Hustle is Right!

It's that crazy time of year....

The school year is coming to a close.  Tests, projects, parties, plays, musicals, fundraisers, award ceremonies all bring life to a new level of hustle.  At the same time, typical everyday life continues to rush us right along.  Even our very deliberate efforts to not allow our family to be over committed seem useless.

How do we stay focused on keeping first things first? 

Exactly that.  We keep first things first.

 

• Taking time to sit and chat awhile no matter how busy the day gets
• Singing praises each morning on the way to school
• Studying our scriptures together
• Sitting down as a family, praying, and sharing an evening meal
• Making sure attending church services and activities remains our top priority

 

It's not always easy, but this is what being a Hagerty means to our tweens and teens.  An ever present reminder that God never promised to remove the obstacles from our path (busyness/stress).  He did promise He'd help us through them.  That He'd never leave us or forsake us.  We are thankful for that promise!

 

 



Persevering with Grace

This shot of Savanna is a little out of focus... but I love the smile on her sweet face. 
2013 started off with challenges for the Hagerty Family.  We were pretty much forced to evacuate our home for nearly 3 months.  We were thankful we could crash with my mom and the kids never complained.  Eventhough we were sleeping on airmattresses together in one room and not getting the opportunity to wash laundry as much as we'd like.   We were safe, together, and knew God had a plan.

The above picture of Savanna was taken at the Habersham Associational Bible Drill.  She'd already passed the church drill and had earned a spot here.  The rest of the family did not participate in Bible Drill this year.  With our lives turned upside down, it was all we could do to focus on completing our Awana books.  That decision was not very popular with some, but it was best for our family.
At Savanna's age group- they have 8 seconds to turn to key passages, books of the Bible, Doctrinal Statements, etc., and then to step out.  It took a tremendous amount of work to come to the place of being able to accomplish that task.  We are so proud of her and thankful that she has hidden God's Word in her heart.  While she did not pass on to district for the first time in 6 years, she did her best.
And that is all God asks of us.  That we give Him our Best. 

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15

Modesty went up in FLAMES!

It was a normal Tuesday night.  Boys were getting homework done in between neighborhood air soft battles.  Girls were organizing their wardrobe choices for the next few days before dinner.  I was trying to cook supper for all of them- bean and cheese quesadillias, one of their faves.  All was well.... until one beauty came in the kitchen to ask if the track shorts she would be packing into her "Wednesday night for church bag" would be OK to wear to youth group:)

• Victory!  Her spirit of discernment already told her no.  That's why she was asking.
• Bummer!  She wasn't willing to concede to MY no... without a battle.

I turned my back to the stove and launched into the repetitive speech (which is why her spirit had already told her no).  It went a little something like this, minus all the excuses thrown in between:

• Hagertys (our family) do not dress that way for church
• I don't care if everyone else does, we are going to church- not a track meet
• We are not going to be comfortable, we are going to worship/hear from God
• If it's that hot- wear a skirt or dress
• We do not dress in a way that might hinder others from hearing God's Word

At which point, beauty's eyes got really big and she begins pointing to the stove.  I turn around to find dinner going up in flames.  I throw a lid over it and then thinking it's out, remove the lid.  Larger than life flames shoot up to nearly the ceiling while high pitched girl screams pierce my ears.  I throw the lid back over and ask beauty to grab some water.  Flames doused.  Fire out.  Beauty agrees not to wear the shorts in question.  Battle over. 

Parenting isn't easy.  It's not supposed to be.  It's hard work that sometimes takes years before it pays off.  I am thankful to have had some godly women influence my parenting.  I'm thankful that I've already seen benefits from hard parenting work.  Those victories give me courage to know that God will get me through this next stage of parenting.  It IS worth the hard work and pleasing to my Lord. 

A New Teenager in the House!

 

This weekend we gave thanks to the Lord for yet another teenager in our house!

To Celebrate, Ambie requested a country cook out. 

 

We created a fun, purple party area complete with purple rope lights and lots of candles for eating after dark.  The menu was made up of redneck caviar, white pizza dip, hamburgers with all the trimmings, baked beans, and coleslaw.  The girls then finished off the night with a bonfire and marshmallow roasting. 

 Our Polka Dot Cake was saved for breakfast the next day!

 

 

Each Girl went home with a fun goodie bag

Of course- who could resist some group pictures!

 

 

In our family- Birthday Parties end at age 13.  So this was our last girly party.  We'll still celebrate and give thanks to the Lord for allowing us the opportunity to raise them
and I'm sure there will be plenty more sleepovers.  It will just be different.
We are thankful Ambie has a heart for Jesus
and is becoming the godly young lady He has called her to be.