Two Miles,Two Boys, Two Prayers

With gracious uncertainty, we can be confident in our expectations, knowing our hope in the Lord will not disappoint (Romans 5:5).

Today I’m right where I’m supposed to be…
This morning when I drove my younger “BOYS” (the ones that God knew I needed, if you remember my last elated blog) to school…THEIR prayers reminded me of that!
You see, ever since they started school, as I drove them, I would say a prayer for the day, first thanking God for his blessings, then asking God to keep them safe, guide them and bring them home safely to me. This is something I borrowed from another mother in a Bible study I joined years ago. I had never been comfortable praying out loud, but I thought if they heard me doing this every day when they were young, they would be comfortable doing it on their own some day. Several years ago, their Dad started doing the morning drive to drop them off at school on his way to the office. When I passed him the A.M. carpool torch, quietly I said,”You know we pray every morning”. I wasn’t quite sure if he had even heard me and definitely not sure if he would follow up. I was just glad to be able to stay in my pjs a little longer each day and uncharacteristically refrained from making carpool prayer demands!!!!
I guess it has been 4 years now, he’s been doing the short a.m. drive with our boys, now teenagers, but now that he is in Austin, I’ve put on my chauffeur’s hat again. So you can imagine the first morning I backed out of the driveway, when Garrison turned down the radio and begin the morning prayer, followed by Cameron, covering everything Garrison hadn’t…Well, let’s just say, my heart was bursting.
Each day I look forward to that morning drive even though sometimes it’s obvious they stayed up later than they should have, the words might run together a bit, and indeed on occasion their prayers sound a little rote… But, I am truly blessed, because the boys God gave me know they are His!
Did I mention, they are great Uncles too!
Yes, I am right where I am supposed to be. I only wish I had known how to pray when I was their age…for I know I would have known JOY sooner! B

Disclaimer: I have declared January Brag Month as Mom/Gramb, then I’m going to try to return to things that inspire 7thJoy, although I think they are one and the same!

Quinn, God Gifts a Girl!

And God said “Let there be boys!”

Step back in time some 29 years ago, when I was expecting my first child… An unexpected blessing, I thought, OK, I can do this! But God, please give me a little girl!!! Because you know I can’t do a boy on my own!! Besides, I could just imagine, baby dolls, dance classes, and of course sewing & shopping for all that pink!
Yet God knew better, said, “Yes you can", and gave me the most perfect son, who grew into a wonderful little boy, a strong young man and now an exceptional Dad himself. I must say I did fairly well with blue jeans & t-shirts, baseballs and fishing poles. He’s forgiven me for the Girbauds!!
Years later, when St. Philip came along, I knew even though I was pushing it in the age department, I wanted more children…and he said, “Yes, we can”. Again, I prayed for a little girl, I just knew I would be the perfect Mom for a Girl. But again, God knew better and gave me a son and 22 months later…another SON! And I couldn't be more blessed. Both were extraordinarily special little boys who are still growing into exceptional young men!
Now I have resigned myself to the color blue, in fact it has always been my favorite color anyway. God knows what he is doing!!! I’ve gotten quite good at the blue jeans & t-shirt thing; I don’t even press them anymore, let alone iron socks...Yes I used to, but I won’t go there!
So you can imagine the anticipation when my first grandchild was coming, yet again the ultrasound proclaimed…BLUE! This time, it didn’t matter at all, I was just elated & looking forward to being a grandmother. Anyway, I have the boy thing down, and boy is he a BOY!! He is a wonderful, energetic, headstrong, precious mess and I adore him.
Fast forward to a couple of days ago, January 14th at 1:20 in the afternoon, when I was blessed enough to experienced the birth of my second grandchild. This time with no ultrasound gender proclamation, waiting to know boy or girl was almost too much!
But Quinn Tyler Abbott was born to a birthing room full of cheers and even more tears. Finally, God gifted us A GIRL! A precious pink skinned, beautiful black haired, perfect little girl! I’m IN BIG JOYFUL TROUBLE……
You see, I never thought I’d have tiny leopard print flats in my life, but as a friend said recently “God is Good!” YES HE IS!!!! Gramb

Refiner of Silver

There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says:
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3)
This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot--then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy--when I see my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you.
Author unknown
Today, this posted before I was ready....you see, I borrowed this from AUTHOR UNKNOWN because when I read it for the first time, It SO APPLIED!!!! Was thinking about sharing it on my blog, just working on a draft, then hit the wrong button on my laptop and WALAAAA! It Posted! So obviously, someone in my sweet group of followers needed to read this today!. I hope and pray that we all come through whatever refining flames we need and our silver begins to shine with the reflection of God! Joy to all, b

A New Year, Many New Gifts to Come....!!!!!

You can truly look at everything in life as a gift, whether it is immediately evident as such or becomes one when you have a chance to look back on it!
The gifts I'm looking forward to in 2010...
1 Precious Grandbaby, boy or girl ??? Either will be a blessing, but my landscape could use a hint of pink or even purple, though it’s not my favorite!
1 More Boy Driving… A mixed blessing, no more chauffeur hat, but another son growing up, and of course a “slight” insurance increase!
1 Possible Move to Austin… Still undecided, but looking forward to the possibility of new surroundings, 10 years is way too long in one spot!
1 New Hair Color…I love the fact that my grey is going to be stunning like my mother’s, but think I’ve decided to wait a while to become stunning!
1 New Church...Searching, my job is finished, I’ve done all I can, the boys are grounded in Christ & I’m ready to be filled in a new way!
1 New Endeavor…Who knows what is in store for 7thJOY, always looking for new creative and joyful ways to explore our passion, fibers!
New friends ??? Maybe...I’m quite blessed with the ones who surround me at present; God Is Great that way, but I welcome new friends because it’s always good to see the world through new eyes!
Actually, at my age I welcome anything new…experiences, awakenings, passions, relationships, lessons, possibilities!
Looking over my shoulder, 2009 has been a trying year for us, to say the least, but the blessings that have come from it are now becoming evident and I am so looking forward to 2010!
May it be a New Year full of Immediately Evident Gifts and JOY for us all! b

New Year's Party Anyone??!!

This Frosted Rose Statement piece is just looking for a place to be worn!
In case you wanted to know what my next favorite gift was….
this beautiful necklace is in the running with one other…A romantic vacation to Santa Fe in February. Yes it was a very good Christmas!
But this necklace takes center stage today…I don’t know the artist, but the necklace is from an Etsy Shop called LaViejaTunTun, out of California. You should surely check out this shop! She has some beautiful creations, but then again my taste is not typical! Just tell her 7thJOY sent you!
Anyway, my sweet Saint Philip happened to find an anonymous Christmas Wish email with this listing on it, imagine that! And of course, after I subtly mentioned that it was one of kind and would be snatched up soon, unbeknownst to me, he began snatching!! No, I wasn’t too disappointed when it wasn’t under the tree, snif,snif! I don't always get what I want. I figured he had just forgotten or that someone else had gotten to it first.
But then, when my older son and his family came for Christmas breakfast, he reminded the saint, who is also an absent minded professor type and/or an aggie engineer {ENOUGH SAID}, he had forgotten to give me one of my gifts. You see, the necklace had been secretly shipped to them so I wouldn’t know. Long story even longer, it was an unexpected surprise, thanks to his forgetfulness!
But I digress! Now I’m just waiting for New Year's Eve so I can put my party necklace on and usher in the new year with my Frosted Rose Statement Bling, not that I need a necklace or bling to make a statement!….OH, I’ve gotten quite outspoken since I hit this half century mark, along with some of my best friends; I’m in such good company! Especially you Darlene!
Thank you St. Philip for constantly surprising both of us! b

And so it WAS Christmas!

It goes by so fast, all the making of lists, shopping, preparing, checking the list twice, more planning, more shopping, more preparing and then…it’s over!
…No more Santa at my house, but it doesn’t change the excitement of it all.
My boys, in the goofy chartreuse hats, almost grown, still enjoy the excitement and anticipation of it all and the bonus is…after we have Christmas morning, just the four of us, my older son, sweet daughter-in-law and precious Jackson join us for more anticipation and excitement plus GramB’s MonkeyBread and Egg Casserole breakfast !!! I love every minute of it; it just goes by too quickly.

My favorite present this year, a song played by Cameron and sung by Garrison…”Come and Worship” by Bebo Norman (featured). I must admit, it almost sounds as good, especially to a Mom’s ears! Nothing makes me happier! It’s all I asked for, though I seriously doubted it was going to happen. Considering the bickering about who wasn’t learning their part, the directives between them about who was doing it wrong…I figured my request was just too much, so I suggested a gift card to my favorite fabric store as an alternative…..
And just when I least expected it, three nights before Christmas morning, a beautiful sound coming from the music room, two brothers in unison and perfect timing, playing and singing a beautiful Christmas Gift for Mom! You guessed it, tears and Joy overflowed, I am blessed!
Although it comes and goes more quickly each year, the gifts that mean the most will last forever! Thank you God for boys, yours and mine! b

Crazy Comes in Twos

Two Crazy Southern Christmas Bells
Well…the Bell part is debatable!
Crazy and Southern are true for sure!
It is official, together our JOY is more than a little
“out of control”.
Robin and I have officially hit the CRAZY part of middle age this Christmas, even though I made it there a little earlier than her!
It all started with the making of 4 Wise Men (Yes, there were four!)as we wore our Church Lady hats in mid-November for Advent Decorating at our church, then last minute preparations as I whined until she agreed to host our 2nd Annual 7thJoy Trunk Show...
Add to that “Move Over Martha’s”(that would be ROBIN’s) insistence that we take on an enormous Corporate home-baked gift basket job; And there you have it, Two Southern Christmas Bells,,,,ridiculously out of Control!
But is there any other way to spend Christmas? Wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of it all, plus some! I say no, as long as you remember to stop and smell the Christmas Trees, share good time and wine with friends, have fun Santa shopping for your own plus an Angel Tree Child or 2, listen to every Christmas CD at least twice (I have a few!), and bake till the house smells just like you remember it did as a child or at least imagined it should!
That’s what I’m talking about, baking, candy making and buckeye ball rolling! Both homes now are fragrant with the smell of cookies baking, chocolate melting and caramel corn popping, we had to share the messes, but it is heavenly. I think we’ve made enough, messes that is, for the next decade of Christmases…and I think the sweet smells should last about that long as well! At least the laughter and the memories of a whirl wind few weeks, jobs well done, a little profit made, and most of all much joy shared will!
Ahhhh, it is good to have a great friend to be “out of control” with! Makes CRAZY worth being! Merry Christmas from us two SCB”s, May sweet smells and Christmas blessings fill your homes as well! b

Pop 12/08/09

December is truly my favorite month of the year for so many reasons….
NOT ONLY because IS IT CHRISTMAS TIME…WE’VE PRETTY MUCH ALREADY ESTABLISHED I’M A FAN. But because it also happens to be full of other special dates! There is December 6th which is my anniversary with Saint Philip. Next is December 8th, the birthday of not one, but two extraordinary Aggies I know! My niece Jamie celebrates her birthday on December 10th and then of course, December 24th, my beautiful Mom’s Birthday, guess that’s why they named her Elizabeth “Carol”. …Add these to Christmas Band Concerts, the Christmas Museum Tour, Christmas with friends, then Christmas Eve Celebrations and Christmas Day ….and you’ve got a month of just plain JOY~
But before I get too carried away in my thoughts of this joyful month, I’m thinking today of one very special Aggie! That would be my Dad, well…my step-Dad, but that is truly an unimportant point. He is the man that married my Mom almost 30 years ago, who took a family of grown kids under his wing and never looked back. He has nurtured, instilled values, shared knowledge, supported decisions, given advice only when asked and cared for each of us individually like only a true father could. But most importantly, he has loved our mother, unconditionally…he spoils, conforms, lets her shop unnecessarily and dances without complaining too much! He loves God, his grandkids and a good beer occasionally. And at the distinguished age of 82, he still works when his expertise is called for and enjoys every minute of it! He is a man of honor and integrity and I am so blessed to call him my DAD!
I only hope and pray that in these years since he gathered us up, I have made him proud to be the Father I never had until him!
With my love and joy, I honor him today,
Noonan Albert, My Mom’s, Prince! Corny but True…Happy Birthday Pop!

2009 Annual 7thJoy Trunk Show

Please join us for our Annual Christmas Trunk Show!
Come for the JOY of the Season, bring a friend, visit, sip, snack, and shop!
Featuring 7thJoy Designs & 7thJoy "Out of Control"
We’ve got lots of new creations...Belinda’s Prayer Pillows, Glass Garden Bling, Robin’s Cache-nez Ravelings and of course Christmas Dressings!
Guest Vendors..
Patti Brooks, Miche Bags of Cypress, “One Bag, Endless Possibilities”
& Raymell McCarty, Mary Kay Consultant and Mom Extraordinaire

In our usual "Out of Control" way,we are looking forward to this...our 2nd Annual Christmas Trunk Show. We hope you'll plan to stop by and help us usher in the already "flying by" Joyful Christmas Season! Official show time is 12:37-6:37, one of us is always running late, not saying who….
But we won't close shop until 6:37,,,,just for those last minute shoppers and sippers!!!!
Many Blessings, Belinda and Robin

From Thanksgiving to the celebration of Advent....And so it is Christmas!

The Christian season of Christmas actually begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for twelve days, ending on January 6. (No, the twelve-day season of Christmas did not start with the song. It was the other way around.) The time before Christmas is Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent we're reminded of how much we also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior's second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. Indeed, the word Advent comes from the Latin word that means "coming" or "visit." In the season with this name, we keep in mind both "advents" of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come.

I am honored to have served as the Altar Guild Chairperson at my church for the last 4 years running….and I do mean running, especially at this time of year. Today is the day that we spent preparing our sanctuary for Advent. It is a day of great fun, but an extreme amount of work, that would never get done without great friends and volunteers! Including my right hand man… Who spent his birthday, by the way, serving along side me (What a Saint!)

As I sit, exhausted yet fulfilled after a too long day, I am reminded of the longing of those in the past for a Messiah, of those in this future who are so in need of a Savior… And truly thankful that HE is mine!

So you see, I am doubly blessed, a Savior for a Father & a Saint as a Husband!
Happy Birthday Philip….P.S. I love you!
b

Fallin Apart at the Seams

Raveling threads, have you ever noticed that once they start, there seems to be no end? You keep trying to stop it, but the harder you try, the more it continues. That’s why I always have my scissors handy, just cut the thread off, before it gets out of control…
Feelings are much the same, I’d say. We all have them, you know, slighty loose, a tiny bit frayed. Especially the ones that are just a little too close to the surface and then one quick brush against something, loosens it even more and it begins; a rush of unraveling and the more you try to grab hold and stop it, pull it back, put it all back in place, it’s futile! And then you realize, all the unraveled feelings that you have tried to keep inside, lay out for the world to see! Good thing Mom always said “wear your best undies” …wouldn’t want anyone to see anything ugly underneath!
But it’s just those feelings that make us who we are, not torn and tattered, but worn and strengthened by the wear! Maybe some of the unraveling is God’s way of exposing the JOY inside, the beautiful things that have made us who we are, as well as the ugly ones that have made us who only HE knew we could be!
Sometimes it’s good to just let yourself unravel, let the threads go; Heck, tug even harder on them until you are exposed and forced to shed the old.
Put on something new! Or maybe just take the old threads and make them into something beautiful and unexpected! It all depends on what you need! I know I’m ready for either! And I am so thankful for friends to unravel with! Friends who hold my threads as thay fall…
Now I just need to learn how to knit or better yet, buy myself a multi-layered weaving loom!
Question for the day…What is the difference between Ravel and Unravel??? Have you ever thought about it?
According to Merriam-Webster.com,
unravel means to disengage or separate the threads of; or to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of: clear up. On the other hand, ravel is to separate or undo the texture of; to undo the intricacies of; to become unwoven, untwisted, or unwound.
Do either my dear friends, but do it in your best undies! B

It's Beginning to look alot like....

Have yourself a merry little….
Christmas time is here….

I KNOW IT’S EARLY! Everywhere, Halloween candy is 50% off, Texas fall leaves have barely started to turn, and the “Holiday” displays, ads and sales have already arrived….
I hear people complain, my goodness, Already??!!

I have to laugh, because as soon as I put my Jack-o-Lanterns in their box, I drag out my Christmas CD’s and begin my musical mental preparation for the season. A season that I cherish, just because it seems to bring out the love and caring that should flow from us year round!

I love this time of year and as far as I’m concerned it always goes by too fast…so I say “don’t be ashamed, start early, enjoy every last minute you can squeeze out of it!”

This Christmas, celebrate the love that we received by the mere birth of a tiny baby! Take time to remember every detail of how it all came to pass. Let us be filled with the spirit and reminded again of why God sent his precious Son Jesus that blessed night in Bethlehem!
To teach us to Love…to show us the way!
God's gift of JOY to the WORLD!

Tyler Ross Abbott, born November 6, 1981. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON, You are my JOY!

This Old House....

It's funny, the stories we hear from past residents of this 70 year old house. The saltbox structure was built by George L. Charlton, a prominent Judge in Tomball, Texas. The history and original hardwood floors were what sold us!
Not so much the hideous green tile bathroom and the stories of haunting!!!
Added onto in the late 60’s, It has had a few owners, most with children or teens having big imaginations…but the tales never cease and they are always interesting,,,
Some tell stories of lights mysteriously shutting off upstairs, a tall underwear clad gentleman appearing nightly in the study, and most recently, a comment that a little lady spirit sits in my front living area…as long as she doesn't get my chair, I'm fine with that! HHMMM,What to believe???
Well, I never put much store in this kind of thing, but as we live near a community museum which has had stories published about being haunted, I guess they could be visiting ghostly neighbors!
So far, no poltergeist experiences by the Shaw household and that is after 9 years of mostly peaceful habitation; not withstanding the frigged air of an old home in winter, the creaking floors or an occasional strange noise. Oh yes, the thought of the house being haunted, does make us look at every unexplained happening with question and there have been a few, but so far-so good…. IF there are ghosts, they must be closely related to Casper!

Or maybe it’s just that this home is filled with blessing enough and most of the time, JOY! After all, teenagers do still live here….
And because of that; rest has finally come to 400 Epps St.!

Joy of Chords & Rhythm

My Joy, Cameron on the Piano....& 89 lbs of Awesomeness (Garrison)on a dance floor!
I am loving the fact that my middle child, Cameron, loves his mother and music enough, to humor her by playing the piano each evening after hours at band practice, blowing his chops on the trumpet and marching in the sweltering heat! No time for lessons anymore, he is now teaching himself "Tennessee" from the soundtrack of the movie "Pearl Harbor". (now playing) Living vicariously, I always wanted to play! I sit and tear up just listening to him. The JOY of Chords!
I keep telling him the way to a girl's heart is a song. Watch out girls!

And then there is 89 lbs of Awesomeness (he's gained a few), as he has been known to introduce himself or Garrison as we know him...The rhythm in that boy makes me smile, reminds me of myself when I entered the "twist" contest at my Dad's company picnic when I was maybe 10. He got that rhythm from somewhere, I'm claimin' it. Well some of it; I never even thought of moving like he does and that was with years of training and practice. He's a natural. An actor at heart (dramatic by nature, not claimin' that), he drums, he plays alto-sax, but it's the rhythm in those bones that gets me every time! The JOY of Rhythm!
Watch out girls, this boy can dance!

Just thankin' of blessings! b

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Of a Different Color

Dear Father by Neil Diamond
Dear Father
We dream
We dream
We dream
While we may
Who are we to need,
We need
We need
While we wait,
While we wait....

I was given this book long ago by a very special person, someone I admired, and respected a great deal. When I picked it up the other day to reread it almost 35 years later, I questioned a couple of things about the book and the giver.

First what it was about the book that made it special to the person who gave it to me.... I never asked!

And what was it that he hoped I would learn or feel from reading it?

The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles over food. Seized by a passion for flight, he pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock. An outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads an idyllic life, he thinks!!!! But what he eventually learns is that love, deserved respect, and forgiveness all seem to be equally important to freedom.

AND DREAMS LIVED AND THINGS LEARNED ARE TO SHARE!

I loved the book when I read it as a young naive 17 year old with great dreams and much hope for the future. Now as I look back at its underlying meaning, I am sure of one thing, we see things differently when we are older and hopefully wiser. As I am always open to new possibilities and still have dreams for the future (yes, even at 52), it is what I have learned to this point that I can share with others to help them realize their dreams! Maybe that is what he was trying to share????

Dreaming of a new place to soar, a new opportunity and a JOYFUL new path for my family! Just a dream at present, but could become a reality! And yes I am a Seagull of a different Color! In more ways than one!