Hi, Siestas! AJ, our trusty Siestaville Blogmaster, is sitting right next to me in my office at LPM and she is tutoring me on how to add images into my posts. As you might recall (if you have admirable taste), I rocked at it when we were on Blogger but I’ve stunk it up on WordPress. Hence, Heaven alone knows all you’ve missed. In order to practice my new skills, I am going to take you through a random backlog of pictures I’ve taken with my iPhone during this season of blog-blackness. Knowing in advance that these are pictures taken with a cell phone should tell you what level of quality to expect. I know. I can’t wait either so let’s get right to it!
This is a picture I took of AB when I moved into AJ’s with the kids while she moved into the hospital with CJ. In order to give Jackson a bath by himself and let him be a fish for 20 solid minutes until he wrinkles up like a prune, I had to put AB in the Pack and Play. This is her cutest “Bibby, get me out of here before this gets ugly” look.
This is Jackson being Jackson. No, it’s not a clear picture but it is clear Jackson. He is my best friend in the whole world. Never has there EVER been a Bibby who loved a boy more.
This is Trav and me. After every few LPL’s when we get to hang around with the team and all act silly, one of us holds up our iPhone in front of our own face and says, “Hurry, jump in!” We have noticed over time that if he is holding the camera, oddly, he is the main one in the picture. If I am holding the camera, of all things, I’m the main one in the picture. Such a mystery. We have a ton of these. I bet you can guess who is holding the camera on this one. No, I have not been drinking. My eyelashes were just getting heavy.
My in-laws (Meems and Big Pops, who live right next to us) recently put in a vegetable garden and the four of us (them, my man and me) are completely obsessed with it. Sometimes the four of us just sit there in folding chairs and stare at the veggies like we could watch them grow. That’s Meems. (Short for Memaw) You can see the tiniest glimpse of Big Pops in the corner. Per Travis, one might wonder if Meems was the one taking the picture. It would have required a really long rubber arm, however.
This is Big Pops showcasing our first tomato. As soon as it ripens, we four have agreed to quarter it as our firstfruit and eat it together with hilarity and thanksgiving. Now that we have a vegetable garden, we like to say, “We grow our own food.”
This is a very good friend of mine’s recent 1-year token from AA. My pitiful photography here is a crying shame because, if you could really wrap your mind around this, you’d know it was worthy of a screaming shout of praise. Yahoo, God! I love You, I love You, I love You, I LOVE YOU!
The next four comprise a series. Recently, while Hawk and I were waiting at the gate for a flight back to Houston, a small herd of people walked right in front of us and one of them dropped the equivalent of a Sonic Route 44 Dr. Pepper. It hit the floor with a boom and exploded. The mother of said spiller promptly began dabbing at the edges of the broken dam with something the size of cocktail napkins while Hawk and I looked at one another like, “Somebody do something!” All the sudden, almost like a ray of light from Heaven broke through the ceiling and shone upon it, I looked up and saw this on the wall directly in front of us.
Does that say SPILL CENTER????? Could my eyes be deceiving me??? Let’s take a closer look!
I was like Clark Kent spying a telephone booth just in the nick of time. “Hawk, look!” said I! “A Spill Center!” I leapt over to it in a single bound and, knowing not what it was, perceived that I should reach into the bottom of the cylinder and pull. To my great surprise, this was no super absorbent giant towelette! It was the greater blessing! BEHOLD!!
I set it down right over said spill and some might say I saved the day. I felt empowered! Like any minute official airport personnel were going to wheel up on a golf car, saying “Scuse cart!” through the herd and deputize me. I was red-faced with humility.
While I waited, I felt a demonstration was in order. Here is what could happen to a person if caution is not quickly heeded. Or if Clark Kent can’t find a phone booth.
Whew. Even recounting it to you is thrilling. My heart rate is elevated.
Thank you, AJ!! If not for your excellent tutorial, all of Siestaville would have missed this profoundly important visual experience.
Lastly, with further thanks to AJ, I now have a picture with my blogger name when I comment. When it came Gravatar-time in our tutorial session, my brain was already at maximum absorption so I made AJ do it for me while I iced my forehead. She felt, then, that it was only fair that she get to choose the picture. You’ll understand when you see it. It goes to prove what I’ve long since believed. Every kid wants her parents to love each other. They can survive without it – many of us are proof of that. But, they want it still.
I love you guys!
That’s hilarious! I can’t tell you how much you remind me of my mom, Beth. My six-year old son said it was gross when I said the word “married” the other day. So, to completely gross him out, I started kissing on Daddy. Every time we kissed, he would screw up his face, close his eyes, and shout, “That’s disgusting!” But, I think he secretly liked it.
🙂 Julie
I wanted to let you know I have a pitch for Marvel comics: The Adventures of Hawk and Bibby: Saving the World One Spill at a Time
I’m backing up here, I wanted to make a comment regarding your Israel trip. I so want to go! Can you guys just pack me up in your suit cases and sneek me on the plane?!? My husband and I are a part of a group of believers here in Nashville that seek to love and pray for Israel. He’s studied there at the Hebrew University for a year in college and I’m Jewish….and yet I’ve never been! Alas, in God’s timing.
Sincerely, I do pray that the Holy Spirit anoint your time there. That He reveals Himself to you all in very specific ways that are undoubtedly Him.
Beth, last year I was doing your Daniel study with some of my friends. Simultaneously I was doing a study with another group that a man named Don Finto was leading. He has a heart to see the church recognize God’s heart for Israel and the church’s relationship to her Jewish roots. He was having us break down Romans 11. During that study my “Beth Moore” group (as I call it) was entering into the section of Daniel that prophetically speaks of God’s plans for Israel. You honored His Jewish people so well in that video session (the whole phone line imagery). I so appreciate sitting under your teaching for a number of reasons, but your understanding of God’s heart for His covenant people is certainly one of those reasons.
I pray His richest blessings over you guys,
Katie
Mrs. Beth,
You have no idea how much you are a part of my life! It thrills me to study God’s word with you. The ministry that God has put forth in your life is an absolute asset to His church. I wanted to share with you that I loved your idea of a blog-based virtual Bible study so much that we are going to try it at our church this summer well as well. We shall see how it goes, but our ladies are really excited about a new way of Bible study! Thank you thank you thank you! I know ministry is hard work, especially in the public eye, and I appreciate your perseverance and transparency!
Lots of love always,
Macki
Great post!
I love you, Beth Moore!!!
You teach us the Word & all about God’s wonderful promises. You speak Truth to us.
You’ve taught us all about having a relationship with God and how real He is in our daily walk. You have taught us that God is a total blast. I know He was getting a kick out of you there on that airport floor.
I know I did.
You are such a blessing. And I love the picture of you and Keith. Perfect! Good choice AJ!
I also am so proud of your friend and so proud of you, Anne!
Hawk….loved your comment! What an awesome job you do.
Please keep Oklahoma in your prayers as so many have had homes and businesses destroyed this past week. God kept my family safe, but the tornadoes were way too close for comfort.
Love you all! Thanks again Beth. I needed this today. <3
We live in Oklahoma also and we are praying for those who lost homes and family members as well. Thank you for giving mention of that situation.
Dear Beth and your lovely and loving daughters-sorry I dont remember their names.
I’m new to your Ministry.My friend invited me to the
“So Long Insecurity” live satellite broadcast on Sat. April24,2010 at Redwood Park Church here in Thunder Bay
Ontario,Canada.I was so blessed!!The worship,the Presence of God..The Word of God..the Victory in Jesus–the reality of it but also the singing of that great old song that I hadn’t sung for years.
And also your transparency ,not only to share the God’s Word of truth but how it works and your some of the painful parts of your journey draw us in to love you.
We love because Jesus commands us all to love one another
Just as He loves us (still trying to grasp this and live it) but we love you ..for you..
Also the woman who leads the interact bible study there
has done a number of your studies;her name is Janice Onski
she had done your study on Esther,
I have joined on Mon nights .Some are also taking it again.
I think another group is doing some of the shorter ones.
You probably know all this but it’s new to me.
My husband Terry and I both surrended to Christ at a Billy Graham film at lakehead university 41 years ago.he has led us many different ways and different places.
I am a real talker(who knew?)
so I must say bye.Im new at comp too so I was quite thrilled that I was able to figure out how to get your blog in my inbox.Anyway these pix made me laugh and cry
Thank you for sharing your life with us,
I cant remember which pic I found funny but the joy of the lord just touched me and i just laughed so hard,
Needless to say God knows what we need as I had just minutes ago been weeping away in the kitchen.
To an outsider could look like i should be taken away
but I asked God to take away whatever sad feeling wasn’t of Him.so I trust it was Him.I know you have heard the saying..God has no hands but our hands etc but it came to me that He has no eyes but our eyes: so if God is weeping “Lord ,Use my eyes to weep for those you are burdened for”
The other day he encouraged me to pray for leaders more-my own fellowship butalso pastors and families here in Tbay and He put someone on my heart who goes to a different fellowship but is a leader there and now I want to pray for you.I am a baby in Intercession but I am really trying.God’s protection be on your whole family.
Love in Christ,
Noella Clarke
PS reading your blog will help me to pray for you & yours
Check this out…there is a solution for Melissa’s cellphonechargerphobia…or whatever it’s true scientific name was…
http://glo.msn.com/style/designer-bags-that-charge-your-phone-3326.gallery?gt1=49006
Beth, I always wondered why you didn’t have a picture – now I know. Love the picture Amanda chose.
Love
Colleen
Ok, I know this is totally unrelated to this post but……..I was at a graduation today. It was my responsibility to lay out the hoods for the graduation gowns. So, I’m sitting right there by the stage, watching the graduates get their diplomas and I look up and see….Melissa walking across the stage. I started jabbing the lady next to me and saying that’s Beth Moore’s daughter!! Anyways, Melissa, I tried to find you after the ceremony and congratulate you, but I couldn’t find you. Seeing you cross the stage today was definitely a thrill! Now, if I’m mistaken about you graduating today, then there happens to be someone in Atlanta, Georgia that looks exactly like you, and is named Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick that graduated today. If I’m not mistaken then…Congratulations!!!!!! Just know that one of your siestas was there cheering for you!
I have to admit you all (sorry I’m from California can’t bring myself to contract that one) have seriously altered my pre-conceived notions about extraordinarily attractive Southerners. I never could have believed what a true blessing such seemingly “perfect” people could be to us average folk. Whenever I read this blog, I’m either in tears or laughing out loud. What encouragement and joy you have brought to my heart! I’ll bet you’ll never know how poweful your love for Christ and each other is and what an impact it has throughout the world. I truly thank God for you. 🙂
to Beth and all the good friends of the good friend,
This is such Happy news… Yahoo! is right… celebrate the strengths and joys blossoming from weakness and tears…. he turns our tears to joy and shows strong in our “weak”- one day at a time is all we need for his new mercies…..Thank You, Lord for your daily strength and love….and may each day be another token in her hand!
love your garden, still waiting for my first tomato! You are such a load of fun, and i don’t understand why the iphone zooms in on the one taking it.. must be some strange phenomenon! love you and your family.
Girl, you are sunshine on any day! Thanks. Even on the good days you make them brighter. Thanks for sharing the mondane moments with us even more for the inspiration through bible study and books. God has blessed you so you can bless others, I am glad to say I receive that blessing lots. Now let me go tend to my sides as they are about the bust because of the laughter….
Oh my goodness! I was just at the store today and saw a spill center and thought “What the heck is that?” Glad to know what they are! Thanks and I’m glad no body actually feel! 🙂
You are such a HOOT sweet Beth!!!
I have followed ur ministry for several years. I hav had the opportunity to read several of your writings. My spirit resonates with ur authenticity. I am in the process of completing my writings, thanks for ur inspiration, forthrightness, and downright, downhome, spirit. ;)))
U wear faith well..
Faith
I love this place! Beth you are so funny . Thanks for the laughter
*sigh* Still snowing here in Laramie, WY. No hope for a garden. 🙁
Okay, really, how do you know it was Dr. Pepper?
I’m just saying…
Is it just me or does anybody else think the inventor of the spill center should get the Nobel Peace prize or something!! What a stroke of genius!!!!
Hilarious pics but love your profile pic. good choice, Amanda!
How do i add my pic inplace of the nice geometric gravatar?
You can go to gravatar.com and set up a free account.
What are we doing for the Siesta Bible Study?! I’m dying to go get my book!!!! ;o)
Ms. Beth,
I wanted to share a testimony of God’s goodness. In April I had a friend from San Antonio join me for the LPL event in Lutz, FL. While we were having dinner before the Friday evening session we caught up on each other’s families and laughed and cried over the events of the last few months. We were both sure that you had been sitting behind us listening to our conversation when you shared the theme of the weekend…Family. I have thought a lot about what the Lord was wanting me to hear from Him that weekend. I love my family of origin but we have had many ups and downs these last few years and many momemts of craziness and hurtful words and deeds.
A week and a half ago I was called home becasue my 84 year old mother had passed out and fallen and hurt herself and wasn’t doing well. My husband had already told me that I would never go back to family without him but God had other plans. I got to spend 9 days with my mom, sister, and one of my brothers and He was right there with us. Together we bathed, dressed, cooked for and cleaned up for my mother and it was the sweetest time! Right before I left my mother’s heart rate dropped really low and she ended up back at the E.R. the three of us stood beside her bed not knowing what was going to happen but we shared a love that was WONDERFUL. I don’t know how much longer I will have my “Mama” here on this earth but I know that when she does go to be with Jesus that she will know how much I love her. The LPL weekend in Lutz prepared me for that time with my family and I had no thoughts of old hurts but only of the love that I have for all of them. Thank you for your faithfulness!
Vivian
Loved this! Thanks for sharing.
Great Pics Amanda! I loved the overhauls!! I had a pair too!! I can’t wait to see the pics from the Holy Land!!
Maybe I missed the post, is there going to be a summer Bible study? Thanks y’all! I love you SOOOOO much!
Sweet pictures. I can almost taste the tomato.
So funny – love this post! 🙂
Love the pics! My daughter is 22 months old, and she insists that her daddy kiss me before he walks out the door every morning. 🙂
Beth,
You are a hoot! Thanks for the laughs this morning. I needed them.
So, we’ll be expecting more pictures now . . .
🙂
Miss Beth,
You kill me with your humor and your way with words!!! I am reading this to my husband and just cracking up:) Much love!
thank you I needed a laugh this morning! I just had to tell you how much that live simulcast has helped me! I got to work the Monday after and a new woman was sitting at the desk next to me. I am in customer service and was trained at the same time as this beautiful 19 yr old girl. Well for some reason she decided she needed to “help” me and began telling me how to handle my calls. In the past I would have gotton upset and felt threatened. But because I am Saved from myself, Entitled to the Truth, Clothed with Intention, Upended by Grace, Rebounded by love and going to have an exceptional life I realized that she was probably feeling insecure herself. And instead of resenting her I was able to say Thank you so much! And engage her in a conversation about herself and she stopped “helping” me! Thank you Beth for being a willing participant in the incredible message you gave us all from our Lord and Saviour Jesus! He is the Awesome One and He really does want us to live secure in His Love!
Oh my word…how to pick a favorite?
Those are the funniest pictures ever!
I love the “we grow our own food”!
Too stinkin funny!
You’re a bucket of fun, Miss Beth! I love you!
I think Beth MUST have been a cheerleader in high school- I can totally visualize the pompom in her raised hand, one on the floor with a megaphone and voila- the perfect cheerleader pose. 🙂 Praise God we can laugh at ourselves and we don’t always have to be serious.
This was so fun to read – loved the random-ness of it all.
I’m coming into the conversation a little late but love the post and the pics! Thank you for sharing your life with us. 🙂
So funny!
Congratulations to your friend on earning their coin! Awesome! God is good, all the time!
Way to go, Miss Beth ! I just love these pictures !
But, most of all, I, too, understand what it took for your friend to reach 1 year of sobriety with AA’s help. Yeah, God ! I learned a great deal from my time spent in Al-Anon meetings, and am very grateful for them and AA. I just love the LPM Blog !
———————————————————
I did write this prayer request on the LPM Prayer Board, but I think it is urgent that we pray for these dear people. I hope Y’all do not mind my asking to put this request on the blog as well……….
I would really appreciate it if Y’all would stand in prayer with us regarding the safety issues in Bangkok, Thailand.
The place where I teach part-time, “The Ark Homeschooling Center” in Harvard, IL has a sister school there; The Ark-Bangkok, and they have requested prayer support. Daye and her pastor husband run this center, which does much more than we could ever imagine in helping the community there. They wrote to us that their city has become “a WAR ZONE”, and yet, they are ‘standing on the everlasting arms of our Lord & Savior, Jesus to protect them from danger.’
Thank you
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus,
Jennifer O.
Southern Wisconsin
Haha, this made me laugh!! I love the spill center!! 🙂 How neat that I am reading your blog and listening to Travis at the same time!! 🙂 My mom and I recently went to the So Long Insecurity simulcast hosted at Hoffmantown Church! I LOVED it! Oh, it was so, so good! Thank you so much for all that you do! Sometime, I would really love to come and listen to you live. 🙂 That would be awesome! Thanks so much for everything that you do. We love you!!
I just read the blog post today, and I’ve gotta say the “spill center” pictures are way funny. Every time I see one of those yellow or orange caution triangles from now on, I’m gonna think of you, Beth, and smile. Thanks for sharing all of the pictures.
I know what you mean about the garden. My boys and I planted some bed gardens as a science project and we have watched our plants as if they are growing before our eyes. Thank you Beth for being consistent and loving the Lord. You are such an encouragement!
The spill center thing is hilarious! I would expect Beth to do this; you are a gem. I love your blog. All of us in Cheyenne just love you. I do too. Love the garden; but the soil looks like a desert. Hope your tomatoes takeover!!
Beth,
You are a total blessing. from head to toe.
and by the way, how is your toe these days? or are we still not talking about it?
Deirdre
(you know me as Scream-of-Continuousness)
To all Siestas who are walking with our Great God to overcome addiction: Awesome! Praise our awesome God!
To Beth: I love you like crazy, you Super Siesta Mama, you! Thanks so very much for the laughter!! Your ministry is such a blessing to so many and your teaching has brought me such joy and, best of all, closer to our Lord!
Thank you, Amanda for tutoring Siesta Mama. I LOVE the pics!
I’m praying for a wonderful day for all of you! God bless you!
I’m taken with the “every child wants her parents to love each other.” I’ve been the child that worried about that thought…now I’m the parent and will sacrifice all (tho’ it’s very hard work) to be faithful in love, to glorify the kingdom of God, and to be a picture of Christ’s love for my children; so they can have a ‘hard copy’ of what they have been taught to believe by faith. Nothing has driven me to seek the Lord, trust His word and believe Him for all my needs like the marriage relationship. Anyone else? God is so faithful to be my All in all.
Isn’t it wild that a “spill center” would have a floor sign but nothing to actually help clean up the spill! I just love your sense of humour. Nothing like getting down on the floor to make your point. “A time to weep and a time to laugh.”
Glad too that your friend is celebrating freedom from alcohol.
Love these, love them lots!!!:) That was funny, your Dr. Pepper spill story, Siesta Mama:) I’ll have to see your pic when you comment, is it you and Keith? Ya’ll are cute!:):)
katiegfromtennessee
Dear Siestas:
I have no idea how to get this out there without simply commenting on another post, and this does not relate at all to the post I’m commenting on, but there is a need for prayer that I feel led to share.
13 months ago, a young man named Keith fell from a parking garage in Austin, Texas…miraculously landing in the only small patch of grass in sight. However, significant damage was done to his body on the way down, and of course upon landing. He has been in a coma ever since. He has a young wife, who has remained by his side with the exception of the days she was giving birth to their first child…a son, whom Keith has never officially met. There is no medical reason that Keith should still be alive. However, God has kept Keith here for all these months.
Today…Wednesday, May 19th…is the Pray for Keith Day in our church and community. We are corporately seeking God’s will for Keith’s life, while selfishly praying for a miracle for Keith’s complete healing. I see Keith’s parents every Sunday at church…they have faithfully continued to serve as Sunday School teachers for the three year old class. I see the anguish in his mom’s eyes, as she hopes and prays for a miracle for her son.
All day, I have had the Wayne Watson song, “When God’s People Pray” going through my mind. I would like to ask any Siesta who is willing to join us today as we pray for Keith.
I am attaching the Caring Bridge website that his wife keeps updated.
Thank you.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/keithbeasley
“When God’s people pray, and take the pains of earth to the doors of heaven. When God’s people pray, there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven. And miracles you can’t explain away. When God’s people pray.”
Beth, you are just so crazy – I love you!
You are absolutely adorable! I wonder if anyone in said airport noticed you on the floor??? You saved the day. The quarterback at school today flattened me in the hall as we collided and then broke my fall as I ended up pulling him down with me onto the floor on top of me. Whew. No spill there but must have been, right? Grateful for q-backs. I tried to gravatar and they said I already had one—how do they know when I don’t know? So impressed with your new wordpress skills. Loved the coin that was once a lost coin but now its a found one!