Girls Game afternoon at Starbucks




Hello Sisters!

Summer is almost over....YEA! I will soon be able close my windows and turn off the lights a little bit earlier. I will be able to go to bed before 11pm! It has been so hot here that we have to keep all our windows and doors open, which leads to neighbors coming over to "see what we're up to" at 8pm. I don't like to turn away neighbors, so...that usually means a board game, food, etc... and the night ends so late. And....because we go to bed so late, we get up late, and it makes me feel very yucky and unproductive. School is back in for most neighborhood kids in the next 2 weeks! I can't wait!!!!

Hannah decided she wants to continue with college but will only be taking 1 music class. That's o.k. with me, I mean, I 'd rather she not, she knows that, but she's almost 16 and I'm letting her move into areas where she thinks she is being led by the Lord. I do support her and as I told her, we can agree to disagree on areas, we are NOT the same person with the same mind.

My son wants to sit out of college for a semester and play flag football. He really wants to play football, but my hubby told him since he has never played football, he should try a season of flag first to get the moves down.

I said in the beginning my kids would never play competitive sports and my daughter would never go to college. I'm eating my words.

On another note...

As you can see from the picture we've been spending a lot of time at Starbucks. Our long hot afternoons have been much more productive and enjoyable relaxing with a iced latte in an air conditioned environment. That's what I tell my hubby. :) I have had some really good talks with my oldest the last few weeks at Starbucks. When the baby is sleeping in her stroller, the 2 youngest girls are reading or playing a game, Hannah and I talk about all sorts of things. Her number one item to talk about is marriage and then about how to get closer to Jesus. I'm finally feeling like, I really like this teenager thing, it's been a good thing for me! Hannah has never been rebellious or like a typical teenager, but on the other hand, I felt like there were some things missing...? Just us spending TIME together talking and baking and sitting on the porch swing together, those have been the things that were missing. Needless to say, I've slightly dropped my standards in house cleaning, and that's o.k. Hannah is almost 16, I want to spend time and make memories with her and all my other children. LIFE IS REALLY GOOD!!!!

I was being lazy this morning not wanting to get up and read the Word, but the Lord quickened in me that I can jump start myself by just PRAISING HIM. I remembered in the past, areas in my life where I needed a breakthrough. I could have studied the Word, read the Word, got out the commentary, prayed and prayed, but in many situations I just FOCUSED ALL MY ATTENTION ON JESUS and PRAISED HIM FOR WHO HE IS....that was all I did, and I ALWAYS GOT WHAT I NEEDED. Not because of me, but it's all because of Him and what He said He would do. I would like to write more, but my family needs me. Here are some scriptures to encourage you, but, if you don't want to look them up right now, go ahead and hold off. ENTER INTO HIS PRESENCE through PRAISE!!!

Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 147, Psalm 5, Luke 19: 37-39, Numbers 14:21, Psalm 22:3, Psalm 68:1-3, Psalm 9.

Have a GREAT weekend, and don't forget to PRAISE the Lord in ALL SITUATIONS that come your way! :)

Blessings,
Shannon