A Hot Date!

Here are Dr. Love and I all dressed up and headed for the Techpoint Mira Awards Gala held at the Indiana Rooftop Ballroom in Indy. (from their website....."The Mira Awards Gala is the largest technology awards program in the state, growing in scope and attendance each year since its inception.") Dr. Love attended because several of the companies he mentors were up for awards.

The whole things was a new experience for me on two counts. This was the first work-related dinner that I have attended with my handsome hubby (although I did attend a press release a month or so ago when a gracious lady donated $3 million towards a new incubator building and even met & chatted with her!) and also my first ever "black tie optional" event.

The other "new" part was that I didn't purchase new clothes for the evening. As part of my determination to "be content with what I have" I put a lot of thought and prayer into finding something appropriate already hanging in my closet. And this is where I need to tell you that I am all about buying a new outfit!! It was very hard for me to change my thinking since event=new. But I really have been cognizent lately of God's resources and how He wants them used. I'm not at all saying that I couldn't buy a new dress if I'd needed it, but truthfully I didn't really need a dress that I'd only wear once. So, upon my dear friend Cheryl's outstanding advice, I chose the classic black skirt (leftover from my working days), black lace top, party shoes from several Christmases past and a wrap I picked up from a clearance table 2 years ago and hadn't used yet (but it was just so pretty, originally $160 marked down to $9.99!).

Now here's the best part. I felt better about how I was dressed and appeared than perhaps I ever have! I believe that God allowed those feelings due to my choice to honor Him from the beginning. And Dr. Love was pretty happy too.

It's Spring!

This lily-of-the-valley has traveled around quite a bit. They started out as my grandmother's (whom I never met) and when my Dad sold his home I dug them up and transplanted them. They've survived three moves and also wintered in Wisconsin one year when I lived in an apartment. Next to tulips, these are my favorite flowers.

The previous owners did quite a bit of landscaping. Isn't this gorgeous?!

The birds keep this little area along my back fence line busy all day!

Here is trusty Jacks guarding my front porch.

I really like the snail shape of these begonia leaves!

Guiniviere is the newest additon to my menagerie.

This bleeding heart perennial is another part of my Mother's Day gift.

Next to fall, Spring is my favorite season. I love to see everything come back to life and I enjoy the aromas and sounds. It also reminds me of the hope of eternal life. Isn't God good?!

Tuesdays For Timothy Moms III

First of all, if you've never accesssed the Timothy Moms blogspot, you can do so here (after you read my post, of course): http://timothymoms.blogspot.com/



Today we're discussing Psalm 144 and how it relates to our children.

"Blessed be the Lord, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

My lovingkindness and my fortress, my sronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.

O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?

Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow,

Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains that they may smoke.

Flash forth lightning and scatter them; send our Your arrows and confuse them.

Stretch forth Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,out of the hand of aliens.

Whose mouth speak deceit, and who right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

Who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David His servant from the evil sword.

Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;

Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce, and our flocks bring fourth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;

Let our cattle bear without mishap and without loss, Let there be no outcry in our streets!

How blessed are the people who are so situated; how blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!"



I am struck mostly by verses 2&3....God is my shield and He in whom I can take refuge. There are many times when I beat myself up over my past sins...my own poor life choices and how my children have been effected by them. I take refuge in knowing that God is sovereign over their lives as well as my own. He loves them and watches out for them. He plots their courses and will see them through as they traverse this life. Blessed be the Lord!

On another note, tomorrow is the kid's schools' academic awards night. Now when I was growing up, if the school held something on a Wednesday night I automatically knew that I wouldn't be able to attend because "church was more important than school." I remember being disappointed that I couldn't be in the Christmas program, etc... because of church, so I have never held to that (although church is more important than sports or other clubs). This morning I mentioned to my children about tomorrow's awards and their reactions were immediate and emphatic "You mean I won't get to go to youth group?" "I don't want to miss choir practice!" So I'm hoping that the school will mail their awards. How can I argue with teens that want to be at church?!

Grace and Peace,
Leslie

Tuesdays For Timothy Moms II

Our meme this week is a prayer for our children and/or for our mothering skills.

My current prayer is for my daughter. There are days that she is the most loving, thoughtful person who has ever lived and then there are the others..... And we seem to be in the midst of a whole lot of others!

I'm asking God to develop in me the patience needed to love her and be nice to her even when she's not so sweet and cuddly. After all, isn't that how God loves me?! I'm also asking Him to continue to protect her mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually and to keep her heart His.

I rest in the knowledge that I can trust His sovereignty and love for her!

Grace & Peace,
Leslie