FEET! I'm blogging about Feet?

(Guys, don't click away yet. It's not really a girlie post!)

Last week my Mom took my 3 daughters & me to get a pedicure.

Our FIRST ever!

I hate feet. They creep me out.

Because of that, I've kept my feet decently-cared-for

and nails polished since I was in 4th grade.

That said, going to a salon to willing let someone ELSE

touch my feet was a big step. iiiickk

But ... it was OK... really.

HOWEVER...

when she first touched my feet

I squirmed... it tickled

when the little medal tools came into sight

I turned away

when the giant cheese grater-thingy came into view

I closed my eyes & concentrated on breathing

When it was all said & done... I liked it.

Honestly, My feet looked the same as they always do.

But they didn't FEEL the same!

They were different!

Softer. Smoother. Deep down- much better!

Much like our hearts...

(I know, I'm comparing feet to hearts...and that's kinda gross!)

We do what we've always done...

-normal Bible Reading

-routine prayer

- casual Christian conversations..

and the results of those efforts seems fine enough

good enough

our hearts aren't gross or dirty looking

we appear fine

But if we let the MASTER perform the heart-treatment

of His choice, then we find out that there's MUCH to change!

He soaks us in His loving kindness

He softens our edges

Smooths away hurts that have turned into harden calluses

Gently uses the tools of His Spirit to reshape the unseen areas,

Makes us more confident.

We may appear the same to other people,

but we know that our heart is different,

our attitudes & motives are changed...

because we let the Master, JESUS, do what He loves to do.

Ode to the Couch Cushions

It's raining outside... AGAIN!

So.. couch cushions have become many, many things...

A bouncy (aka "Moon Walk")

A stage for all types of musical talents to be showcased

An Olympic Diving platform (thanks to the sturdy

coffee table nearby)

A reason to make up some funny names from some far-away

countries while you pretend to be in the Olympics

A balance beam

A bridge across a raging river

A boat lost at sea

A excuse for little boys to take off their shirts cuz they're

"swimmers"

A high flying plane crossing foreign continents

A good cause for sister to put on her swimsuit

A giant drum set

and many more... yet to be thought of

Talk-to-Myself-Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

- Thankful for a sweet & relaxing Mother's Day. Lovin' the pretty

hanging baskets of flowers on my porch & the tough tires on my

car (truck/suv)!

- Thinking about many of the woman who have invested in my life

over the years: Mom, Grandmas, Mother-in-Law,

Aunt Doris Buxman, Aunt Millie Bay, Cindy (Hoke) Huey,

Pauletta Mickley, "The Sisters"who taught so many S

unday School Classes, Beth Burough,

Lisa Buxman, Marcia Buxman, Judy Young, Mrs. Dunn,

Trish Anderson, Cindy Steel, Susie Buxman, Kathie Thomas,

Lois Graber, Mrs. Garnsey, Mrs. Fleenor

- So happy that the livingroom is painted... and I'm really

wanting to get started on the kitchen, but it must wait

- My oldest daughter is graduating in a week & half...

I'm freakin' out! She's lovely and we're incredibly proud

of the lady she's become!

- Next week is our last week of homeschool for the school year...

THANK YOU, JESUS!

- Cold rain is so stinkin' yucky! I cannot stand it!

- Looking forward to seeing my Bro-in-Law & Sis-in-Law in June

- My To-Do list is large and I'm still trying to use my

organizer to the fullest

- Sleep... not getting enough... zzz... oh, wait, what was I saying?

- I need another journal, only 5 pages left

-Excited to read "Becoming a Woman of Freedom"

By Cynthia Heald with the other ladies of Real Church.

We handed it out for Mom's Day & we're all dedicated

to reading a chapter a week so we can talk about it

before & after church instead of just saying stuff like,

"How was your week? I like your hair?"

- Gunna try to find a dress to wear to Graduation...

haven't worn anything but skirts for the last 9 or 10 years!

Weird, huh? (well, skirts when I wasn't wearing pants!)

- Missing my friend, Jodi.

- Looking forward to summer.

- Praying for my friends, Stephanie & Shay

- Still being patient as we await the "Midtown Miracle!"

(are you still praying?)

Mother's Day 2010

Many GREAT things can be said about my Mom, Martha Hoke.

Here's just a few:

- Taught me about JESUS!

- Read her Bible every morning (I know cuz I used to check

to see if her bookmark moved daily... it did!)

-Taught me to smile evening if I don't feel like it

- Showed me how to cook

- Used to get up super early so she could have

breakfast ready for us (she still gets up early)

- Made my wedding gown (and I got married in the 80's

so it was over-the-top covered in details, including a huge

letter "C" in the train made of lace & beads, etc!)

- Used to put out the "Happy Birthday" table cloth

every year for the day & made all my favorite meals

- Didn't hesitate to let me "help" her do just about

anything regardless of my young age or lacking

skills.

- As I was growing up, I never remember feeling like I was burden to her

Thank you!!!

I LOVE YOU, MOM!

(and there's so much more that I could say!)

(My Mom & me this past winter)

Many GREAT things can be said about my Mom-in-Law, Lyn Chilton!

Here's just a few:

- Loves my Husband with all her heart

- Has treated me like a daughter from the beginning

- Has never insulted or put-down my efforts as a wife/mom

- Laughs often

- Remains an example of a Woman-in-Ministy

- Smiles often

- Has given me many cookbooks from her vast collection

(and now her oldest granddaughter is about to inherit a few)

- Doesn't seem to mind that I tweek the "Chilton Family Recipes"

to fit our family a little better

- Helped me cook my first Missionary Fund Raiser

(Speed the Light Dinner) for about 150 people

(a big pot of Chilton Chili)

There's so much more that could be said about you,

Mom Chilton.

I love you!

Thank you!

Mom Chilton with her Grandkids in Aug. 2009

Big Family & Earth Day

Plus =

Recently my oldest daughter did some research for a class

regarding large families. Those opposed say that large families

leave "big carbon footprints" and that having a lot of children

is irresponsible & uses up too much of our resources. *

But, she also discovered in her studies:

Large families don't buy, spend or throw-away nearly as much

as an "average-sized" family does. Large families find new uses

for things, save more and waste less!

She found this proven true right here at home!

We're not huge recyclers (although we do recycle cans!),

but we fit the description of "large families" in the

above paragraph.

- Make MUCH of our own food products, so there's much

less tin cans, cardboard, plastic & chemicals brought into our home.

- Clean with Baking Soda, Vinegar & other types of products

- Reuse clothes (hand-me-downs, Baby!)

- Reuse sheets, fabric, table clothes, pillows, curtains,

worn-out clothes, etc by making them into various

other products for our family's use

-Use those horrid lightbulbs that save tons of money & energy

(but make everything look dark & gloomy after a few weeks!)

- Bring our own grocery bags to the store

- We're now making an effort to recycle more items & take

advantage of monthly drop off sites in our area. (Detroit

doesn't have curbside pick up for recycling. Bummer)

- and plenty of other things that I'm too rushed to think of now

Although I'm not a huge "Save-the-Earther", I wanna care for the

resources that God has given to us.... and this frees me up to focus

more even more important things/people....

"Saving the People of the Earth!"...

well, JESUS does the SAVING! I just do the telling & discipling!

* Note: I didn't take the time to link all the into to the sites

where we found it. Sorry. Pressed for time today.

Rooftop Real Church, Easter 2010

Real Church Detroit... not even 3 months old yet

Chilly sharing the WORD!

My wonderful friend, Stephanie!

(it took us about 9 takes to get this pic...

I'm not so good at taking pics of myself! hee hee)

Even my front yard is starting to bloom for Easter!

(well, technically it's HALF of my front yard)

Some friends joined us for lunch & David gave

Max "skateboarding lessons"...

(looks more like free rides to me)

I'm wanna THEM!

When reading the story of Jesus' death I have to admit

that I get ticked off when I read the part where people

are heckling Jesus.... while He's dying... for THEM!

They're saying stuff like,

"If you're really the Messiah, come on down from the cross!"

"Hmm, you could save others, go ahead & save yourself!"

"Hey, come down from there and then we'll believe in you!"

It's the last one that really gets me... grr! How could they?

Yesterday I was reading the part from Matthew 27:42 and

suddenly felt smacked in the face!

It's You, Netta!

Me? Lord , they were so rude! So Proud!

Yes, you do the same thing.

(Appalled & wounded...) But, how?

Think of all the times you've said stuff like,

"Lord, please work this out & then I'll be sure to do _____."

or

"Lord, just get me through the holidays and then I'll eat right

and be more careful with my time and money."

or

"Lord, just wait until I do ____ and then I do ____ that

You've instructed me to do. "

Ugh.

OUCH.

Ick.

Repenting followed.

Geez, when will I learn to stop being so quick to sum up

the "Bible People"...

I'm just like them.

I'm wanna THEM.

(and JESUS loves me, too... in His great MERCY!)

Memorable Memorial Day

So Thankful for
the people who have
sacrificed SO much
for our freedom!

SO thankful to live
in the USA!!!

Just a little view
into our lives today...

a little cook-out,
a little group of friends,
a TON of food,
a little water fight,
a TON of laughter..
and a TON of pictures!

Our patriotic house!
















Using every inch of our backyard!
















An on-going game of Croquet





Grill
Master
General!
mmm...

Good
Grub!





















Festive Food... Flag Finger Jello!



We call this special
egg serving plater...

"GHETTO GREEN"

(recycling at its best!)















Beautiful Sister
pushing her brothers
on the swings


















Peek-a-Boo Boys... now eat your food!






Check out the stars
on that flag!
(it's cloth, too)

























It's a small but inviting little yard! :)




The WATER FIGHT...


She's SNEAKY


















Little Sister
holdin' her own!












A Face-to-face
squirt-off!










We had a great day!
I'm thankful...

Now on to our LAST week of school!
YIPPEE!

Strange Week... in no particular order

A young teen who attends our church disappears/runs from home
for nearly 24 hrs.... but is found safely. Not sure of the details.

Attended Mariah's last softball games of the season.

Made grilled pizza for the first time... pretty successful.

My house is a wreak.

My friend's teenage son was robbed at gun point...
a block from our house. He's ok & they caught the guy.

I won my first trophy on the wii mario cart! Max & Chilly were proud!

My Mom went through a medical procedure where her heart is
stopped and restarted again... and she's doing fine!

Got completely turned around south of Detroit called
the downriver area and made a 15 minutes drive into
nearly an hour! ugh.

Drove down our alley right after the police arrested a bunch of
guys at gun point. (We know this cuz Chilly was a few minutes
ahead of me & he saw it go down... as he quickly backed his
car out of the alley!)

Just discovered a library book that was due weeks ago. (Maybe the
library will take down my "Most Wanted" picture now!)

We turned on air conditioning for the 1st time this season... but
I really like the windows open (except when the neighbors are smoking
next to their windows - they're only 6 feet away!)

Got a couple new things for our trip to Florida next month.
Chilly's speaking & I get to go along... and sit on a discussion panel, too.
I'm so excited to GO!

Real Church was packed again last Saturday & Sunday... and lots
of Salvations and people who are REALLY growing in the Lord!

I'm using my goofy "creativity" to teach adults on Wed. nights...
(and they don't seem too opposed to it)

Used a new nail polish color, thanks to Erika
(Hey, I'm a big fan of painted nails & new colors!)

On Monday I made 4 loaves of homemade bread & an hour
later our neighbor gave us 4 loaves. So happy for our big freezer.

Cried a lot in prayer this week... carrying others' burden to Jesus.
(that's an honor & exciting cuz He answers!!!)

Finally folded the clean towels that have been sitting in
the basket for nearly a week! sheesh!

Lost several bids on ebay... that's OK.

Took a zillion pictures of my kids at the softball games &
playing outside in the "back front" ...
(that's what Chase calls the back yard!)

Realizing the wonderful protection, direction and GRACE
of our Lord JESUS CHRIST!

I love You, Jesus!
I love my life!

April Fool

This used to be a favorite day of mine!

In highschool, I'd make up all sorts of shocking things
to say to people. But would quickly follow up those statements
with "April Fools" because I'm a terrible liar. (A good thing!)

April Fool's originated in France in the 1600's
when the Pope changed the first month of the year from
April to January. But since none of the people of that day
had internet or HDTV access, many were unaware of
the change. Those (usually simpletons) who still believed
that the New Year was April 1st became known as
"April Fools" - "people who believed something to be true
that was actually NOT true at all!"

It makes me wonder... how many days a year am I an
April Fool? I'm not too good at speaking lies, but
pretty stinkin' good at believin' um.
How many times do I look aside from the
truth and choose to believe a lie?

You know, the little lies?
"It's OK if I don't get involved"
"No one will notice if I'm not there"
"I'm not that important anyway"
"I'm unloved"
"No one really understands me"
"I want to change but can't"
hmm, stuff like that!

Notice how each of these statements have a word in common?
Yep.... "I"
When our eyes are focused on ourselves then we're pretty
quick to start believing lies.

Refocus. Repent. Rethink.... think about JESUS.

Seeing life through HIS eyes and HIS WORD will keep
us from being the APRIL FOOL!!!