Nerfin' It Up!

Kristen of We Are THAT Family recently posted about a precious boy named Mason who has been fighting cancer since he was 2. He is now 7. Mason recently completed his last round of oral chemotherapy. How else would a 7 year old boy want to celebrate than with the World's Largest Nerf Party!!

(Photo from Mason's mom's website)

Kristen is helping Mason's dream come true by hosting a virtual Nerf party. She asked her reader's to each have their own Nerf party in honor of Mason defeating cancer and write a blog post about it. We at the GRITS household were more than happy to participate.


Have Nerf guns, will par-tay:




Always remember, safety first:




And wear proper Nerf attire:



Those are the makings for an excellent Nerf party! See:









What's wrong with THIS picture:

Yep, looks like yours truly got stuck with the World's Smallest Nerf gun!


Mason, CONGRATULATIONS on beating cancer!! We were more than proud to participate in your Nerf Party.

An Angel's Wings

Yesterday was a difficult day in our household, but not as difficult as it was for another family here in our town! My heart is heavy, but theirs is much heavier.

God called Angel Burnett home early yesterday morning after a long fight with cancer. She was only 37 years old and was the mother to three small children whose ages are about 9, 7 and 4.


Look at this beautiful mother:

(http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/angelburnett)

Our local newspaper wrote an article on her story in February of 2008, click HERE to read more about her journey with cancer. Her spirit is completely revealed in this story!


Ever since I heard her story, it has touched me and I'm sure most people. I thought about and said many prayers for her and her family. We have so much in common....yet she had cancer.


I did not personally know Angel, but I have many friends who did. Our children go to the same school and her son is in the Princess' third grade class this year.

Her story is one of inspiration to all who hear it. Her faith in God was unshakable. This quote is from her Caring Bridge journal:

"my faith and trust is in the Almighty God who gives me the strength and perseverance to go on....Our God is good and He will lead us on the correct path. My trust is in Him for HE is bigger than any cancer that is in my body."

I have talked to many of the people who knew Angel and they all said the same things:

• She always had a smile on her face
• She NEVER complained
• Her faith was strong
• She is an inspiration
  
• She was a strong woman
• She was a blessing to all who knew her
  

I had a very difficult job yesterday as I called the Princess into her bedroom to tell her the news. It was hard. We cried. I had to try and explain to an 8 year old why God takes mommies to heaven. I don't know why God takes mommies to heaven. I just don't. And it completely breaks my heart!


I can't help but think of myself and how I would react to such horrid news as cancer. I have a faith in my God, but I'm not sure my faith is even a fraction of what Angel's was.


I'm sure Angel went through all the normal emotions with her initial diagnosis, and she chose to trust in her Almighty Lord and Saviour as she went through each day. Her strength was for her husband, her kids and her family. Her friends said she never felt sorry for herself or complained about the road God chose for her.

She faced the challenge head on and fought the fight.....ultimately she lost, but was truly still the winner! For today she is an Angel in heaven!

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me … Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of
my life" (Psalm 23:4,6a, NIV).

Go Light Your World

 

 

 

This is my sweet little sister, Nicolette, and her beautiful family. 

Early Wednesday morning, she will be leaving all her boys behind to serve the Lord on a 10-day summer mission trip to Ukraine. 

She has been faithful in answering God’s call.  And He has been faithful by providing the funds necessary to go on this trip.  Just today, somebody called their church and volunteered to pay the balance on her trip!  God IS good!

Please add Nicolette to your prayer list for the next couple of weeks.  There is anxiety and excitement as she follows the Lord’s calling.  And pray for her boys and hubby while she is away. Thank you!

 

Matthew 28:19-20

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Sunday Sunday

 

It’s been a BIG weekend at our church.  We have been looking for a new pastor for the last 9 months and this weekend God answered our prayers….in a BIG way! 

Today our search ended and our new pastor begins in 3 weeks.  Church was packed today and you could feel and see the excitement. 

 

God has GREAT things in store for our church!

 

Our weekend was topped off tonight by our children’s music program, WHAM ….Worshipping Him through Arts and Music.

 

Just like in her chapel program, the Princess had a singing part.   This time she sang in a trio.  Perhaps this is the new norm for her….my singing sister will be proud!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight I bring you the newest sensation at the GRITS household, Dancing Lego Man! 

 

 

 

 

And I’m oh so proud to say, he dances just like his white-to-the-bone Mama. 

 

 

 

 

I am SO proud of him!!  There was a time in his life, not very long ago, that I would have bet against him actually doing this.  I guess this is a sure sign he’s growing up on me.  *sniff*

 

And check out this presentation his group did:

 

 

 

 

Thanks for letting me share this with you all.  I hope everyone else had a good weekend.  I know we did!

 

 

Easter Weekend, GRITS style

 

Phew….raise you hand if your weekend was too short?!

You can’t see me but I am raising my hand WiLdLY!!!

 

My folks got to come down for the weekend and the kids were pretty excited to see Yaya and Papa. 

We did our usual egg dying routine which resulted in the slightly permanent pink staining of the Princess’ fingers.  I don’t really enjoy the mess of the egg dying, but it’s a must do.

The highlight of Saturday night the kids and I made Resurrection Cookies.  I found the recipe HERE on the Internet last year.  It is a wonderful activity to share with children the true meaning of Easter.  Sorry, I didn’t share it with you sooner, but you will want to bookmark it for next year.

 

 

This morning we removed our cookies from our “tomb”.

 

 

And the middle of the cookies are hollow, representing the empty tomb!

 

 

 

Here are a few more photos from our wonderful Easter day:

 

 

Papa helping Lego-Man with is tie.

 

 

The Easter kids.

 

 

 

The kids with Yaya and Papa.

 

 

 

Happy Easter from the GRITS family!

 

 

 

Or, as we Greek folks say on Easter:

 

Christos Anesti – Christ is risen!

Alithos Anesti -  He is risen indeed!

Update

 

Thanks for coming back after a short blogging break.

I thought I would share updates on all the events that have occurred in my small world over the last couple of weeks.

 

First, take a look at this:

 

 

That is my sweet 93 year old Yaya sitting in her chair AT HER HOUSE!  (sorry, the quality is not great; my uncle took the photo with his cell phone)

She came home from the hospital this past Thursday after having her aortic valve replaced Jan. 23.  She has spent the past couple of weeks in the rehab hospital and finally got to go home.

She is still getting her strength built back up and currently has an around the clock helper from the rehab center. 

God is good!

 

Now for an update on our friends, the Rucker family, who lost their home almost two weeks ago.

This family has been blessed beyond measure by our church, friends, and even strangers. 

They are in the process of moving into a home in their own neighborhood while the insurance details and rebuilding process is worked out.

And tonight the dad, Scott, was ordained as a deacon in our church.  His testimony was amazing!

 

We were able to attend 2 of the 3 funerals scheduled last Wednesday.  Two Christian lives were celebrated which resulted in others coming to Christ!

 

My sister and her family are doing great after the break in at their home and they now have an alarm system installed.    Unfortunately the criminals have not been caught nor has any of their items been recovered. 

 

On a good note, I found out Friday that some friends of ours who have been trying to get pregnant are expecting their first baby this fall!!! 

 

We have survived a week that I referred to as The Storm.

Even though God’s plan in all of this is still not clear, I do know that His presence was here. 

Thank you to all my bloggy peeps for the sweet comments, e-mails and prayers over the last several days.

That’s what makes this community so special and why I am glad I am here. 

Now on with the show……

The Storm

 

That's where I think I am sitting right now.  Right smack dab in the middle of some giant storm.  Spawned by Satan himself.

And it is NOT fun.  My heart is heavy.

Last week our friend’s house burned.

Over the last few days we have had one friend die unexpectedly, another friend’s mother die, and one of my dear professors from anesthesia school lost her fight with myeloma.

And that was just Saturday and Sunday.

None of those people mentioned were over the age of 58.  Lives taken seemingly too soon, yet part of God’s plan.

Today my sister’s house was broken into and all of their electronic equipment was stolen— including my brother in law’s laptop with his work on his dissertation!

Thankfully, nobody was at home and her neighbor spotted the men, called the police and gave them a pretty good description of the idiots criminals and their car.  And they’ve put out the information to all the surrounding pawn shops.  

My husband just found out tonight (while at the funeral home) that one of our “old” friends is being worked up for a tumor in his brain!

 

I want throw my head back and scream like Charlie Brown after Lucy pulls the football away for the bazillionth time.

 

My thoughts are filled with prayers and my eyes with tears.

 

I cling to God’s Word in my heart:

 

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, lean not on your own understanding;

  In ALL thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”    --Proverbs 3:5-6

 

 

And I have a song in my head:

 

 

 

 

Faith Under Fire

 

 

 

This is a photo of one of our friend’s home that burned on Thursday night!

The home is a total loss. 

Praise the Lord the family was able to get out of the house safely.

Unfortunately the family pets did not.

This is one of those events that make you ask, “Why God?”.  Why this family? 

They are at church every time the doors are open and involved in EVERYTHING!  This Sunday, he will be ordained as a deacon.

Without going into details, they have endured much over the last 9 months.  And now this???

Bad things do happen to good people.  Even godly people.

This family has a faith that is strong.  And now they are having to endure yet another trial.  But they know our God is bigger than ANYTHING! 

How do they know?  Just look at the message He left them:

 

 

This is a hymnal found open amidst all the rubble.  Opened to page 20, “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”!

 

Coincidence?  I think NOT.

 

Please pray for the Rucker family as they praise God during this storm.  Especially for the children as they mourn the loss of their pets. 

They lost almost everything in the fire, but not their faith.  And it will see them through!

 

Sing praise to God Who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory.

Share the Love

 

If you are looking for an easy way you can teach your children they can make a difference, then allow me to introduce to you Operation Christmas Child.

 

From Samaritanspurse.org :

 

Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ.

 

Our family has participated in this wonderful project for over 5 years now, and this year’s excitement was no different than any other.  My kids just have to hear the word “shoebox” and they are ready to go shopping for “their” kids. 

This year we doubled our fun and allowed the kids prepare boxes for two children each.  We also include a photo and our address in hopes we will hear from maybe one of our “shoebox kids”.  It hasn’t happened yet, but this could be the year.

 

 

 

 

This whole week, November 17-24, is the “Collection Week” for the shoe boxes.

So, it’s NOT TOO LATE to get involved.  To help cover the costs of shipping boxes, a $7 donation is asked, which can be paid online.  And if you don’t have time to make a box, you can donate money at the website linked below.

For more shoebox information and where to find a collection site near you, click on the icon:

 

 

 

 

If I haven’t convinced you yet to participate in this opportunity to share with children around the world, take the time to watch this moving video.  WARNING:  might need kleenex.

Samaritan’s Purse Video

 

Just look at these sweet faces:

 

 

 

 

Luke 10:37

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Do your part

Today is election day, in case you’ve been under a rock.

In this country we have the privilege to vote.  If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.  Nobody makes us.  But, in my opinion, you forfeit your right to complain if you don’t vote. 

We don’t live under a dictatorship and there is certainly no royal lineage.  We can all actually think for ourselves, well, most of us. 

I remember the first time I had the privilege of voting.  The year was 1988.  My candidates of choice, Bush/Quayle, of course.  Not even a Greek guy (Dukakis) on the other ticket could change my mind.  I ain’t running no liberal show here in case you haven’t noticed. 

Woops, did I type that out loud.  Sorry.

Heck, it’s my blog.

I am going to be honest, I am sick of it all!! The rhetoric, the finger pointing, the smearing commercials, the pre-poll projections and the seemingly lack of intelligence by some. 

I’m tired of all the questions not being answered by candidates and more importantly the thought of my taxes going up sickens me to new levels! 

Yes, I have laughed at the SNL sketches.  They’ve been a nice break to all the hoopla.  Tina Fey rocks Sarah Palin.  BTW, did you Sarah can see Russia from her front porch?  How cool is that.   Anywhoo.

I’m just going to leave it at that….because I could go on a tirade as to what peeves me about the candidates and their followers, but I won’t. 

This country is so far off track from what our forefathers devised.  I shutter to think what kind of changes may come our way in the next decade.  I think the United States is at moral crossroads here.  Again.  It’s my blog.

Am I worried about this election.  I’d be lying if I said “no”.  I’ve been a worrier since I entered this world and 40 years later, I can’t say I’ve given that trait up.  And, unfortunately, I think I have passed it on to one boy child in this house.

However, the difference is that I KNOW who is in control of every circumstance on this planet and in this country. GOD has a plan.  I may not like it, but He allows us to be in certain situations for a reason.  Elections included.  God IS in control.

Ironically, the Bible verse I chose for my “life verse” many years ago is this:

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all they ways acknowledge Him and HE WILL DIRECT THY PATHS.”

 

Say a prayer and GO VOTE!

Then be sure to stop by Starbuck’s for a free coffee, followed by a free Krispy Kreme doughnut which can be dipped in some free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.  Gosh, I LOVE this country!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!