Bare Feet

The older I get the more I realize that my life is full of quirks. One of those quirks is in the area of shoes. Shoes are so much fun. I wish I could have a crazy trendy pair of shoes to match every outfit. Shoes in my opinion are like fun jewelry. They do not have to be comfortable, sensible or versatile because I do not plan to have them on that long! I live most of my life barefooted with a closest full of shoes.

Two weeks ago we left the house in the afternoon ran errands, ate dinner out and went to the LD Bell Homecoming game. By the time we left the game it was a little after 10 PM. Shortly after shutting the car doors for our ride home, William asked from the backseat, “Can I take my shoes off? How long have I had these shoes on anyway?” At that point I realized, wow, we have all had shoes on about 6 hours. That is extremely long for this homeschool family! I, of course, also realized the shear silliness of the situation. My kids should be able to wear shoes for more than 6 hours….or should they?

A friend of mine was sharing with me how she went to the mall the other day with friends of hers on furlough from Mozambique, Africa. The kids were all barefooted….at the mall! It seems a little strange to my germ a-phobic mind to go out in public without shoes, but for this family they were simply being true to their own levels of comfort and upbringing. I was also teasing another friend of mine last week about family members of hers that are true “free spirits”. They enjoy a more “natural” life style and are very open with their self expression of body art. The interesting thing about both of these situations is that these families are ones that are making a difference for the gospel in the areas that God has called them.

This has me thinking about my own level of transparency and my ability to be true to the person God has made me to be. I know I have a lot of conventional ideas about socially acceptable behavior, and I am ashamed to say that I sometimes struggle to let go of stereotypes and judgmental attitudes. Shoes are just as I described them…fun accessories. They themselves are an expression of style and personality. Feet…feet are an expression of the creator….and my willingness to live openly before man and boldly for God is an expression of my love for the Creator.

This morning I was once again amazed at how God is speaking to my children and teaching me through the process. I had just finished my “quiet time” with the Father when Grace joined me to journal. I asked her how her time had been going with God. She openly confessed that she was at a place where she wanted to hear from God again. She said, “God has been speaking to me again because I have been not thinking about myself, and I have been listening. I think it is going to happen in the morning because I am not dressed yet and I am talking to God with just the plain me.” You see, we have been working with Grace on not being so self-focused. She is starting to place too high a value on outward beauty and vanity. Her statement is stemming from that, but it has also challenged me to evaluate where I am in my own ability to go to God bare.

Who has God created me to be, and what am I doing with the gifts that He has given me? Am I trying to put shoes on feet that are meant to be free? Am I not able to minister to everyone in my path because I am too focused on outward convention and beauty, or am I trying to make people wear the shoes that I think they should wear?

Moses was an amazing man of God, and I am truly enjoying studying his life through Bible Study Fellowship. It is interesting to see his example of giving up all of the wealth and status of Egypt and refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. (Heb. 11) Am I willing to give up my "shoes"...my American mindset and amenities? I say that I am, but where will my attitude be 6 months down the road? I am also in awe of Moses' example of obedience to remove his shoes upon entering the presence of a Holy God. How reverant am I in my time spent with the Father? I confess many times I am slouching in my bed half asleep....I am also doing a lot more talking than listening!

So, today I am challenged to ask myself, what other areas am I living barefooted with a closest full of shoes? Meaning: I know in my head & heart the right thing to do, but I have not fully committed to total obedience, or in what areas am I living one way for the world and one way at home...

What am I going to do today to live a true and transparent life? What shoes need to be thrown out so that I can be ready hear from a holy God?

Not quite to the point where I can dance naked before the Lord, but going through my closet of shoes today!
AT

“How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!’” Romans 10:15

Friday Night Campout

Matt & I were not up for a full blown camping weekend, so we decided to make a tent in William's room and let the kids camp out on the floor. They had a blast. What imaginations!

Here is my favorite picture. Matt is such a good dad! You can view a few other pics by clicking here.

Proud to be the momma in this family! AT

Friday Night Football

Matt has wanted to take the kids to a High School football game for the last two years, but we just never "got around to it". He, as well as both of his sisters, graduated from LD Bell in Hurst, TX (right next to where we currently live in North Richland Hills), so we looked into going this year. It happened that last Friday was going to be our best night and it was Homecoming! After looking into the price of horse pins...oh excuse me, what Texans consider appropriate mums....we decided to simply go wearing the school colors as best we could. We did buy two large blue bells at Michael's, pom poms for Grace and blow-up "banger things" for William, so that we were sure to have school spirit and the right cheering equipment.


We initially thought that we would leave the game after the half time show, but we were all having so much fun we stayed to the very end. In true form to their personalities: William constantly asked QUESTIONS. He soaked up the rules for football; was fascinated by the precision of the marching band; and loved the running commentary of the announcer. Grace was a blast of ENTHUSIASM. She hit everyone around us at least once with the pom poms; danced around kicking like the "glittery girls"; and in general was quite an entertaining show herself.


View a few pics from the game by clicking here.


Loving Family Time,
AT

New Camera - Clip of Grace's 2nd Tooth

We are blessed to now have a digital camera/camcorder. I have a great clip of the kids washing the car today with their dad, but we discovered it is too large (2min. 17 sec.) to load onto the blog....so, when Grace lost her tooth tonight we tried a short clip!

This is tooth #2 for Miss Grace. Matt slipped it right out of her mouth. She was surprised when she saw it in her daddy's hand. Hope the tooth fairy brings something nice!

AT

PS: You can check-out car wash pics. by clicking on "Car Wash" in the Family Pictures section of our blog.

Where were you?

I suppose every generation has major world events that stand as mile markers of change. Some of the major events in mine have to be the falling of the Berlin wall, the explosion of the Challenger and of course, the events of 911.

Where was I on September 11, 2001?

I was almost 8 months pregnant with my son, and my Mam-maw was staying with me; otherwise, I might not have had on the television. I stood in my living room in shock as I watched the replay of the first events over and over. I was preparing to leave the house to go to a check-up. Thankfully, God gave me the car ride to pray and seek His wisdom because when I walked into the waiting room all occupants were in the same state I was in at home. Names were being called to go back to see the doctor and no one would move from the lobby television. It was at that time the towers began to fall and people started to weep. I did the only thing I knew to do - Pray. The next thing I knew women were around me doing the same thing. Then my name was being called and eyes were staring at me for reassurance I wasn't sure how to give. I am NOT a public speaker, but somehow God gave me words and scripture to share. I would give you the verses or words now, but truthfully, I don't remember. It was for that time and for those women.

I have found that God is often like that. He gives us what we need at the exact time we need it. Today, as I remember the events of that day. I am reminded that He is sovereign. He never leaves us. His ways are not our ways. He desires a personal relationship with each of us.

This life is fleeting. What choices will I make today that will last for eternity?

AT

Below are pictures from a business trip to NY that I tagged along on in 2007:

Ground Zero; Cards on the Fence; Liberty St. Sign (I find that an interesting name for the street. Was that changed after 911?)

Matt & Amy in Central Park; Work sign on gate to the reconstruction

Thankfulness

My in-laws are annoying……WAIT, WAIT….before someone grabs the phone and calls Tyler, let me explain.

One of the first things I noticed about the Travis family was their insistence on giving God thanks. Not just when situations were good, that was a given, but to thank God when times were tough…that was challenging to me.

I remember as a young adult and new believer it was quite annoying to have my FIL stop me in the middle of a story (well really stop my complaining/pity party) and ask me if I had thanked God. He did not ask me if I had asked God for help; asked God to fix my situation; asked God to etc. etc. He simply asked me if I had thanked Him.

WOW! What a concept, and YES, I confess it was quite annoying to have to answer that question…mostly, because my answer was, “NO”…and my heart answer was, “and I don’t really want to”! I would rather complain; or ask for relief of my situation; ask God to fix the situation; ask God to hurry up my situation; etc. etc. To thank God in all things assumes that I am able to fully surrender my will and my way to His perfect care and plan for my life. (i.e. give Him control & allow Him to sit on the throne of my life!)

I have truly had to let this practice grow in me and speak to me for years now. What I am learning is that a thankful heart is not something that I am going to be able to simply obtain. It has to be developed. The heart is a muscle, and because of that I have to actively practice thanking God every day in every situation at all times if I truly want to have a thankful heart pumping inside of me.

It has helped me that Matt grew up with this principle, and has faithfully modeled thankfulness as the leader of our family. I confess many times I have begrudgingly knelt beside my husband and began the process of thanking God. I also confess that when I look back at those instances of surrender….wow, what a time of getting a kingdom perspective on my life and purpose.

Of course as a parent, I would like for my children to learn lessons faster than I have. I know that life is the best lesson, so we naturally pray for situations where our kids have to give God thanks…difficult and easy times. I think it is also helpful to create times when the kids have to “practice” giving thanks. (exercise that muscle!) The past few weeks in our homeschool studies we have focused on thankfulness. One of our curriculum activities was suppose to be an “All About Me” poster. I decided to have the kids make posters that featured special things “all about them”, but the twist was that they had to thank God for those things. Instead of the top saying, “William David Travis”, it said, “William is Thankful for…”. The poster still pointed out things about him (good with piano, likes animals, etc.) It just put the focus where it should be…on the Creator.

It must have made some impact on the kids because Grace had quite a talk the other day with her Leapster puzzle game. In the game, she has to resolve how to make all of the “faces” on the screen “happy”. One may want a red hat that is tall, the other wants one the same color as the first, etc., etc. The puzzle is solved when they all have the correct hats. Grace was having quite a time solving the puzzle and the “faces” kept frowning at her. In her frustration, she very boldly said, “You just need to get thankful for what you are given. I am in charge and I do (what’s) best!”

Again, I am amazed at what God is teaching me through my children. They must get it from my annoying in-laws & husband …..good Travis genes! I just need to get thankful and make it a practice to continually give thanks. HE alone knows what is best!

Yes, I confess it is “annoying” when someone points out a flaw in my life, whether that is my in-laws, husband or the Holy Spirit working though my children, but I think I can truly say that I would like to be annoyed if it means deepening my relationship with the Father.

Thankful to have an annoying family...Growing in Him each day,
AT

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

First Day at Homeschool Co-op!

The kids had a blast yesterday beginning their new semester at homeschool co-op. We love the opportunity to have academic enrichment, special electives and fellowship with friends. We have moved piano lessons to Fridays as well, so the kids are excited to get to pack a lunch each week and have a fun day out. William said his favorite part of the day was P.E. He played "octopus tag". Evidently, if you were tagged, you became "seaweed". Grace...well, who knows what was her favorite part. 24 hours later she is still talking about her new friends and favorite things!

Grateful for the Opportunity,

AT