Purity, Purpose, and Praise

Two weeks ago tonight I attended the praise service to celebrate the life of Marilyn Jett. Marilyn did not want a funeral she wanted a praise service and that is exactly what she got. Amazing tribute to an amazing woman of God.

God gave me a gift of spending a week with Marilyn one week before she passed from this life into eternity with Jesus. She could not hardly move other than to hold her Carnation Breakfast milk slushy. But we had the best time laughing and talking. I consider those four days really to be a highlight of my life. She blessed me, encouraged me and continued to pour wisdom into my life.

She was surrounded by her family, loving on her, caring for her every need and bringing her Starbucks. They definetly lived out, "her children rise up and call her blessed." So many precious moments that I will never forget.

At her praise service, Wade Akins spoke and said that Marilyn was a woman of purity--purpose--and praise. Three things that I want to be a woman of as well. Marilyn was a great example to follow. The music was unbelievable.

Sunday before lunch, Dr. Jett blessed the food and prayed for the day's events. Two things hat he said that have had a profound impact on me over the past 14 days. First when he prayed he said, "Lord today is a different day for us, but it is a good day." and then he said, "And Lord in our grief do not let us lose sight of Your Presence." An amazing man of God that not only preached the Word of God but has lived it even in the saddest day of his life.

So many things I could say about this great couple of faith. Marilyn Jett left a legacy of living for Christ--everyday and I want to live like that.

Avery Avery She's Our Girl!

Yep another birthday for the Lopez family. Today Avery is 9. She is our only little Dixie Chick--she was born at Jackson General Hospitol in Jackson Tn.


Everyone loves Avery. The comment made regularly about Avery is, "She is so funny!" And she is! She has this great sense of humor and incredible sense of timing in her humor. Witty little girl!


Wow I can't believe she is 9. So to celebrate we had a Movie Star party on Saturday night. So fun! Although boys were invited, because of ball games etc etc none showed up except our favorite little neighbor boy--Hunter!


We rolled out the red carpet...
(If the truth be known, it was red flannel 3.99 a yard at Hobby Lobby and 30% off, but hey it worked!)

Ate a little cake...



Opened presents...



And took some pics with our little party favor...

Avery woke this morning to a decorated door keeping with her movie theme. Not my best work but a decorated door none the less.


There was only Austin and I left this morning to sing Happy Birthday to Avery. Andersen and AJ both catch the bus at 7:15 so...Avery chose to sleep in rather than have a birthday choir. Nonetheless, she blew out her birthday candle on a chocolate chip muffin.


No telling what God will do with Avery--it is so much fun to see God at work in her life. WOW we are blessed!

Happy Labor Day--and I Mean Labor Day!

14 years ago today I was actually in labor! What a payoff I received for all my hard work. We were given a wonderful gift named Andersen Layne Lopez!






We got to celebrate this weekend at Beaver Lake with Mother and Daddy and my sister's and their families and Carl's mom.










And in our usual Lopez family tradition, Andersen woke up this morning to a decorated door. This is the first year we did not have a party with a theme--so what was I to do? Andersen decided to have a few friends go to The Cheesecake Factory rather than a party--I was a little sad (you all know I am all about a party with a theme!!) But I must admit that it was alot less work than you know a Survivor party or Who Done It scavenger hunt or a Luau, or a Backyard Carnival, or a Movie Star Party, or...just to name a few over the past 13 years!

I did not have a theme to decorate her door by so I simply put HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDERSEN and then wrote on each letter an adjective describing my Happy--Amazing--Peppy--Peacemaker--Yippee--Beautiful--Interesting--Ready--Terrific--Helpful--Delightful--Athletic--Yes Maamer--All-Star--Never boring--Daring--Exciting--Relaxing--Special--Easy-going--Nice 14 year-old daughter. Of course with the help of my ever patient sleepy husband, who graciously handed my tape at midnight as I decorated her door!





And then this morning we had breakfast burritos with a candle in it to celebrate.





And then to top off her birthday, she cheered at her first 8th grade football game at Jenks High School. (PS JENKS STINKS)

Their uniforms were not in--why I don't know but she looked just as cute. There is just something about a 14 year old with braces and a big ribbon tied in a bow that I just can't get over!

Andersen has been a joy for 14 years--wow she for sure is a gift because I do not deserve a daughter as incredible as she is--just goes to show that prayer works!

God is Enough!

I had an unusual day yesterday--not in my usual unusual where something crazy happens to me, but a different kind of unusual. Because of the nature of my job, I often hear about difficulties, challenges, and even tragedies that others go through. But yesterday was a flood of difficulties to people who are close to me. With each one I shared that God is Enough! Because He is!
This last Christmas my sweet friend Melissa who designs and makes jewelry gave me a pendant with a freshwater pearl dangling from it that she stamped on that says GOD IS ENOUGH. I wear it EveryDay! I get asked often about it. People say, "Oh what does your pendant say?" So I show them and then say, "Because He is!" Melissa told me that was her theme for this year and I said me too. And I said at the beginning of the year, I do not know what will happen in 2008 or what will not happen but whatever--God is Enough!
Yesterday I got an email from a sweet friend that her husband was laid off from the SemGroup--stink. She wrote and said I am really struggling today.
My good friend Michelle is in California at a funeral of her 40 year old cousin. Almost 2 years ago Michelle's 40 year old brother died. So now these two sisters have both buried their sons in the past two years--tough to handle.
I met new friends in Nucleus Sunday night and have emailed Audrey back and forth about beginning a Spa for the Soul study for military wives because Audrey's husband leads a platoon of 78 men who will deploy for Iraq on Sept 4th. Can't imagine saying goodbye to my husband and sending him off to the front line of battle.
I got an email from a young mom at our church whose daughter has a severe peanut allergy--severe and it is keeping her family from church. It is hard to feel attacked and not be able to do anything for your children.
Got another email from my new friend Holly that her sister in law who was 8 months pregnant went to the doctor and discovered the baby was dead in the womb. Her brother is a missionary with the IMB and could not get to his wife to comfort her and be with her for more than 24 hours. So here this precious lady is in another country without her husband dealing with a tragedy no mother should bear. DIFFICULT!
My sweet parents are caring for my grandparents on a daily basis and taking turns with my dad's sisters in spending the night with them. My grandma weighs very little and continues to battle pancreatic cancer much longer than we expected. It is sad and it is very taxing on my parents and aunts.
Then I talked to Susan. Her mother is my dear friend Marilyn who is battling cancer of the unknown source and is really going down. These precious people are like family to me and it is very difficult to take. I was walking through TJ Maxx--imagine that--talking to Susan and telling her that God is Enough. I told her I am praying that for her, her brothers and her dad who is my mentor in the ministry.
So I know that this is heavier than my normal you won't believe what crazy thing happened to me post, but sometimes life is a little heavier than we want it to be. To each different person who I encountered yesterday I tried to say God is enough! He is. Regardless of how difficult the situation. Life is sometimes heavier than we want it to be and I want you to know that when it is---GOD IS ENOUGH!!

Party Crasher!

I just want to say this up front. This is a first for even me. We finished Clean Slate (which I will blog about in a day or two--unbelievable God weekend!!!!) and Carl took off for OKC to see his brother before he left for Qua tar on Sunday. So I went to pick up Andersen and AJ from a birthday party.

I asked Andersen for the address so that I could GPS it. It didn't come up but the address was simple enough so I thought I could find it. I am on the street looking for the house number and am going in the right direction. The numbers are getting smaller and I am almost there when I see a house with multiple cars parked in the driveway and street, balloons on the mailbox and a sign that says The Party is Here in the front yard. So of course I think oh here it is.

Avery, Austin and I get out of the car, ring the door bell and we are greeted by a teenage girl. She said, "hi there." I say, "Hey!" She says, "come on in, they are in the back." So we go through the house (did I mention this was about a 6, 000 square foot house I am traipsing through?) and get to the back door and open it to a backyard and pool full of about 30-40 adults. I am thinking oh this is a family party as well as a friend party. I immediately see a lady from church that I know and in my mind I am thinking, hmm I didn't know she knew the Mulders--small world, so anyway I say, "Hey!" and she says, "Well, hello what are you doing here?" So I said, "Well I am looking for Andersen and AJ have you seen them?" Because I am thinking the kids are up stairs or something. She said, "No I haven't."

At this point I am thinking, hmmm this is a little odd. So I said, "Is this 6002?" The lady seated next to her said, "No, this is 5980!" I am at the wrong house and I run into someone I know!!!!!!! I said, "Oh my goodness, that is crazy." And then the lady from church says, "Well do you want to hear something crazier than that, this is my ex mother-in-law's house!" Yes at this point I am thinking your craziness just trumped mine! So I excuse my self and get out of the house. We are leaving and Avery said, "Well the girl said, 'Come on in!'" True Avery true!

So we get in the car and drive two houses up to the house where my children really are.

Then yesterday at church Sandy told me that after I left her ex-mother-in-law said, "Did anybody lock the front door!"

Carl Lopez, the Love of my Life!

Tomorrow is our 15 year anniversary! I can not believe that I have been married to Carl for 15 years.

I thought I would briefly hmm hmm tell you all our story for those of you who do not know how we met and then married.

I transferred to Southwest Baptist University in the fall of 86, yes I did mean 1986! I had spent two years at a State University, in a sorority (please...) pursuing a major only to be told I had a lisp (by a high school student and I didn't even know I had one!) and who would hire me to be a news reporter/anchor with a lisp, and was thinking surely there is more to life than this. I sat out of school for a year and became the 7th and 8th grade Sunday School teacher at my home church--fell in love with ministry and doing what God had made me to do!



I am standing in line at SBU to get my schedule and in front of me is a really tall dark haired good looking guy--David Starnes. You all thought I was going to say Carl didn't you! My maiden name was Stenner so I found myself in line quite often with Dave.



About 3 days later he shows up at my door, looking for my room mate. They were both MK's (missionary kids) from Korea and had grown up together. So Dave and I became good friends. At some point Dave had met this really cool, really smart, really great guy named Carl Lopez. One day I was at Dave's apartment and Carl came over on his bike wearing a burgundy pullover hoodie (Edmond graduate) and I thought what a sweet guy--he is really cute too! So I fixed him up with my roommate (not the MK from Korea!)



Carl and I became great friends over the course of his freshman year and my junior year...(yes I am older) and then he transferred to OBU (Oklahoma Baptist University) shame on him!



LONG story and I mean 7 years long. Carl and I remained great friends, the best of friends really and kept in touch. Somewhere along the line I knew he was the one--by somewhere I mean about 2 months after I fixed him up with my room mate. I then waited through at least 2 other girlfriends (that I know about!).



I graduated from SBU and went to Arizona as a US-2 missionary through the then Home Mission Board. We of course wrote letters (how retro) and kept in touch. It really helped that my parents had a lakehouse at Beaver Lake in Arkansas which was 25 minutes from Carl's parent's house in Rogers. Carl's parents moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma after he graduated from high school.



Carl had two more years at OBU and then went to graduate school--in Physics (is Carl weird or what?--I mean smart or what). I finished my two years in Arizona and then went to Jackson Tennessee to serve at the incredible Englewood Baptist Church as youth and college minister--oh excuse me, my title was Director of Youth and College Ministries--it was 1990.

So, needless to say I did not date...when I say didn't date I mean didn't date ANYONE for 5 years, despite my teenagers wanting to fix me up with people like Micheal W. Smith and Carmen--true. I told them I didn't think either where good ideas because Micheal was already married with 4 kids at the time and well Carmen...not so much. Literally every conference, camp etc that I took my youth group to, my kids were always trying to find a single youth minister or youth worker to introduce me to. Let's focus on JESUS kids not Denise's date life!



Again, Carl and I remained best friends. I knew he was the one--didn't know when he would be the one but that he was. In the back of my mind, which crept to the front of my single mind quite often, I would think, what if he calls one day and asks me to be the best man (I mean woman) at his wedding..and this was before My Best Friend's Wedding (I was so ahead of my time!) And then I would end up in Africa as a missionary with my hair in a bun wearing ugly skirts--it was the 90's.


There were plenty of times that I wanted to say, "Hey what is the deal with us." But the Lord would not allow me to and had given me a verse in Song of Solomon (easy there trigger!) "Do not stir up love until it is ready." Actually it is in there twice in 2:7 and again in 3:5. The Lord knew I needed to see it more than once, you know to be for sure and all! In the Message that verse is paraphrased, "Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you're ready." I feel extremely blessed and thankful for what ever holy restraint that it took for me NOT to take the initiative to ask Carl but waited and waited and waited...(hee hee) for Carl to pursue me (finally) rather than me pursue him. And until the time was ripe and I was ready!


Well LONG story even longer! Carl and I were very involved in working youth camps, Super Summer etc and were given opportunities to see each other.


Around April, 1992 I went to a Conference at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary with my friends Jeff and Malea who were students there at the time. Carl came down from OSU (he is now in graduate school in Electrical Engineering--is he ever going to get out of school?) I could tell that he was acting a little different than our normal friendship. We went to church to hear our friend Randy Miller preach at this little store front church--we were going through the drive through at Grandy's and "I Will Be Here" by Stephen Curtis Chapman came on and there was a silence in our car (except for the song...come on follow me here) and I knew (okay I thought really really strongly) that we would be WE for the rest of our lives. So if we have a song I guess that would be it...or All For Love by Color Me Bad--not sure which.

ANYWAY, Carl and I went with Englewood to Brazil to build a church in May. On the plane ride home we had THE talk--yes Carl brought it up not me. Our first kiss was on an airplane 30,000 feet in the air somewhere over the Atlantic ocean. So basically we decided to get married before we ever had our first date. Our first date was at the Spaghetti Factory in BrickTown in OKC.


So there you have it folks. Oh yea the proposal...well LONG story short. Sometime around October Carl and I drove up to Pigeon Forge and back to Jackson in one day! It was sometime after we had bungee jumped! I said, "When are we going to set a date? I feel like I need to let Dr. Jett (my pastor) know when I am leaving so that the church can make plans to find a replacement for me). Taking into account that most churches get a two week notice before most youth ministers...I mean Director of Youth Ministries leave. But it sure sounded like a good way to get Carl to nail down a date. Carl said, "I don't want to set a date until we are engaged." SO I said, "Well when are we going to get engaged." He said, "When I can afford to buy you a ring." So I vowed to myself to never bring up the subject again!

Over Christmas break Carl went with me to take my youth group skiing in Boone, North Carolina (yes there are mountains er a mountain there). We had to come home a day early because it was unusually warm and the snow was melted. We came home on New Year's Day. Unbeknown st to me, it was Carl's plan to propose on January 1st, you know start the year off right and all. So we got back to church and like any good youth minister...er I mean Director of..you get it...I waited for all the parents to show up. My Carl went to take our friend Karl to get a car off their lot--Golden Circle Ford. My Carl went on to Kroger's to put his plan into place. He went to purchase flowers and a plastic thingy out of a candy machine that you put a toy ring in. His plan WAS to give me the "toy ring" say, I don't have the money to purchase the ring I want yet but I know you want to set a date so here...until I can. And then wala it would be my ring.

Blame it on nerves, but Carl locked the keys in the car with the ring in his bag. Uh-oh. Back at Englewood, all the parents are gone and now Karl, Denise, (yes that is her name) and I are waiting for Carl. No Carl...a red sporty car comes pulling up with a lady in it and Carl in the passenger seat...what!

LONG story...after attempting to get a key, Carl's bronco not starting because although there is no snow in North Carolina, it is a cold spell in Jackson and it is like 2 below out, and Carl's bronco got left in neutral (call it nerves I don't know) while he was trying to start it and it rolled into the middle of the parking lot in my apartment complex, and attempting to use the jimmy kit from Golden Circle Ford and breaking my driver side door, we finally called Al's Big Tow--that is what it was called--hilarious!

Anyway, on January 2nd at about 1 am Carl Lopez asked me to marry him and guess what...I said YES! There you have it!

Clean Slate Land

As you may know, our Women's Ministry at The Church at BattleCreek is involved in a missions..I am searching for the right word here. A missions...project..no..event..sort of...opportunity..yea kind of...life-changing unbelievable transformation of homes and lives...YES! I guess that is what you would call it. You can read about our first home here. When we did Dee's Clean Slate, her girls were in Kentucky with their dad. Well Sunday they came home!!

They came home to a new house, a new room, and a new mom. Well really same mom but a mom with a Clean Slate! WOW! Dee kept it a secret all summer from the girls. They had no idea what was in store for them when they walked in the front door. It was really a priceless moment.

So once again my sweet talented unbelievably tireless friend Ashley took pictures of the girls. Take a look here for yourself. Thanks Ashley, you never cease to amaze me. Also thanks Cindy and Carol for helping to welcome these adorable girls home!

I am loving Clean Slate. God has given us Ruby for our next Clean Slate which is this weekend. Ruby is amazing and so is her entire family! I feel so honored that God has allowed me to meet this family. This is what has blown my mind for the past two or three days. I sense and can see at times that God is doing far more than we know. He has set the stage for this incredible moment for this family when I believe pieces to their puzzle are all coming together and it is going to be some picture when it is done!! You are never going to believe all that God is doing. Nearly EveryDay I cry about what God is giving us and doing for us. Needless to say I have been living in Clean Slate Land according to my incredibly handsome, sweet, and patient husband!

Support our Troops!

I am proud to be an American where at least I know I am free...

and I won't forget the men who died

who gave their life for me

and I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

cause their ain't no doubt I love this Land

God bless the USA!

Two Saturday nights ago Carl, Andersen, AJ and I went to eat at Zios---love Zios!!! The little girls had already gone to my parent's and so it was just the four of us. There was a pretty long wait.

While we were waiting on our table--beeper in hand, a girl asked me if I could take their picture. I said, "Sure, I would be glad to." There were four girls who looked college age and they were all dressed up. (Adorable I might I add!) So I said, "What is the occasion, what are you all celebrating?" Allison, (yes we are now on first name basis!) said, "We are celebrating our anniversaries." I looked around no husbands... she continued on, "Our husbands are in Iraq and we are here celebrating our anniversaries together." Their husbands serve in the National Guard, in the 45th infantry division out of OKC. I almost bawled! I of course told them how precious I thought they were. (And you know I do not use that word lightly!!!) While we were standing there waiting, tears really did come to my eyes and of course Andersen and AJ are going, "Moooomm" I said, "I can't help it you guys, that is a BIG DEAL for your husband to be gone--at war! And I am proud of them for not staying home and pouting but for going out and celebrating their marriages!!"

Our buzzer went off. So of course our conversation continued to center around these four adorable girls and the sacrifices THEY are making as well as their husbands. By the end of our meal we all four agreed that we needed to pay for their dinner as a little anniversary gift and as a thank you to their husbands for serving our country so that we continue to have the freedoms that we do. So Carl went over and gave them money for their dinner and told them to tell their husbands thank you for all that they do to keep our country safe and free. And of course the freedom that I am most thankful for--you know--is to worship The Most High God! That I can meet Sunday after Sunday at my great church and sing praises to Jesus is something that I need to be thankful to our men and women in uniform for!

Allison was sweet enough to send me their picture and a sweet email expressing their gratitude for dinner. Which Carl and I both felt that was the least that we could do for all their husbands do for our country. I have printed out their picture and have hung it on our fridge so that we will remember to pray for these girls and their husbands and for all our troops!

So join me and when you see a man in military uniform or are made aware of a family left here--do something--thank them--shake their hand--clap for them--buy them dinner--something! For sure pray for them!

From left to right--Heaven (how about that name!), Stephanie, Brandy and Allison.

My Baby is Six!

If you are like me--bless your heart if you are, there are certain phrases that you have told yourself that you would not say.

It seems like just yesterday... is one of those phrases.

But it is true.

It seems like just yesterday, we were laying in bed and I had the flu for a really long time and Carl said to me, "maybe your pregnant." I replied, "I am NOT pregnant!" He said, "Well you might be." I said, "I am not...oh go to Walgreen's!" So at 11:00 o'clock at night my sweet Carl got up put his clothes on and went to Walgreen's to get a pregnancy test." Immediately my flu was cured and I was pregnant!!

Our conversation went something like this for the next 3-5 minutes.

Me: What are we going to do?

Carl: We are going to have a baby?

Me: Oh my word, what are we going to do?

Carl: We are going to have a baby?

It seems like just yesterday that we were having a 20 week ultra-sound with all 5 of us packed into the closet they call the imaging room--looking at this sweet little gray baby. It was in the middle of the day so Carl took Andersen and AJ back to school and took Avery with him and I was left in the room to hear our devastating news that something was wrong--they weren't quite sure what it was--could be nothing---or--I asked my doctor to tell me what she was thinking. She said, "Denise this could be nothing, we aren't sure. I have never seen anything like this and I want to send you to a specialist, a high-risk OB and let him take a look at the baby. Again, it could be nothing.." I said, "Or..." She replied, "Or the worst case scenario is that the baby's lungs will not develop and it will die outside the womb." More than I wanted to hear.

It seems like just yesterday the Lord gave me, "You are my rock, my redeemer, my strong tower, a very present help in time of need." to hang on to.

I said, "Can I get in tomorrow?" It was Thursday and I did not want to wait the whole weekend and wonder what was going on. She said, "Denise, I am a physician and I don't think I could get myself in tomorrow." I said, "Well, I am just going to pray that I do." She said, "You can pray, but I don't think you can get in tomorrow." She called about an hour later and said, "You have an appointment at 8 o'clock in the morning. I guess it worked." IT sure did and IT has worked for me for the past 43 1/2 years regardless of what my situation was.



It seems like just yesterday we learned that Austin had Cystic Ademnotoid Malformation of the Lungs.


It seems like just yesterday we were told that her case did not appear to be fatal, but we were looking at surgery perhaps days after she was born.


It seems like just yesterday that she was born perfectly healthy and perfectly beautiful. Praise the Lord! (We were not digital 6 years ago so take my word she was BEAUTIFUL!!)


It seems like just yesterday that her and AJ were sharing a room and AJ decided he preferred the couch to baby noises.


It seems like just yesterday she was making us all laugh--oh wait that was yesterday!!

Austin Olivia Lopez is the joy of our family! She loves to make us all laugh.

As in the Lopez family tradition her door was decorated for her when she woke up this morning. We are having a movie party with her friends next week so of course I had to stick with the theme!

And as in the Lopez fashion. We had a candle in our breakfast. Normally this is chocolate chip muffin, but Curt, Carl's brother spent the night last night. (He and his wife Elizabeth are here for a month visiting. They live in Qua tar and IT is amazing!) So Curt wanted Breakfast Burritos--our name is not Lopez for nothing! So Austie had her candle in a breakfast burrito--homemade I might add.






She got a bike for her birthday. As of two weeks ago, she is training wheel free and goes 90 to nothing. I have never seen anything like it. If I could I would think about entering her in BMX racing. (And by saying if I could, I mean my gracious upbringing would not allow it--so not that we couldn't really but we wouldn't. Call me pretentious but we don't do BMX.) But she is fast enough none the less. Please notice the pink skirt.! (0:







Well it is true it seems like just yesterday... we were blessed with our bundle of joy named Austin Olivia Lopez. What a gift!!!

4 Kids Is Alot!

Every summer for the past 4 years Andersen and AJ have attended New Life Ranch. An incredible week of camp for them to focus on God and have fun! They love it! During the week Avery and Austin go to stay with my parents for a few days. They love it! Soooo, Carl and I are HOME ALONE!! We love it!

The truth is, it is really odd to go from a house full of 4 children to a very quiet house with just the two of us. Carl does not make much noise!

I teach a new member's class at our church which was this past Sunday. I have everyone introduce themselves--which with 40+ people on most occasions can take a while--BUT I am a people person and I want to hear about them. So this one guy said that one of the reasons they loved our church was because of the children's ministry--and he added, "and we have a lot of children." I said, "How many do you have?" New member man replied, "We have 4." I said, "We have four and you are right it is a lot."

4 children are a lot!
A lot of:
hugs
goodnight kisses
goodmorning kisses
no reason at all kisses
shoes left laying around
giggles
loads of laundry
"I love you, Mommy"es
stories
"Can you help me with..."
activities after school
time lying on their beds talking about their day
running around in the car
making cookies
shopping (we love shopping!)
trips to Josh's Sno Shack
homework (we dislike homework!)
teaching about experiencing God in their EveryDay lives
"Mommy did you know..."
Bedtime stories
laughing in the car
laughing at Wipe-Out--Funniest Home Video--etc. (or just people in general who fall, trip etc!)
laughing at each other
flip flops (we love flip flops!)
wiping tears
nighttime prayers
morning prayers
keep them safe Lord prayers
give me patience prayers
saying, "of all the little girls/boys in all the world, I am so glad you are mine"
JOY

So as much fun as Carl and I are having this week going to dinner etc etc ETC! I must say I am ready to see ALOT of kids! "Children are a gift from the Lord." and that is the truth!!!

Clean Slate

We have just experienced one of the most phenomenal weekends at our church. We were involved in a Women's Ministry missions opportunity we call Clean Slate.

This was our very first one. And it was absolutely amazing! It was totally awesome to help Dee. But probably equally phenomenal was to literally see the Body of Christ operate in complete oneness. I was absolutely blown away. Really words can not describe it!

Dee is a single mom with triplet 9 year old girls. WOW! The girls are with their dad this summer and were not able to be there. We did an Extreme Home Make-Over/Clean Sweep/What Not to Wear all wrapped into one this weekend for Dee.

She lives in a 2 bedroom duplex. She and her daughters had been sleeping in the same room in a bunk bed--she and one of the triplets slept on the bottom that was a full bed and then the other two slept in the twin bed on top--for the past two years! She has shared a room with her girls for 2 years. Well you can guess what we chose to do--give her her own space--a little retreat. Dee is a giver. She works full time and also majorly volunteers at her girl's school and is very involved in their PTA.

We had an incredible team that has been working with her for the past month and then this weekend the Clean Slate took place! We had over 50 volunteers go in and transform her home. We really only completely redid the bedrooms and the garage but cleaned and organized the rest of the house.

Over the course of the weekend we discovered that Dee was behind on a few utility bills and did not have this months rent. We were able to go in and take care of those things for her as well and really give her a Clean Slate--even financially! The Lord provided for this in an unusual way. We also had a garage sale on Saturday morning in the rain and raised over $200 to help with the cost of her bills.

We began on Thursday night. Dee had already started cleaning out a few things so we were not able to get on camera the FULL starting point. Then we worked all day Friday along with Dee until 5 pm. We then sent her to the Renaissance for the night and gave her a gift card to Carabba's for dinner--which was so generously provided by the managers--who just happen to be members at BattleCreek! My sweet friend and co-worker Cindy put a hotel goodie basket together for her. Cindy also was the Project Manager for the entire weekend. Again there are no words to describe this incredible woman--who I am so blessed to have in my life!

The next day our "Family Friend" Liz Pray and myself took Dee to lunch at Panera after she had her hair done (highlights and all!!!) and then we took her shopping with her $200 gift card to Cato's. She had not been shopping in 10 years! We had so much fun as she tried on outfit after outfit. I really did feel like Stacy London! She went to a friend's house to change into one of her new outfits before the big reveal at her house at 4:30.

She pulled into the driveway with BattleCreek on either side clapping her on and with smiles from ear to ear. An amazing moment. This lady deserved to be applauded. Oh my goodness I am nearly overwhelmed right now thinking about that. I just have to stop and say what a wonderful picture I think that was of Hebrews 12:1 "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...cheering us on" The Word of God being lived out!

So much more I could say but a picture is worth a thousand words. My sweet friend Ashley Campbell shared her incredible gift of photography with us for the weekend and captured it all for us. Take a look for yourself right here.

Once Again, You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

I know I know. It has been a while...please forgive. We have had basketball camp, cheer camp, youth camp and children's camp. And I truly have so much I could blog about--neat things God did at all of those, but for now I will just post on the last 36 hours of life at the Lopez home.



Crazy stuff happens to us...so we have just chosen to roll with the punches and say Hallelujah anyhow.



Thursday around noon, my sweet husband came to church to help me do something. My sister and brother in law drove in from KC to pick up 400 beverage tubs (another story for another day) and to bring my 17 year old nephew Ridge to spend the week with us. (YEA--Ridge Camp) In the process Carl MESSED his back up--to the point of when he went back to work around 1:30 all he could do was gather his things and get home. Fast forward to 4:00 when the kids and I get home. I walk in the door to see my husband CRAWLING across the floor from our guest bath to the living room in boxers with his pants in the other hand. I said, "Sweetie, what are you doing!" He said, "Can you get me some shorts." I said, "Carl Lopez, what is the matter!!!" He said, "Denise I can not walk, will you get me some shorts." So I run to get him some shorts. In the meantime while he is in route to the living room floor, he turns his head and says, "Hi guys." to our kids.



He is now lying in the living room floor flat on his back complete with shorts on. Which is where he stayed until 4:15 in the morning. Bless his heart---major pain---awful---made me sad.



Thursday evening--guitar lessons, gymnastics, and Clean Slate--all of which took place with Carl lying in the floor on his back. Needless to say I was at the grocery store (WAL-MART SUPERCENTER---love it!) checking out at midnight. You gotta shop when you can--know what I mean. So I ended the night---or started the morning--which ever way you prefer to look at it, by putting away groceries and packing our 8 year old for camp.



I got in bed at 1:15. At 4:15 Carl makes it into the bed---bless his heart. Ouch! He begins snoring, which to be honest normally annoys me (and I must say few things about Carl Lopez annoy me). HoweverI was thrilled because at least he was asleep and not in pain. Then I can not sleep because I kept thinking if I dare moved I might wake him up and sleep was not in my future--snore snore goes the husband. So I go into the living room and try to go back to sleep--lay there....tick...tock....tick...tock.



At 5:45 I awake to our dog barking. The dog run is alongside our house outside our bedroom window so I run to the backyard, so Jake would not wake Carl up. Abby is out of the pen. "Abby, what are you doing out." Had she answered me, I would be making part of this story up. I go to the pen. Gate still locked a piece of the fence at top knocked off. The crazy thing JUMPED the fence--what!!! And now Jake the brown not so puppy chocolate lab is going crazy because he is left home alone while Abby is living it up roaming the yard. Thus the barking!! No water. I am sure Abby was in survival mode to get something to drink. So I let them both out to get them water. I forgot that when I went outside I left the back door open soooo, Jake runs in the house BARKING like crazy. I finally get him back out only to find a 5 year old and an 8 year old walking out of their bedroom--and making their way to the couch (hey what a minute guys--that is where I was sleeping er laying awake for the past hour and a half.) Thankfully we have a sectional--all is well.



Finally get the dogs happy and lay back down. Managed to fall back asleep and wake up at 8:30 in time to head out to Clean Slate. Get back home by 9:45 to get Avery ready for camp. I called at 10:15 to get Carl an appointment with Dr. Pray (great name huh?--wonderful man). They said "Can you be here at 10:45?" As much pain as Carl was in we had to make it. Did I mention that there was a downpour going on outside? Ridge is going to get Avery to church and I am going to take Carl to the Dr. Pray.



Let me say, the Lord sent Ridge to be cab driver, manny (male nanny) cousin, babysitter etc. What would we have done without him.


I leave Carl at the Dr., get to church just in time to have my daughter's head implanted into my side because she didn't think I was going to make it before they left. Send Ridge back to get Carl. Kiss and love on Avery. Write her a your an amazing kiddo we love you we are proud of you etc etc note for her to read at camp. And send her on her way.



So meanwhile, my friend Meredith and I stand in the parking lot and talk for the next 30 minutes--we did take a 4 year old, 5 year old and a 6 year old to the bathroom in the church during this time. So we decide that Ridge (man of the hour) is going to take all the remaining cousins and remaining Himayas to see Wally. Austin rides with Meredith. I walk to my car--the battery is dead--or so I thought.



I go running across the parking lot to catch Meredith before she pulls out. She comes over to give me a jump--only to find that my battery is smoking and there is blueish purple white crazy looking corrosion on the battery. WHAT! So we could do nothing but call Carl. So Carl pulls up about 20 minutes later with his chauffeur Ridge and hobbles over to the car. The battery cable has been eaten away for some reason.

Ridge takes the kids to the movie--Meredith goes home--and Carl and I proceed to fix the car. We went to Advance Auto Parts and got the parts we needed--I parked in handicap just so you know. We went back to the car and as Carl was putting the cable on he dropped the bolt in the engine. For whatever reason it did not fall all the way through. I am jumping on the car shaking it, hoping the bolt would fall out---nope. So Carl said, "It would be faster for you to go back and get another one." So I did. I go back to the parking lot and Carl starts to put the cable on and it snaps!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT.!!! On the way, I say, "I wonder what in the world the Lord is trying to teach us?" Carl said, "Not to shop at Advance Auto Parts." We go back to Advance Auto Parts and Carl goes in and gets another cable. We go back to the car and wa-la he fixes it and he heads home and I head to Clean Slate.

So there you have it.

I have just returned home from Clean Slate and will blog about that later....phenomenal day in the life of our church.

Father Knows Best!

Happy Father's Day! I am blessed to have wonderful fathers in my life! My daddy (as my sisters and I call him) is the very best! The most humble--giving--man perhaps on earth for sure in America! I do not take it for granted that I have a daddy that loves my mom, loves his girls, and loves his Lord! Thankful thankful.

Then there is my precious little grandpa. I had the incredible privilege to grow up next door to my paternal grandparents and spent ALOT of time with them growing up. Realistically this will probably be my last Father's Day with my sweet grandpa. He is 88, on dialysis, and in poor health. I have great memories of this sweet godly man who was soooo much fun--so funny.

Then there is the love of my life--father extraordinaire--Carl Lopez!!!

He is not normal (in a good way!) and I tell him that all of the time. He is the greatest daddy to our children. Can't even begin to describe in words--the time--the sacrifices--the affection--the tenderness--the love he shows our children. Carl had a great example also to follow--Bill Lopez. His dad went to be with the Lord 6 years ago this past March. He was an incredible man that everyone loved! So it makes Father's Day a little sad for Carl but what joy to know that one day we will be together again!

And then last but absolute first in my life is my heavenly Father. Oh that He calls me His child--can't believe it--can't get over it--but am sooo thankful. Love--love--love this verse--"Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are..." 1 John 3:1 (Contemporary English Version)

So whatever your father situation here on earth--know that there is a Father in heaven who loves you just the way you are--His child!!

Back from the Beach

Ahh the Beach. We love the beach. My mother grew up in South Texas. So my growing up years were spent vacationing on Port Aransas Island. And now we vacation there as a family. Not to be ugly to Texans, it is not Florida--but it is the beach and my kids love it!! We have to ride a ferry to get to the island--dolphins swim along side. We eat seafood EVERY night--Snoopy's is our favorite. A family beach picture is a MUST. It was soooo windy we didn't get THE picture--you know what I mean (the one where I look good!).

A day on the beach would not be complete for our family if we did not build a drizzle sand castle!

What a Bummer!!!

Ugh! Guess what. Someone helped themselves to my purse and GPS from inside my car at AJ's baseball game Friday night. What a bummer!
I will have to tell you that I left the car unlocked. What a bummer! BUT, I thought I locked it. We have a new car and I am still getting use to it. For instance, I have locked my keys in the car 3 times and Carl has had to come to my rescue--he is sweet and didn't yell at me once--or twice--or even the third time. Sooo, I didn't realize that I didn't push the little button hard enough to lock it. What a bummer! Isn't that how it is...the crazy thing locks when I don't want it to and then doesn't when I do want it to.
I didn't discover the missing purse until the game was over and we were getting out to eat at Pei Wei and I went to grab my purse and it wasn't there. So I rushed back to the field hoping that they (whoever they are) had taken what they wanted and dropped it somewhere--but my purse was no where to be found. What a bummer!! Arvest (our bank) called Carl before we could call them to report it, to tell him that they (whoever they are!!) had made 6 purchases in 30 minutes all at gas stations! What a bummer! Who does that may I ask!? Who walks around parking lots trying to find an unlocked car with a purse and a GPS in it--who???!!! What a stinkin' hassle! We had to cancel our checking, credit card, get a new driver's licenses---blah blah blah! What a bummer!
In June we are beginning our Summer Spa for the Soul at church. If you are in the Tulsa area I would LOVE for you to join us on Wednesday nights at 6:30 beginning June 18th. We are calling it JOY: a Women's Worship Event. I am so excited. Melissa Hunter will be leading our worship time and I will be teaching through the book of Philippians over JOY. So I guess the Lord is just allowing me to learn firsthand to have JOY regardless of my circumstances.
I will have to say as a little blessing from the Lord that as they (again whoever they are!) were lifting my purse from the passenger floorboard to the driver side they dumped my lipstick case out into the floorboard on my side. What a blessing! So now my only purse type possessions that I have are my blackberry, my lipstick and my car keys--what more could a girl want??

As I was on the Internet searching for Shell stations to call and ask if they could check their trash cans for my purse, I ran across this on You Tube! Hilarious and made me laugh. So I had to pass it along to you...




Okay do you not think that is hilarious!! Tim Hawkins is a Christian comedian and soooooo funny! The Lord knew I needed a good laugh. I know you are wondering how did I get from Shell stations to Cletus? Although I have never been formally diagnosed--I am sure that I am ADD. I prefer to think of it as my mind can multi task. Whatever!
So that was a little bright spot to my what a bummer evening.

Because I Said So...

I have been thinking alot lately about parenting. Good thing since I have four children to my credit! I was 29 before I had our first--so it would be true to say that I have never been a "young mom"--I was old when I started! So in those twenty something years, while longing to be married to the one and only Carl Lopez, I had plenty of opportunity to observe the parenting skills of others. And I have got to say that I had GREAT parents--they were not perfect for sure (in fact the older I get the more I think we really were dysFUNctional) again, not perfect, but they were really really good.
How do you know what you are suppose to do? I mean there is not a vo-tech or community college you go to that has Parenting 101 or anything. I didn't have a fat clue what I was doing when we brought that little chubby cheeked dark haired blue eyed cutie home--none!! And almost 14 years and three more kiddos later--pretty much I still don't--perhaps a skinny clue but for sure not a fat clue. So here is Parenting 101 according to Denise Lopez (whoopie!) for whatever it is worth. Most (if not all) wisdom is not original with me--just so you know.

1. Dottie Myatt--now there's a mom for you! What a great mom. She and Mr. Sam I am raised three INCREDIBLE kids! Who I feel so fortunate that I got to be a part of their lives. Bill and Lily were in my youth group and little Janie just liked to hang around alot. I asked Dottie once, "Ok what's your secret?" This was way before I had kids and I tucked it away for safe keeping. She told me three things:
A) Pray (duh--sorry Dottie)
B) Be consistent Hard to do--but worth it. Funny things at 3 are NOT funny at 12!
C) Never take the road of least resistance (wow--pretty good advice--which I have tried to put into practice in the Lopez home).

2. My friend Lana (who is my true blue should have been a sister friend) told me to:
Pray they get caught. "Denise," she would say in her Mary Jo from Designing Women voice. "They are going to mess up, they are, they are! So you just need to pray that every time they do they get caught." My kids hate that I pray that!!


3. Another thing I pray scripture for my kids. Here are a few passages that I pray for the A's:
A) Genesis 6:9,22 They would be righteous, walk with God, and do everything that God tells them to do.
B) Numbers 14:24 They would be a servant, have a different spirit about them, and that they would follow God wholeheartedly.
C) Luke 1:13-16 That they would be a joy to Carl and I, they would be great in the eyes of God, never drink wine or beer, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and that many will be saved because of their lives.
D) John 1:5 They would be a shining light to their schools, friends, and generation. That they would never be overcome with darkness.
E) Ephesians 4:32 (This is actually the first verse we had our children memorize) That they would be kind to others, forgive others, and know the forgiveness of God.


4. No matter how inconvenient it is:
A) Always address deliberate disobedience (preferably in private--when we could we would pull --and a time or two yank them over to the side to discipline them).
B) Keep your word. When you say, "if you do that one more time you are going to get XYZ punishment."; be sure that you XY and Z.


5) I read a book How to be a Hero to Your Kids by Josh McDowell years ago when I was a youth minister and put it in to practice with teenagers and now make it a "policy" with my own. The whole book was written around the premise of Rules without Relationship equals Rebellion. We have major perimeters, boundaries, RULES whatever you want to call them--at our house. But I can also tell you we spend alot of time pouring into our kids and developing a strong relationship with each of them. I am counting on Josh's equation to be true.


6) Let the little things be little things. We have really good friends that shared a great story with us about their son Kevin, who is like a member of our family. Kev was leaving his shoes in the living room, on the stairs, etc etc. Finally Wanda had it and really got on to him and wouldn't let it go. Les said to Wanda, "When the shoes are gone the boy will be gone." I am sure there will come a day that I would love for tennis shoes or flip flops to be left lying around.

7) Eat together as a family! This is a non-negotiable at our house. We eat together almost every night. There are very few nights that we do not eat together. Sometimes it is at Taco Bueno at 8:30 at night. I can hear some of you already, we don't have time. I dare say I would put my calendar up against yours any day of the week. We are BUSY, but we will always make time to be together as a family for dinner. I really believe this has made a HUGE difference for our children. TV off at the table all together. My mother made this a priority in our home growing up and it is one thing for sure that I have made it one in mine.

8) I read recently on Beth Moore's blog that one thing she would change about raising her kids, is that she would have let them take a friend on vacation with them less and make them depend on each other to have fun with. Aside from the fact that we have 4 and could not afford to take 4 extras, and preferring not to drive a people mover around, we could not transport them!!--I thought this was great advice. I hear all the time people saying, we let each of our kids take a friend--ok once in a while but not every family vacation. Good advice Beth--I agree! I love when I hear my kids in the car on a trip laughing with one another or catch them really enjoying being together on the beach or boat or wherever. I pray for my children to be friends.

Well this turned out to be a whole lot longer than I thought. I really could go on and on--I love being a mom. I would love to hear your bits and pieces of parenting advice. Again sorry so long--I am just wordy! But come on what do you expect when I only blog once a week.


For an added surprise guess what...I have learned to add pictures!!!!!! Look out! EveryDay with Denise will never be the same! Here is a pick of my four A's on Beaver Lake this past weekend. Nothing like having to hang on to your little sister going 3.5 miles per hour on the water!

Pray for the Stephen Curtis Chapman Family

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.McPherson said no charges are expected."It looks like a tragic accident," she said.She said several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville.The brother apparently did not see the little girl, McPherson said. She did not have the name or exact age of the brother, only that he is an older teenager.The girl died later at Vanderbilt Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

Chapman, originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria.Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association.The singer's Web site said that Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.

The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site."After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site. "We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world."'Chapman also has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess."

So sad--please pray for this family. Such a tragedy and so hard to understand.

David VS David

Okay here's the deal dawg. This is my first year to be an American Idol fan. I know I know I am a little behind. Which not to brag, but I do pride myself with USUALLY being fairly with it--whatever IT is. And at 43 years old that isn't always easy to do. Anyway, I don't know where I have been the past 7 years but not watching Idol. My first exposure was 2 years ago when Mandisa was a contestant and I watched off and on--not committed. But I love Mandisa and first became a fan at of course a Living Proof Conference. By the way you have got to visit Travis Cottrell's blog--he blogs about Idol and is funny and right on. Then last year when Melinda Doolittle was on I tried to watch because she was a graduate of Union High School and from Tulsa so I tried to be supportive but was not consistent. But let me say that THIS YEAR I am a FAN! Never missed--and we just stepped into the 21st century 3 weeks ago and got DVR!! Look out. So now for sure we have not missed a single moment.
Let me say I was--I am--and will always be a Jason Castro fan--dreadlocks and all. I refuse to think that his dreadlocks smell I don't care what anyone says!!! Something about him I just like him.
Then there is Hello Miss-where-did-you-come-from-should-have-been-out-in-the top-12-but-still-around-and-growing-on-me-Syesha. It was inevitable that she was off tonight. Cute but not an American Idol--she does need to go on Broadway she is an actress/singer thus Broadway bound. Secondly, let me say I have not been a David Cook fan--at all BUT, he has grown on me and I really really like him. I am willing to admit when I am wrong and was wrong about David Cook. Of course it helps that he is from KC--my hometown (sort of Kearney really but who knows where that is) and currently lives (lived) in Tulsa where I currently reside so that gives a few points in my eyes. It helped that he sang a Switchfoot song last night--which my kids thought was totally cool. But here is why I like him I think he is genuinely an encourager and I want to be like that--EveryDay. I want to clap others on and David Cook has done that on Idol, especially tonight and that was impressive to me. Okay David Archuelta--bless his little heart--can sing like no body's business but really he has little to no social skills--I know I know he is only 17 but come on--David Cook has my vote. GO DAVID--COOK that is!!!
One of the goals for my blog is not to be frivolous and never to blog about meaningless things. I do feel somewhat that Idol is frivolous but let me redeem my blog by saying GO be an encourager --someone needs you to clap for them.

There is weird and then there is God-weird

Weird stuff happens to me. I don't go looking for it, it just happens. Today, I am just minding my own business and I end up helping a young man from Paris, France pick which grade of gasoline to put into his rental car. He was the brother-in-law of one of the players at the LPGA tournament that happened to be in Tulsa this past weekend. That is weird.
Later on, I am sitting in our Creative Team meeting discussing The Kingdom..our current sermon series which began Sunday and by the way is awesome!--minding my own business trying to give some creative input and somewhere in the course of our discussion a video of Louie Giglio comes into play. I thought it was incredible. Then for whatever reason tonight I am on my laptop, minding my own business and I "accidentally" hit my favorite button. I never hit my favorite button and a list of blogs that I wanted to remember pops up. I check out Everyday Mommy because hello I am EveryDay with Denise and so it caught my eye and guess what is front and center on her blog....LOUIE GIGLIO and the same video we watched earlier. Okay that is God-weird. Of all the blogs I could go to and of all the things that could be on there...OBVIOUSLY God intended for me to pay attention to it. God is awesome--so big--so good. I want you to be blessed as well. You my sweet friends are fearfully and wonderfully made. WOW!!! Check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

Is that not AWESOME!!! LOVE IT!
I am a blogging loser and tried to figure out how to post this so that you could click on the little sideways triangle in the middle of the paused video and was to no avail--bummer.
I love it when God does Weird stuff when I am just minding my own business.

Grace Grace God's Grace

Okay Okay I know that it has been 17 days since my last post, but let's all say together--crazy! So any grace you would like to give me will be greatly appreciated. I now vow to never look at anyone else's blog and think good grief--hello--could you not blog on a regular basis. Because we don't know what has transpired in their life since their last blog. And to be honest wouldn't that be a good policy to have in life period not just in the land of blog. When we look at someone else's life and think good grief--hello--could you get it together (not that I have ever thought that about anyone hmm hmm but...) any grace we could give would be greatly appreciated I am sure. Any way back to my lack of blogging.

Let me say first, my excuse not to blog began around 3 AM on April the 8th (which by the way was my 43rd birthday). Any who, we woke up to a hail storm--seriously some golf ball size attacking our house--it was the craziest thing. None of the kids woke up--grace. However Carl and I are looking out the front door, out the back windows to make sure we were not being attacked and it really is the weather. We get back into bed and the alarm goes off at 4:30 AM because Carl is headed out of town. At 5:00 AM the loudest KABOOM I have ever heard shook our house. I sat up in bed and said, "Holy cow!" which is funny because I don't know that I have ever said that before, which I suppose is better than alot of other things that I could have said. Carl said, "that blew a transformer somewhere." (Moms of little boys, that is not a toy that changes from a robot to a building, it is a box where electricity runs through and changes to a higher voltage or to a lower voltage whatever the case may be--fyi) And then came round two of the hail storm. Carl left around 5:15 AM kissing me but without telling me happy birthday. I chose to have grace mostly because I was sure that he had left a card for me in our bathroom. Then when I went in the bathroom at 7:05 AM and it wasn't there, however, I chose grace because I was sure that he had left it in my closet. Not there, I chose once again to have grace because I was sure for half a second that surely he had left it in the car--he is cute that way sometimes to leave me notes in the car when he or I one are traveling, but not this time because I then remembered that I had already been in the car to take Andersen to the bus stop and it was not there. Once again I chose to have grace because Carl is so cute and so sweet. And also because after 22 years of birthdays together this is the first that he has forgotten.
Come to find out that KABOOM was actually lightening striking my neighbor's houses. One on either side of us. My neighbor to the left got a HOLE in the roof, flooded their attic, knocked electrical out, phone out, splintered their attic cross beams--a real disaster--they were even on the evening news, it was so bad. And then our neighbors on the right got their electrical outlets burned, microwave, ovens, computers etc totally fried. By God's grace, we were not struck but the impact of whatever messed up our modem and our router. Complete grace because I deserve to be struck and just happened to be smack dab in the middle--literally of God's grace that night. Could have been my birthday present from the Lord--I don't know!
Next excuse for my bloglessness. My nephew got married the following weekend and having procastinated for 5 weeks, I was frantically shopping for a flowergirl dress, and 3 other "wedding outfits" for my kiddos. And then we headed to the wedding...
My nephew who is 23 got married to a precious (and we all know that I do NOT throw that word around lightly!) girl who has an adorable 18 month old son. To be completely honest and transparent, not a parent's ideal for their child but... After setting a wedding date 13 months away, they moved the wedding up to 5 weeks away. I will be a great aunt in November--wow. Again, not a parent's ideal for their son, but...
Can I just tell you my sister and sweet sweet brother-in-law handled this "not ideal" situation with absolute GRACE. I could not have been more proud or impressed with my sister. She not only loved on her daughter-in-law to be through the entire process and planning of the wedding but exhibited grace to them both at every opportunity. Way to long to detail each opportunity, but needless to say I CRIED every time I turned around.
Then my nephew who loves the Lord, has been used by God to be a witness on every championship ball team that he has been a part of, showed ultimate grace to this sweet little boy. After he and Whitney had exchanged their vows, the pastor says, "Blake you have expressed the desire to make a commitment to Peyton as well. So do you Blake, take Peyton to love as your own." Blake, "I do." "Do you promise to raise him in a home where the word of God is taught and lived out." I do. GRACE! Needless to say I didn't even turn around and I was crying! I was so proud.
What an incredibly tough couple of weeks for my sister. I hurt for her and cried for her. But let me tell you the Lord really spoke to me and has forever altered my parenting because of this life event. Not the plan, do you hear me, not the plan. My sister and brother in law are godly godly examples. Have prayed with, for, and over those boys. Raised them in an exceptional Christ centered home. Even though Blake chose to momentarily step outside of God's boundaries, all through out the weekend I could see Blake's heart for the Lord. Even though, yes he messed up you could still see his tenderness toward the things of God. And this is what I feel like the Lord taught me. My goal is not to raise good kids who never mess up, but to raise my kids to have a heart for God, regardless of their mistakes and even through their mistakes to have a heart for Him. And I can tell you that is my goal EveryDay and it will only be by His Grace that will happen. You know what beloved hymn is echoing in my head right now, you got it...Grace grace God's grace, Grace that is greater than all my sins.
Please forgive the never ending blog...could have been longer had I chosen to write about 5th disease, ring worm, Espresso--a ladies event at our church that was the night before we left for the wedding, or driving on 0 miles till empty for 40 miles--you know just EveryDay stuff that took place over the past 17 days.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

One thing for sure, life is never boring in the Lopez family! Last night, I left with the 3 girls to go to Emporia, Kansas for Andersen's state gymnastics meet. (Which is funny in and of itself that our state meet is in Kansas since we reside in the state of Oklahoma--hmmm.) We have traveled this route often and make sure we stop at the Gap Outlet that just happens to be on our way--is God good or what. Anyway, we arrive in Emporia a little after midnight. We always stay in the same hotel. So I pull confidently into the hotel ready to hit the sack--all three girls are asleep already. I failed to make a reservation which I normally do, but had a pretty crazy week and forgot to do so. No room in the Inn! Okay we'll go across the street--no vacancy. There was not a hotel room in Emporia. The thought crossed my mind to sleep in the Excursion with the girls--I mean why have a monstrosity of a vehicle if you can't sleep in it every once in a while. Thankfully common sense kicked back in and I called Topeka which is about 50 miles away. No rooms available--what is wrong with these people in Kansas--didn't anyone go to the final four to watch their team--for goodness sake! Okay next town, I called Ottawa. The second hotel I called had two rooms left--Praise the Lord!--we will take one. So I gave the guy my credit card number to reserve my bed. It is now about 12:45 am. I asked the guy, "Okay tell me, what is the best way to get there. I am in Emporia." He said, "Get on I-35 SOUTH to exit 183." Which did not sound right to me having grown up in KC. So I asked two more times, "Are you sure, I get on I-35 south?" "YES."--okay. So about 15 minutes down the road I notice the the mile markers are getting smaller not larger so I called my friend at the front desk. Asked again--yes stay on I-35 south. Thirty minutes down the road I am sure this is not the right direction. So when I called, the guy said, "Hello Denise." "Yes, dear stay on I-35 south just a little further. We will see you in a little bit." (yea right) Okay now there is a McDonald's/Gas station on the turnpike so I tell Andersen I am going to stop and see if we are going the right way--(and get a diet Coke of course). I asked the lady, "How far am I from Ottawa?" Her response, "You are about 135 miles away." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? It is 1:50 AM and I am two hours away from my bed and Andersen competes in 6 and 1/2 hours. So I call my friend in Ottawa--"Oh honey, (did I mention that I am confident that his sexual orientation is not the one that is biblically correct?--I am not judging I am merely making an observation) honey how did I get you going in the wrong direction I am so sorry. I can not believe I did that. I love you (HE IS TELLING ME HE LOVES ME??!!--I am not making this up)" I asked if he could cancel my reservation I would not be staying there. Again the thought of driving back to Emporia and sleeping in my car crossed my mind. And then Andersen said, "Mom I think we should just go home. I don't even care if I compete." "Are you sure sweetie." "Yes, and maybe we can get home and go to the cheer meeting--(YES ANDERSEN MADE CHEER!!)." So we drive to Wichita. I call the Hampton Inn--have you stayed at a Hampton lately? They are on a remodeling campaign and their beds are the most comfy bed I love it) $109.00 for 4 hours of sleep. Even at 2:00 in the morning, I am more frugal than that. Sorry we will go else where. Next hotel--NO ROOM--the desk clerk called another hotel--not so nice $94.00. Sorry for $15 I am headed to the Hampton for my comfy 4 hours of sleep. By now Avery is awake and being witty as ever and making Andersen and I laugh. Back at the Hampton, I being a people person and ever the story teller share my past 2 hour events with the desk clerk. He feels sorry for me and takes $20 dollars off my bill. I am not sure of his sexual orientation. So I park the bus and the girls and I get inside, get in the elevator and I am soooo ready to get into my comfy bed. Andersen sticks the card in the door--the light turns green--it beeps twice--and we are in. Only to find that someone's been sleeping in my very comfy bed! And they left a half eaten apple on the tv. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! So we head back down the elevator. The desk clerk can not believe that someone has not done their job and pleasantly gets us another room. But first he calls the room to make sure no one is in there. So now we get in the elevator--get the giggles in the elevator--gain composure before the doors open and head to our room, get jammies on and get in our very comfy beds. AHHHH--at 2:48 I am well on my way to a good morning's sleep. The alarm on my phone (which is calypso) goes off at 6:00 am. I however choose to snooze 4 times and got up at 6:40 am. At 7:30 am we are back in the bus headed for the Parent Cheer meeting at 11:00. We made it in time for me to pay my first installment of cheerleading fees--lucky me. We also got to see AJ's baseball game--can life get any better??? You can't make stuff like this up!

2-4-6-8 Who Do You Appreciate

Today Andersen had cheer try-outs for Union 8th Grade for next year. We will get an email tomorrow that will let us know if she made it or not. This was Andersen's first year to have to try out. In 6th and 7th grade everyone who wants to cheer--cheers, since there are 5 different football teams per grade so there is a large demand for cheerleaders. Our school district is huge--over 12,000 students! Andersen has 1200 students in her class.
We struggle with the size of our district. Union is the best of the best--teachers--administrators--facilities (our football stadium holds 14,000 and is astro-turf!) But we are seriously praying through what will be best for our kids for the future.

I have ALOT on my plate right now--which is not different than any other week of the year for me, except that the things that are on my plate right now are emotionally heavier than most weeks. Because of the personal nature of what is going on, I am not going to blog about details. But this is what I have dealt with this week--unwed pregnancy of a close family member, unfaithfulness to fiance, 27 year old man killed in a car wreck due to a aneurysm, precious friend diagnosed with brain tumor--(please pray for Julie that God would perform a miracle!), my grandmother has pancreatic cancer and just this week has experienced excruciating pain--(which is probably an indicator that we have very little time left with this Matriarch of our family and wonderful servant of Christ) , and my husband is out of town--not to mention CHEER TRY-OUTS (minute compared to these other things but HUGE to my 13 year-old.)

God has blessed me beyond measure by putting unbelievable precious people in my life--other than family. When I was at a breaking point this week--I called my friend Lana--bawling (which I do NOT normally do) and she just encouraged me--made me laugh--sympathized with me--I could go on and on. Just blessed I am.
Then today I had the honor of being admonished and encouraged by my mentor in the ministry and spiritual father, Dr. Jett. A compassionate and wise man (if you have read my other blogs the husband to my friend Marilyn).

I am completely overwhelmed tonight with appreciation for Lana and Dr. Jett for their friendship, love and encouragement--that I feel like cheering!

EveryDay Does Not Mean Every Day!

When I named my blog EveryDay with Denise, I DID NOT mean that I would blog every day! I meant that I would share EveryDay stuff that happens and what God teaches me through it. Just wanted to clear that up due to the comments that I have had verbally, that I do not blog every day--I never meant to. Ok on to EveryDay stuff.

I started to title this blog Adenovirus, Track Meets and Puppy Puke--because that is what my day has consisted of! Austin and AJ both have Adenovirus. None of my kids have ever had this--at least we didn't know it if we did. High fever for both of them, Austin has had a blood shot right eye, AJ has had a horrible rash. Weird. So I wake up this morning at 6:20 after going to bed at 12:30, and after being woken up at 1:30 by Austin not feeling well. I got Andersen to the bus, ready for her track meet, came back home to let Jake out of his kennel--only to find he had PUKED in his kennel overnight. So now its bad enough that my kids are sick but now my dog is sick. I am in the backyard hosing out the kennel at 7:05 am--nice.

Now for the track meet. After filming an intro video for our new sermon series jesusdoesnotcare.com for 2 hours, I handed Austin and AJ off to our babysitter Kara, and headed to Andersen's track meet. Did I mention Carl is out of town--North Dakota (he woke up to 2 inches of snow instead of puppy puke). Anyway, why does Andersen feel the need to run hurdles is what I want to know. I mean really, for the most part I am an easy going mom but why I ask you why does she need to purposefully worry me with hurdles. She ran the 100 m hurdles which she did great and got 3rd and then 4 hours later she ran the 300 m hurdles and fell! UGH I almost cried. She snagged her foot on the second to last hurdle and caught herself with both hands on the track, her knee bounced on the track and she jumped right back up, bleeding, and finished. I wanted to cry but was so proud of her toughness to get back up and to finish. She is something!

As I sit here blogging, I am thankful that God draws me closer to Himself through my kiddos. I think today God wanted me to know that as my heavenly Father, He sits in the Grand Stand of Heaven watching me run this race, cheering me on, and even when I fall He is still so proud of me and thinks I am something. He is the reason that I "run" EveryDay!

My Friend Marilyn

Today is my dear friend Marilyn's birthday. Last night I had the privilege of attending her birthday party with just a few close friends. She looked absolutely beautiful! We drank birthday smoothies because Marilyn can not have solid food. Marilyn has cancer of the unknown source in her abdominal area.

Marilyn is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 10--5 of which are under the age of 5--triplets will do that to you! She has been married for 50 years and a pastor's wife for 45 years and she has been a part of my life for almost 38 years.

Marilyn is a picture of grace and strength. She has battled cancer for over 16 months--with the grace, beauty and bravery like nothing I have ever seen. Today was the mark of a miracle. She defied the doctor's prognosis! The luck of the Irish--I think not. It is called an answer to prayer. Last night Marilyn gave praise and honor to God for answering all of our prayers and allowing her to be here for her birthday. We all praised and honored God for Marilyn's life and all that she means in ours. God is big--is all I can say!!

I have been blessed to have Marilyn in my life. God has done amazing things through this lady--mighty prayer warrior and friend. Christ has lived through her EveryDay! What an example to follow.

I Love a Good Theme

Having served in Women's Ministry for the past 13 years, I love a good theme. I love for everything to be a part of the theme for my women's events--yes I am a theme junkie!

Friday and Saturday I was at Pickwick State Park in Savannah Tn. speaking at a retreat for Meridian Baptist Church. I spoke on storms. Which these ladies had experienced first hand in January when tornadoes ripped through Jackson, Tn. But this is how good God is (which I totally think He loves themes too!) anyway, I woke up in the middle of the night to rain beating against the window of my motel room and it splashing into the lake right outside my window--beautiful. How sweet of God to add rain as a touch of affirmation--I am not sure how Susan Hopper arranged that with the Lord but I was thrilled.

These ladies were so sweet, so much fun and God is obviously doing amazing things in their lives and in their church. I was blessed to be a part of their retreat. I loved hearing their stories of different storms that God has brought them through and some that they are still in the middle of and trusting God to get them through.

Noah and American Idol

Every Wednesday night we host an 11th and 12th grade community group (small group bible study) in our home. We love to have the "kids" gather around our kitchen and talk about their day while we eat. We then move into the living room for a bible study. Tonight we talked about Noah and the fact that he did what God told him to do no matter how hard it was, how long it took, or who ridiculed him.

And then the clock struck 8 pm and you know what that means IDOL! To be honest this is my first season to be INTO it. I have watched half-hearted for the past two years. But this year...I am committed. I thought what do Noah and American Idol have in common? And the crazy thing is---all of the contestants are doing what they totally believe they are suppose to be doing--no matter how hard it is (bless little David Archeletto's heart, I nearly cried for him when he forgot his words last night--what a doll) and no matter how long it took some of them (like Carly, she auditioned at least twice for Idol before making it. I really think if she would lose the tattoos down the entire length of her arm I could warm up to her more but...nahhh) or who ridicules them--all of them have been criticized somewhat for their performances. (Even Brooke, who is absolutely adorable!) But the sad thing about Idol is that pursuit is soooo temporary. I mean where is Ruban now anyway--does anyone know?

I want do want to do what I totally believe that God is calling me to do EveryDay--no matter how hard it is, how long it takes or who ridicules me--don't you!

O To Be 12!

Tomorrow is AJ's birthday--he will be 12. AJ is a GREAT kid! He is the most versatile guy in the world. In his short 12 years on earth he has done things that range from chess club (as a First Grader!) to quarterback on his little league football team to acting in our Kid's Club at church to academic bowl to wrestling (resist this at all costs moms!) to playing the guitar to airsoft gun wars (not a fan of this either) to raising money for orphans to duck hunting--whew! He deserves a gold medal really for putting up with a household of girls. He has been known to let out a few grunts at the girls, but for the most part he just raises his eyebrows and rolls his eyes. He is an absolute joy and his dad made over (except for the blonde hair).
It really has been awesome to see God working in AJ's life. A month ago at our 1 Rally for our teenagers at church I looked up front on the second row and there is AJ with his hands in the air worshipping his God. I nearly bawled, well okay I did! You know AJ used to worship my God and over the last few years and more intensely the last few months I have seen Him become AJ's God. AJ asked Jesus in his heart when he was 6--a priceless moment. But AJ's faith and intimacy with the Father has realllllyyyy grown the past few months. Partial credit to a godly heritage, partly to an INCREDIBLE youth ministry at the Church at BattleCreek but mostly because God has His hand on AJ's life and AJ has chosen to respond with a Yes. Love love love the fact that my 12 year old is seeking God, and for the most part EveryDay.
My task for the night is to decorate his door. I am not really sure how--why--or even when this little tradition got started--somewhere around Andersen's 2nd or 3rd birthday I think--but now it is a Lopez birthday must. My kids love to wake up to a decorated door celebrating their big day. With 4 children over 13 years I have had to get pretty creative! I think I am going to do AJ's door like a Hawk Nelson t-shirt--come on don't tell me you don't know who Hawk Nelson is--get with it. Anyway, AJ loves their music. So tonight when I discovered that the face on the t-shirt has 12 teeth I thought "that's the door". So I must post and go create a door.

"Just Happened"

I love Sundays because I love my church. I love my job. I have the awesome opportunity and privilege to serve as the Women's Minister at the most amazing church--The Church at BattleCreek. I could go on and on about my church and all that God is doing. But today, God "just happened" to use me to speak words of encouragement into a fairly new very dear friend of mine. She has alot going on in her life and is feeling a little overwhelmed. She said, "I can feel myself going under and I don't want to go there." She was desperate to hear "The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry." Proverbs 25:11 the Message I love that God has a specific word for each of us. And sometimes He has a specific word--custom made--that He wants us to pass along. I "just happened" to stop by where she "just happened" to be spending time all by herself. My friend is a believer but she needed to hear that God cares about her and her situation, and I "just happened" to get the privilege of letting Him do it through me. Imagine that, God using me to minister to someone outside the four walls of my church--and on a Sunday. I love when God does stuff like that. That is my lifelong prayer that I "just happen" to be about His business EveryDay.