Missy's Moments

So Far This Year...

I can say that I've managed to stay somewhat on top of things. I obsess constantly over the to-do list and always feel like I'm a day late and a dollar short. There's never room for error and trust me error happens quite regularly in the Eagen household!

Part of not playing catch up all the time is this blog... this is it folks, it's either do or die, so hopefully I do.  The boys are a bit past cute little daily stories, life is pretty boring, Kayla and Jordan would rather lick a metal door in the dead of winter than to have their mother write about them. That doesn't leave much for material and the keyboard tends to have the backspace button overused for fear I may bore you to tears.

So far 2011 has brought about a great Wild Game that Rick and I bought   Santa left tickets to. Great game- the score went back and forth and in the end we won in overtime. Of course if it would have went the other way I may not being saying what a great game it was but hey they won and we were happy so I will leave it at that :)

I am co-hosting a bible study in the evening and we started a new one last week. The group grew a bit after the New Year and I am so excited to see what God has to teach us in this study. It's entitled Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild. Jennifer Rothschild spoke in the intro video last week about our thoughts and how constant they are, some are just normal everyday thoughts like for me one would be "coffee, oh coffee how I love thee" or "child why are you using your cheese stick as a weapon" you know those kind of thoughts... anyway I have spent more time thinking about what I think about this last week. The thoughts that we will focus on are those "wow that was stupid" or "oh I look like a puffy, gray haired almost 40 year old"... you know those not so great for you thoughts that God never intended us to say to anyone let alone ourselves. So a thought closet makeover is the first thing on the list for 2011. With some luck I'll have more success than I have with other makeovers! (oops that wasn't a good thought!)

I just finished two great books by Francine Rivers- My Mothers Hope and My Daughters Dream.  At the end of My Daughters Dream I had to go back and re-read the last chapter just simply because I didn't want it to be done. What a beautiful story of grace, redemption, hope and love. The story starts out in the early 1900's in the first book and ends in current years in the second book. Both books are the story of a mother and daughter and the second story I related so much to the main character Carolyn.   I have often said Redeeming Love is one of my favorite books and these two together ranked right up there. Next on the reading list is The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.

I am teaching a lesson this week in AWANA and I have a to-do list longer than my arm for the evening so time to stop babbling here and get on with things. (did I mention I'm trying to stay on top of that pesky to-do list?)

Last weeks favorite preschool funny: As a boy sticks his finger in his eye he looks up from his spot in the rainbow shape (circle time renamed) and says "hey there's 2 of you!"

 

Book Hopper

Currently I have a number of books on my morning table and night stand.

- Praying God's Word Day by Day- Beth Moore (have picked this book up off and on- believe I've read most of the book but not in any particular order)

- What's So Amazing About Grace- Phillip Yancy (just recommended to me and I noticed in our church bulletin last week there is a Sunday school class on this book...mmmm)

-Where is God When it Hurts- Phillip Yancy (saw this when going to purchase the other Phillip Yancy book and since my gift certificates were exactly the cost of the two I got it- only in the 2nd chapter)

-Shades of Blue- Karen Kingsbury (my fiction book that goes around in my purse for those spare moments- almost finished, not my favorite KK book but still enjoying it)

-Facing Your Giants- Max Lucado (only a few chapter in)

- NIV Bible - God (in my quest to read through the bible in a year I found myself getting a little stir crazy in the OT with law- I had to start reading a little in the OT and NT and it seemed to balance it out for me)

Seems crazy but I seem to be pointed to the right book in the morning or when I sit down at night. 

So now that you know my crazy reading habits match my walking short attention span share with me what you are reading... btw I do read non-christian fiction it just so happens that I'm not right now. What are you reading and would you recommend it?

Doesn't She Look Natural

I love books.... I do and Angela Hunt is one of my favorite authors. I believe she was the author of the first christian fiction novel I read. This is her latest, it's hot off the presses and I finished it last week and have thought about it a lot this week. I love books that I still enjoy even after closing the back cover. It is a beautiful story filled with witty humor,forgiveness and surrender which I find a lot in my days.

If you looking for a good book I suggest picking this one up. You can borrow mine if you'd like

What a gift God has given us~ this voice that directs us, this Spirit that desires what is right and good. This ever-present Guide and Counselor, ready to steer us toward the path of right. Ready to help us turn from our own way-the way leading to destruction- toward the way that leads to life. Ready to speak truth and wisdom if we are ready to listen. Ready to forgive us by grace as we repent. What a gift this voice, this Spirit, this presence- this God conscience- Like a good, strong cup of coffee. We drink deep and the cobwebs clear. The fog lifts. We wake up. Search me, O'God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Those paragraphs are from 'Confessions of a Prayer Wimp' by Mary Pierce. She used her love of coffee to talk about waking up. And somehow tied it in to a Spiritual waking up. There are some many different wake up calls that I've been given. Many I have not even recognized until after they've come. I'm so grateful today that keeping my focus on Him reveals things in my everyday life that are all a part of who he wants me to be.

Spring Break

Today when I got off work my spring break officially began. I don't work Thursdays and Friday there is no school, I'll soak in any extra time I get! I have a list a mile long and I don't have a good reason to be sitting in front of the computer right now other than the fact there are just some fun things that I wanted to talk about.

Sam

Last week I introduced Resurrection Eggs to the boys. They are really neat and if you are looking for a clever way to teach about Easter and maybe even learn a few tidbits yourself this is a fun way to do it. Seriously there were a few times last week when talking to Eric and Sam and also our preschool class that I wanted to sugar coat what happened those last days. There is no sugar coating it, Jesus lived and then died a cruel death. Anyway last week Sam announced that Jesus died to take away our sins. You would have thought it was the first time he heard it but the way he said it. It was like <yeah duh! Jesus died to take away my sin> and I confirmed this for Him. I then told him that when he asked Jesus into His heart he would be washed of His sin because Jesus took Sam's punishment. He was really engaged in the conversation and simply said "yeah but I don't know how to ask Jesus into my heart". We talked a little longer and ended the conversation with about the sweetest prayer I'll ever say with Sam. I've wondered since how sincere He can be at almost 5 but there have been things Sam has said in the last 10 days that reaffirm for me that Yes Sam has recognized His Lord. First one being Sunday morning, Sam and I were running some errands (we went to church Saturday evening) and while running errands we ran into a friend of mine. While I was holding Sam and talking with my friend he laid his head on my shoulder and I said "you do love mommy don't you", he replied in my ear by saying "Yes and Jesus too" I was reading The Easter Story to the boys today while they were eating lunch and mid-way through we were talking about Judas and the bad choice he made taking the coins and Sam said "yeah cuz you reeeaaaallllyyyy got to believe that Jesus is God so He can be in your heart" I about fell off my chair with when he said that .... can you see me smiling?

Eric

My boy is determined to grow up. I begged him the other day to just stay smaller a little longer and he looked at me and said "mommy, I just need to be six soon, sorry" and then to top it off we had conferences yesterday. His teacher confirmed he is indeed growing up. She was telling us how well he's doing and the progress he's made. He's reading and writing right on target for his age and is one of the top 6 in his class. Then Miss Julie looked at Eric and said "guess you'll be going to first grade" If it wasn't for the fact that everyone in the room would have laughed at me I would have burst out into tears. And with that I must stop because I'm not going to cry about first grade until at least August!

Podcasts

Why haven't I discovered these earlier? I mean really I'm on this computer entirely too much. I found all kinds of fun ones to subscribe to. (thank you Jen) I like to put my IPod on while I'm getting my hair and make-up on, while walking, while ironing, I may even wear it while cooking (oh wait I'd have to cook>never mind and the ironning doesn't happen to often either! )

My List

So like I mentioned I have a lot of things I want to get accomplished. We are hosting my dad and his wife, my mom and brother and I'm tempted to invite Rick's parents down but it can be challenging getting them here. Ideally I'd love a new kitchen floor before Easter Sunday but I'm not sure Rick and I are on the same page with that one. I'm sure there is some tool or car part that will convince him, although it might be more like mother's day. (honey did you catch that hint?) Second on my list is my mother's pictures. I'm about 1/2 way down sorting them. Piles of family, grandchildren, friends, my brother and I. Some black and white, some just down right funny. I have a few of my cousins that just might work as blackmail material. I forgot how large their fros got back then! LOL Third is my pictures and videos, and even being third on my list they will not get worked on until #4 is done and that is house cleaning, inside and out. Spring cleaning in every sense of the word and if Kayla and Jordan want a moment of peace they will either help or run for their lives! Things are getting done!

Oh and when I'm not cleaning or sorting pictures I have a pile of books that I'm wanting to finish reading. Last week I won a 'advanced reader copy' of Angela Hunt's The Elevator. I started that one a few nights ago and hope to have it done over the weekend. If you've never read any of her books you should, you won't be disappointed.

Well it's time to load up some podcasts and head out for my walk! Have a blessed Easter and remember the cross is for YOU!

Friday Fun

Can you pass???

Let me know how you did and I'll let you know when I pass! LOL

CAN YOU PASS THE THIRD GRADE?

Saved By Grace

I just finished a book by Neta Jackson called The Yada Yada Prayer Group. I LOVE IT! This book came recommended to me by a friend at a bible study just this last spring and I finally got around to reading it. It reminded me a little of a close group of friends that I have. The way we got together is just beyond what I could write here. God was so detailed in bringing us together, yet we’ve never all been together. Imagine that! In fact as I write this I’m thinking about one of the main things that connected us and it was a little boy who weighed just over 2lbs at birth, Ty came into this world at 25 weeks and I started praying for Ty and his family. His mom kept on online journal or I guess to be correct I’ll call it a blog. I was always amazed at the lessons I would take away after reading her writing. Some days it was just simply a progress report on how Ty was doing but nonetheless I would always say a Thank you when I was done, I could log off of this computer and look at my children and think to myself I better Thank God for my blessings because this mom is on a rollar coaster ride. The other thing I remember so clearly (and Doni I’m not sure if I’ve told you this) is Doni’s endless pursuit to fight for her children. It taught me much, it made me think, it still makes me think. At the time I started reading her blog I was still fairly fresh on finding my purpose in God. (another story) Well the conversations started with her and then with Heidi, a dear self-less sister in Christ with a heart so tender that you don’t have to meet her in person to know this. A Yahoo group was formed for a few of us that were interested in loosing weight. For matters of sanity that is a story that will never be told on this journal . Well our yahoo group decided to further our talks and start an online study. Jana and Jennifer joined us and then Melissa.We started with the Purpose Driven Life. Ladies did we ever finish? For nearly 40 days our conversations centered around being Christ driven. Getting to know each other, the tears, humor, caring and concern for one another is evident and so enduring. Carrie became our honorary member, although she by know means needs to loose weight and finally we decided to move our group to a place other than Yahoo. Since the move our group now includes women that pray for each other and hold each other up with encouraging words and God’s truth’s. My prayer for our group is that some day we will gather and be able to pray and praise together. There are women near and far that I cherish and this book really reminded me of ALL of them. Jana, sorry I’m getting so mushy! Melissa I know you love it . I’m putting this book in the mail, whoever gets this book first make sure you pass it along to another member of the group. Thank you God that we are all just simply saved by grace.

Bringing Up Boys

I just started the book Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson. I was listening to his radio show and there were a few excerts taken from this book that really caught my attention. There is a poem in the first chapter that really touched me and I wanted to save it.

That Little Boy of Mine:

Two eyes that shine so bright,                                                                                                                                      Two lips that kiss goodnight,                                                                                                                                       Two arms that hold me tight,                                                                                                                                    That little boy of mine.

No one could ever know how much your coming has meant.

Because I love you so, you're something heaven has sent.

You're all the world to me.                                                                                                                                            You climb upon my knee.                                                                                                                                                 To me you'll always be,                                                                                                                                                       That little boy of mine.