Adieu August...

Another month is at its end. Avery and Riley started school last Monday. Although we enjoyed every second of summer, it felt wonderful to get back into a real schedule again. Avery is in the 6th Grade (Sis. McCreary) and Riley is in 3rd Grade (Sis. Triplett), at Apostolic Christian Academy. They are growing so quickly. I am proud of the young men they are becoming. I pray Clark and I can raise them to be stable and steadfast in the truth. Avery made the JV Flag Football Team. He is the smallest guy out there, but in his mind he is BIG stuff!

Our Praisen’tations Choir (2 yrs – 5yrs.) sang last Wednesday night. Landry has definitely overcome his fear of singing in front of a crowd!

Two of our Homebuilder Connect Groups had a traveling dinner. I served the main course at our house. Menu: Strawberry Spinach Salad, Spicy Chicken Spaghetti and Cheesy Garlic Bread.


I went a little Fall Crazy during a visit at Hobby Lobby. The 50% off fall items screamed “Make an arrangement!” Of course,I obeyed. One does not say “no” to Hobby Lobby. Even the PPP must give in!




My Dad is still suffering with severe case of Meniere’s disease. I have not seen him this sick since his colon cancer in 1997. It is so hard to see him like this…such a helpless feeling. However, the Lord has been reminding me of his faithfulness both in scripture and in song. He is my constant comfort…I need a faith that NOTHING can shake. Even when I do wonder why, I can endure with a faith like that – even if I never find out why! (recent devotion book nugget.)

May you have a blessed week. I’m looking forward to seeing just what God is going to do in our lives!

Points to Ponder
“Be strong and courageous…
For the Lord your God goes with you:
He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6

5 Minutes to Happy

I have been singing the blues lately. The main reason being my dislike of aging ailments. My parents and in-laws are getting well-acquainted with them and I wish, for their sakes, that this wasn't the case. The second reason being a very faulty thyroid issue...which is a life-time, get over it and deal with it kind of problem! Moving on...last night I found a magazine article about going from blah to bliss in an instant. Here are a few of the tips that they suggested to jump start JOY in 5 minutes or less...

* Start a blog - Did that...so I'm going to blog in the started blog. :) See, it is already helping.

* Soak up the sun - would love to, but it is raining...However, I DO love the rain!

*Touch your toes - it opens up your hip joints, which is where most people store tension. Hold the position for a minute, then slowly roll up...TRY IT - it works - feels great, and good for the "I've had three children" excess area.

*Show off your moves - get up and dance! "Any form of movement will release endorphins and elevate your mood." I will try this AFTER shutting all of the blinds and locking myself in the bedroom so no one can catch a glimpse of this! Some of you are laughing while you are picturing me busting a move...see this really does work!

*Break out of the box - do something new. The magazine suggested getting a tattoo. Pretty sure that one is out for me. I'll have to think on this one and get back to you. I am open to suggestions.

* Mark your calendar - plan a special event and stick to it! Clark and I very rarely follow through with planning a date night. I'm going to set one soon. He is my favorite adult person to spend time with...except at a museum!

*Be generous - I did this one this past weekend and it feels so wonderful to give! I slipped some $$ in a certain someones Bible after they loaned it to me during Sunday School class. I know it will brighten her day when she finds it.

*Turn the negative to positive - List 5 things that have gone wrong this week, then read them aloud. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but they say it works...

1. After picking up Riley from speech therapy this morning. I drove to school to drop the boys off instead of driving to work. They have NOT started school YET!

2. Bought a pair of non-returnable pants for Avery that do not fit.

3. Thought I had all school supplies purchased. Reread the list and I'm missing several essentials.

4. Avery, Riley(twice), and Landry ALL spilled their drinks on themselves at the restaurant on Sunday.

5. I had to chase after Meggie (my boys' dog) in the rain, and the mud, in my heels, in the dark.

Okay, I'll agree with them...NOW it seems pretty minor. I guess a little perspective can go a long way!

*Send out good vibes - Text 3 friends and tell each of them one thing you like about her. Your words will make them and you feel good...okay, if you know me at all you know I am a horrible texter (not even sure of what a person that sends text is called.) So I'll do this here...

Selina Arwood - you are my forever friend, you love me no matter what...you love my children no matter what(even when they push over lockers in the gym!)

Jen Henson- Recently, much of your life has been lived in the valley, and yet you have let the Lord strengthen you. In return you have strengthened others...AND...you are an awesome Mama to sweet Bradyn.

Christy - You are a person that has gone through the storm of life that I never want to face, and you have allowed the Lord to give you joy again!

...this is probably my favorite jump start to JOY! I need to do it everyday.

*Think of the good stuff! - Spend a couple of minutes reflecting on your blessings over the past 5, 10, or 15 years. Recognizing and acknowledging your growth and blessings will provide an immediate sense of gratification. You'll be cheered instantly...this would take MANY, MANY blog posts! I will name my top 4 blessings in the order they were given to me...CLARK, Avery, Riley and Landry...

*This is my own jump start to joy...one of my favs sung by the FAC Sanctuary Choir...

"When you are lonely, and feeling kind of blue, I know somebody who can fix it for you! His yoke is easy, his burden is light...just take it to Jesus...He'll make it alright!"

I feel so much better!!! Hope this helped to jump start your joy! (for more ways see the June 16 edition of Woman's Day)

Points To Ponder...

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"....

You don't have to be PERFECT, you just have to keep runnin'!

(thanks, Candy!)

Road Trip with the Trendsetters

We have a busy group at our church that always seem to be into something new and exciting. They are the senior citizens. Please, don't dare call them senior citizens, because they are too busy to know that they are. They are called the Trendsetters. Due to the illness of my parents, Clark and I were able to attend a Trendsetter trip in their place. We had a fun day, and learned that the FAC Trendsetters are much like the energizer bunny. They keep going and going and going and going...

We all piled on the bus at 8:00 a.m. sharp. I received many wonderful compliments on how young I looked for my "senior citizen" age. A dozen compliments is a great way to start the day. Clark and I got on the bus with a big cup of coffee. However, I soon learned that most Trendsetters travel with a thermos of coffee and they drink it all day and long into the night. Perhaps that is the reason they are able to keep going and going! We first went to Waynesville, NC. It is a quaint little mountain town with shops that I could have spent the entire day in. Art, antiques, furniture, and even a thrift store. It was wonderful! However, I did not buy anything except for gifts, so Clark was proud of me! Our wonderful group leader, Bro. Zehender told us to pack snacks, and so I packed a small bag with nuts, some chocolate, and a couple of cereal bars. I felt I had really prepared for the trip. Wrong again! When the Trendsetters pack snacks they bring coolers full of delectables. Ham rolls, cheese cubes, crackers, cookies, candy in all forms, carrots, apples, bananas, and even sushi! Not only do they practically pack a complete grocery store, but they also share every snack that gets pulled out of the magic coolers. We were continually passing snacks to the back of the bus, and around to the front again. Needless to say, we did not go hungry.

After our lunch at Ryans (a Trendsetter Favorite) we headed to Cherokee, NC. Our first stop was the Oconaluftee Indian Village. It takes you back to 1759, a time that you get to witness the challenges of Cherokee life. Have I mentioned that the challenges of 2009 are a breeze? We watched villagers hull canoes, make pottery, weave baskets, and participate in their daily activities. We toured this in the midst of a mountain downpour. I was very glad that I had packed an umbrella (thanks for the tip, Bro. Z) Many of our especially trendy Trendsetter ladies made this soggy trek in their hose and high heels. I was loving my untrendy flats! I enjoyed my tour with Ray Bryant as he pointed out which of the villagers were not real Indians. I was afraid he was going to start a real Indian war with a few of them, and I had left my tomahawk at home! We all enjoyed the talk with John Walkingstick. He pointed out many things about the Cherokee beliefs...such as they believe there is only ONE Great Spirit, the number of completion in seven, they only dance in times of thanksgiving and times of requesting needs from their Great Spirit. I was having to hold Clark back, because he was feeling a preaching spirit coming on. Sheila and I also decided that we were a part of the Long Hair Tribe.

We also toured The Museum of the Cherokee Indian. When Clark is in a museum it is a LONG and painful experience. He reads every little sign, and stands in front of each display for hours to soak it all in. I was thankful Bro. Z had us on a schedule. While in the museum I saw Yoko standing for a long time in front of one display. At first I thought she had caught Clark's museumitis, however, she stood there so long that I started to worry about her. I walked over and asked her what was wrong. In her broken Japanese/English she said, "I push dis button to see what dis does. I keep waitin, keep waitin, and no pocus a-focus!" I explained that it was out of order. She was very disappointed! I will never say "hocus pocus" again, "pocus a-focus" is much more fun! (Yoko was also the one who brought the sushi - Bro. Carpenter had some with his morning coffee!)

Later that evening we watched the outdoor drama, Unto These Hills. It centers on the arrival of Europeans and the forced exile of the Cherokees to Oklahoma on the infamous Trail of Tears in 1838-1839. It was very sad to know that what you were watching had really happened. Bro. Z recommended that we bring a cushion since the mountainside theatre seats were not comfortable. I did not heed this advice, due to the fact that I felt I had plenty of "natural" cushion, however, I recommend TAKING A CUSHION! It is a long drama for the behind. One unforgettable moment was the eagle dance. I was very worried that the loin cloths were going to give us a glimpse of a little more Indian than we had bargained for!

Once we were on the bus...you guessed it, more snacks and coffee! Clark and I slept some, however, Faye and Ray were just as spirited as when we had gotten on the bus that morning. The very BEST part of the day was that Clark and I got to spend several hours together without focusing our every second on an 11, 8 & 4 year old. It was wonderful to just be with each other! We even held hands on the bus like teenagers :)! We got home at 1:40 a.m. the next morning. A trip with the Trendsetters is not for the weak. You must be able to keep going and going and going!

Cory McCool - Somebody Prayed For Me

I just found this clip of the McCools singing at our church, and thought I'd share it with you...Cory has been in heaven for a couple of weeks now, however, his family is still here missing him. Please continue to pray for Jina and Bro. Spencer & Sis. Joyce McCool. Although Cory no longer needs our prayers, they do. Each of them is walking through a valley unlike anything I have ever faced. Thank you for your continued prayers!

Updates...doctor visits, prayer request and tee times.

I must admit that I am great at getting things started, but not always good at finishing them. Hand-painted glassware, personalized picture frames, and scrap booking, just to name a few. I even tried selling some of my handmade wares at a flea market and failed miserably. However, my mom loved all of them, and they are proudly displayed in her china cabinet. Thank you, Mom.

Many of you have told me that you need some closure details on some of my blog beginnings...once again, good at starting...not so good at finishing. So...here goes...

MY DAD ...thank you for all of your prayers. My dad got so much better the weekend of their 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration. The whole family had such a wonderful time. We laughed, cried, ate delicious food (including 6 dozen boxes of Krispy Kreme Donuts), played our favorite games, and laughed some more. Unfortunately, his Miniere's Disease has continued to worsen. The "spells" of severe dizziness, weakness and vomitting just about have my parents house bound, so I am asking for your continued prayers. God has given my family so many miracles, and I know another is on its way.

RILEY ...THANK YOU JESUS, the stuttering is improving. We took a trip to the doctor and Riley began to stutter while conversing with her. Her jaw about hit the floor when she heard the severity of it. She began to question Riley about how it made him feel when that happened. With 8 year old sincerity he answered, "I HATE it!" She got right in Riley's face, and kindly but firmly told Riley that his stuttering was not going to last forever...that it WOULD go away. It seemed as if his whole body shuddered with relief. She also told him a simple trick of stopping his sentence and starting over again. This has worked wonderfully. She gave me several papers to read on how to help Riley through this time. I also need to heed her advice in many spiritual matters. I could get through so many trials if I have the mindset that it is NOT going to last forever AND if I stop when I began to speak doubt about a situation and start over with faith. The stuttering still pops up every now and then, but Riley has improved leaps and bounds...or verbs and nouns! :) We will be starting speech therapy again soon for some other troubles (or as Riley would say...twoubles)...so please keep praying for him!

AVERY ...we were recently trying on clothes for the upcoming school year (starting day is August 24) and he has officially moved up to size 12 pants and size 5 shoes! We are on the GROW!

LANDRY...Clark took Avery and Riley to Jackson last week for a SFC Golf Tournament. Golfing is a DNA strand in Presson blood, and it runs thick...almost as thick as the eyebrows. Landry and I had a restful and quiet weekend. I SO needed it! We ate microwaveable food all weekend, and I read an entire book...so blissful. However, the quiet was starting to get to me by Sunday morning, so I was more than ready for the return of my men.

Other Presson Happenings...

*Clark has put me on the Presson Poverty Plan, also known as a new budget. I really have been trying...stay faithful saints...I will get there one day!

*** My mom has had cataract surgery on her right eye and getting her left eye done next week.

*** Avery has joined facebook and I am Farmtowning vicariously through him!

*** August is our most expensive month (not a good time to start the Presson Poverty Plan)...book fees, tuition payments, and school supplies just to name a few...I am so thankful for the Lord's bountiful continued provisions.

*** We got to see Michael, Stacey and Dylan Spencer while they were vacationing in the mountains. It was so good to visit with them. They were such an important part of our lives when Avery was an infant and toddler. So many wonderful memories. Dylan is such a little miracle since his kidney transplant. I could listen to him talk for hours. He is such a little man.

*** My niece Amber turned the big 30 on Saturday, and her son, Joseph will be 2 on Thursday! Happy Birthday to both of them!

I think I have tied up all the loose ends and maybe unraveled a few more! Blog hugs to you all...AND this weekend is tax free weekend in Tennessee! Please think of me while you are enjoying the savings, due to Clark's PPP {presson poverty plan} I will not be participating... :)