20 Kids and Counting. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. How many people have heard those names and quickly passed a thought of judgement? I’d like to offer up a question to the naysayers, because sometimes I feel so passionate about something that I just can’t stand being quiet

When was the last time you were so sure of something the Lord had told you to do and you were so committed to obeying Him that you did it in the face of the world’s pointing finger? I can honestly say that I haven’t. I want to offer up high regard for the Duggars for being obedient to what they feel the Lord has told them to do with their family.

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him” Psalm 128:1

Can you imagine what it’s like to hear the negative comments regarding their family? People who have never met them, never spoken to their children, never spent a day with them automatically assuming they know what it’s like to be a part of that family? Quickly passing judgement. Assuming those kids have any less love, attention, knowledge, desire to follow God, etc than another child in a smaller family? What about families who choose to raise their children on the mission field – out of obedience to God? I don’t hear anyone passing judgment or making negative assumptions about those families… What about families who choose to adopt once their other children are grown? Nope, pretty quiet about that too, aren’t we? It seems we’re only judgmental, outspoken, and opinionated about the things/situations that 1) scare us: 2) are something WE’D never do: 3)or don’t understand.

If the Lord has put it on the Duggars’ heart to allow Him to be in charge of how many children He blesses them with: I say more power to them. The Lord is clearly blessing them for their obedience. They have well-rounded, well-loved children who have desires and joys and the blessing of knowing their parents are walking in obedience to the what the Lord has told them – despite the naysayers (who are more often than not, Christians….).

Will I have 20 kids? Probably not. But I hope that I can face the world and humbly, lovingly, and with full confidence declare my obedience to what the Lord has asked of me – Thank you, Duggars’ for your example of complete trust in the Lord’s will for your lives.

“When you do common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.” George Washington Carver

Love. Her.

Ok, everyone HAS to know, that us Wilson siblings have the BEST mom ever.  It’s just truth.  I’m sure your mom is awesome too, but in our minds – no one outranks Denise   So with Mother’s Day coming tomorrow, it’s just not easy to be away from her!  Sending a present and card in the mail is just not enough.  So the age-old question is, how to say “Thank you” to the world’s best mom? Especially knowing that so much of who I am and where I am today is to my parent’s credit.  How do you say “Thank you”?

Mom Rocks.

For countless meals fixed or fetched, for hairdos perfected before school and messed up before she got us all the way there, for refereeing more sibling battles than one can count,for praying for us day in and day out,  for pretending and being silly, for enduring back to school shopping with two daughters year in and year out, for listening, for taking us on vacations to places we wanted to go, for giving us Pooh Sticks, for Christmas PJ pictures,  for protecting us from harm, for comforting us when kids were mean, for correcting us when we were mean, for listening to kids’ music in the car, for teaching our VBS classes, for volunteering at the school, for making us laugh, for teaching us the value of coupons, for cheering us on from the bleachers even when our Jr. High B-team couldn’t win a game, for enduring our adolescent mood swings, for playing basketball in the driveway, for teaching us about Jesus Christ, and for doing all these things with love and a smile on her face. HOW? How do I thank my mother for raising me? And for doing it without letting on how hard it was?

I don't understand why people think we look alike....

I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to thank her sufficiently.  Hopefully one day I’ll be a mother as well, and then I can at least say “Now I know!”   But for now, with all the love and gratitude that can be sent across the airwaves between Houston and Canyon, THANK YOU

Happy Mother's Day!!

Love you, Mom.

As I rehearse the “do’s and don’ts” of the laws and memorize what each court case accomplished and how I need to apply it, it got me to thinking   In the situation of Special Education and justice and crime and many things that fall into these categories – I am very grateful for laws.  They govern and define and protect, and even when they limit – it’s appreciated – because of the “crazies” of this world that are the reason we have laws.  It’s saddening to me that we have to have laws regarding appropriate and humane treatment of children with Special Needs – but I’m glad we have those laws – God only knows how much worse things would be if we didn’t.

But beyond that, in matters of religion -  it’s a different story.  While Christianity clearly has defined what is “sin” and the consequences thereof, it is the only religion that where “keeping the law” is not enough.  It’s defining characteristic from ALL other religions in the world is that salvation cannot be earned – it is a gift of grace – no matter how few or how many sins one commits.

“Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.  However to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”  Romans 4:4-5

Every other religion has laws, rules, etc that when followed, done, accomplished, completed can equal “salvation” – sometimes not even then – sometimes it is left up to the whim of the god.  How incredibly hopeless.  I, for one, would never make it.  And I don’t know of any human that can.  I’m so grateful for a True God.

So, when Christ has given us such a priceless gift of grace, why do Christians insist on trying to live out a works-based faith?  Is our God a God that requires us to keep appointments with Him, that requires us to follow rules to earn His love, that mandates works? He is a God of grace!  Even in the Old Testament, before Christ came to be the ultimate sacrifice for human sin, the followers of God lived according to His law to be protected and distinguished as belonging to Him – worshipers of the one True God.  But even that law did not earn them salvation, and sacrifices were not enough to atone for the sin.  When Christ died for our sin, both Jew and Gentile, the new law of grace by faith was established – now that the ultimate sacrifice had atoned for the sins of the world.  So – why do Christians insist on reverting to the old law – or even worse  – an extremely legalistic form of the old law that wasn’t from the Lord in the first place? Does all humanity need to be and act like the Jews of old in order to earn salvation? Absolutely not.  Do Christians need to be extreme and secluded in effort to be “not of this world” – in essence, imposing rules and religious mandates on the body of Christ? Absolutely not.   GRACE BY FAITH, NOT BY WORKS.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Mark my words!  I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.  Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.  You, who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.  But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.  You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” Galations 5:1-7

” The law was added so that the trespass might increase.  But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.  What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means!  We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 5:20 – 6:2

Our God saves, through faith in Jesus Christ, and as a gift freely given – so that no man can boast.  So BREATHE.  It’s done.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  2 Corinthians 3:17

Birthday Bandanas

My sister and I wholeheartedly agree that February is indeed one of the best month out of the 12.  Birthdays were not extravagant ordeals, like those you’ll find on reality shows today – see some on www.tlc.com.

But my mom always had a cake – usually homemade with more love and time than I am sure to have the patience for.  Some of the favorites were the classic “Winnie the Pooh’s honeypot and honeybees”, numerous pink heart-shaped cakes, and anything else sweet and girly that you can imagine.

My sister and I have this “special February bond” because we share a birthday month   Call it silly, but we call it important and wouldn’t have it any other way.

For two sisters who grew up sharing a lot – rooms, Barbies, fashion shows and talent shows, and eventually clothes and jewelry,

Fashion Show

we didn’t mind sharing a birthday month.  It’s like having a birthday all month long, even if it’s not yours!  Even now, we anticipate February almost as much as Christmas.  No matter how young or old we get, my sister makes February so much fun.  Because we claim it as “our month”, it’s given us many excuses to get together, laugh, spoil each other, and I know it always will.  If you haven’t met my sister, you are missing out   I wasn’t always keen on sharing my Barbies with her – but at least she knew how to play with them! A little brother would have destroyed them on the driveway along with the hot wheels.   We already have so many memories together:

Charity and Charissa

many, many good memories with lots of giggles, tears, and loud laughter:

Baking Something Wonderful

and many shared secrets and long late-night talks

Not Packing...

And many more memories to come.  Charissa, here’s to many more Birthday Month’s, Slumber Parties, HGTV projects, trips to the zoo, Squeaky Spots, surprise b-day trips, and M*A*S*H quotes.  You are my best girlfriend, the bestest sister a girl could ask for. Love you   (And don’t be mad at me for posting pics of you…you are of course, adorable, in ALL of them.)

Best Sisters

We all love the “shabby chic” look of old crackled paint. When we’re lucky, it happens naturally. But most times we have to help it along.

Crackling is great for covering up flaws. If you’re considering sanding off old layers of paint, crackle instead – it’s much faster & gives the item a lot of character.

How it’s done:

Method 1: Color underneath

1) Primer your item if it wasn’t previously painted (I used steel wool to rough up the varnish)

rubbed with steel wool

2) Paint it with the color you want to show in the cracks (use a color with a lot of contrast to your top color if you want your effect to be dramatic.)

2 coats of red

3) Paint the glue on. You can dilute it a little to make it easier to work with. Use a brush, not a roller. Cheap brushes work better – they leave more lines & therefore more detail in the cracks. PUT IT ON THICK! Thin coats don’t crack well

Experiment – the more glue you put on, the bigger the cracks.

I like to use a funky, random pattern so the cracks aren’t all in nice neat brush lines.

And I like to vary the thickness of the glue from one part to the next so the cracks look natural. (What they don’t tell you is that the thinner parts will dry faster so you end up guessing when it’s really time to paint the top coat!)

TIP: Thin coats work best on vertical surfaces. This is true for both the glue and the topcoat. If you paint them on too thick, it will all run down & be a gloppy mess. (TRUE…but still cool).  You can turn your item on it’s back, crackle the front, turn it on the side, crackle the side, etc. I did this on an armoire. It’s time consuming, but works great.

about an hour to dry

thinner coat of glue would have been better

It still turned out cool

4) After the glue is set up, but still tacky,(more than 1 hour, but not more than 2 or 3 – depends on your thickness & weather) paint on the main color. Don’t let the glue dry too much – it won’t crack if it’s too dry. (The glue will streak in the top coat – you’ll see white cracks before you see the paint underneath…don’t panic like I did. It’s supposed to spread with the top coat!)

slightly worried about painting on top of glue

As the top color(and glue) dries, the underneath color will be revealed in the cracks.

It worked!

Definitely worth it!

You make the sunrise, day after day after day
But there’s a morning coming, when old things will all pass away
And everyone will see

You make all things new
You make all things new
Come redeem and come transform
Come renew and come restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You

“All Things New”, Words and Music: Steven Curtis Chapman

love: to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for; to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in. to need or require; benefit greatly from.

trust: a person on whom one relies; reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, reliability of a person or thing; to believe.

honesty: the quality of being honest; uprightness and fairness. truthfulness, sincerity. without deceit or fraud.

communication: the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing or signs.

faith: belief that is not based on proof

respect: esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability. condition of being honored.

happiness: state of being delighted, pleased, or glad. characterized by or indicative of contentment and joy.

hope: to look forward to with desire; to believe or trust with confidence although the outlook may not warrant it.

new: coming or occurring afresh

2. Any form of cheese.

3. Football.  Especially College.

4. God is faithful.

5. No, not yet.  But see Answer #4.

6. Yes, Houston is humid.  And a beginning.

7. Two cats. Jack and Luke.  Yes I like dogs too.

8. Red Nissan Xterra. If God provides the finances that is…

9. China again, France, and Italy.  Some day.

10. Piano first.  Guitar second. Voice third.

11. When I know, I’ll let you know

12. Reading. Novels to Southern Living to Bible.

13. Taking out the trash. Despise it.

14. Vacuuming. Oddly like it.

15. Being lied to. Can’t stand it.

16. Grey’s Anatomy.  No judging.

17. Golf.  Will learn when someone patient teaches me.

18. Iced Tea.  Unsweetened. With Lemon

19. On an adventure with Him.  At a pit stop right now getting new tires.

20. Love is waiting.

1. Guys will do anything to impress. so ridiculous.  so competitive.

2. They’re showing a guy working out, he just found out who the bachelorette is, and he says “I’m gonna win her heart.  She’s gonna fall in love with me”,  as he does push ups.  I don’t think it matters who the girl is, he’s got his game ON.

3. “I’m definitely not afraid of all the other guys….I mean…I’ve killed a bear…”  best. line. ever.

4. Do these guys have laser hair removal? I’ve never seen so many hairless chests….

5. “I know it’s going to be hard, but you have to go through the fire to get to the happy ever after.” Yeah, this looks like pretty tough fire to go through…I’ll bet those new clothes and hot guys fighting over you make it a little easier….

6. How exhausting to have to laugh at all 25 guys’ jokes.  All night.

7. This girl gave up her job, moved out of apt, “got my priorities straight” – “if I find a husband, it’s all worth it”.  I’m afraid she might be disappointed, even if she finds a husband here….there’s one huge priority missing….

8. She mentions giving up her fears and insecurities for this….all the woman out there just gazed longingly at the beautiful woman and 25 datable men on the tv screen and thought “I wish I could get rid of MY fears and insecurities….”  YOU CAN! But Jesus is the way.  No datable man or beautiful hairstyle will fix that common thread we all share in this fallen world.

9. It’s like the battle of the worst pick-up lines EVER. Who will win?

10. Is it a good thing to have said of you, “she’s like the girl next door”?

11. A.W.K.W.A.R.D.

12. Oooooh that guy just spoke Spanish.  Nice one.  Better than any other pick up line.

13. I’ve counted at least 6 pink shirts and 4 pink ties.  Manly men wear pink.  And they want her to know they’re Manly apparently.

14. 3 guys now have climbed on top of the limo.  Men and women truly are different.

15. I like how they all keep saying they’re happy she’s so career-oriented….wait…yup…pretty sure she “gave up that priority”…oops.

16.  How do men stand to be on this show? It’s just not in their nature to have to sit back and watch a girl they’re trying to “date” flirt with another man….

17. Rose Ceremonies have so much tension!

18. Aw. That guy thought she was the one.  And now feels like a failure. I want him to know there’s more out there than a one-time chance encounter!!!

19. Frank or Roberto.  That’s as close as I get to calling it.

20. I’ve never been happier letting God direct my life.

Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know in full, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13: 4-13