... vs. What We Were Led to Believe

It's been a pretty hard week at Chez Bevy and I have not been really in the mood at all for blogging.  The only thing I have even been able to think about is how J was cut from his football team.  I am so mad and have quietly cried (without him knowing it) for the past few days.  Because J's birthday was three days before the cut off date, he was not able to play on the team with his peers.  He had to tryout for the older division with boys both older (some by two years), bigger, and more skilled than he is.  This "pee wee" football division has not had tryouts before and decided to this year.  (Tears are even forming in my eyes as I write this - I am so upset.)

I get competition. I get it.  I really do.  But I also get the fact that sportsmanship, team/player loyalty, and concern for the whole child was the primary vision for the organization - last year.  At least that is what we were led to believe.  I see now that winning is the primary vision.  I just sent the administrator a respectful and polite email telling him how my husband and I feel.  We are not trying to get J back on the team.  Right now I would rather have my eyeballs plucked out really don't want him to be a part of it.

Earlier last week and at his request, J and I prayed about the tryouts and asked for God's direction and what HE wanted.  My wonderful husband pointed this out after we got the devastating news:  maybe it was a blessing, and that playing football is not in God's plan for J this year.  I have to keep that in mind...

On the up side, J has taken up golf this summer and wants a new golf bag for his birthday next month... I think God must be a golf fan!

My Friend "Nan"

In my last post I celebrated the fact that I have no more traveling this summer.  However, that doesn't mean that my traveling days are over!  This September, I will be with four dear blog friends in Nantucket.  Can. not. wait!

Anyway, I have started telling S and J* about the trip and how I will be flying into Boston.  I guess due to the males species not attune to really listening to us S knowing more about Boston (US History as well as the Boston Red Sox), he completely forgot the Nantucket part of the trip.  Thus, the following conversation ensued:

S:  Now when are you going to Boston?
Me:  September.  But I'm just flying into Boston.  I'm really going to visit Nantucket.
S:  Nantucket?  That's a funny name.
Me:  Not really.  But I will have fun.  These girls are great fun.
S:  So, which one is Nan?  Where does she live?
Me:  What?!?!?!
S:  Nan.  Nan Tucket.

Oh, well.  I'm guessing not everyone knows about Pawley's Island or Edisto either...


*Not posting the boys' names anymore as you never know who's out there.  No one has harassed or stalked me that I know of.  Just taking precautions! :)

Good to be Home...

I know I sound like a spoiled brat.  I really do.  

But I am exhausted...  

Three separate weeks our and my parents' homes at the beach

A week in the mountains

A short week in St. Augustine

With a few weekends at the lake thrown here and there,

That's a lot of traveling and...

Ahhhh... it's so good to be home.

 

Among the Pines Upon the Mountain

I feel like I've been so out of touch as I have spent a glorious week with my extended family at Kanuga in the mountains of North Carolina.  It is here that we get to live life more simply - and therefore, fully.  When people ask me what it is like, I tell them to think the resort from the movie Dirty Dancing.  There's even a talent show at the end of the week:  "The Kanuga Follies"!  My family has spent part of every summer for the past thirty years in Cottage 3 right on the lake.

There is no air conditioning, but that doesn't matter.  The temperatures stay in the low 80s most of the time.  The breeze off of the lake whispers through the pine trees. The porch swing in this 1909 cottage creaks in motion of whomever is sitting in it. 

Kanuga is reminiscent of old times.  The Monday of each week holds a square dance, and even the coolest of coolest teenagers grab their mother or grandmother's hand and swing her around the parking lot.  The same bluegrass band entertains every year, playing and calling the same songs and dances.

Hikes around the lake are treats for Sumter and Jackson, and I love walking behind them, listening to their conversations.  The mountain laurel and ferns are everywhere with a heavenly smell that, I swear, is only at this blessed place.

Sterling Tuesday's Kitchen Inspirations

No, I do not have a sterling silver teapot in my kitchen.  However, I came across The Lady in the Stone House by Tami when I was reading and leaving comments on sweet Eloise's blog.  Please lift Eloise's precious daughter, Vivian, in prayer.  She is extremely ill and in the PICU in their local hospital.

I do not know Tami.  However, what she wrote spoke volumes to me.  I hope you will take to heart this story.  Eloise is in the fire. And as I write this, I have many other friends who are in the fire. As Tami wrote, "Everyone has something, sometime when they have been in the fire. It's how you come out of the fire that matters."


Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"


This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, 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 the 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 says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith 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 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 a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "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 and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Happy Independence Day!

Meet Amelia's Cousin... Jackson Bedelia

Jackson was unloading the dishwasher this afternoon and asked where to put the measuring cup.  From the other room, I told him that it went above the coffee maker.

This is what I meant.

(in the cabinet above the coffee maker)

And, OMW... this is where he put it.

Watch out Amelia Bedelia...