Reflections

Its the middle of the night and I am up, once again, unable to sleep through the night. I think there could be a myriad of reasons one could come up with to diagnose my insomnia, but nevertheless here she is, rearing her ugly head, disturbing my other wise, well I guess otherwise also troubled life at the moment.

1. I don't sleep because its the only time I am truly alone, alone with my thoughts,my dreams, my Lord.  Could the answer be that easy?

2. I don't sleep due to the pain in my left hip, and the desire to know what in the world is causing this pain that came out of no where and chose to set up residence in my hip ,much against my will I must say,

3. I simply cannot sleep due to the pain I feel constantly in the a for mentioned Left hip.

4. What If? Two words, but with such meaning. Is this what really keeps me up despite the drugs that I am popping.

If I am honest, I think its one and four. I know there are nights when in reality I really cannot sleep because prescription drugs fail to work correctly, and the pain is real and it keeps me up. But truly, what goes through my mind at these times are the What ifs, and Whys and What am I going to do about this.

This is a time I am completely alone, everyone else is sleeping soundly.

I could choose to spend it in the word of God, in meditation with Him, in prayer. Mostly I choose blind numbing TV watching were I get the opportunity to engage in nothing at all. I stray away from the what ifs in this way. I feel I am scared to examine, to look deeper, so I continue to take the easy way out almost every time.

What does this say about me? 

TONIGHT YOU SEE, i AM SCARED. i AM SCARED FOR MY HEALTH.

yet ANOTHER HEALTH Issue HAS COME UP AND i DON'T KNOW THE DIAGNOSIS NOR THE TREATMENT  AT THIS TIME. i AM UP TONIGHT DUE TO FEAR, BUT AM REMINDED THROUGH THE WONDERFUL SAVING GRACE OF GOD OUR FATHER TO REMAIN STEAD FAST AND STRONG IN THE LORD. My GO TO VERSE WHEN i AM FEELING OVERWHELMED CAME STRAIGHT TO MY HEAD AND FOR THIS i AM SO THANKFUL.

"You will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast because he TRUSTS in You"-Isiah 26:3
So we pray for peace in our day to day lives, peace in times of uncertainty, peace in times of the unthinkable, because with God we can stand Steadfast.
-writing out my thoughts is often my way of meditating, spending time with my Lord, its the way I feel closet, the way for me to think through my thoughts and to meditate over verse that have presented to me to ruminate on.........

Jack's trip to Atlanta and the Civil War Mtn Climb

In late March Jackson got to go with Mimi and PopPop to Atlanta to Uncle Matt, Aunt Laura and Tatum's house.

I have been late with my posting of the pics.

They got some great pics, and Jackson had a wonderful time climbing Mt. Kennesaw. Jackson is a great lover of HISTORY and read every Marker as they walked up the mountain. He soaked it all in and had so much excitement that he brought home, it was fun to see that in my child.

So here are all of the PICS:

Easter 2010 in the Yaman/Hooper/Brooker World

We had a wonderful Easter this year, 

celebrating Jesus Risen From The Grave!!!

We had a great meal with Family and even had some fun times with Easter Egg Hunts and Easter Basket Hunts.

Check out our Pics:

Easter Preperations With Our Friends

This year we spent the Friday before Easter dying eggs and making Easter Cookies with some wondeful friends!

Check out some of our pictures!!!!

This is a pic I LOVE and just never posted. I don't think I ever posted anything from Halloween this fall.

So here it is.

HALLOWEEN 2009

From Fall 09 Tatum

From Fall 09 Tatum

From Fall 09 Tatum

From Fall 09 Tatum

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER....

Another song thats words are wonderful....

The words are especially special tonight to me as I am FEARFUL.

YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE

You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

Let the weak say

I am strong

In the strength of the Lord

You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

Let the weak say I am strong

In the strength of the Lord

I will trust in You

TORNADOS and ME go way BACK....

Today there was a tornado warning.... Lots of bad storms, looks like warnings, watches, etc.. will be all night long.
Guess who will be up all night long tonight while most all of Lexington is sleeping in their beds with no thoughts of the storms...that would be ME.

See, I have a past with these things.....
and now I just cannot seem to take them for granted, they are serious when they happen and they can just pop up so fast when the conditions are right....

So tonight I will be downing the coffee, and spending some time with my Lord, asking for PEACE.

After all these years my heart still races a million miles an hour at the word TORNADO.

There was a big tornado that did MAJOR DAMAGE in Lexingon when I was in high school.

Do ya'll remember that one?
Does it effect you too?
Where were you when it hit?

I was in the drive through at BoJangles, with 3 little kids in the car (and my brother).
To actually see this massive torando right behind you,

 to hear it,

to feel it.

WOW , was it something that will be with me forever.
I had to run out of the car and into the store, with the kids, and get them under a table and lay on top of them. All the windows shattered, but we were safe. When it was over, and we walked outside. My car was there, all doors still open somehow, the windshild smashed in..., and all of Lexington was DEMOLISHED,  I mean just flat out gone, other restraunts totally flattened. It was so sureal that I just cannot explain what it felt like.
I somehow got back into the car, got towards my house the best I could, but there was no getting home. Trees blocked all the roads. ( and back then there were no such things as cell phones, alteast I didn't have one)

So as I watch this tonight, my heart is gripped with fear.
Are my kids safe in the closet sleeping on the floor if I doze of at the wrong time tonight?
What if???

Then I remember who is in charge.

My LORD GOD never falls asleep.
He is always overseeing His Lambs.

O The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps 27.1)

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Ps 18.1-2)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philip 4.6-7)

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)

 

Thank you Dear Lord for your Word. For all that you give to me in my time of FEAR. These verses that I could go to have helped greatly to calm my nerves. Please calm my heart tonight, be near and help me through tonight. Help me to focus on your words to me straight from the Bible, rather than my fears of possiblities to come with this storm.....

Here are all the pictures from Caroline's 6th Birthday Party

Free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Headers....Creative Ideas for others in Blogger Land

So I have been trying to reinvent the Header on my blog...Make it more exciting, more personal than just words, just a title.
There is this blog that I totally HEART called CLOVER LANE , anyways her Headers change every month and they are SOOOO creative!!!!!
She says she uses Picasa to make them, and guess what???
I HAVE PICASA.....soooo,
today I am playing around with making my own new header.
I am sure mine will not change monthly, nor be nearly as awsome as hers....
My header above is my first attempt....hmm....
Here is one I have started working on for spring...its not finished yet, and is subject to changes of course....

 

may need flip flop pic, not crocks with socks?!!

The Biggest Littlest Pet Shop Party Blog

Caroline's 6th Birthday Party-- I am doing it at home this year.... The preparations are crazy!!! But I am having fun.
I have to say I am not the most creative crayon in the box... So I am so grateful to creative mom's out there who post their ideas out in blog land!
I have found a blog that has Tip, Tips and More Tips for Moms. One of the Topics in the Archives is Birthday Party ideas.
So, I have gotten tons of good ideas and taken my spin on them and planned Care's party for this year.

(The above pic was the front of the invitations)

Here is the plan:

2:00-3:00
Welcome, come and got the the
ADOPTION CENTER and "adopt" a pet.

Take your pet to the workshop and design a house for it.
Now my friend Pauline has this awsome Cricuit machine and she let me borrow it to make these cute little boxes:

they look like this closed:

I am going to let the girls decorate the houses with all kinds of fun stuff!

They had a ball adopting and then decorating the pet's houses!!!!

2:35  Hide and Seek Pet Shop Game

(this is a game Jack made up for them to play!!!! We will hide some Pets around and the girls will hunt for them! whomever finds a Pet can turn them in to claim a prize!)

 Here are a few of the prizes so far:
1.  Pet Shop T-shirts (you can kinda see the tshirts rolled up there in the prize basket below??)

2. These  flower necklaces below, Caroline made them.

3. Pet Shop Bubbles.

2:45 Dog, Dog, Cat ( Caroline's Version of Duck, Duck, Goose)

such a fun game-- they had so much fun playing this one, and no prizes even had to be awarded with this one!!!!!

2:55 Pictures and Music Game ( I can't think of a good name for this game)--- basically I am going to spread lots of Pet Shop Coloring Sheets all over the ground and then turn some music on and tell them all to dance. When the music stops I will pull a smaller version of one of the coloring sheets out of a bag. If their picture matches they get to come pick a prize and then go to the coloring center while everyone else keeps playing..... ANY ONE GOT A GOOD NAME FOR THIS ONE?????

3:05  Food (pics to come post party)
         plan to have assorted yummy fruits, a pink sherert punch, doggie bone, and princess crown shaped mini cookies, and then the finale will be the cupcakes.

Here are the cupcake toppers for the school cupcakes, for the party I am going to make ice cream cone cupcakes I think,


the table:

3:30 Present time

3:45 SCAVENGER HUNT

  I am going to send them on a big scavenger hunt and on the end they will find their gift bags--these are my favorite part- I am proud of how they turned out!

I didn't put too much in them because everyone will be getting a pet, a house and prizes also!

well, added some stickers too!

And I got a great group shot at the end of the party:

Micah 6:8

                                                  

So I read a blog called Home Sanctuary now and again. I went there today and she had a daily devotion of sorts centered around Micha 6:8., Finding God's Will.
I think she made some wonderful points.
It made me think.
I felt it was written for me almost, though I am sure most who read it will feel the same.
It encouraged me to meditate on this verse.

I really encourage any of you that read this to visit her blog, HOME SANCTUARY, and read this one!
At the very least, copy this verse down and think on it this week.

We want to ask what is your will for me, what am I to do, what what what??????-- so often!!!!!

This verse points us directly to His will for us is RIGHT NOW, at this moment... 

to act justly, 

 to love mercy,

 and to walk humbly with our God.

This is what he requires of us. This is ALWAYS the answer.

The focus should ALWAYS be on HIM, and as such to act justly, love mercy, and of course to walk humbly with our God day in and day out ALWAYS is the answer.

So that is some of what I think and I have to say fills me with profound peace. I have been through some rocky years, and to know that His will is always the same ...WOW. Not that these three things are easy, NOT AT ALL. But to know that this is what is required of me. This is always the answer.

Today and tommorow, and when I am 90 he will always require me to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my Lord. That is always his will for me. It never changes.

It is Well With My Soul

IT iS WELL with MY Soul

This was my grandfathers favorite song. He had lots, but I think this was WAY up there. We sang it at his funeral, per his request. I still cannot sing it without the tears free flowing. I think that the reason is two fold, one the memories. But two, even more powerful, is the grip the songs words have on my heart, the lessons my grandfather taught me through witnessing his life are all wrapped up in the lyrics here....

That no matter what, IT IS WELL, because GOD IS GOOD. 

So read these out loud, go the the link and read them to the tune even.... 

This is a powerful hymn.

377. It Is Well with My Soul

Click to Listen to Tune of Song

Text: Horatio G. Spafford
Music: Philip P. Bliss
Tune: VILLE DU HAVRE, Meter: 11 8.11 9 with Refrain

---

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 
 when sorrows like sea billows roll; 
 whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 
 It is well, it is well with my soul. 
Refrain:
 It is well with my soul, 
 it is well, it is well with my soul. 

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, 
 let this blest assurance control, 
 that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, 
 and hath shed his own blood for my soul. 
 (Refrain) 

3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 
 My sin, not in part but the whole, 
 is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, 
 praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 
 (Refrain) 

4. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, 
 the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; 
 the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, 
 even so, it is well with my soul. 

Jesus Take the Wheel...by Carrie Underwood

ok, this one has been on my phone for years, so if you have ever called me you listen to it while waiting for me to pick up.... Its the chorus that I love.
JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL, I AM LETTING GO, CAUSE I CAN'T DO THIS ON MY OWN.....
This is a HUGE statement if you stop and think, mule it over. For me anyways.
So often I want to rely on ME. I CAN DO IT. Its so easy to try and put God up on a shelf, or as I like to put it, in a "GOD BOX" for later use.
I need to daily ask him to take the wheel because I cannot do it on my own. We cannot do even the mundane simple things that we think we can on our own, we need him daily, in EVERY ASPECT.... SO this CHORUS is one of my mantras I guess you could say.
Something I like to repeat over and over to myself....
DAILY, more often really!!!!

(but I did post the whole song)



She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy
With the baby in the backseat

Fifty miles to go and she was running low
On faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year

She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
 She was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning
On a thin black sheet of glass

She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was so scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands 
Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheelIt was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat
Sleeping like a rock

And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life

I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my handsCause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on

Oh Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, I'm letting go

So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, take it, take it from me
Oh, why, ooh

He is With you... by Mandesa ( beautiful lyrics just read them out loud to yourself)

If you haven't figured it out yet I am doing a little "series" on song lyrics that mean something to me.... This one hits to the heart big time for me....
There is suffering. But GOD IS GOOD in all things. JOY can be found in all situations because our focus is to be on HIM, on the "who",not on the why, or the circumstances....

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED TO HIS PURPOSE...romans 8:28

 listen to these words, reflect on them,

(and please respond, tell me how this song hit you! I really would love for this little "series" to be interactive a bit, to know what anyone who reads this thinks!)

There's a time to live
And a time to die
There's a time to laugh
And a time to cry
There's a time for war
And a time for peace
There's a hand to hold
In the worst of these
In the worst of these

Chorus:
He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still and your heart's a stone
Cryin' God, what'd you do that for?
He is with you
There's a time for yes
And a time for no
There's a time to be angry
And a time to let it go
There's a time to run
And a time to face it
There is love to see you
Through all of this

Chorus:
He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
And he is with you in the ICU
When the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you

We may weep for a time
But joy will come in the morning
The morning light

Chorus:
He is with you when your kids are grown
When there's too much space and you feel alone
And you're worried if you got it right or wrong
Yes he is with you when you've given up
On ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you

When nothing else is left
And you take you final breath
He is with you

Basically, he is with us through it all, through all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the valleys, the rock bottom, and there is JOY to be found even in that through KEEPING OUR EYES UPON HIM!- thats what I get from this one.

What do I know of HOLY????

These words hit me to the core. These are words that I feel could be coming right out of my mouth these days...thoughts that are in my mind, in my heart.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song.

It speaks my heart.

I wanted to write out the lyrics. To have them to come back too, to share my heart with ya'll.. Raw, honest words to my Lord via the words of Addison Road. 

Does this song hit anyone else???

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?


What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know?  

What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees


What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know?

What do I know of Holy?

 
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? 

What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?

Christmas in Atlanta (in Feb) Better Late than Never!!!

The COUSINS and MIMI!!!!
I HEART this couch pic of all of our kiddos!

Watchin Jack lov on his cousin Tatum was just so awsome!

Opening Presents
We missed our Christmas in December as I was in the hospital and Caroline has strep throat so we could not have her around baby Tatum....so we finally got together to open presents in Feb.
 better late than never
Merry Christmas Hooper-Yaman Families!!!

SNOW DAY

The boys had a BLAST playing in the snow! They spent a lot of time sliding down the drive way on cookie sheets! I remember doing that when I was little and it snowed here!! Of course, for some reason no cookie sheet pics...

\ 

Caroline spent the weekend in Charleston with Maggie and Papap. When she got home on Sunday she made a little snow man on the back porch!!