Warning of a Gigglestorm!

The Auton House woke up to Storm Warnings! Apparently, Tropical Storm Fay finally made her way to the Atlanta area. However, there was so much excitement in our house you would never have known a storm was brewing outside!

While the news was issuing Tornado Warnings and Flash Flood Watches, a severe storm was kicking up inside Nati Grace... that is, a storm full of giggles, smiles, and laughter! Nati Grace's enthusiasm was simply uncontainable!!! She could hardly wait to get in the car to see if the goats were in the field. (This is a tradition carried over from taking Jake to preschool.) Then, as we pulled up in the parking lot of McEachern Preschool, Jamie and I literally heard squeals from the backseat!

Nati Grace jumped out of the car and bounded up the steps to her classroom. After a quick hug for Mommy, she barely turned around long enough for me to snap a picture of her waving bye! I held it together until I got back in the car... then another storm of sorts erupted from my heart. My heart broke from an amazing sense of pride of a sweet little girl and also out of great pain that she is no longer just mine... I have to share her!

Warning: Another Gigglestorm is predicted for when I pick her up!

"Then our mouth was filled with laughter

And our tongue with joyful shouting;

Then they said among the nations,

'The Lord has done great things for them."

The Lord has done great things for us;

We are glad." ~Psalms126:2

Carolina Conversions

I have always believed there was hope for all people. Yes, even Alabama fans! Our wonderful friends, the Jenks have seen the light!!! The Carolina Blue Light! It must have been an amazing sight at first glance. As a matter of fact, I think I heard them say that it was like having all the Crimson stains washed away. However, according to Wayne... the Crimson Tide can never be replaced!

For now, the Autons are enjoying the fact that Braxton and Brennan have joined with us in saying... "GO TAR HEELS!"

"But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." ~1 Thessalonians 5:8

Sneak-a-Peek at Me!

She picked out a pretty dress and reminded me not to forget her polka-dot hairbow. She just had to wear her sandals and a precious smile. You see, today, Nati Grace was meeting her preschool teacher at Sneak-a-Peek!

Her outfit was complete, her face was beaming with excitement, and we were almost ready to walk out the door! Nati Grace turned around and asked me, "Mommy, am I supposed to sneak-a-peek at Mrs. Johnson or she supposed to sneak-a-peek at me?"

Preschool officially starts next Tuesday! I am sure Nati Grace will shine. As for Mommy, we'll see if she survives!

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 1:6

Yummy! Thanks for the treat!

When I refilled the birdfeeder in the front yard the birds were happy, the squirrels were pleased, but the deer were extra thankful. Along with the crab apple tree in the yard across the street, our cul-de-sac has become the happening spot for the mommy deer and her babies.

"O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" ~Psalm 34:8

Mrs. Who?

Last Thursday was "Sneak-a-Peek" day at Jake's school. He was able to go meet his new teacher and see his classroom. Wonderful thing for student and parents alike! His teacher was quick to introduce herself as Mrs. Ramsey. Jake was able to talk with her for a few minutes and after filling out a few papers, we were done and headed back to the car.

Jamie asked Jake what he thought of his new teacher and he quickly responded, "I think she is at least a little bit of a Tar Heel."

Confused, we both asked why he thought such a thing (considering there was plenty of Georgia Bulldog things in her classroom). With a look of unbelief, Jake clarified, "Daddy, her name is Mrs. Rameses!"

Hopefully everything is straight and today she will be just Mrs. Ramsey.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6

Letting Go and Holding Back

Nati Grace finally asked me, "Mommy, why are you crying and why are we still standing in the driveway?" To be honest I am glad she was still in my arms. Otherwise, I might have not known what to do with myself. Jake just left for his first day of first grade!

I am not usually a crier. But today, I was. Amazingly, I cried more today than when he went to Kindergarten. Maybe it is because I know he is no longer a "little kid," or maybe it's because he didn't need me to walk him in for his first day. Or maybe a mommy just needs to cry every now and then. Thankfully, I didn't cry until after he left. I decided I needed to hold back those tears until he couldn't see me. I wouldn't want him to think that he was not big enough for me to let go... a little.

"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." ~2 Peter 3:18

Pastor's Wife Syndrome

Pastors' Wives often seem to have a stigma about them...you know, the piano playing, smiling, cheery lady who sits on the front row. She always seem to have the perfect attitude in worship and I am quite confident that she rises each morning with the perfect heart attitude. She must be the perfect mom because her children are perfect. You would almost think that she spends her whole day quoting Scripture and that she could not possibly ever have negative thoughts.

Hmmm... somewhere along the way I missed those lessons. God has taught me much lately. I can only play the piano with one hand (and not well even then), I can only wish that I was always smiling and although I sit near the front of the church, I often wonder who is boring holes in the back of my head with their eyes. My attitude of worship is a conscious decision just as it is for all and I have learned that until I have downed a cup of java and had my quiet time, my night owl personality doesn't always lend to me waking up with the perfect heart attitude. I know that I am not the perfect mom and I can assure you that although precious to me, my children are far from perfect. Trying to convince someone that I spend my entire day quoting Bible verses seems futile and, without the grace of the Almighty, I am sure that I would have enough negative thoughts for you and me alike.

So, where does this leave me? I have to think that it leaves me right where the Lord can use me. Obviously, it cannot be in my own strength that I accomplish anything that would be God-honoring. Once again, it seems to consistently come back to the God-confidence that I must have to survive even one day.

This morning was the first time in quite a while that I was able to just become part of the congregation for even one of the songs. As I stood and sang From the Inside Out, I was reminded that God doesn't see the "Pastor's Wife." He sees my heart. I cannot hide it from Him. I cannot put on a smile and expect Him to believe me. I must have my heart in the right place for worship. I must be willing to turn my life inside out each day, each moment in order to be glorifying to Him.

"But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." ~ 1 Samuel 17:7

From the Inside Out~ Hillsong

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

Who Needs Hair Anyway?

Oh my! The competition started and there was no looking back! The VBS classes at KSBC took on the challenge of Operation Worship! For every $5 that was earned, a Bible was purchased for a service man or woman serving overseas. The week was quite a success with over $2000 being raised and over 400 Bibles purchased! And... money is still coming in for the project.

The catch? The class collecting the most money got to do two things. First, the teachers of the class got to shave Jamie's head and the kids got to dump Hawaiian Punch all over his bald head! Let's just say... he took one for the cause! Jamie seems to think that if that is what it takes to God's Word in the hands of soldiers who need the Savior, it was WORTH IT!

Dear Father,

I pray for the soldiers who will receive Bibles. My prayer is that You prepare their hearts for Your truth. Lord, teach them that in times of uncertainty, Your truth is unshakeable!

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." ~Hebrews 4:12

You may go to the following link to see the glory of the baldness! A special thank you to Beth Johnson for her excellent videography skills and commentary during the event!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHqTD6CaTbA

To Cling or Not to Cling?

This summer has been a turning point for Nati Grace. She has not always been a huge fan of swimming. For me, that was something I was determined to change. I want her to enjoy the water just as much as I did when I was a child. However, over the past couple of summers Nati Grace has not quite shared my love of the water. As a matter of fact, her idea of swimming has been more like clinging to Mommy and me hoping that I survive the choking!


Oh, but this summer, Nati Grace discovered her magic vest for the lake and the ocean and her magic swimmies for the pool! She is absolutely enamored with her freedom in the water and I am in awe of the difference of just one year!


And then... there is that little side of me that realizes my little girl doesn't need me quite as much as she used to. But, isn't that what we are supposed to do as parents? Teach our kids to do things on their own. With each passing day, they should rely on us less... but if not on us, then on who?


Our initial response may be that parents should teach their children to have self-reliance. Well, I find that is just not true in my own life. Quite frankly, I find myself more "clingy" now than I have ever been...to my Father, my Heavenly Father. It seems to be a paradox. As earthly children, we grow and need our parents less. As children of God, as we grow, we discover that we need Him all the more.


I have been clinging a lot lately. Things get stressful... I cling. I get tired... I cling. I get myself in a mess (which seems to be way too often)... I cling.


So that leaves me with only one possible conclusion. As my children are growing, I should teach them to be as clingy as possible to the great and mighty God that I know as my Savior. My prayer should be that they have no self-reliance at all, but overflowing God-reliance.


That should help me as a mommy. My Nati Grace is not able to do things on her own without my help, she is simply able to do them in God's strength. Wow! That makes her growing up become a lot easier on my heart!

"When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches, For thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me." ~ Psalm 63:6-7