The Tibbetts Five

True confessions

One time was dating this guy I really didn't like. He was super nice so I didn't know how to break up with him. He showed up at my house one day unannounced and I really didn't want to see him. So my room mates hid me in one of their closets. Problem was that he said he would wait for me he to get home. They had to sneak me out through the garage so I could act like my sister dropped me off and walk through the front door. The best part was he was waiting for me to show up so he could break up with me.  I have always wondered if we pulled that off or if he knew I was in the closet!  Ok your turn. Spill it!!!!

I think I need to read this....

I have been following the story of a sweet little 5 year old fight brain cancer . I can't imagine the pain they are going through. All I can offer is my prayers. Her dad has a blog and today he recaps a book he just finished. I am not dealing with a life threating illness in my child and chances are neither are you. How ever in times like these I think this sounds like somethings we all need to be reminded of. I'm going out to get the book tomorrow.....

Trusting God (my latest read)

By aaronmcrae on Uncategorized

The other day I finished reading “Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts” by Jerry Bridges here are a some of the highlights for me. This was not an easy read for me at this time but it was an important one. I tried to reduce my selection of thoughts but found most too hard to delete. So here they are…(BOLD added by me)

-As Augustine said, “Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen; he either permits it to happen, or he brings it about himself.”

-Our first priority in times of adversity is to honor and glorify God by trusting him…we honor God by choosing to trust him when we don’t understand what He is doing or why he has allowed some adverse circumstance to occur.

-God’s sovereignty and God’s promises were intended to stimulate prayer…Because God is sovereign, He is able to answer. Because He is faithful to His promises, He will answer.

-God always has a purpose for the grief He brings or allows in our lives. Most often we do not know what that purpose is, but it is enough to know that His infinite wisdom and perfect love have determined that the particular sorrow is best for us. God never wastes pain.

-Although we may be going to the Scriptures to learn how to respond to our adversities, we find those adversities help us to understand the Scriptures.

-For the believer all pain has meaning; all adversity is profitable.

-…trusting God is first of all a matter of the will and is not dependent on my feelings. I choose to trust God, and my feelings eventually follow.

-We are responsible to obey the will of God, but we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit for the enabling power to do it.

Most embarrasing moment...

 
Ok I've had some big ones to share! But yours first!!!!! Comment them here. No one reads this blog anyway and it will be good to get it off your chest!

This kid has a bright future

Chasing Rainbows

I am an extrovert. I LOVE to be with people and I love to make them laugh. I have for a long time now desired a core group of friends. You know the kind that really know you and STILL want to be your friend. The ones that you can have conflict with and still be friends after. The plan seem great. Except for two things. I need to really believe that if someone gets to know me they will still like me and all my issues! Hum. That's an issue in itself. The other is I keep chasing rainbows. I have invest too much time and energy in people who do not care for or love me. They want to hang out if no one else is available. They seem like fun great people and for others they are. I run after them like I would a rainbow. It seem beautiful and inviting as it streaks across the sky. The problem is you can never catch it. If you chase after a rainbow and it is never attainable and eventually it will go away. The sad part of this that I have people in my life that want to be with me. The believe in me, pray for me, enjoy my company. Yet I miss out because I'm off chasing rainbows...... Well no more. I have realized that no matter how fast I run I will be disapointed. There is no pot of gold at the end. I'm goingt o invest in the beautiful friends God has brought into my life and the want to experience this crazy ride with me. Even if I'm only there for the comic relief!!!!:)

Been a busy week.

So between soccer, 4-H and not feeling good, it has been a crazy week. Thought I'd share my kids cute buyer letters. I should have scanned them and put them on here but I'm too busy for the extra step. Just know that they put them all in their own writing.

Macey

September 20, 2009

Dear   ,

This is my first year in 4-H. I am a member of the Perris Panthers 4-H Club. I would like to invite you to the Southern California Fair and Livestock Auction.

The first to sale is the small livestock sale on Saturday, October 18th at 9:00 am. The large livestock will follow. I am planning to sell my market hog at this sale.

I have spent a lot of hours on feeding, watering, walking, and grooming Diva, my Hampshire market hog, for show and sale at the fair. I hope you will be able to attend this year’s sale to support 4-H project animals.

Come enjoy a day at the Fair, see all the 4-H animals and spend some time in the auction barn. Your bids will make a difference whether you buy Diva or some other member’s 4-H animal.

Sincerely,

Macey Tibbetts

Will

Dear,

My name is Will. I'm selling my turkey at the So Cal Fair October 18th. I hope you will think about buying him.

Thank you,

Will Tibbetts

Pass along the info to anyone who may want a frezer full of pork or the most delicious turkey ever on Thanksgiving!!!

Choosing to fill the vase

Awhile back ago Matt did a sermon that changed the course of our lives. He was preaching about when Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding. Jesus mother told the servants to do whatever he told them to do. Jesus told the servant to go fill the empty vases with water. We know what happened next. Well Bill and I came home and changed our prayers. You see we felt like we were on a sinking ship. Bill's job was in new home construction. As you know in this economy was worrisome. Bill had started to learn decorative concrete and was doing this on the side in hopes it could become a new career. We prayed that God would bless this and continue to bless his current employer. He did. Bill's company was doing more work than most others. However it still felt like the ship was going down. We stopped praying for specifics and started praying "God tell us what vases to fill and we will do it." A few days later Bill got asked about a position at a different company. We didn't think much of it. It was commercial and he had want to make the move from residential to commercial for a few years. About one month later Bill accepted a position at the commercial company. Things are not perfect as construction is difficult right now no matter where you are. But it is refreshing to be in a boat with others that are bailing out the water as well. God's timing is perfect. I often remember this time when I'm frustrated that God is not answering my prayers the way I think he should. I tell myself be quite Jennita and fill whatever vase he tells you to for inside that vase he might just have a miracle......

Loved hanging out with her

That is something I desire. After I'm gone I want people to say I always felt better about myself after being with her. BIG CHANGE!!! You see if been told my whole life I'm funny. I had someone who once wanted to help me pursue a career in stand up comedy. His dream, not mine. Sadly after becoming a Christian I realized that much of my funniest stuff came at others expenses. I could get people to laugh about someone else at the drop of a hat. That person would be laughing about themselves as well. But is this a life of love? I could make people laugh but where is the lasting effects. I abandoned my humor for a time. That was boring. My room mate in college had a picture of Jesus laughing. I  LOVED IT! Sadly I never thought of Jesus in that way, but I'm certain he probably laughed a lot. The scriptures tell us that children loved Jesus and were drawn to him. Well when was the last time your kids wanted to spend anytime with a grumpy guy who never smiled. I'm certain Jesus smiled and laughed a lot. He had to. I have truly worked on being funny without the cost of someone else's whatever. Still very much a work in progress. Now sarcasm let's save that for a whole other post. Still hoping we can vote it as spiritual gift! As for the stand up comedy bit, let's just say three kids later....well I'd do a sitcom!!!!

A practical moment

So many of you know I make all the kids sandwiches for the week on Sunday, put them in ziplocks and refrigerate them. That way I just throw them in their lunch bags each day. Well on my constant quest to send them a healthy lunch but not spend and hour each day making it I have a new thing I do and though I would share. I go to the store and buy whatever fruit is on special that week. When I get home I cut it all up and put in plastic containers. I found these small containers at Target that have an ice pack that snaps in the top to send in their lunch. Each day I fill that up with a little of each fruit and they love it. So much better that a fruit cup and only a little more work! Happy lunching!

Never wanted to be a soccer mom

My niece threatens to put a soccer mom sticker on the back of my SUV, not mini van. You know the one with the soccer ball surrounded by flames? I protest that I'm not. Truth be told I am. All three in soccer means at least one has practice four nights during the week and we live at the field on Sat for 3 games. When Macey was little I would go and just watch really. I'd clap for her and high five after the game. I would hear other parents yelling and cheering and I thought they were a little much. Macey was not really into soccer as a 5 year old. She just wanted to wear the uniform and be on the team. Around age 7 something in her switched. She started really trying. When that happened something in me switch too. I was yelling and cheering, on the edge of my seat, jumping up and down when she made a goal. I was a little much. Last season was tough. Macey got placed on an awesome team. 3 girls dominated with their skill. Macey shut down. I was so upset with her. Not because she didn't score, but because she didn't try. See since she could not shine as a forward she sat back content to let everyone else on her team do the work. They were in first place undefeated all season. Who doesn't want to be on that team. She had brief moments of effort but mostly just stood around. We talked about effort and giving it your all this year. Be a team player. This season her first game was Sat. I was at Women of Faith. While talking to Bill at the break he starts yelling "Go Macey, again, again, go go go. She just scored!!!!" Tears flew down my cheek. I missed it. I was so proud of her. Not because she scored, that was bonus. It was because she tried. As I thought about it I realized how God must feel when looking down at us. We know that we can do all thing through him who gives us strength. But how he must cheer and well up with pride when we try and do our best. Isn't that all He asks of us is to try? Did you give Him something to cheer about today?