Lisel, Lisey, Lou, or Elise is 16!

Yep, gone are the days of late night feedings, kissing boo boos, and "hold chu mama." Elise is 16. Now my days are filled with running to and fro, being an ATM, and being a listener. Elise has grown into a lady that is after God's own heart. She is slow to anger ( a little faster when it is me), forgiving, and a loyal friend. She has greater qualities than I do. Some of the things she has gone through in the last year...I would have thrown in the towel and said its not worth it but not her!

Elise or Lisey(as most of her friends call her) is 16! To me that is very hard to believe. But one thing I have enjoyed watching is the way she loves. She loves with her whole being. If you are loved by Lou count yourself lucky. She will be with you forever even if you cross her. She has grown into a young lady that I am very proud of. She is a wonderful example of how to be a loyal friend.

Lisel, Lisey, Elisey Lou Lou, or just Elise...I am proud of you and love you very much.

Did you know that Daddy D was the one that started calling you Elisey Lou Lou? Of course, I fussed and said it is just Elise however, Lou as stuck.

Have a great Sweet 16th!

Elise is Set Apart for God

Ok, I know that most parents will probably say the same things about their children but I am going to say it anyway.



Let me start at the very beginning....Joel and I had been married for five years and one day while traveling from my parents home in Louisville to my Kentucky home in Lawrenceburg it was as if God spoke to me. He told me it was time to have a child. The wierd thing is it was as if He said have a child now because your family will not be around to enjoy him/her. I was thinking about my dad, at this time he had had several heart attacks and open heart surgery. I was beginning to think that something would happen to him. Thank the Lord he is still alive and well.



I can remember going home and waiting for Joel to get home...you have to know when ever Joel brought up having kids I would freak out. I didn't want children, atleast not then. Joel finally came in the back door where I quickly and loudly said to him that I wanted to have a baby. I never have been good at delivering news. Within two weeks I was pregnant.



When Elise was 13 months old, we moved to South Carolina. So part of the message God gave me that day was true. My family was not around to watch Elise grow up.



After we moved here and got involved in a church, of course, Elise went with us, had her church friends, loved her Sunday School teacher, all the stuff with going to church. I was staying at home with Elise then and basically our only outings were to church. So she literally grew up in and around church the second year of her life. As a two and three your old she would "pack" her bags, throw it over her shoulder, and tell me she was going to meet Jesus.



Needless to say, when elise asked Jesus to be her personal Savior at the age of 5 I was not surprised. She actually wanted to wait to be baptized by my father-in-law, so she waited. Thinking one day we would go home to Kentucky and she would be baptized in our home church's baptizmal.



The day that Elise walked down the aisle in church it was not at our home church. She looked at me and just left. On her own free will. She pushed passed me and her dad. We almost had
to run to catch up with her. She was baptized that day. The sky above the river were she was baptized had a rainbow. Leading up to that day I knew Elise was special but on that day I realized that God was setting her a part.



Today she is a leader at her school. She tries to uphold Christian character. Does she fall short of the mark? Yes. Does she always climb back up and live the life that God has intended for her. Yes. Is it hard for her? Yes. Does she risk losing it all? Yes. Does she still love the Lord with all of her heart? Yes.



So the other day I was listening to a podcast of Perry Noble the pastor at Newspring Church. His church can rock the roof off his church. This song is Elise's anthem. This is my Anthem. This should be The Anthem of every Jesus follower.

Wow! God Takes Care of All

I am not sure why I am amazed that God takes care of EVERYTHING but I am. Let me just tell you just two praises that happened only today.

1st- My computer sort of died on Christmas Eve, two trips to the computer doctor and it is working but it is physo because I can not shut it down while it is plugged into the outlet. When I unplug it and just shut it down with the battery it will shut down. Well, I walked into school this morning a little stressed because once again I was running late. I opened my classroom door and saw a brand new Dell laptop sitting on my desk. It seems WCCS had a donor that donated money for all of faculty to get laptop computers! Praise the Lord! I was going to have to buy a new one but guess what...God took care of that one!


2nd- S0me of you may know that Elise is preparing for her second trip to the Dominican Republic this summer. We have our second payment due on January 21. I am working really hard to raise the money without much support from others. I feel really bad about asking the same people to support her that supported her last year. I know some people have blessed us and blessed us in a big way! This is always a great step of faith for me. Joel and I just can't afford to send Elise on a mission trip each year without those blessings. Well, back to the second payment due on January 21, I had a teacher that came up to me even before support letters went out that knew Elise was going again and she told me she wanted to give towards her trip, then today I turned in another check for $200 to the school for her trip, that is just with two people giving. We pulled into the driveway this afternoon and got the mail, in the mail was another support check. So guess what, the second payment has been paid in full. So now we have a little over one thousand dollars due by April. Do I still get worried about raising the money, you betcha! Do I know that God has cattle on a thousand hills, yes I do! Does Elise feel with all her heart that this trip is paid already, yes she does.

So I will stand back and watch. God still surprises me over and over again! Hold on to your fork, the best is yet to come.

Round one --Check

Round one in the playoffs. Yep, we won! On to next week.

Holy Ghost Its

without God
We will be one Nation under


Think about that for a while!

Volleyball

Elise's volleyball season has been finished for almost a month now. While I was glad for it to be over and the running to be finished. I am sitting here tonight being a little sad. Sad that she will never again have a sophomore year volleyball game. Her team finished undefeated and won the MAC for Christian Schools. It was a fun season and a well deserved Championship.

Our Lives Revolve Around ...

Even though Elise only plays volleyball, our lives seem to follow sports around the calendar. We have not missed a football game once this year..yes, we are the fans that have been known to travel to away games that are 4 hours away. I laugh at some of the questions I have been asked when we show up at an away game (that really was 4 hours away). You first have to understand that our school is very small, the people that attend WC know us, know Elise. It is the look on their faces trying to figure out why we are at games so far away. Someone asked me this week with a puzzled look..."Mrs. Denney I thought you only had Elise. Do you have a son that plays?" I of course laughed and replied that Kim Watts and I are like family, therefore, her son plays, and well that would be my nephew out there. It is Mark that draws us there but it is also the other guys that have passed through my door in either first and second grade. I loved them then. I loved them like they were my own sons...even if it was only for one year. But it is more rewarding for me to watch their true character played out on the field. The students at WC are good guys, they have thier heads on straight. No, we are not perfect and we all mess up but it is a community that loves each other through those mess ups.

It has been rewarding for me to watch these guys grow up but more rewarding for me to see them grow into the men God wants.

This Friday the Indian will have the home advantage as we enter into the State Playoffs. Westminster was #2 in our division. Wish us luck! GO INDIANS!

Update on Etchings

Brian Colvin lost his life on the football field on August 14th. However, a teammate and his mother have gained eternal life forever and ever. Hallelujah! What a testimony!

Etchings

.

Number 3, is embossed on the back of every players helmet for the season.



I guess sometimes you will never know what will forever be etched on your mind. Those etchings can be one of wonderful memories or one of those memories we would like to forget.

On August 14, 2010, Westminster met the Lewisville Lions on the football field for a simple scrimmage. A celebration of the opening of football season. Westminster and Lewisville had no commonality except for the fact that they were two teams who played football and ultimately wanted to win. What they experienced out on that field was only to be realized after the game and through the time still to come.

During the game one of the Lions, number 3, Brian Colvin, fell on the field. We learned after the game that he had passed away. I will have to stop right there, to let you know that this is something that burdens my heart even now. I wondered how it would effect our team and how in the world would his parent's survive this tragedy. What about his team members? So many questions, I couldn't answer. Still the biggest question of them all is God, why did You let this happen? That question is one I will not ever know the answer to on this side of Heaven.

A week has passed and the Indians took the field for their first home game. There was a different feeling about this game. There were tears glistening in every eye, lumps in every throat, and the number 3 held up by every hand. You see we had special guests. The Lewisville Lions and fans were invited to the game. The team departed from the bus with heart felt applause. Then they were part of us, a part of Westminster, a part of God's family, but most of all a part of God's plan.

The Westminster Catawba Indians and the Lewisville Lions praying at the rock before the game.

The Indians and the Lions taking the field as one team.

I may not ever understand the reasons behind this...I do know that God was very present last night. The way that our team reached out to the Lions and the Lions reached back to us was something that will be etched on my memory. God's plan in action.

Once again, I am reminded of how precious teaching is at a Christian School.

God Appears

Well, after a wonderful short summer....school is back in session. I will have to say that this year, more than any year, I have had a really hard time with the thought of the first day of school. I am not really sure why. I read a lot this summer, went to the beach, and slept late..really late. It was not an exciting summer by any one's standards, it was just good to be carefree for awhile.

So as summer came to an end, my head was not into starting the year again. I have actually been teaching 19 years, that means 19 first days of school. Everything I did to prepare for this year had to be done twice or maybe even three times. I just could not get settled on anything. Even this morning I had an unsettled feeling.

Then God appeared...My 16 tender hearts started to slowly fill my room. The chatter of 7 year olds excited about the first day of school and seeing each other, cluttered my room. Book bags, supplies, and Kleenex had to be taken care of. The first day, even through the confusion, seemed to be routine for me. As we worked, organized, and got to know each other, my heart swelled... it swelled with God's great love and grace. I can't describe that filling in words. And once again I was reminded that I am where God wants me to be. Even as I write my eyes puddle a little because God is such a huge God. Why would he care about a confirmation to me. He is so big why would he care about a little old me. That answer I will not ever fully understand.

So on the night of the first day of school...I look forward to seeing my little ones tomorrow. I pray that God will be seen in my actions. I pray that His compassion and grace will transform my students lives. I pray that He will work in each of them so that they can develop into the people that He wants. Lord, protect us. Keep us safe. Transform our hearts. Let us draw in and grow us in your wisdom. Thank you touching my heart as only YOU can. Lord, be with us. We love you!

Things We Will Not Understand--This Side of Heaven

Wow! There are a ton of things I need to do before students return on Tuesday. All which I cannot remember right now. I officially started back to school on Tuesday August 10. The four days that I reported to work were I think busy. It seems like I did a lot of spinning in circles. An example of this is...I was going to put up my bulletin boards, I need my stapler, I opened my desk drawer and then had to clean it out. After I finally dug my stapler out and started my bulletin board, I ran out of staples and had to unpack our supplies for the year. It was one little job after another. This year of all years I just feel scattered. I am not really sure why or if I can collect myself enough to be ready. But, ready or not...the students will return.





Although there are LOTS of changes in the school this year that are good and I am excited about there is a heaviness that my heart holds. We have found out that a dear fellow teacher's husband has leukemia and will begin treatment Monday. So pray for their family.



Another dear fellow teacher's mother has cancer and has taken a turn for the worse. Several of my fellow teachers have had to take their student's to college for the first time.



Then last night, at our football scrimmage, a player from the opponents teams fell on the field and we learned that he passed away from cardiac arrest a short time later. He was a senior, 18 years old. As a parent I cannot imagine the suffering that is to come for this family. It is a shame.



Then I pray, I pray hard, that the Lord will protect us, protect our school, protect our students from Satan's attack. My heart literally cries out for HIS comfort to descend like a blanket. I need to be covered with His grace.



So...I apologize for always writing about doom and gloom. But as I have said before, writing to me is a way to heal. Maybe you can understand about the heaviness of my heart. I know there is hope in Jesus Christ, I know what kind of treasure He is to us, to me. But sometimes I just don't understand all the hurt of our world. I know all of this is His plan but....I guess that is faith in action. So pray with me. Pray Hard! And of course, hold onto your fork the best is yet to come!

Memories!

As this sweltering heat consumes the air around us my thoughts drift back to a time when I was young. I have said more than once that I grew up on the water. No we didn't have a house on the lake but as far back as I can remember we had boats. In fact, my dad just sold his last one about a month ago.

The boat pictured is not our actual boat just an image that I downloaded that stirred up memories. Gosh, this post would be days long if I told every story about that boat that I have locked away. The funny thing is, I remember giving my parents an attitude about going to the lake because as a grew into a teenager we would go for every weekend and when dad took vacation, we didn't go to the beach, or to the mountains to ski we went to the lake. Usually dad would take 2 weeks off in the summer and away we would go either to Barren River or Cumberland Lake. Did I mention that this boat....didn't have a shower. We bathed in the lake with Ivory Soap!

As an adult I am really glad my parents loaded me and my attitude into the car. Some of my best memories with my parents and brothers were on that Gibson houseboat.

Troy was just a little guy. He wore his life jacket ALL the time. I wonder now if he slept in that thing. Troy had a water mishap as a real youngster and was afraid of water. I am not sure to this day if he loves the water. But boy he loved to fish. Every time he stuck his pole in the water he would pull up a bluegill or crappy. That would be pronounced "croppy" in Kentucky but "crappy"in South Carolina. It will always be "croppy" to me. The lake was where I learned to ski, lost my first ring, and memorized the routes to many hospitals. (Those stories are for another day.)

Back to the sweltering heat, I remember many summer days when we were in the lake, I mean swimming, from as soon as the breakfast dishes were clean to dark. We would only get out to eat and then we would be back in again. Thinking about these times, there was nothing really big it was just spending time together as a family. As I remember, it is bitter sweet. To have that time back....knowing what I know now. I would do things SO differently.

Go out and make memories with your family....I wonder what Elise will remember from her childhood. It won't have anything to do with a lake and well that just makes me SAD!

Daddy, take me to the moon!

Tonight, Joel,Elise and I went on an ice cream run. On our way home, we saw the moon. It was so close that it appeared to be just 'around the bend.' It reminded me of a time when Elise was young. Years ago we saw a similar sight. Elise was to young to understand just how far away the moon was from us. From the backseat, I can still hear this, "Daddy, take me to the moon." Being too young to understand, Joel told Elise that he couldn't take her. That just broke her heart. You know Daddy does everything for his precious daughter. I think she cried for hours. She didn't realize that the task she had asked was impossible. Although, if Joel could have taken her that night to the moon he would have.

But this got me to thinking about my Heavenly Daddy, the one that will do anything for His precious daughter. My Heavenly Daddy is wonderful. The difference between earthly Daddies and our Heavenly Daddy is simply no matter how much our Daddies here on earth want do for their children some things are just impossible, with our Heavenly Daddy nothing is impossible. When we ask, He Will!

At times when things are not going smoothly, it is easy to forget that or should I say it is easy to remember things of this world. In my mind I have to fight thoughts like: "Why isn't ___ working out my way, _____ isn't fair, or don't I deserve ____?" Then God shows me His marvelous grace. He can take me to the moon! All I have to do is ask and let go! He has the best plans for me. And oh yeah, His plans may not be mine but if I give Him time his plans will be revealed. I just have to be patient ( I really don't like that word), "pull up my boot straps," and remember what I have been called to do. So, Daddy take me to the moon!

Holy Ghost It-- in an unfamiliar way

This "Holy Ghost It" did not come to me in the usual way! God usually uses church signs to speak to me. This "Holy Ghost It" is from Robbie Foreman's status on facebook. I am not sure if Robbie just posted it or if he had heard or read it somewhere else. Knowing Robbie, I think it probably came from him. For those that don't know, Robbie was our Youth Director at church. He is still dearly loved and thought about often in our family. We miss him but know God is doing great things through him at his new position.

"The damage done to you does not discount the price paid for you!"

Thank you Jesus for paying the price you did for me. I am yet still so undeserving! Amen

My How the Time Flies

Today is July 21...School is just around the corner. It starts three weeks from yesterday! YIKES!!! Am I ready, you ask and my answer would be Umm....NO! I had a million "projects" I wanted to finished and haven't. I had school work I wanted to finish and didn't. I have school work I must finished and haven't even started. I know that work must be finished and it will be but probably not until the night before the deadline.





I ask myself where does the summer time go. Granted, when I usually don't start my day until 9:00 the day goes pretty quick. I have read more books this summer than ever before, thanks to the wonderful invention of the KINDLE. I have weeded and cleared most of the daisies. I still have two areas that have been invaded that I haven't hit yet and probably won't until fall.





I have had a pretty peaceful summer. I have met friends for lunch, have ran Elise to and from, and read.





Now, I have to think of bulletin boards, lamination, and lesson plans for the upcoming year. I will be teaching 19 tender hearts this year. It has been a while since I have had this large of a class. I often wonder what God has in store for us, at times I become a little anxious, ok a lot anxious then I remember that I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. I always begin my open house speech by telling parents that I will not be the perfect teacher for your child, but the one thing I can tell them is that I love their children like no other teacher will. And that is only true because God loves them through me. So as I work in my classroom and those of my fellow teachers I walk the desks praying for each student,even though I am not sure of who will be in my class.





So wish me luck and a whole lot of blessings because the best is yet to come. Hold on to your fork!

Hind's Feet

As I started writing this blog, I can't think of a title. There are so many things going on in my mind that I am sure this will sound more like the ramblings of a lunatic.



When I wrote in one of my last blogs for God to bring on the Reign....I didn't mean for Him to present us with yet more challenges. During last nights thunderstorm, it seems that the pool pump was hit by lightning. Boy, can a pool get dirty in just one day. I guess our clear blue pool....finally, will turn to a mucky green. Joel came home tonight and looked at it, he didn't know what to do either. My job tomorrow is to call the Lancaster Pool and Spa to see if they can come look at it......Uuumm, I wonder what this will bring.


My dryer, since last nights storm, was acting out of sorts too. I figured that we would have to do work on it as well as the pool....it seems to be ok for now. I may have panic a little too early on that one.


Oh, the lightning in last nights storm, claimed yet another cable box. Comporium is going to start wondering about us.


Once again I was out trimming the hedges...I will say, I have been hacking away at his project a little at a time. But it is becoming like a Goliath to me. Joel even said, "Where did you trim today." It is not even noticeable to him. The bad thing about it is I am doing it all by hand so it is a huge project. Do I have any friends out there that are willing to help?


My good buddies birthday is tomorrow. I praise the Lord everyday for putting her in my life. She is a true sister.


Elise went to the eye doctor today, praise Him that she doesn't need contacts or glasses! Maybe she has Daddy D's eyes. I sure hope so. I know one thing she doesn't have mine.

The thought for today, even though these things happen or are happening....Elise and I began our day by sighting a doe and her fawn. As we watched them both run across a field, Psalms 18:33 comes to mind, "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on heights." One day I will stand on the greatest heights with my Lord and Savior. That is what I will rest in.

Putting in a Plug- for a wonderful book for children...Hind's Feet to High Places. I am not sure who the author is but every time I read it to my class, God moves me and teaches me things.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good Day

Today is a terrible, horrible, no good day, very bad day. I didn't sleep well last night, I dreamed about vampires all night, and I woke up with a stiff neck, Joel has been working at night, working during the day on his school work.

Writing has always been a healing or a way to clear my mind. Well, today is a day that I am just .....ummm, blue. I miss my family in Kentucky and my heart wants to desperately visit. Joel, I, and Elise have looked at our schedules and either due to work, school, or volleyball it looks like we will not be making a trip home. When I told my mom this, let's just say she didn't have a good response. Then this morning, my dad called. Always at the end of our conversations he always says, "Love ya, bye."

Those three little words just about opened the flood gates. Don't get me wrong we are busy. We have people around us that love us but in the middle of it all, there is nothing like family. I am sure if my closest pals knew I felt the way I do today, they would do anything to change it. Down deep in my heart I know all the things that I should be telling myself. I know I need to pull up my boot straps and get on with it.

Then my spirit is lifted by picking up a program for a friend's daughter's wedding that Elise and I attended this weekend. Be Thou My Vision is printed on the back of it. All of a sudden my spirit realizes there is a reason for all of this heartache. I have to keep my eye on the prize.


Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou Art.


So, Lord be my Vision today. Help me just get through it.

A Treat for Me

This by far is the best invention out there. This is a Kindle,my Kindle actually. It is just like a book but it is electronic. The books are download on to this device and WAA LAAA!

I have been asking for one for about 3 years but I just couldn't stomach the price. Around Valentine's Day, Joel said he was going to order one for me. Valentine's came and went. Joel never did buy it but I broke down and bought it myself. He was Joel's idea, wasn't it? But I think it is the best thing out there.

This is the first item that I have ever bought that I was so excited about getting I had emails delivered to my account to know exactly where it was during the buying/shipping process. I was like a little kid waiting for Christmas to come. It has been well worth the investment.

Happy Reading everyone.

Holy Ghost It

God's answers are often better than our prayers.

Ok, I have driven by this this church sign for several weeks. I have thought I would bring my duck tape and "X" out the word often. God's answer are just better than our prayers.

It's Pundering, Mama!

As a little girl I remember being at the boat during a thunderstorm.We used to take wonderful naps with the pitter patter of the rain on the water. I have always love thunderstorms. So much so, I will wait and watch the sky for them.

When Elise was small, unlike most children, she loved thunderstorms as well. As soon as we heard the rumble of thunder we would head to the porch to watch for its arrival. She would be concentrating on whatever she was doing, and look up at me and say, "It's pundering, Mama!" Then we would head out waiting and watching. I have taught her to count the time between the thunder and lightning, to see if the storm is coming or going. I have taught her to watch the sky for thunder heads and to smell the air. Believe me I never put her in danger. When things really got going we would head inside.

The strange thing about thunderstorms is the beauty and the power behind the lightning. I love lightning...it reminds me so much of God. How beautiful He is but oh how powerful. It is amazing to me that we can be crawling up on His lap for the comfort or peace that we need but yet His power is always there.

In my life time, my house has been struck by lightning 3 times. The first time was in Ky shortly before our move here. It claimed one TV and VCR. The second time was also in Ky the week before we moved here. Lightning claimed our TV, we waited until we moved here to get a new one. And the third, was here in this house, just today. So far it looks like it has claimed one TV, two VCRs. Our power to the outlets in the back part of the house are not working. So who knows what will come of this power!

But still I love thunderstorms. I know the damage they can cause and treat them with respect but they teach us so much. They bring relief from the smothering heat, they refresh life, and they remind me of God's great power......Bring on the Reign, Lord!