One White Jersey

One of the biggest obstacles for a teenager and possibly even an adult to make is taking a stand for what they believe in. Working with teenagers, and having a couple of my own, a value I try to instill and hold up high is letting them know it is ok to be yourself and stand up for what you believe in. Acceptance is such a big part of the teenage years and for many it doesn't end at 19, but carries into the adult years. Being brave enough to be ourselves and take a stand for what we believe is not easy. Last week I witnessed a high school sophomore take a stand for what he believed in. I find that so courageous in people in general. It was at my husband's high school football game. They played a public high school from Tavenier. At the end of every game, my husband's team will create a circle and invite the other team to join for prayer. Most teams will accept, some don't. This week the other team did not accept. My husband's team all in their black jerseys took a knee and were about to bow their heads and then from the other side, one white jersey, #7, the quarterback from the other team, joined the circle. He took a knee and bowed his head to pray. Courage, not only did his team lose, but he was the starting quarterback. Character, to walk away from the crowd, to participate in something he felt strongly about. I was so impressed. Tears came to my eyes and I wished I had a camera. It would have been a powerful photo of the one white jersey amoung the 38 black jerseys, all kneeling, heads bowed. God has great plans for #7, I hope the others took notice and he inspired them to have courage next time.

Random Thoughts, Prayer Requests

So many things on my mind, couldn't narrow in on one...

• Praying for my niece, Megan, she found a friend dead from an overdose, and she is having a very hard time recovering through her grief. Lord, surround her with your love!
• My husband's team went to wash a wall today. They learned a lesson of humility. My daughter took pics and I will blog about the lesson learned.
• Praying for Dr EG, and the Robertson family. Dr EG impacted my life by being the first man I ever heard speak about the love of Jesus, at a time I didnt trust love.
• Ran into a couple friends today, have invited both to FRC, one of them attends now and then, but the other shared with me how her boss logged onto mynakedpastor and loved the lesson on anger. He loved Pastor Troy and wants to attend the church. Yes!
• Praying for 3 couples who my husband is sharing Christ with. They have not come to church yet, but sometimes you just need to be a friend. Praying for friendship opportunities.
• Thankful for Pastor Troy and his family. Praying for rest as the cameras from mynakedpastor will turn off in 36 hours. Excited to see how God will lead him next.
• Praying for Natalie, she is truly wanting to follow after God and do the right thing. She is quite alone because she is different and people can be mean when you are different.
• My son calls and brightens my day. :-) My living room is full of laughter right now.
• Excited to meet up with the new families and people that are coming by SM this weekend to check it out for their kids or to become a leader. I spoke with 3 that are stopping in.
• Praying for 200!
• Praying for Campus Teams! Jesus, help them to have the courage to see their friends the way you do!
• Praying for our students, High School is just 4 years of their long life to serve Him, make the right choices today for the blessings in your tomorrow, they think for the moment, but need to learn to think for the future.
• 16 year olds naturally navigate away and tend to share less with adults, help me find ways to connect, despite the disconnection.
• I met a really cool guy tonight, he was thanking me for taking his 2 sons to dinner last night. He knows Vaughn and I just know God put him on my path for a reason. What a small world.
• My roof has a leak, my car is in the shop, but they are just things. No need to fret. My nice neighbor fixed my washer that also decided to join the club. Thanks!
• Words aren't really enough to express my thankfulness, Lord, but you can read my heart and that is really cool!
• many more on my mind, but makes it too long of a blog
• i love u!

Just Ask

Have you ever been guilty of making an assumption and you just wish you had just asked the right questions? Yea, me too. Why is it easier to assume than ask? I think because asking takes courage, takes effort and I am sometimes not quite sure how to ask. But I have learned over time to ask, as stupid as I think the question may be. I always tell my kids, no question is ever stupid, it's not asking, not getting the facts and then figuring out I was left with my stupid answer, that can make you feel stupid or cause you to get the answer wrong. I want to always be moving toward truth, not half-truth, some-truth, or no truth, but the whole truth and nothing but the Truth!

The Jelly Jam Bowl

Tim and his bro, Phil

Kindal, Tim, Blake, Amber






I love football. I love to watch it on TV, I love to attend games. I love the atmosphere at a game. I love the life lessons that the sport teaches. My love of football comes from my dad. My dad owned his own business and was a workaholic, but the one thing he did do for fun was attend Dolphin and Hurricane games each time they were home. He was a season ticket holder for as long as I can remember. My mom didn't care to attend the games, so many times I got to go. I learned football and for a couple hours each week, I got to spend time with my dad.

So it's pretty cool that now as an adult, that football allows me to spend time with my family. This past Friday, I was able to witness the first Farver vs. Farver high school football game. My husband's high school team played his brother, Phil's team. My nephew, Blake who is a sophomore, plays back-up quarterback. Blake was very excited to get to play against his uncle, and was preparing his team all week with the "Beat Uncle Tim" slogan. He even wanted the cheerleaders to paint it on the banner his team would run through at the beginning of the game. Tim tried to lighten the mood by telling Blake they would play for a jar of grandma's jelly. (Tim's mom makes the best homemade jelly and all the grandchildren will only eat her kind and not store bought. Each Christmas when the box arrives each family hopes they get a lot of strawberry and not apple butter.) It was just a joke and no jelly was exchanged!

It was great to see my sister-in-law and spend time with her during the game. I decided to sit with her on the opposing team's side. I love to cheer the team on and knew I would have to be a tad neutral being on the "other" side. But family is more important than the score. At first, Blake's team was dominating, they scored 2 touchdowns in the first quarter. I was getting a little nervous. Blake was also nervous, after the first score, the starting quarterback hurt his knee. That meant Blake was in to lead his team. He did a great job! He told me after the game he felt a bit overwhelmed, but I told him he surely didn't show it. Tim's team re-adjusted their offense and ended up winning the game 37-14. I was happy for the win, but felt bad for my nephew when I saw the tears in his eyes. He said he wanted to win so bad. He didn't get the win, but I think God has bigger plans for his future. His preparation for the task and the willingness to tackle it is the lesson I saw him learn.

And as far as Tim and his team, their record after this game is 4-0 and ranked number 1 in the state. Not always a good thing this early in the season, the kids can tend to get a little full of themselves. I pray they remain humble and give great effort for the long haul. Because when playoffs begin, it is a whole new ball game.

Camp Beach

If you judge people, you have no time to love them...Mother Theresa

Why is it that we feel we have a right to make a judgement on a situation we know nothing about? Perception is not reality. Judging by outer appearance doesn't mean that is the truth of the matter. Listening to what the crowd thinks, does not allow me to hear His heart. My heart is broken, but is my heart always clean of not finding myself guilty of this. I constantly pray and ask God to allow me to see His people the way that he does. Many times I do. I pray that I never put myself on a platform where I feel I have the right to make the judgement. The ground at the foot of the cross is level. I have learned that if I stop to listen and find out the facts, then most of the time I am moved to show compassion. Jesus always knew to listen. He always was moved towards compassion. He knew what to say when the crowd was ready to start flinging the rocks. He would, he is the son of God. My quest is to learn from His example and then live it. Every life tells a story. A lot of the dirty looking lives are just trying to find their way to the truth. But we who hold the truth get in the way with our "we must be better than you" because we know the way. We are good, you must be bad. When really we are bad, we are no better. I want to have my Father's eyes and understand His heart and see the hurting, the dirty, the in need of the truth. Because I was dirty and really do look just the same to Him, I have just been covered by His blood. It hides the dirt.

I am very excited about tomorrow. It is September 25. Tuesday. (A friend's birthday: Happy B-day HP) & Release day in the music world. I love music!

Two bands currently in my fav top 10, are releasing their latest albums.

Rascal Flatts is releasing their fifth CD. I love their music and the stories that they tell. Their song, "My Wish" was the perfect song for my son's graduation party. I wonder what song will be part of our family this time around.

I am not sure how Crowder is going to top "A Collision", but I am sure Remedy is going to be a keeper. I had heard of Crowder before "A Collision", when the Sunsets and Sushi abum was out, but never purchased any of his music. Then I bought "A Collsion" and was amazed at the musical genious on that album.

I love to listen to writers and musicians talk about their creative process. I think it is so cool to see how a song can come to life. Some songs you just know came from God's heart to the writer's pen or instrument. Music has also been a tool in building relationships with my friends, family, and my Savior. The love of music was something my mother and I shared. Many times music was the only thing my son and I could communicate about during those tough teenager years. And I know Christ speaks to me through music so many times. Music prepares my heart to hear His word. I can't wait to see how these 2 albums will inspire, encourage and just make my day!

People can change, mom!

"People can change, mom!" These are the words of my daughter this past week. These words rang really loud in my ears. I know people can change, I thought. I am a product of change, knowing where I was to where I am now. My calling includes seeing lifechange in people. But this is my daughter and she is talking about a friend, we'll call "friend", who has over the last 2 years hurt who to the point of tears more than once. Hurt her down deep in her heart.
My daughter has decided to enter the friendship again, knowing the past. My first reaction, anger, not too happy about this, I want to protect her from pain. But I can not. This is one of those times of letting go and allowing her to learn. I have given her the advice to guard her heart, observe actions and not just listen to words, actions speak louder. I will be paying close attention from afar, but I so admire her for the ability to forgive and engage again. I am much more guarded. I pray the results this time aren't painful. But the greatest lessons I have ever learn involve pain. God is doing a work in her life. But I also told her insanity is repeating the same behavior with the same results...no this person is not insane; immature, yeah. "Friend" just needs to mature and work on character growth. I admire her for her ability to hope for better results. I again am reminded of how much my Savior loves me, love I can not fathom because I hurt Him so many times and yet he is still right there to be my friend, to forgive, to show me mercy. I believe my daughter has the gift of mercy, I do not. But I am learning! She is learning too, but she doesn't look at it that way. But I know better! The best parenting advice I ever got was that you want to allow your children to go through these issues while under your roof so that you can be there to catch them and guide them through. Allow her to learn a thinking it through and decision making process. She will need this when she is out on her own! So for now she is off the shore and navigating the waters and I know that I can throw the life vest as soon as needed.