Odd.

And I thought it was weird just to hear myself sing. It's really weird to hear AND watch it. Thanks to Caroline Cobb Smith, an extremely talented musician who inspires me every time I listen to her, for giving me the idea to video one of my songs.

I think I'll call it "Odd" and it was inspired by a series I had the privilege of hearing Rick Atchley speak on a few weeks ago.

There was a girl I once knew back in high school.
She was made fun of some of the time.
She'd offer to pray with me if I'd had a bad day.
She wasn't afraid to say if someone was out of line.
And I wonder if she ever felt rejected.
But in the end I think she was respected.
I asked her how she went against the crowd.
This is what she had to say:


If I'm odd, it's because I love God.
And if I am strange let it be because I bear His name.
Jesus lives in me so I oughta live differently,
So if I'm odd let me be odd because I love God.


That same girl packed up all her things and moved to Africa,
She built a house and lived off the land.
She took in babies and ladies who'd been outcasted.
And no one who lived near by could really understand.
Why a girl would take in the rejected.
But, pretty soon she became respected.
And they asked her why she'd given up her life.
This is what she had to say:


She said if I'm odd, it's because I love God.
And if I am strange let it be because I bear His name.
Jesus lives in me so I oughta live differently.
So if I'm odd let me be odd because I love God.


Now me, myself, I live here in this neighborhood.
With 2.5 kids a husband and a dog.
And I wonder if I am blending in just a little too much.
But, I'm praying. Oh, I've been praying that.....
my neighbors think I'm odd.


I want to be odd because I love God.
And if I am strange let it be because I bear His name.
Jesus lives in me so I oughta live differently,
So if I'm odd, let me be odd because I love God.
If I'm odd let me be odd because I love you, God.

Crazy people are texting your children

Sam has a friend. We'll call him Ben. Ben and Sam were on the bus together. Ben was messing with his phone when he got a text. Ben opened up the text and, low and behold, it was a picture of a man's "parts" painted in a rather festive manner.

Ben was disgusted and showed Sam who was also disgusted.  Thankfully, Sam did the right thing and immediately told us about it. We made sure that Ben's parents were also told. Ben had already showed his parents.

I am so proud of these boys for telling their parents right away. I am, however, incredibly disgusted that a piece of my child's innocence was stolen by an idiot who thought it was a swell idea to send a festive picture to everyone in his address book, including the numbers that were old, had been disconnected, and re-connected as the phone number of an 11 year old boy.

I don't know what age is appropriate to allow a child to get a cell phone. We recently purchased a very simple model for our boys. They are not allowed to take it to school, but we send it with them when they are playing with friends or going on a bike ride by themselves.

We're just not sure how to completely protect them from crazy people who might get a hold of their number. We have placed a new rule on the phone that they are simply not allowed to answer or open any calls or texts coming from a number they do not recognize.

I would love to hear from some of you who may have ideas on how we can protect our kids from this stuff.....or can we??????

My Girl

The girl turned six a couple of weeks ago. I know, where did the time go, right? My heart simply bursts with love for Selah. She is everything and more I could have ever asked for or wanted in a daughter. I'm not sure why I've been so blessed.

Last month, Selah flew with me to San Antonio to be with my Uncle Brian as he died. She was pure joy the entire time and brought smiles to everyone's faces during a very tough time. At one point, shortly after he died, Selah asked if we would have a funeral for Brian. I said, "Yes, honey, we will have a funeral." Selah said, "Well, I sure hope he invites us." If Brian heard that conversation, I'm pretty sure he was rolling with laughter. As was the rest of the family!

I still forget that she looks different than us when people ask us about her. She is not our "adopted" daughter. She is simply our daughter.

She is spunky and girly and dainty, but, watch out! The girl can hold her own and WILL hold her own if she needs to. The boys don't mess with her too often.

I have been feeling a bit uninspired as far as this blog is concerned, but as I was thinking about my children this morning, I suddenly found a burst of inspiration. It's funny how kids will do that to you. I am so thankful to be the mama to three amazing kids.