An Egg Under Your Pillow?

I was speaking with someone today and we were discussing the concept of keeping your knowledge of God and his love to yourself. The other person likened it to "voodoo" beliefs of putting an egg under your pillow to protect yourself. Do we often do that? Do we use our knowledge of God and the salvation that his son's death and resurrection gives as a safety net or a "lucky charm" yet keep it to ourself?

Think about the concept of putting an egg under your pillow.
~First of all, I would think that would be uncomfortable. You would not be able to lay your head down in a comfortable position for fear of breaking the egg.
~Second, What if the egg were to break? Would you still have your salvation? Would the presence of God still exist in your life?
~Third, Hiding the presence of God in our lives would really rob us of the joy that comes when we share Him with others.

Really, do we want to be so selfish that we keep God away from others? Aren't we commanded to and make disciples? I for one do NOT want to hide an egg under my pillow or my light under a bushel or do any other hiding for that matter...

Well, that is what I have spent today thinking about. I know it has been a long time between posts and when I do post it is about eggs. Well, what you get is what you get. Thanks for reading and until next time...let your light shine...
Kelly Jo Whitworth

1st full day as a brunette....Ethan's last day of school...

So, for those of you that were wondering (as I was) what this day would bring seeing as how I have new hair. Let me just tell you how the beginning went and you will get the idea very quickly...

Get up, head to the shower (realize that MY shampoo is in the kids bathroom), finish getting ready (no REAL events), looking for cell phone, looking for keys, find keys and cell phone in my purse (imagine that), leave for school...pretty much the normal BLOND start to the morning.

Head out of the driveway and enjoy the ride to school with the kids. Let me add at this point that I was somewhat melancholy this morning. I mean, it was Ethan's last day of school. The last ride to school as a group...well, we sing, we talk, we laugh, we discuss all of the things that will be going on this week. We are just passing the Baptist Church (which for those that don't know is in front of Jon David's school) when I hear "Mom, we need to drop Jonathan off." I cut into the Methodist church parking lot...I did use my signal and flipped BACK into the street that I should have turned on. That wasn't being blond, really, I was just distracted. We drop him off and start to leave when then something else really funny happened, and I for the life of me just forgot what it is...I am just tired, NOT BLOND...

So, did life change? Not really...I don't think it has to do with my hair as I suspected. I am just a mom, wife, friend, employee and have a lot of things on my mind and should really try to get a handle on that. AND I tend to do things that end up being hilarious in hindsight....so God put me on the earth to make someone laugh everyday...oh well, at least I am doing what I was called to do...

Ethan's last day of school was bittersweet for me. I teared up several times and had to remind myself that this is a good thing. I am so proud of him for all that he has accomplished and know that he will do so many great things in his life. God truly has his hand on him. As I walked down the hall this afternoon and watched this group of seniors leave my heart was filled with so many emotions. This is the group of young people that welcomed Ethan with open arms and hearts in fourth grade. They have become part of our family. We have experienced so many things together and I can truly say that I am proud to have had them in my life. I have learned many things from this group of awesome young people.

Until next time,
Enjoy each moment and capture a memory....

New hair color...new perspective???

So, I did it. I changed my hair color. I know there are gasps and shrieks filling the air as none of you can believe that I have done this. But seriously folks, I have done something I thought I would never do...I have colored my hair......BROWN. Now, this may not be a big deal to you, but to me this is a MAJOR if not LIFE CHANGING event. I wasn't brave enough to go for the full out black walnut, dark as mud, brown. I chose a lighter less pronounced shade, Iced Mocha. Sounds delicious doesn't it. I mean really the box even said light and iridescent in describing the color. So, you may ask, how has the color changed? Well, the latest color that I had applied on my hair was a copper red with blond highlights. This is brown. I can see a hint of red, but for the first time I did not pick a shade that was either blond or red.

I have always wanted to see what it is like to have brown hair. My sister has brown hair and I always thought she was SO lucky. I mean how often do you hear a joke start: What do you call a brunette....? or How many brunettes does it take...? Thus, the experiment begins. I want to know if people will treat me differently now that I am no longer blond. And, how has life changed in the past hour? Nothing has been any different. I keep waiting for something to change, but maybe something has to happen during my sleep.

This is what I expect to happen tomorrow. I feel like people are going to take me more seriously the moment I walk out of the house. I am pretty sure that everyone will stop and stare and say, "Look at that brunette woman. I think she must have some enlightened words for me today." Isn't that what we blonds have heard all of our lives?

Well, probably, they will be saying; "Look at that brunette woman. I think she must have forgotten something. She seems to be looking for something (probably her keys and phone) and rushing around. And listen to her talk; she forgets half her words and says the craziest things. You know she acts like this blond woman I have met once before."

So, I guess my hair color is not going to change the fact that I am often scatterbrained and unorganized. However, it does make me feel nice and so I say, "Thank you, Loreal." You have helped me experience something I have wanted to experience my whole life. I now have brown hair. And, Thank you, God for making me just the way you want me scatter-brained, blond (the roots are still there)and all. We will see what the rest of the world's reaction is tomorrow.

Until next time...
Remember who you are and whose you are.

Mother's Day...

Today is the day that is set aside to reflect on the title of Mother. I must say that I think about my mothering skills more on this day than on other days of the year. I wonder if I have done my children any severe harm by letting them have cookies or ice cream for dinner on some random nights during the year when we were just too busy to sit down to a homecooked meal with the correct portions of the various foods on the pyramid. I think about the remarks that I have spouted off the cuff that may have scarred them forever. Remarks such as, throw your laundry in the back yard and put the dog in the dishwasher. I know my kids will NEVER let me live that one down. I sincerely hope that when the time comes that my children look back on their lives and my skills as a mother they will not focus on the mess ups and shortcomings, but that they will know that I loved them with the love of Christ and that I did the best I knew to do. I hope that they will one day say, " One thing about it, she showed us Christ, she loved us, and she sure could make us laugh."



I also like to spend time on Mother's day thinking about the things my children have taught me. Each of my children have taught me so many things and each are so different.



Caleb and I have grown up together. I was a child bride you know. This year Caleb graduated from High School and left home to serve our country in the United States Air Force. I have never felt such pride and yet such pain all at the same time. This Mother's Day has been bittersweet. Caleb, Thank you for showing me that you can stand on your own two feet and be a man. I am proud to be your mother even if I do miss you like crazy.



Ethan has taught me that it pays to ask questions. He is always asking questions and doesn't stop until he gets a solid answer. As Ethan graduates this year it is my prayer that he never loose his thirst for knowledge and the truth. Ethan, Thank you for standing strong in your convictions and teaching me that you don't have to worry about impressing others.



Elizabeth is so full of joy and life. She looks into the heart of people and has such compassion. I love the way she makes people feel at ease and cares so much about hurting souls. Libby, Thank you for always making me smile. You sure do brighten even the darkest day.



Bethany is small in stature yet mighty in spirit. I don't know that there has ever been a thing that she has felt she could not do. In her mind she is invincible. Bethany Grace, Thank you for reminding me that God's strength is sufficient and He will enable us.



Jon David is the completion of our brood. Seventh in the family. He helps me to find the bright side in not so bright situations. Jonathan always looks at the positive. Jon David, Thank you for showing me that everytime there is a negative there has to be a positive.



To all of my children: Thank you for allowing me the honor of being your mother. I know that I have not done the best job MANY times. You have been patient, kind, long suffering, slow to anger, and so on more often than not. As I have said before and will continue to say....I'll love you forever. I'll love you for always. Forever and always my babies you'll be.



Mom

That's what friends are for.....

I was reminded this morning what friendship is really all about. Too many times we want to think friendship is about shopping sprees and secrets. True friendship is about sharing deep concerns and holding one another up during times of weakness. It is so easy to become focused on our own issues that we forget to look around us at the people in the same room. I know that I am very guilty of this. But, like I said, this morning this idea of real christian friendship...I mean the kind of friendship that says, "You are such a good friend I feel your pain." came to life for me. I was in the bathroom at church and struck up a conversation with a lady. Right there, in front of the sinks, we just had ourselves a mini counseling session. We let it all out. We talked about some things that are going on in each of our lives and how we both feel sad, angry and disappointed at times. We agreed together that we can pray for one another and for the others involved. We also laughed about how wonderful it is to know that each of us is not alone in these feelings. I wonder why we have allowed ourselves to believe we must pretend like everything is perfect all of the time and not let others know what is really going on in our lives. Why is it that we aren't willing to listen to others when they have a need or a concern? Real, honest to goodness friendship is not just about tea parties and scones. It is also about band-aids and antibiotic ointment.

So this is what blogging feels like.?.?.?

I must say I have been a little bit afraid of the blog. Then, I joined a "healthy lifestyle" website and they have an area where you can "blog". I haven't. The next thing I knew, family members had blogs and were sending me links to their blogs and to others. It started with a few stray comments regarding this or that persons blog. I started looking at them purely because I was curious and I must say, I am hooked. How wonderful for families to be able to share prayer needs and words of encouragement all around the world in a matter of minutes. Now, I am not sure that I will ever be as good at this as some others I know. But, I am excited about this form of media and the ability to let others know what is going on in the lives of our families without spending the $5.00 or whatever it costs for a postage stamp. It seems that it will also cut down on the number of phone calls a person will have to make to get the word out each time an event happens in the life of one of the children. AND....you can add pictures....HOW COOL IS THAT?????? So, I guess I have now officially become a blogger. Hmmmmm.....now that wasn't so hard after all.