faces! I still laugh thinking about it. However, I we did visit about it later.
Kendra is working hard at school and is participating in Indoor Track. This Sat. is her first meet. She's not looking forward to it, because the coach has placed her in 6 running events.... Oh, did I mention long running events? She's probably not ready for them, but will just have to do her best. Also, her 'special interest' has ended, and she feels badly about it. So, my prayer request for her is peace and just a happy optimistic spirit.
Sales for Rick's team are going well, but the company is buckling down, and I'd say his region is really struggling. It's stressful that way. God is in control and will direct, so theoretically, there is ultimate peace there..... Perhaps you can pray for the reality of the theory for him.
OK, it's time to pick Mariah up from band.... so I'd better go.
Merry Christmas.
Love,
Carla
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