Geometry--D'Amico Style

Anyone up for a little word problem?

1 unopened bag of cheetos + 4 boys wondering the trajectory of the said cheetos when jumped on =1 very mad mother resulting in congruent angles (x3) of the spank board to little rear ends.  

(if you thought that I was going to say PRICELESS, not a chance.  I will gladly show you the carpet cleaning bill!) 

a different perspective...

Let me recant my mother's day 2008.  Worked at church, went to my inlaws to make lunch...jumped in the pool to save Jimmy (while still in my church clothes), went home to change, came back, 30 minutes later took Jimmy to the ER for stitches after he tripped over a scooter...

The cool thing is that my mother-in-law snapped a picture of me holding Jimmy in the ER, and I am so proud of this picture!  I am proud because how often do we ever get to see ourselves just simply loving on our children during non-happy moments?  We all have posed pictures, and candid snapshots of us hugging or smiling with our kids...but this one is shows me loving my precious Jimmy when he needed it.  And that is what makes me honored to be a mother.  So Happy Mother's Day to me... best gift ever.

(...and if anyone is wondering why it took me so long to post this after Mother's Day...I was slightly traumatized!   Have you ever seen someone get stitches?!?  Needless to say I will not be posting those pictures because I doubt my insurance will cover your claims after you pass out and need stitches too!)

So long Sponge Bob...

If anyone is interested in knowing how I have plan on spending my retirement, please refer to my child's teeth.  Because all I have left now if enough to buy a rocking chair (and that is after the money that I do have sitting in the bank grows during the next 40 years)....

It is almost a shame, though...I am quite fond of his teeth.  It takes an awesome personality to have teeth like these and be proud of them! 

Prayerless Christians

I had a brief conversation with someone this week regarding prayer.  I was so disheartened to hear a self-proclaimed Christ-Follower say that she doesn't pray!  She doesn't think that prayer works for her...and her "wishes never come true."  I walked away from the conversation with some serious thoughts swimming in this (sometimes shallow!) head of mine.  

The major thing that was screaming in my heart is how on earth can we ever begin to feel close to God and really truly experience a relationship with Him unless we talk to him?  I mean, have you ever tried to have an intimate conversation with someone that you hardly know?  Uncomfortable!  We have to put the time into prayer...learning to pray...learning to talk with God...and learning how God speaks to us!

The Bible INSISTS that God hears and answers believed prayers.  

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

If you ask anything in My name, I will do that." John 14:14

"Whatever you ask in prayer, believing you will receive"  Matthew 21:22

"If you abide in Me, and I abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you" John 15:7

A prayerless Christian is like someone having a million dollars, but no concept of the value of money.  The gift that God has given to us to talk to Him whenever we want, wherever we want, however we want, is HUGE!  I mean, seriously!

And, I believe, the more we talk to God, the more powerful the bond become between us.   The bigger the bond...the harder it is for the enemy to get a strong hold through our weaknesses.  Satan wants our faith (Brandon said that this week, in fact!) Let me say that again:  Satan wants our faith!  Satan WANTS us not to feel comfortable praying.  Satan WANTS us not to be in the habit of talking to God about everything.   He wants us to feel that we are so insignificant in the grand scheme of things that God really doesn't care about the little things of our day-to-day lives.  And that, my friends, could not be further from the truth!

Most of you who read this, I know already know this amazing information...but I think the more that we as praying Christians actually "pray out", the more it might catch on with our prayerless Christian friends, and evoke questions opening doors for us to encourage them in their walk.  (BTW--What does "pray out" mean? I just sort of made that up, but I mean pray out loud, in the moment,wherever, whenever, with no shame.)

This subject is so much deeper than I could ever really blog about...and the truth is it almost midnight and it has been a long day.  I may reread this in the morning and realize it doesn't even make sense!  Oh the ramblings of a tired mom...

Keystone Shout Outs!

I was thinking today about some different people at Keystone, so I thought I would blog about them...

First person was Sandi Walker (whom I have appropriately titled in my blog address).  Possibly the funniest person I know.  But what makes me like Sandi even more than her laugh-out-loud humor is her honesty.  I don't ever feel like I need to guess where I stand with Sandi.  I can tell her anything!  Love it!  I also LOVE the way Sandi loves her children...what a wonderful mother.  I aspire to be a mother and friend like her!   

So while I was thinking how cool it was that God has let Sandi and I become friends, I had to think about Diane Bohannan.  One thing about Diane Bohannan, is I always say "Diane Bohannan."  Aways.  I just love saying her last name.  Bohannan. Bohannan. Bohannan.  Okay, so not as fun to type...but you get the point!  And on with mine...  She has an amazing amount of faith.  Have you ever heard Diane (Bohannan!) pray?!?  Profound.  Impactful.  Inspiring.   Diane was the first person that I absolutely sobbed in front of....and she is so sweet and filled with compassion, she cried right along with me.  She will be a friend for life.

Then I started to think about the family link between Diane and Anne Hernandez...I have not really hung out with Anne a whole lot yet...but LOVE her!  I will openly admit that I have signed up on the waiting list to be her new BFF.  (Although, I did have to inform her, I may have to remove my name from that list because she used the phrase "cool beans."  Luckily no one was around, so I will leave my name pending.  But I had to give her the 411 that it is not 1992 and no one says that anymore.  Geez, Anne!)   But talk about great style!  She always looks super-fab.  And I figure that if you were standing in the end-zone of a football field with Anne, and I stood waaaay back at the 50-yard line...we would look about the same size! ahhh...proportional distance does wonders!  Can't wait to get to know her more....But for some reason, I think she might be interested in getting to know Holly Peterson more first.  And a personal note to Holly...the Bible DOES say 'Turn the other cheek!"

And who cannot help but think of Amber Mahon.  Pure joy.  I wonder what her flaw is...  I mean really, she is absolutely stunning, and even more beautiful on the inside.  Talented, friendly, compassionate...she is that woman that is described in the Bible as a Woman of Grace...and she laughs at farting jokes too.  hahahah....is it bad that I even laugh as I type that?!  hahaha (still laughing!)

So I know Amber and Trey are good friends...so started thinking about Trey and Danni...but I can't blog about him again...that would be weird.  (except here is a thought...was it the Amber who made me think of Trey, or the thought of farting!?!)

To keep you on the train of thought I had...I then start thinking about my coworkers.  And I arrive at Eric.  I think Eric is one of my closest friends, and he probably doesn't even know it.  I have a ton of respect for him.  He made me feel valued at Keystone when I first joined...and it made such a difference in my own life.  He has a different style of leadership, and I think it will take him so far in his journey for God.  He is one of those leaders that is right there with you digging in the trenches...or whatever.  Sorry! I couldn't think if a good analogy.  I also LOVE the way he is in love with April.  He once told me her middle name and smiled when he said it...how sweet!  And most of all...Eric is secretly skilled in some strange form of Karate.  I saw him do this side kick in the office today, and I think I grew an ab muscle from laughing so hard!  (Side note:  If you see an 'As Seen on TV:  Rock-hard Abs from laughing at Eric', just know the idea started here!  Do I hear the cha-ching of royalties?!)

And of course, THEN I think of April.  Sweet April.  My father-in-law swears she looks like Jodi Foster.  Do I hear an Amen?!  April carries herself so well, doesn't she?  When I first met her I thought...oh, better not hang around her too much--she is really smart!  (and just until that week, I had always spelled stopid with two 'o's.  Duh...everyone knows there is only one.)  And one more thing about April...home-girl can pray!  

Okay...so enough of my mental train rides.  Maybe I will type more about my people- ponderings later...

Sweetest Picture...

You never know how a simple comment will change a life...

You know, to be totally honest, I am not the most confident person.  In fact, I would have to say that is my biggest struggle in life... that being said, typically when someone gives me a compliment, I just don't believe it.  Hardly ever.  BUT, today, I had a moment!  It was HUGE for me...such a  moment in fact, that I can't sleep because I am so excited that someone expressed such confidence in me.  Me!  

So here is what went down.  I was talking to Trey at the office and I was having a completely honest conversation of what I wanted with this job and church.  Typically, I would never say what I dream and aspire to be...only because I fear that people will look at me like I am stupid for even thinking that I could be anything besides an assistant.  But I told him one of the goals that I had for myself...and he looked at me and said that I was cutting myself short--I have more potential!  It is exciting to even type those words... Trey is my boss, and I have a massive amount of respect for him and what he stands for in his faith, work ethic, his honesty  and his love for his family.  So for him to say those words to me, really is making me take another look at myself.  

You see, I have these desires that are deep in my soul of how I truly want to serve God.  But I just thought they were dreams, wistful thinking.   There are days that I feel confident that I have specific spiritual gifts that I need to use to serve Him...but then I allow my lack of self esteem to overpower my hints of potential.  And I keep them a secret...In fact, I don't think that I have ever even shared what I think my spiritual gifts are with anyone!  Not even my family.  But now...maybe I should reconsider.  Maybe I can do more that I thought was a "reasonable" goal for myself.  Maybe, I need to drop this dead-weight of worthlessness and allow myself to run for God.  Maybe...

So, now that I have blabbered on and on... you just never know how a simple comment will change someone's life!