A Little Time Off

Well it's vacation time again. And I am sooooooo ready. This year we decided to stick close to home. We are going to be spending a few days in Northwest Arkansas. We will only be about 2.5 hours from home, but at least we will be somewhere. We don't really have anything scheduled to do. We are just going to play it by ear. I know there will be swimming as Skylar's only requirement was that the hotel have an indoor pool. In fact she just wanted to go back to the same place we went last year. So of course, I obliged her by finding an indoor pool. We really just plan on relaxing. Maybe seeing a movie - there is still a drive-in movie theater up in that area. Of course, I am sure there will be some shopping. Stephen was even excited to hear there were some Civil War battlegrounds near there. He really must have enjoyed that last year. Anyway, I am sure we will find plenty to keep us busy, and I will try to give a full report - or at least some pictures - when we return.

We Are the Champions

Way back in May (gee I am behind) Stephen's school held a kickball tournament. All of the second grade classes played against each other and Stephen's class came out on top. His teacher commented that this was the first time her class had ever won the tournament. Brian helped out with the coaching, while Skylar and I cheered from the sidelines.

Sprinkler Fun

Nothing says summer like running through the sprinkler. A few Friday's ago, I promised the kids if they were especially good for the morning and helped with all of the housework they could play in the sprinkler that afternoon. Believe it or not they managed to be good and got their reward.

Build a Bear Bug Workshop

My mother has generously offered to take my kids and my nephew to the local library's summer reading program. They meet once a week and see a program and then come home with all kinds of activities to do. Well this weeks activity was to build a bug - since the theme of the program this summer is "Catch the Reading Bug." My nephew spent the night with us Thursday night, so I decided Friday morning would be a great time for the three of them to build their bugs.

I sat them all down at the kitchen table with a box of scrap paper, scissors, glue and other various craft items. They spent nearly an hour creating their masterpieces. Skylar chose to create a butterfly, Stephen made a ladybug, and JD picked of all things a mosquito. Here are some pictures of them working and their works of art.

Getting Through the Day

For any of you that know me personally, you probably know that we have been having a rough time at my workplace for a while now. There have been changes over the last few months. And even though most of the changes are for the good, any change can be difficult at times. With recent personnel changes, training, and attitudes on top of the regular everyday challenges of any job, it's enough to make me want to throw up my hands and just quit some days. However, if you can say anything about me, it's that I am not a quitter. Even if I was independently wealthy and didn't need this job, I would never just quit. So, what have I done to deal with all of this? Well I went to the only instruction manual any of us really need - the Bible.

Actually, God kind of just revealed some scripture to me. I was flipping through one Sunday evening at church, trying to find the scripture the pastor was referencing when one of the headings in my Bible just jumped off the page at me. It simply said "On the Job."

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:5-7

As soon as I read those words, I realized that it is my duty to do my job to the best of my ability, to follow the instructions given to me, and to do my job as though I am working for Christ himself, and not just when the boss is looking. While that may seem elementary, how many of us actually treat our bosses as we would treat Christ if He was signing our paycheck?

So how has this changed anything? Well, that very night I committed that scripture to memory. When things get tough at work, I recall it and say it to myself. I have even used it as a prayer, inserting my name and asking God to help me be the employee he wishes me to be. Has it made everything smooth sailing? No, but I don't expect it to. But it does serve as a reminder of who I am really working for and that He will get me through it all.