My Heart AND My Tummy are Full

Please indulge me that last day of birthday celebrations then I'm done for another DECADE! It was said of God by St. Paul in Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…..” That is God Who exceeds our greatest expectations and that was my sweet family this last weekend with a 70th birthday celebration that was above all I could have ever asked or thought. I've been giving a brief overview of my weekend's celebrations, topped off with the finale yesterday morning when they wouldn’t let me come downstairs until the festivities were ready to continue at a breakfast fit for a queen: cream gravy and chocolate gravy, biscuits, eggs, bacon, and fruit, followed by gifts and “special plate” times of hearing words from each and every one of my family sharing what I meant to them. To say I was humbled and a blubbering Nana puts it mildly. Then we had a sweet time of praise and worship as Staci led and Payton played the piano while we sang “Good. Good Father” and “God’s Reckless Love” followed by prayer. I was so thrilled that we gave God thanks for the many things He has done for me and for us, as a family. Then we headed to a local historical site for family photos followed by Flores Mexican Food. The pace didn't slow down as we headed to the bowling alley for family bowling and back home for the 70-candle salute on the cake that we thought was almost out of control before I could get them blown out. It was a sight to behold.

God Gave Us YOU, Larry Wallace!

Friday morning, I took Larry his requested "Granny's Chocolate Cake" for his birthday -- well, it's her recipe, but now I get to take the glory for having perfected it! LOL!

Since I'm going to be out of the country on his birthday, June 9th, and since we're a family that one day of celebration for the birthday guy or girl just isn't enough, I'm starting out this birthday week with telling you about this man who not only changed my mind about "jocks", but changed my mind about the perfect man for my daughter, so much so that I wanted to share with those of you who are praying for THE PERFECT ONE for your sons and daughters. It starts with praying, trusting God and then giving ​Him full reins to be the ​Master ​Designer and Orchestrator of what He knows already to be the "perfect match made in heaven".

Twenty-one years ago, the perfect man for our daughter, in my mind, was a man devoted to full time ministry, because, after all, she had vowed to be the next "Mother Teresa" who was all about making a difference in this world and going to the world to share God's good news. At that time, Larry was a true jock. He had been recruited and played for 4 years for Texas A&M's championship football team. Then he became a body builder and was working towards becoming Mr. Oklahoma. He was, no doubt, a beautiful speciman of a man. What I saw on the outside was FINE, but this guy, in my books, was all brawn and not what I had envisioned for my girl. ​ I had about four guys who I had deemed to be in the running for Mr. Staci! LOL! Thank you, God, for saying "NO" to those prayers.
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Right here is where the story in 1 Samuel 16 is a great parallel. ​ ​God had told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the king that would succeed Saul. All of his sons were paraded before Samuel, and Samuel thought that surely Eliab was the chosen one because he saw something in the tall and stately presence of the eldest born of Jesse which reminded the old man of the splendid attributes of Saul. Eliab seemed to Samuel, in all respects, a fit successor to the great warrior whom the Lord rejected. But the Lord said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7 “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” That's when Samuel asked Jesse "Are these all of your sons?" And we all remember that there was one more -- an athletic, strong, kind, tenderhearted and "heart after God's own heart", ruddy warrior, and beautiful son who was a shepherd, David.

And, here is my departure from that story to this man, Larry Wallace, who, indeed was God's chosen one for my Staci, the exact opposite in nature to hers, but the perfect match for her strong will, drive and determination. Now this "perfect match couple" both desire, more than anything, to make a difference in this world....and they both are driven to do so everyday. When we were going around the dinner table and telling him what he meant to us on Friday night at his first birthday celebration so far, Staci said, "You complete me!" And that is so true. That is why I gave him these words in his birthday card:

"These pictures show the fun-loving, enthusiastic, competitive, yet peaceful, calm, strong, and PATIENT qualities that makes you -- YOU! Really, really, really -- you are one in a million, which shows God must love this family ginormously to single you out for US!! Those are just a few of the many reasons to thank God for the gift of you to this world, but, even greater reasons for thanksgiving -- for me, that God blessed me with having you as my son. What an indescribable love God had for me, Staci, Payton, Alexia and all who know you -- to bless us with YOU! I’m so glad it’s your birthday, because we get to honor and celebrate the mainstay, the pillar of strength, the man of God, the incredible leader, role model, father, husband, son and friend that you are to so many! Happy Birthday, my wonderful son, Larry. I love you so much and thank God for giving us -- YOU!
Mom XOXOXO

Life Moves Pretty Fast

In the words of the great philosopher, Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you'll miss it!"

That is so true, and unless you're my age, or more, you may not give those words a second thought now.....but give it a few years, and beieve you me, you'll understand them so much, you'll be glad you did or you will regret NOT stopping and lookind around

I'm just so thankful I come from a long line of folks who did recognize the importance of living each day as if there were no tomorrow. I remember it being a big deal for my parents to be sure to go see their elderly parents often. I remember them visiting close friends and family, regularly, and them coming to visit us. I remember our big family reunions. Those were "matters of the heart" that are still with me today.

I woke yesterday morning at 4:00 am, to get breakfast going for the gang before they headed down to the dam again to catch those early morning, hungry trout. When I went into the kitchen area, Staci was already there, had made peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for later, coffee was ready and so was she.....since 2:30 am. I told her I think she lives by John Wayne's famous words, "Daylight's a'wasting. Time to get moving!" But it wasn't yet daylight. You know you're a "red neck" when your biological clock is set to the time that fish are feeding.

I'm so proud of this girl for so many reasons, but here in the great outdoors, I see her not as the girly, girl on the outside, but I see the girl that lives out loud with every breath she breathes. She's an adventurer and outdoors-woman to the core, so just the thought of those fish being there for the taking, had her awake and ready to hit the day. You know you're a "red neck" when you sleep in your clothes....ready to hit the ground running.

We had the birthday celebration all ready to go for Payton, the birthday boy -- cinnamon rolls with a big candle in the middle. You know you're a "red neck" when you've got the cabin covered with balloons, and because there was no tape for hanging, you use the cracks at door trims, the cords from the blinds, and the cabinet door knobs to hang them all. At 5:15 am, all the fisher-boys and girls were out the door -- ready to bring in a haul of fish for tomorrow's meal. What can I say? They love my beer-batter fish!

I stayed back at the cabin to make the birthday cake and get Payton's meal request ready for their return -- that beer batter fish fry -- from our big take yesterday!

Not long after they left, Staci called me with disappointing news -- the dam gates were wide open still which meant the waters were so furious that they couldn't get the fish to bite so they returned back to the cabin for Plan B. Staci had a heart-to-heart with Lake Tenkiller's Corp of Engineers for Lake Tenkiller. She was educated on why they had to release so much water out of the lake, which halted our big fishing haul. Apparently, Oklahoma has had above normal rainfall and if they don't release the quota needed, there is potential flooding that will happen, especially, since Oklahoma is supposed to have more storms this weekend. That makes our little whining about not being able to fish, so unacceptable.

But, not to waste "daylight", Larry and Staci headed to the river behind our cabin to try to find the secret for catching fish in those heavy moving waters.....and the birthday boy with his two friends tried another fishing opportunity. The management here at the camp said they could use their bait net to go down to the river and haul in shad to use for catfish and striper fishing tonight. Then the boys and Alexia and Staci used those rushing waters for good, and decided to raft down the river. No matter what they were doing -- they weren't wasting a minute of daylight. Once again, "All thing work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes." Romans 8:28.

Like Ferris Bueller said, "If you don't stop and look around, you'll miss life." Life is everywhere -- in little kids, in our loved ones and friends, in our surroundings and in everything that God made. Fishing was slower for us -- but no problem, the birds were still chirping, the waters were still flowing, and the enjoyment of each other -- laughing at silly shenanigans of the boys making spears, climbing trees, and making more memories carried on.

I overheard those three guys talking about buying a cabin and splitting it 3-ways (they're all already entrepreneurs). That's the stuff that life and God's goodness is made of -- getting great ideas, being creative, living with a grateful heart in the ups and downs, and enjoying the littlest of things that makes the biggest of things seem so trivial.

How awesome it is to "Look upoon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!" Psalm 27:13. So, to put John Wayne's "Daylight's a'wasting" to scripture words, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"