Charlotte's First Competition

Charlotte has been in the Learn to Skate Program for about 9 months.....and started private lessons in addition to her group lessons about a month ago. Her coach, pictured here, is Larry. He loves Charlotte's determination and spunk! This weekend the Learn to Skate Program had a competition. All skaters in all levels were divided into four teams and while each skater performed individually, scores were tallied and teams were awarded first through fourth place.

This was rehearsal day...

And this was competition day....back stage

The hockey netting does not allow for decent pictures, but here

is Charlotte taking the ice with confidence

She skated GREAT!

Claire bought her this rose with her own money!

We enjoyed the three hour competition with our dear friends

the Pettys. Karoline is also a skater.

Charlotte's team took third...

her first medal!

It was a great experience....very low key and encouraging for skaters in all levels. Charlotte is excited to work on the next "real" competition coming up this summer.

Perseverance

Sweet Tea

A friend, from the south, passed this Southern Living recipe for sweet tea onto me.....I can't wait to perfect it......and serve it on the veranda.

In rocking chairs.

With fresh lemons!

Sweet friends...

with sweet encouragement!

What a blessing!!!

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 2 family-size tea bags
• 1/2 to 1 cup sugar
• 7 cups cold water

Preparation

1. Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; add tea bags. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.

2. Remove and discard tea bags. Add desired amount of sugar, stirring until dissolved.

3. Pour into a 1-gal. container, and add 7 cups cold water. Serve over ice.

Peach Iced Tea: Stir together 1 1/2 qt. Southern Sweet Tea made with 1/2 cup sugar; add 1 (33.8-oz.) bottle peach nectar and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Stir well. Serve over ice. Makes about 2 1/2 qt.

Tea 'n' Lemonade: Stir together 2 qt. Southern Sweet Tea made with 1/2 cup sugar; add 1 cup thawed lemonade concentrate, and stir well. Serve over ice. Makes 2 1/4 qt.

Partner!

CAUTION: THIS POST CONTAINS SIGNIFICANT ATTEMPTS BY THIS WIFE TO BRAG ON HER HUSBAND!!!

HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EMBELLISHMENT OF CONTENT. IT IS TRUE, TRUE, TRUE!!!

My man....Senior Director of Global Implementation Services at ERM....found out Friday that he was promoted to partner! Congratulations, Ian!!!

Many months ago, he was invited to participate in the Partner Training Program at ERM. Since then, he has been in a somewhat grueling process that led up to a presentation to a partner panel in Miami. He came away from that feeling like it had gone well and their line of questioning was intense, but exciting and engaging.

I was so thrilled for him to receive this wonderful news. Not only was it a promotion and invitation to be partnered financially in the company, it was one of those pivotal moments in a man's career (that I see as so important) when they receive feedback and affirmation about their work. Their toil. Their strife.

They fully recognized, as I always have, that Ian is a successful leader - compassionate, passionate, globally minded yet people oriented. He stood out among other candidates (only 30% actually make partner that are invited into the program) by starting his presentation with a slide of his family and telling them about US! They questioned him about the two children that don't look like the others....to which he got to share his heart for adoption and his belief in living sacrificially for the benefit of others. Thats how he does family. That is how he does work.

There is NO sacred - secular divide.....and while his panel was not made up of believers, they could fully appreciate Ian's biblical leadership qualities that have made him successful in the working world....just because there is no divide between what is sacred and what is secular when you live for Christ!

They appreciated Ian's business expertise and experience - inviting him to be open minded about a growing role at ERM. Yes. He is capable. Intelligent. Wise. Driven. Purposeful.

Not only did Ian receive important affirmation about his career. This was significant affirmation for our family as we embark on a move for ERM. It confirms that our move to Houston is prudent and necessary. Even exciting.

How did we celebrate. At 9 pm, after I cleaned up from my preschool party, we went to the Fairmont Princess Resort and ate at Bourbon Steak. Ian had always wanted to go there.

So glad we did.

We had a lovely time together.

And a scrumptious meal.

Celebrating, giving thanks to God and cherishing another milestone in our life's journey together.

PARTNER.... Ian has been MY partner for 20 years......I could have told them what a wonderful partner he is.

I love that man!!!

The Un-Sleepover Party

Tonight I hosted an Un-sleepover party at my house with 8 preschoolers from my class. It was my "Teacher Treasure" in the school auction this winter - an event that parents bid on to have their child attend. We painted pillow cases, made homemade pizzas and watched a movie with cookies and milk....and then they went home to bed. A sleepover party without the sleeping!

We had a super duper time! Here are a few photos from the fun night!

What a joy to have these children in my life...each one a blessing and a gift! We sure made some memories to cherish together!!!

Boy's Project Continued

The boys continued their work on the airsoft cabinet today.

The work moved indoors to the garage as they moved forward with Phase Six...assembly.

They have had a blast I tell you....a blast.

And it has been such fun to see them work together.

True friends.

Boys, enjoying the freedom of spring break.

Seeing a project through to the end.

And being a little goofy.

Notice, Brock us using David's toy drill here. He is hilarious, don't you think!?

A brief consultation. Seems the doors don't quite fit.

Letting David think he's helping...

power tools are loved by boys of all ages it appears!

The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it,

but what he becomes by it.

- John Ruskin

A job well done, boys!

The Boys

Peter woke up with a plan for his day. He wanted to tackle a project. A messy man sort of a project. Excellent! Ian told him he'd help execute if he planned his work well.

Peter went to work, first on the computer to generate an idea.

A gun cabinet. He wanted to build a gun cabinet. For his arsenal of airsoft guns. Nice!

His pitch went something like this, "mom - you know how you hate it when my air soft stuff is lying all around.....well, if I build a storage cabinet for it all, it will stay picked up. And protected."

Okay.

Phase two.....planning.

He sketched out a diagram.

He calculated the dimensions.

He wrote out a list of supplies and materials.

Phase Three....Shopping.

I was off to the bridal shower, so Ian left for Home Depot with all the kids and our friend Brock. In Ian's words, "that was interesting!" The free otter pop give-a-way was a sticky hit!

Im glad I wasn't there for securing the wood to the top of the van. Ian said the stares almost caused several accidents in the parking lot.

When I got home from the shower....the boys were out back fully engaged in Phase Four....measuring and cutting. Saw dust was flying. Boys were smiling. Love it!

Loot at the serious concentration.

Partial progress.

What a testimony to teamwork

Even Kirby and Charlotte got in on the action....eye and ear protection was required!

The evening hours brought forth Phase Five....priming and painting.

At the moment, Ian and I are sitting inside with the sliding doors open. We're enjoying chips and homemade guacamole. Whats more enjoyable is the discussion ensuing in the yard.

"Oh mannnnn. My shirt is ruined."

"How is this going to stand up?"

Brock to Peter, "If it turns out, can I have it at my house?" I thought that was a SPLENDID idea.

The sun is going down....we're moving on to grilling hamburgers. The project will have to continue tomorrow.

Stay tuned for Phase Six.....Assembly

An Excellent Wife Who Can Find?

I have the privilege of doing a devotional at a bridal shower for a young woman today. Immediately upon my invitation to do so, I started meditating on Proverbs 31 - one of the most important scriptures concerning God's will for the Christian wife. It is an acrostic poem describing some 20 traits of an excellent wife. The passage is beautiful!

Martha Peace, in her book The Excellent Wife, says, " God has called every Christian wife to His excellence. Any flower can bloom when it is tended by God's hand. A wife's responsibility is to learn to put her confidence in the faithfulness of God and His word - to do what He says. She can become what he wants her to become if she does what He wants her to do. There is no other way!"

I see three themes in this passage...

FIRST -The excellent wife fears the Lord first and foremost (vs 30). All else flows out of this.

SECOND - She pours her life out for others. She gives her life away. She is others focused as Christ was. Her life is characterized by redemptive relationships - spending herself for the good of others.

THIRD -She is capable. She is skilled. She practices her God given abilities and she cultivates her mind.

FOURTH - She is influential. It makes sense doesn't it? The woman who labors with purpose and serves selflessly would exert influence on those around her.

At the shower, I will speak about these themes. And each woman will receive a small page of a scrapbook with a header describing one of the attributes. They will write a prayer for the bride on their given characteristic.

Then we will have prayer time, praying all these characteristics to be cultivated in Jessica's life and in her ministry as a wife.

Listen to the characteristics, condensed and paraphrased from Proverbs 31:10-31.

The list is convicting and encouraging.

It is the wife I want to be.

It is the wife God wants us to be.....

An excellent wife fears the Lord

An excellent wife is not afraid of an unknown future

An excellent wife is of exceptional worth

An excellent wife is respectful to her husband

An excellent wife is wise, instructing others with her life and her words

An excellent wife is selfless and generous with her time and talents, involving herself in her

community and world

An excellent wife is good to her husband

An excellent wife serves her household with creativity, integrity and purpose

An excellent wife works willingly and diligently with her hands

An excellent wife exerts influence on her children and husband

An excellent wife is kind

An excellent wife is trustworthy

An excellent wife is skilled and she cultivates her abilities through practice

An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels!