king of hearts

king of hearts
Originally uploaded by FeetToFaith

Here is the drama the kids are doing. It is about how we wear masks on the outside, but have something different inside. Jesus knows who we are behind our masks and He wants to give us a heart like His. Praise God!

Friday Night Lights

It is Friday night and I am staring at the light from my computer screen. The kids are in bed and Matthew is still at his game. We HAVE to go see his band play next week. Just because we are teachers and want to fall asleep on the couch at 7:00 Friday nights is no excuse for missing our son. He is a junior this year. Only one more year and he will be just about to go to college.

School is pretty tough for him right now. He has so many things on his plate. We want him to be involved in things, but he almost has too much. There doesn't seem to be anything to cut out, though. It is all good. Church, leading worship for the youth, FCA at school, band, work at Oby's, not to mention homework that is supposedly the most important, right. I mean outside of his quite time, etc. He really wants to be working on his own music with his friends. I wish he had more time to just be young. We will have to see if he can find a balance.

He is a little stressed out. I think we are going to be OK, though. Sometimes I feel like the worst parent. Especially when I loose my temper with him. This morning taking him to school early for FCA was great, though. I think he knows that we will be there for him and that we love him.

Having kids is so wild. I just pray that God will take over, because I am so human. They are precious gifts from Him and I want to do everything so right. I want them all to love God and to want to never walk away from Him. This world is so stinking nasty, though. I get angry when I know what is out there. I try to protect my kids and wonder if I am protecting them too much. God is in control, though. I know this and count on it every day. I can't believe that He puts up with me.

Matt is playing some beautiful music. He got several volumes of music from the Texas list (it's a choir thing) and he and I have been playing through it. There is so much incredible music out there. This is the part of my job that I love. I love that my high school kids really appreciate good music. Even the ones that aren't fast and hip-hop sounding.

Today was a good day in a stressful week. Last week with my 6th graders was horrible. I felt like the worst teacher. Well...I did put two classes together because I had to go to my elementary school for Grandparent's Day. So there were 5o instead of about 25 6th graders at one time. I think that may have had something to do with it. But...today was really good with them. We did the rhythm band...only about 10 times faster than the CD for younger kids. They really liked it.

Tomorrow the kids all have birthday parties to go to and our friend gave us Ole Miss tickets for tomorrow night. We are kind of trying to figure out who is going to go. Matt and I always opt for the less stressful of everything. Maybe because we are lazy or pretty worn out from school.
Anyway, we'll see. I have to finish the masks for the kids' drama for Sunday night. They are doing the "King of Hearts". It is very moving. I hope they will get the message for themselves while they are sharing it. Our drama group is young. Matthew and our pastor's son are the oldest ones there.

Matt had one of his first potential recording jobs referred to him by his fellow teacher friend. When the family got there they needed an accompaniment without back-ground vocals. When they looked a little closer at what they had Matt put the CD on track 5 and there was an acc. without vocals. :) Oh well. He told them that it did get him to get our kids to clean up on a Friday afternoon because they were coming. :)

Can't wait for our family to all get together again. Mamaw went to take care of Grandpa this weekend. Please pray for him. He had an allergic reaction to something and isn't doing well. We used to see family just about every weekend. Mamaw's ritual was ordering pizza for the kids from Domino's. I do miss those times. Now we just have to try a little harder to get together. I really feel like God brought us here so Matthew could grow in his youth group and graduate and that maybe when he does graduate that we will move again. The kids would love to move back to Jackson.

God knows what is going to happen. It is our job to trust Him and walk with Him. Have an awesome weekend!

Long time no see

Hi there. I can't believe I have neglected my friendly blog. Well, here I am. Things are going fine here. Matt and I are heavily into school and getting our music planned for the year, ordering music, setting performances, etc.

His kids are going to get to sing "The Preamble" from America Rocks during the presidential debate that is coming to Oxford. I can't wait. That was my major influence musically growing up. I loved those groovy songs.

My kids are getting ready for a fall festival. Several of them are singing for the kiddie pageant that day and then the whole choir is singing later that day. Should be fun.

We had a great time Labor Day with Mom, Mamaw, Chris and the kids at Cossar State Park. Mamaw rented two cabins for three nights. The kids got to fish, swim, play disc golf, putt-putt golf and make lots of s'mores. It was awesome. We celebrated Benny's 11th birthday there. I think I overheard him saying that it was the best ever. Thanks, Mamaw, for getting the cabins. We also had some massive Rook games with Mom and Uncle Chris. Matt and Chris against Mom and me. My first night I had a streak going, but it fizzled out night 2. I think I just started going nuts and bidding whatever just to get the pot. Needless to say we lost.....by about 500 points. We were laughing our heads off, though.

Matthew's youth director gave him tickets to the Ole Miss game this weekend. Matthew has to work so I'm not sure who is going.

Claire starts gymnastics this week. I think the Olympics have inspired her.

I am just randomly writing off the top of my head. I converted our website the other day because I can't get Frontpage to open my website anymore. Not sure why. I have to say that the company's software is so much better. Check it out. jonesrestoration.com

Well, I hope that you all have a very blessed week. Please pray about the elections. Sheeeesh. I know God is in control, but I pray that America doesn't get what we deserve. I pray for God to have mercy on us. If you know what I mean. I think any of my friends reading this understand perfectly.

Take care,
Laurie

Busy again

Things are super busy again. School started August 1st for Matt and me and I haven't posted in forever. There is too much to bore you with now. School is going well while always having some trials. My choir looks really promising.
It's a really good group with some who don't know they are really good kids yet, but hopefully will soon.

Matthew is a junior. I can't believe it. He is leading worship at church and at school. I am so proud of him. He has grown up so much and is almost a man. I can't imagine him leaving home in less than two years.

Claire and I are home today because she has strep throat. She is acting great now, but you can't exactly go to school with that. I was so glad to have a day with her. The boys were excited to be able to get a signed copy of the guy who wrote the Spiderwick Chronicles' new book. He will be at their school on Tuesday and they could buy a signed copy today.

Well...take care for now.

Great week away and great one at home again

This past week was wild. Ok...today is July 29th. Well...it has all kind of been a blur. Matt and the kids were gone to Centri-kid while Matty and I were home. We went to Jackson Friday, July 18th to meet up with everyone and to see my family that was at my mom's for a reunion on Sun.

Sunday morning the revival began at Park Place. Sunday night after church, Matthew and I headed back to Oxford to get him on the bus to go to X-fuge in Florida with our youth group. Then, Monday, I went to the Teaching Artist's workshop in Oxford. It was very cool being with other performers and learning how to go into schools/libraries, etc. to teach about the arts. After the workshop on Tuesday, I drove to Jackson in time to meet up with Matt for the remaining two nights of the revival. We got to see my friend who was in the wreck. She looks so great. She is walking around and looking so good.

It was all such a blessing. It was so great to be with everyone and really see God show up. I am so excited to see what is going to be happening in their church. Their new pastor will be coming this next weekend. Wednesday night we were pretty much done with everything and were ready to head home together. It had been almost two weeks since Matt, the boys, and Claire had been home. This last week has been great. I almost can't believe that I start school on Friday. In a little over two days.

School bags, paper, pencils and notebooks have been bought. I think the kids are actually almost ready, too. Or they are in denial. Not sure which it is. It is going to be so tough to get back into a routine. Right now it is 11:35. I can't be up this late next week and function at all. Last year Matt and I totally abused ourselves with our lack of sleep. I was so grouchy all the time. Anyway, that is my goal.

Please pray for one of my co-workers whose husband died yesterday.
I can't imagine what she is going through right now.

Sorry, I had a lot to get off of my brain. God bless.....

Just Moe and me

Well, we are half-way through our week here in Oxford by ourselves. It has been a good time. Everyone left on Monday. Claire to Nana's and the boys and Matt to Centri-kids.
I let Monday be Matthew's big day of jammin' with his friends. We had a drum set and two amps with two electric guitars and microphones going. I wanted to let Matthew do his thing and then we were going to get down to cleanin' business. It has gone pretty well. We got some done before Matthew had to go to work last night. I went to Wal-mart while Matthew worked and then we went to see Get Smart.
Not crazy about all of the language in it, but I laughed until I cried during some of it. Steve Carell is hilarious to me.
This morning we got back down to business. We are sorting, pitching, and giving away...oh and recycling. We have so much junk that I am getting a little overwhelmed. I am asking for all prayers that I can focus. I am trying to get a system for all of the incoming music/papers/art/mail that comes in during the year.
I have two more days to pack for next week and do all of my organizing. Matt is so cute. He texts me every few hours with something else to bring to Jackson. Matthew leaves on Monday for his trip, so we have to open a checking account for him to cash his first paycheck to use. There you go.
Claire forgot her bathing suit, so I hurried and ordered one from Amazon.com. I love that website. I accidentally ordered Amazon prime over Christmas and now our shipping is free on most things. This could be bad. I will be good, though. She got her package today and loves the suit. Love those end of summer sales.
I guess that is about all. I am excited about seeing our friend, Beverly, who has been recovering from a very bad car wreck. I think we will get to see her Sunday night after the revival.
Hope you all have a good week. We can't wait to be at Park Place BC. Here is the link for info on the revival. Park Place Baptist Church Revival

The rain finally came

We had a great 4th with Mom and the kids. It hasn't really rained here in Oxford since right before we put in the French drain, so we couldn't really test it.
Right after we took the hamburgers and brats off of the grill the rain came in a big way. We needed it so badly. Right before that it was so incredibly hot and humid. If you are from or have been in Mississippi you know what I am talking about. Mississippi has its own special brand of humidity.
Matt and I had bought two tomato plants the day before to try to grow some tomatoes before summer is over. When it sprinkled earlier we decided to plant them. The humidity was steaming off of our skin after all of the digging. The kids were in the pool, so we decided to jump in and surprise them. (clothes and all) I could put some action shots on here, but my pride might be too big (as my 16 year old made whale sounds as he saw the picture for the first time.) (Yes, he did get slapped. Kidding. He just got the look and more reason for me to get out his cute little whale-riding picture from many years ago.) OK, this one doesn't show much except the experience. The kids were so shocked.
I think we got coolness points for that spontaneity.

This is our last full week together at home as a family this summer. Matt and the boys go to Centri-kids next Monday, then we have the revival, and then Matthew goes to X-fuge in Florida. Matt and I start school the next Friday. I am not allowed to mention this to Matt right now. :) I am kidding. This has been the best summer. Have a great week.