Moral Return Dilemma

Brian has had a moral dilemma these last few weeks.... he wanted to know what others thought of it.... LOL!!

While visiting family, Brian saw a digital TV antenna on clearance. Wanting to set-up a "man cave" in the garage with an OLD TV and a digital converter... the TV antenna on clearance was PERFECT!!

When he got his little "oasis" set-up he realized that the TV antennae he purchased needed to be stronger to pick up a few more stations... like the TV in the house can:)

On his next trip to the local Wally World he brought the antennae to the service desk and they gladly accepted the return but wanted to give him $12 more than he paid for it. He was a little taken back by getting MORE than he paid for it so he told them that he would return with the receipt to get the correct amount back!

While looking for the receipt he thought about his dilemma.... was he being silly??

He could MAKE $12 off of Wally World!!

How many times have we returned something and been "offered" LESS than we paid for the item??

What if the item's value did increase??

The return was from his SIDE... he made the purchase that didn't work for his situation. He's glad they were willing to take it back!

Is it honorable or honest to accept MORE than he paid for it??

What do you think?????

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On a totally different note, we are heading to the midwives this morning for a check-up!! I really want to post an update and pic.... so be looking for one soon:)

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

May you have a blessed day/weekend with friends and family as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus!!

Saturday Sentences

As I was working around the house I heard the kids playing... this was what I heard from Anna:

Let's do school. Everyone get your Bibles...

Ok, so today we are talking
about what God has created....

He made the sky, bird and then trees.
He made us and our hearts.... he made our hearts so that he can live in our
hearts and tell us what to do.

Everyone got a turn being the "teacher"... that means you get to tell the others what to do while you stand behind the dehumidifier! And you refer to everyone using their full name.... first, middle and last.... so funny to hear them say eachother's full names.

Anna ended her turn being teacher by leading everyone in the song "Home on the Range". But then it got silly.... they subsitituted the forgotten words with BOINK... so it all ended up in giggles:)

A Momma's Struggle

Let me start with the fact that I love my family and serving them in the joy and obedience to the Lord comes FIRST!! But I often get frustrated at my lack of time to serve much outside my house.....

I know one of the reasons that I struggle is because I have been through two degree programs and I have a desire to serve and reach my community for Christ. And with my past training and experiences, there are A LOT of areas I feel like I could serve in and would LOVE to serve in.....

But my time right now is to serve my house and I'm usually glad to have my God-given task (for right now) so clear and obvious .....

When I'm honest though....there is a definite part of me that feels so useless to the community and lacking any real talents or gifts!!! And I really get frustrated that I'm limited by my family (the ones God has clearly called me to minister to)!!!

There have been a few activities I've been able to participate in and it's been wonderful to feel useful but they always come with a price that is paid by my kids missing structured time with me, my husband loosing very valuable study time and my house:)

Last week I met up with a local math teacher during revival (another pastor's wife). During our conversation she explained to me some of the need for math teachers and tutors in my own county!!! Of course I came home with a plan that went like this....... when Brian finishes his PhD, I'll homeschool our kids in the morning and teach in the afternoons and fill some of the need, to be a part of the community and really, really use my talents.....

That's about when Brian gave me a dose of reality.... "Hmm, Kelly, I still will have a job to do when I finish the PhD program"...... oh yeah, duh!!

Finally a solution: So last week I was approached by a family in the community regarding their child's need for help with some Geometry!!!! It was actually phrased, "Do you know anything about Geometry??"

I was floored!! I mean not days before I had been struggling with this issue and had decided that it was time for me to stay focused on the family. But this opportunity is different! The family really wants the help but wants it to be convienent for me....

So yesterday we met at my house while the kids were taking their afternoon naps. The kids did wake for the last portion of our time, but they had a quick snack and watched a video I had ready for them.... they stayed quiet (we had talked about the situation plenty during the morning)!

And the student and I got through what she had brought! And I think we worked well together... so it will be soo great to be "serving" in the community but from a chair in my dining room:)

Praise You Lord for Your plans. Help me to be content with the amazing task of raising , caring for and serving these ones in my house. And thank you for these opportunities to serve in the community... when they come!!

Walking Worthy

This verse was displayed on our church bullentins this morning and it really got me thinking:

Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him,

bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the

knowledge of God. Colossians 1 :10

This verse has its own particular application for me right now. In so many ways I (we) compare how we walk our Christian walk based on what and who we see around us (or on TV...whatever influences us). We determine if we're "strong" or "weak" depending on the choices we make versus what we see or hear about other people. So our standard quickly changes to what others are doing and NOT on what is "fully pleasing to God".

I fall into this MUCH more than I think.....I can get so burdened by something I know is right for me and my family but continually question it because I compare it to what others are doing and what others think. But the decisions I make (should) have a BETTER standard (not that others are wrong or right). The standard has to be what is "fully pleasing to the Lord", "what bears fruit" and what aids me and my family to "grow in the knowledge of God". I need to make our family decisions based on those standards and then be firm and not inwardly questioning. When I aim for God and not for others I can be content in my decision.

The kids "reading" their little Bible together.

Sweet Moments