Writing in the Margins is okay... and a little football... and a free book!

This blog is written in mixed up order of the title:

So.... there was a football game last night... and even though it's been 27 years since I had on a cheerleading outfit, I was just as excited as those girls last night!  It's just something about seeing the red and white, the fans all pepped up, and the Red Devils dominating the field that sends chills over me.  I think the best part about my night was realizing that I wouldn't rather be any place in the world... my entire family sitting and enjoying what we love best... to beat Washington.

I didn't think I got a picture of Thomas and his you know what last night... but I did!  He told me  he wasn't sure he liked me taking pictures of that! 

 Our boys were really fired up last night! 

 The cheerleaders about to take the field.  They looked good too... and I'm a very honest person... I would say if they didn't! 

 There's my Sis! 

 Baby Thom warming up... he played Thursday in the JV game... but I missed him from being in Athens this week.... more on that later! 

 I love that KB had no idea how to do any of this a few months ago... and now she is doing things that I never dreamed of...

 Holding for the kicker... got that part he doesn't want me to show again! 

 Hunka Jim and I Will Cut You in the same picture!  Love them both! 

 Getting ready for the National Anthem...

 A little devil posing for the man from Augusta Chronicle who looks just like Marcus Spratlin to me! 

 Here come the Devils... for the first time in a few years, I wasn't nervous.... I had a feeling we were going to win... I think someone said we would lose by 10... not last night..... I don't like to talk ugly about other teams (well... not in public).... but their personal fouls helped us so much.  Don't take cheap shots... especially not right in front of the referees! 

 #truth.... we shut them down! 

 Love this picture!

And a little prayer before the game never hurt anyone! 


If you just want football talk... stop here... 







For almost a year, I have been reading different books in the morning to go along with my devotional.  It's true that the more you learn.... you realize the less you know.  Every few months I go on Amazon and look for books that I think would be good for me to gain more knowledge about the Bible.  A few months ago this one came up, and I think it was written just for me.  I love it.

I love to write... and doodle... and take notes.  It's true... I'm an engaged learner... If you don't have my attention... I don't learn anything.  I often take notes in church... in my Bible... and on anything I can find to write...

I already did many things this book suggested through the Bible Study, but I learned so many things that I'm sure someone else might read and think... Where in the world did that come from?

The book is about margins... and how important they are.  Writing in the margins is like having a conversation with God... writing your thoughts, your fears, your happiness... anything you want that connects you vertically with God... One story in the book is about a man who died of cancer... his family picked up his Bible and gave it to the pastor to see if anything he had been writing in it could be used at his funeral... it was filled with wonderful conversations with God... his children's names... and special events in his life.  How wonderful is that?  I have no doubt that death of any of my family members is going to be hard.  But somehow... I think I would find comfort in seeing their thoughts on a page... but more importantly, I want my children to pick up my Bible one day and say, "Wow, Mama is in Heaven... and there is no doubt... look at how much she prayed for us, look at how much she worried about us, and look at how much she relied on her Bible to get through tough times, and look at how many times she wrote about knowing that Jesus was the answer to anything that was wrong or right."  Some may think of it as a diary, but it isn't... it's your fears right there by God's words that let everyone know you rely on Him. 

Many people have made the comment that writing in the Bible is not good... I always felt that until a few years ago when I just thought I needed to make comments about what the preacher said so I wouldn't forget the great points.  One of the sayings in this book is a "Dirty Bible, Clean Heart".... in my words I wrote.... "Mess up your Bible to clean up your heart"....

Another point from the book that I find eye-opening was the verse from Leviticus 23:22- When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  Leave them for the poor and the alien.  I am the Lord your God.  

Leaving room for things to happen in the edges of your life (your margins) is important.  A few years ago, I had to have a plan for every minute of every day.  I would plan weeks in advance and always have something to look forward to when I was doodling on paper!  I'm not sure when I decided that it was okay not to have plan... to sit at home sometimes with just the four of us... to eat at home.... and to watch television together.  We probably don't watch the best shows we should, but we do get a few giggles out of many things we enjoy doing as a family.  I'm so glad that I can now take this verse and put it to even better use.  If you fill your time, If I fill my time, with something every single minute of the day... I leave no room for others to benefit... I love sitting down with friends and talking about what I'm reading... I love telling them about what I find each morning in my Bible... and I love getting private messages on Facebook telling me how much someone loves to read my blog.  I falter... every single day.... but I still get up the next morning and ask for forgiveness... and try to remember throughout the day that I should do better.  I think my biggest problem is my tongue... I could say "I can't help it"... but I can... I should wear earplugs every day... that would help a lot... throughout this Bible study... I have written in my journal "Keep your mouth shut!".

This Bible study was in parallel to me reading Proverbs this month... I read a chapter a day that goes along with the day of the month... throughout my reading of Proverbs this month....I have written over and over... "discipline children"... and "be careful what you go around".... It's so easy to slip... it's so easy to go back to old ways... it's so easy to cave into peer pressure... yes, at 44 there is still peer pressure... "I want to do what they are doing, I want to go where they are going, I want to have the best pictures on Facebook that make everyone jealous, I want to buy everything I see, I want to eat everything in sight, I want, I want, I want".... but at night... when I go to bed... none of that gives happiness and joy.  I've learned that over the past few years....

I'm finished with my Writing in the Margins book for now.  I'd love to loan it to someone else who might be struggling and need a little time with Jesus... I have a few notes written in it, but not many... I wrote my notes in my journal.  I'd like to have it back though... for one day... I hope that KB and Ben both read it... and then pick up my Bible and see the notes... the notes I have about them in my Bible... and know why I write what I write! 

Finally, I got the best compliment yesterday morning... I have been in Athens all week at a conference.  As I was talking to Mark, he told me that he wanted me to know that if anything happened to me... he was going to get Rachel or Amanda to come and live with him.  It was too much work to get both children where they needed to be... he didn't know if he should let KB go where she wanted to go... he had to make sure a volcano was built and would erupt... he had to take cookies to KB at school... etc, etc, etc.... I told him I knew what hard work it was... and I hated to break it to him, but I was going to be traveling this coming week too for three nights... He immediately responded with "I'm traveling too"... I asked him where... and he said, "I don't know yet, but I can't do this again... it wears me out!".... I love it... and him... for being a good daddy and trying!  When I got home, I asked him if he could understand why on the nights he is traveling and calls me... I am not all into sitting down and chatting for thirty minutes about his day... there isn't time... there is too much to do.  I don't know how single parents make it!  My hat's off to you! 

Oh How I've Missed This....

I couldn't be happier to be sitting at the computer this morning... downloading pictures from our first home game and releasing all the tension built up in me on the little letters that are fortunate enough to create words that may or may not express how I really feel!  I'm so glad the whirlwind in my life is settling down...and most of all that I can sit, relax, and write. 
My devotional this morning was very fitting... one small part was from John 8 when Jesus chose to write in the sand instead of responding to remarks made to Him.  I ended this morning with Proverbs 22.... how fitting... for my children to see how to live... how to respond... how to pray for those who need.... and of course... I may need to get that wooden spoon out sometimes too for discipline!  Today... I'm going to write a blog... it's my sand! 

 Sweet girls getting ready for the first pep rally of the season.  For those who have never been out of the box we call Lincolnton, they don't know how blessed they are to be here.  Sometimes they may focus on things that really don't matter... and I have to remember they haven't been other places to see what it's like... but for me, I focus on the fact that the girls that KB stands on the sidelines with... I know all their parents... I trust them... I know they will watch after my child and I will watch after theirs.  It's so comforting to know that when she says she wants to go home with someone... I know that home... I know that it's centered on Christ... and for that, I'm blessed.  Thank you Lord that I am in a place that let's me know the children, the parents, the grandparents... and I never have to wonder if she is in the right place and safe! 

 Baby Thom doesn't look so much like a baby anymore as he towers over the team... He has the Mattison height... and I'll talk about those other body parts like us later! 

 This is Lincolnton... a place where boys dream to wear the red and white and represent their hometown on Friday nights... Being in that huddle is privilege....these boys and their parents should remember that the four short years they are there... will be some of the best memories they make in their lives!  They are a team... and for that... we can all be thankful! 

 She smiles... she enjoys it... she loves to cheer.... I'll be honest... one night as we were coming home from tumbling this summer... she told me she missed dance... it brought tears to my eyes... I know where her heart is... she loves it.... I wondered if she would have the glow of the cheerleader that said she was out there for the right reasons... for the love of supporting a team... for the love of entertaining the crowd... for the love of the game.... I worried, I prayed, and I watched... I didn't want her to regret the path of cheerleading she took... but Thursday night... the glow was there... maybe she can fake it... but I look at her and know that right now... she is where she needs to be.... I'm hoping that smile is for any crowd she stands in front of... it's infectious to me... she loves being in the center of attention!  And one day... you will dance... I know it! 

Put those legs together!  As we sat and watched her do this, Mama said, "I didn't know she could do that!"... for the first time... she did it without support and she did it with a smile... I love that she jumped off the ledge and decided to try it!  Once you jump to the other side... you will never regret it!  Do everything in life that you have the opportunity to do! 

 So maybe she needs her haircut!  I just think this is a funny picture!  One of those, "Mama... why would you put this on here?"....

 She carries the S for the flag... It stands for Sis, Sassy, and Smiling... or maybe it is just the last letter in Devils! 

 When I was cheerleading coach, I had to MAKE the girls carry the flags when I ordered them... NO ONE wanted to do it!  They didn't like it!  And look now... they are all smiles! 

 I like to mimic the college teams... I saw these at the Clemson game and knew that the Red Devils needed them too!   They are still alive and well... and look great!  It's a good addition to our entrance on the field. 

 And there is Sis... carrying the S... and Baby Thom showed up in the picture too! 

 Praying... so many things can be done in prayer... a small, southern town... we pray... I hope this isn't the only time these boys pray, but I am glad that on Friday night... before they take the field... they pray... I'm not sure they will ever understand the impact this makes on the little boys in the stands... and me! 

And look who is back.... He spent many nights at our house when I was in middle and high school eating and watching movies with Daddy... sweet, sweet man... It was so good to see him back on the field!

 And the girls pray too... and we always have... find that comfort in asking God for safety.... and guidance... and a loving heart! 

 On top of the world... serious... and waiting on kick-off

 If Boo-ma could see this picture... she would tell her she looked like a "hussy" with that red lipstick...

 Aren't they sweet?  In the background... you can see our boys will shine... I think the girls were shining! 

 And behind that coach... is Mark.... with the chiefs... he loves to make fun and pick that he likes them better this one week out of the year! 

 Back to Baby Thom... that other body part... he got our Mattison butt!  Ain't he cute?

 Bradford and his double chin... he is adorable! 

 She truly doesn't need a megaphone... I think she is super loud! 

And Caroline... the baby whisperer.... bless Addelyn Burt's heart... it was so hot, but she still managed to get a little nap in! 

 It was my turn to feed the cheerleaders... I have often questioned myself in giving up coaching... but as I watched these girls... some were ones I coached... I'm so glad not have that drama... and rush on Friday nights of being there early... and deciding on who gets to do what... Just teasing... I loved being with them!  I'd do it every Friday night! 

 I love our band's half-time show... Mr. Dukes truly picks songs for the crowd... I'm sure students think it is old school... it's my school... good show! 

Baby Thom with the ball.... I told him after the game that I was not happy that he got to go in... you know that's all he wanted, but I worry about my babies getting hurt... I am much more at ease when he is standing on the sidelines... I feel the same way about Ben! 

The end of the game... a tradition! 

 After a few showers... and a few chicken strips... the boys needed milkshakes at Jane and Butch's... This was Ray's first time over... he thought he needed to sit at the kitchen table to eat... I quickly told him we were not like that... eat where you want... Jane doesn't expect you to sit at the table!

 Oh my goodness!!!  Mawmaw would be so happy to see her grandchildren and niece back together again... they are three devilish looking adults to  me.... you can look in their eyes and see it!  I love that Ashley is back... and Zonya came to visit! 

And these three... may they love each other in fifteen years like they do now... cousins are the best!  Just like the first picture of three cousins.... let's hope these three can pick back up where they leave off... So glad that Noah and Reese are here!  Ben needed a few more people to boss around!  They all got a special treat last night because they got to go with Mark to do the team devotion.  I hear they liked it....and they want to go back!

And now... I'm so glad to be back to somewhat normal... my role as interim is over and I couldn't be more ready for a vacation... by looking at this picture, you would never know that I was in the middle of a migraine... she is hot, sweaty and rushing to get to more pictures, he isn't happy about having to put on a dressy outfit for a picture... and then... the one who can never have a normal face in a picture is trying, struggling to make our picture look somewhat normal... so while it looks great...there are lots of things going on inside of us.... and that's where we need to focus... the inside... our hearts... I know mine needs a little cleansing... I need to find that filter for my mouth... pray... and hope that all those ugly thoughts won't keep popping out of my mouth when I get my feelings hurt!  I want us to be as happy on the inside as we look on the outside... and sometimes that might mean not getting upset about a house that is dirty, laundry that needs to be done, flowers that need watering, groceries to be bought, reports due, and all those other things that pull at my heart.  As I look back over these pictures... I'm so lucky... I know it... and may I continue to see that in the good times and bad.  Let nothing that comes out of my mouth be harmful or hurtful anymore... I owe that to God... He has given me so much... so if you see me... and I don't talk... I'm trying!  I think I may need to go look for the duct tape. Here's to the 2015 season... may each Saturday I get to write...and pour my love of my family on pages of this blog so they will always know that I loved them will all my heart, my soul... and my being!