Hey, Siestas! You are the biggest blast of a blog community EVER. Thank you for being so much fun about the Siesta Scripture Memory Spirals. You would have thought we were doing one of those big Oprah giveaways where everybody in the audience gets a really fabulous free gift and women scream for fifteen minutes. Oh, man, I wish these could have been free gifts! Would you believe that 1393 of you placed orders within the first 24 hours?? At this point, over 4000 of you have placed orders so it’s safe to say that we at LPM really did scream for fifteen minutes – and, yes, with absolute joy. Even laughter. I got a text when they hit a thousand spirals and it had about 20 exclamation marks at the end of it. I threw my head back laughing before the Lord and flat out slapped my leg. About a month ago when I shared this vision with Sabrina, I said, “I don’t know. I may be wrong but I think they’ll like them.” Well, you did. Which tells me it had to have come from God because some of my really good ideas have sunk deep into the abyss…but only after costing us an arm and one and a half legs. Anyway, back to the spirals. To say that my staff is busy is an understatement but we’ve got wonderful volunteers and everybody will still get the designated time off for the holidays. I go down stairs every little while and tell them I’m sorry (and they laugh and say you’re a privilege to serve) and we’re also trying to feed them a lot. Here are a few of them hard at work right now:
(There is lots of hugging at LPM. Nancy Mattingly heads up correspondence around here – oh, MAN! I am so thankful to God for her – and her daughter Sara just got home from college for the Christmas holidays and came to lend a hand. That’s one of us hugging her. We adore all the LPM offspring.)
We are getting them in the mail (the spirals, not the offspring) as fast as humanly possible but, as you can see, we are big in heart and small in numbers around here. Still, we are pressing on and you will have them at the earliest possible date. There’s no loitering around here. I hate to rub it in but I already have my set. I’m chomping at the bit to write the first verse in it but I’m waiting till January 1st on the dot. Remember me telling you that I can tend toward obsessive thoughts? Well, case in point: I’m fighting the mild urge to obsess over which verse to choose first (what if it sets the tone for the year?) and which pen I want to use. I’d also like to have better penmanship on this year’s set. Ordinarily by the time I get to April and I’m in the middle of this crisis or that, my verses look like they’ve been written in an ambulance – and maybe half the time they should have been. I know you’re thinking I should get out more but just think how much I get out already and remain this odd. Well, I hope the Lord is getting some amusement out of us being this excited about memorizing Scripture. And don’t tell Melissa and Amanda but I am making theirs stocking stuffers.
Speaking of getting out more, guess what I’ve been doing? I flew to Atlanta two days ago, jumped in the car with Melissa, and started a two-day trek home to the Lone Star State. Colin has a brand new job that is enabling them to come back to Texas! Wooooooooo-hooooooooooo! Or in the expression coined right here in Siestaville, “Yahoo-Jah!” (Hold the “Yah” for about five seconds then say the “hoo-Jah” really fast. It has a rodeo-type feel to it.) Colin is on his way right now with the moving van and Melissa and I got home with one of their two cars last night.
A couple of quick shots on the I-phone…
Walking to the car where we’d climb in, pay for parking, and head straight out of town. I am walking behind her thinking how I can’t believe this is really happening. Baby girl is heading back to Texas!
The first border we crossed out of Georgia. We literally drove through snow and sleet the first hour here. It was really exciting for me though. Snow is still a novelty around here!
The sky as we crossed the border into Mississippi:
A toast for miles behind us:
Day Two was really sunny and I wore my sunglasses for hours. Finally they were making deep dents and, let’s be honest, my nose doesn’t need any added distress. Melissa had this tiny little rag on her console for some reason and I made good use of it. Michelle said I looked like I was about to stage a hold-up at a Stop -N Go.
We had every plan to take our very best picture at the “Welcome to Texas!” Landmark in our own home state. Just as we were driving by it with my I-phone out the window, an eighteen wheeler sped by on our right side and gave us the evil eye. May God forgive him. We railed about it for a solid hour. No, there was no going back. It was freeway and would have taken too long to recreate. We consoled ourselves with sugar.
Thank you for enduring this long, unimportant-to-anyone-else family narrative. It’s not over yet. I’m just thanking you now so you can continue hanging on by a thread. We are beside ourselves to welcome the Fitzpatricks back. We’ll have them in Houston for at least several months and will soak up every minute. I think you can anticipate hearing much more about them and from them as we have her back at the Living Proof office. We are so happy and praise God with all of our hearts. Except for small amounts of time over summers or holidays, Melissa has been away from home for ten years and from Texas for eight. She’s got itchy feet like her mom so don’t look for permanence out of them in Houston but we’re at least hoping that, wherever they ultimately land, they’ll stay within half day’s driving distance. That’s all up to the Lord. When you raise your kids with the hope that they’ll follow hard after Jesus and live their lives as a divine adventure, there is literally no telling where they’ll end up. We’re so happy for seasons we get to spend together.
Amanda made last night one of our all-time best 4-Moore memories. When Melissa and I drove up last night, Amanda was standing in the driveway holding big welcome home balloons and blowing a party horn. (I snapped a picture but the flash caught their eyes funny and they look a little possessed so I’ll spare you. And myself. It was my worst nightmare when they were growing up.) At that very second, Keith drove up from out of town, too, and the four of us had this spontaneous moment together. The timing was so perfect that we couldn’t have planned it. We got in a group hug and blew our party horns as loud as we could then laughed our heads off. Then we did what Texans do when they get back from being out of State: we headed to a Mexican restaurant and rekindled our family affections over hot sauce and tortilla chips. We topped off the evening by driving around our subdivision of 26 years and looking at Christmas lights. The whole evening was a family gift with a big red ribbon God alone could have wrapped around it. Our little family has been through a lot and grace is the air we breathe. We don’t take moments like these lightly.
Right now I am praying in Jesus’ lavish Name that He will appoint some spontaneous moments like these for you and your family or friends. I am well aware that life is hard and all of us could use some reminders that God has not forsaken us – and never will – and that He is only good and never malicious or unfeeling toward us. My next memory verse is James 1:17 “Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.” (James 1:17 HCS)
Oh, thank You, Lord. You never change. You never turn Your back on us.
We are blessed to be His daughters, Siestas.
OK, I’ve got a ton of work to do so I’ll sign off right after one last thing. For you Houston-area girls, we are having a book signing tomorrow (Saturday) at the LifeWay Christian Store in Willowbrook Court from 12:00 noon to 1:30. (17776 Tomball Parkway) This location is really special to us because it’s the closest one to my home. I have no idea how many times I’ve been in that store and perused those shelves for something new to read. It is also the location many years ago where Keith took me as a surprise to see the first Bible study on the shelf. (The original A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place) He’d called the store in advance to find out when it would hit the shelf (I was too green to even know to ask) and took me out to dinner that night without saying a word about it. When we drove away from the restaurant, he said, “I need to make one stop on the way home.” I was perplexed when he drove up to the Christian bookstore because it really wasn’t his thing but what wife would pass up an opportunity like that? He grabbed me by the hand and made a bee-line straight to the aisle where they’d told him in advance he’d find the new copies. I was so shocked I couldn’t believe my eyes. There wasn’t much to that original Bible study cover (a big purple flower, I recall) but it was a beautiful sight to us. We neither one said a word. We just stood in the aisle and cried. It was priceless.
All that to say, this Willowbrook location is “home” to us because it was simply the most convenient location and became such an active partner in Bible study ministry. I’ve shopped in there a jillion times. I’ve sat cross legged in the resource/commentary corner and pulled books off shelves more times than I can count and also bought innumerable music CD’s. A couple of years ago, my good buddy, Johnnie, and I dropped by there after having lunch next door at Sweet Tomatoes and had Jackson with us in the stroller. He was almost three at the time and there was a stack of Get Out of That Pit hardback books near where we were perusing. We got so tickled as he kept pointing at the cover and yelling, “Bibby! Bibby!” Silly stuff but fun family memories.
It’s a great store and I, for one, loathe the thought that on-line book orders (as many as I’ve placed!) would ever replace the kind of store you actually get out of your car and visit. I don’t know about you but, half the time, I don’t even know what I want to read until I see it.
Anyway, that’s where Michelle (AKA: “The Hawk”) and I will be tomorrow. Melissa and/or Amanda may drop in but Michelle will be there for sure to help me. If you want to drop by and grab something off the shelf to have signed for somebody for Christmas, we’ll be blessed to serve you. These days the really abbreviated versions of certain written messages mean that the price range starts lower. We never, ever want to talk the women we are privileged to serve into overspending. No pressure here whatsoever. We just want you to know that we’ll be there to serve you…if you want to be served. Grin.
I sure love you guys. You are such a bright spot in my ministry life. I think of you every day. And right about now, my whole staff is thinking about you every minute. Pray your spirals home!
I’ll be back on here soon, Sweet Things. This mama loves you.
So bummed to read that not only did you pass through where I live last week (I-20, Douglasville GA towards Birmingham) but that you had a book signing on my birthday (12/18) but in another state. bboooo! 🙁 (LOL!!)
I haven’t had one single minute to order the spiral and my OCD self is about to go nuts! Actually its my ADD self that won’t let me stop for a second to order the thing. And then I panic bc I won’t have it by January 1st and I’ll just have to get over it! 😉 I love you Mama Beth. Thank you for sharing all manner of life with us. You are some fresh air and I thank you!!!
((hugs)) and blessings from TN!
Fran
What a lovely little full post! Just made me smile all through it.
As for the verse you shared in James, it was a God-ordained reminder straight to my little heart. I’d seriously been questioning that very thing and just feeling kind of sick about our life situation- wondering what God was up to. So this verse was perfect.
Merry Christmas Mama Beth! We sure do love you around here!
Soo happy that Melissa is back home, I know the joy you are feeling. 🙂
Also THANK YOU to all the staff, as my spiral will be here Wednesday, so appreciate all your hard work especially during this busy season, you are all the best!
Blessings,
karen:)
I’m quite excited. This is my first attempt at memorizing scripture and I’m happy to go on this journey with you. I’ve been doing the book of Esther study recently, and cant wait to come along on the siesta.
Just FYI… Travis just came on my Pandora station!
Go Travis! : )
I got my spiral today Whaaaaa Hooooo
Merry Christmas down there is Texas. I know your busy getting all that mail mailed out.
God Bless you. and Thanks a bunch for doing this.
Pam
Campbellsburg, In
Hey Beth! I just checked the mail and my spiral was there!! It brought the biggest smile to my face!! I am so excited to get started!!
I got my spiral and it’s the cutest thing!!! So excited to begin the Scripture memory 2011! Thanks for being so prompt, LPM ladies. I so appreciate you guys and all that you pour into us here in Siestaville.
Merry Christmas and may the peace and joy of Christ saturate your lives in the coming New Year!
Kristi 🙂
Beth, I just wanted to say THANK YOU so much for litening to your calling…its a strange thank you but I so appreciate it…you have been such a healing and a blessing to my life(I’m ready to move to houston!!! grins). I have folloed through your teachings of beautiful mind…then I recieved the book and cds from my mother on believing God bible study..now I have read through the book so long insecurity…can we ever get enough :.) LOL I have learned so much from God through you and your ministry and just wanted to tell you how much your appreciated…by the way you have a wonderful personality…and as for changing anything…I wouldnt change a thing; your beautiful! God Bless you I hope that you’ll come speak in atlanta sometime.
OK Siestas, I have printed out James 1–JOY IN TRIALS. Now I am leaving the warm comfort of my office to go outside in the cold to work a sister’s car and in between grunts and moans I am going to work on the passage. I put a new radiator in yesterday. Today new hoses and a thermostat. I was hoping to be done with this yesterday and thought was fixed, but for someone reason God feels I need more time outside.
Between my job and the work I need to do this weekend on my own vehicle I will not be going home for Christmas. Please pray for my Mom. We just lost my 46 year old brother a few months ago. My Mom understands and didn’t want me on the road for the long trip this time of year. It has been a hard year for her and I wish I could be there.
Since my Mom and I decided to cancel my trip last week, God has caused us both to see a number of reasons why me staying here was the right decision, but it is still hard.
Off to duct tape my verses under the hood!
I got my spiral today….actually it may have been there on Saturday but we just got all the snow cleared from in front of the mail box – my mailman is a very patient man!
Anyway……….YAY!!!
I’m so excited that I will just go ahead and confess that I did what I always do with a new book, journal, Bible, Bible study – I opened it up to the middle and smelled it. Is that seriously wierd or just funny wierd? Maybe it goes back to grade school and those mimeograph sheets that we used to get but I love the smell of any kind of book when it’s new.
It looks GREAT!! Ya’ll are awesome!!! I’m excited!
Okay…
1. SO excited that Melissa is back HOME! YAY!
2. This is silly but I totally cracked up at the CD sleeve used on the packaging for the spiral! I don’t know why I was so amused by it but I literally laughed out loud.
I so loved your post! I am so very excited for you and your family to be so close in location now! When my sister lived 9hrs away from me- I could hardly stand it, the same for the rest of the family. She is now only 2hrs away and I thank God for that! I am so very excited for you, so excited about these spirals- and so very excited and blessed to be a part of this blog community! Merry Christmas to each of you!
I got my spiral today – yes! And when I’m more excited about that than the yearly Christmas cards from friends and relatives, that’s a big WOW! Thanks for keeping us posted on family happenings. I love those special days God gives us, too, with our loved ones.
Oh Beth, you are one of my dearest girlfriends, though we have never met. I was introduced to your studies about 8 years ago, in my mid twenties. Believing God changed my life, my pastor husbands too. He was a youth pastor at the time. God did such a work in us through that study. Then we did Patriarchs. Boy, did God speak to us through that one. The timing was so God…He used that study to confirm a move he wanted us to make. My man is now a lead pastor, has been for the past four years. We would NOT be here had God not used those two defining bible studies to speak so clearly to us.
We love you! You are my kindered spirit sister. You were the first person in ministry to “give me permission to be myself”. I love teaching GOds word and have been blessed to do so in my small sphere of influence. Friends and family tell me you remind them of me…I’m dramatic and demonstrative in every way. I’m passionate and a bit too much at times! 🙂 Anyway, you gave me permission to be the me God made me to be and find freedom in that…to teach out of the overflow of who I am, not who I think I should be as a pastors wife.
THank you friend! I love you!
Amy
I cannot believe it! I already received my spirals! Wow, your little elves are working overtime. Thanks so much. I wish you all a very blessed and Merry Christmas. Thanks for all you do for us Siestas! I love you.
Lawan
Phil 4:8
Whoo Hoo!!! I’m so excited! Just got my Siesta Spiral in the mail today! It is even cuter in person and the actual index cards….well let me just say we need a more glamorous name than just plain old “index cards”!! They are darling!! Thank you, thank you to all of you wonderful laborers at Living Proof!!! I was just excited you were doing the Scripture Memory again this year, but this is the whipped cream and cherry on top! 🙂 Love it!!! Can’t wait to get started!
My spiral just arrived in the mail. Yippee!
I expect my two spirals to be in the mail any day now & am SO excited. 🙂
I loved reading every part of your post & always love the pictures. I’m so excited for your family about Melissa moving back & I love that God delighted your family that night like he did.
The part about Keith surprising you by taking you to the bookstore when your Bible study came out made me cry. Very precious!
Thank you to all of your staff & volunteers for all of your hard work.
Merry Christmas to you all & know that we love and appreciate you!
Love }} from Oklahoma,
Valerie
I got my spirals today!!! I ordered some for Christmas gifts and am hoping to make it to the big event in 2012 with maybe my mom and sisters!! LOVE the little spirals and hoping they will keep me organized and motivated! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Thank you Beth. This is my first comment on your blog but I’ve been receiving your emails and watching the blogsite for a few months now. I’ve been loving your bible studies for many years. I’m in Australia and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the postings about Thanksgiving recipes as it is so novel to me, and I was surprised at how different festive food can be between the US and Australia. Beth, I getting your emails in my inbox and I love the way you welcome us into your home and family life. You don’t know me from a bar of soap, but you have been so formative in my life for so long now. Thank you for sharing your gifts, for your openness and vulnerability, and for reflecting your Beloved Lord’s glory into all of our lives. Love you, Emma.
Got my spiral in the mail today….yahwhooooo!
I got my spiral today and I’m so excited about it that I cannot stand it!!! Thank you so much for having this vision. The only thing that will make the spirals better is when they are all full of Scripture!
Love to you and yours,
~ Lisa ~
Got my spiral today! It’s even cuter in person. I love it!
So glad all your family will be close to each other again! I know you’re one happy mama!! Just like a proud hen!! :o)
~Beth
Siesta Mama,
Received my spiral today! Woohoo! Love it and can’t wait to get started.
LPM staff – your hard work is very much appreciated.
Merry Christmas Siestas!
elaine in new orleans
Well I was going about my day today, chasing my little one, wrapping gifts, making one more trip to HEB…on the way home stopped at the mailbox and… received my spiral today! I am so excited!! This is one of the best gifts I have ever purchased for myself 🙂
So the blue rag / burglar look nearly killed me. You are so funny!! I’m glad you all made it home safe and by the way my little surprise for you should be at your office on Wednesday!!!!!!!! I love you a ton!!!
I love feeling like you know me personally and talk like you do…
I spoke at a MOPS group tonight…I used your spiral notebook idea to help encourage them to embrace scripture reading this new year! I didn’t mention the special one you have offered, just the idea of using one!
Merry Christmas Beth…
Angela
Garner, NC
GOT MY SSMT SPIRAL today!
your team is awesome!!!!!!!!!
what a Christmas treat!!!!!!!!
Oh Beth…you make a laugh, you make me cry and you make me feel all warm and cozy inside what you share about your life on this blog. Thank you for being exactly who God created you to be because I think you are an ExTrOiDiNaRy woman of God and I have learned So much from you. MeRRy ChRiStMaS to you and your family…may you make many more happy memories together! Love to you!
What an amazing gift for ya’all! Glad to read about it and experience tears in my eyes for your joy. Praise Jesus!
Thanks for sharing and have a most blessed Merry Christmas!
Kelli in Colorado
I can hardly wait for my spiral….when I think of January 1, 2011 I want to just clap my hands in anticipation of what He is gonna do. He has been my emotional healer in 2010 and I am ready to follow hard after Him in 2011. I know that 2011 will have it’s share of challenges just like any other year but I smell victory in the air. Thank you Beth and Living Proof ministries for providing us this fun tool that will enable us to be prepared to wield the sword when our doomed enemy wants to get in our face. He must be quaking in his boots at the site of an army of women carrying the Word around in our spirals….
I have my verse in mind and my pen ready…..
Wahoo…mine came in the mail today too! I guess a lot of our men get the mail when they come home. It was funny reading that from other Siestas. That is what happened in my home tonight as well. My man walked in with that, “You bought something else from Beth Moore…” look on his face and then he just smiled. “Whatever keeps you happy,Honey!” I just LOVE those words!
Wahoo again on the little Missy coming home! It’s about time. We are glad to see you again Melissa and will be looking forward to many words from you now that you are at “headquarters” once again! Welcome home, sweet thing!
Mama Beth, I just loved reading this entire post. Thank you for taking the time. I just laughed as I read most of it, and my own Mama is here for a Christmas visit right now, and we could laugh together. Have a blessed day! Looking forward to January 1 as well,and praying for just the right verse (and may I say, NEW PEN!) to write it in my NEW SPIRAL. (you are not crazy by the way…it’s everyone that does not feel that way that is!) Love you.
Yay! My Spiral arrived today! It was such a great surprise and is soooooo cute! I can’t wait to fill it up!!!
Happy Homecoming Melissa!
You are hysterical and amazing at the same time. Read your post, went to the mailbox and there was my little spiral waiting for me already. Thanks to all the wonderful ladies at LPM
Merry Christmas to all.
I am so happy for your family that Melissa and her husband have moved back to Texas! From one wandering/moving-around-the-country wife to another, Melissa, I can imagine the joy you must feel being back “home” again…at least for awhile.
Thank you, Beth, for taking us along on your journeys and adventures and making us feel welcomed and loved. I get such joy from your blog…it is a blessing in my life to be a part of this community.
I am praying you and your family have a Merry Christmas!xo I believe you will!!!
Got my spiral! YIPPEEE!!! I rejoiced out loud when I saw the bulging LPM envelope! 🙂
Trying not to write in it…trying not to write in it…trying not to….
WELCOME HOME MELISSA!!!!!!
Thank you so much for the free download of Eat Pray Love. I can’t wait to listen! keep on teaching and I’ll keep on listening. Thanks for making me feel like you’re talking straight to me. I learn better that way. I relate to your heart so often. I have 3 grown daughters that rock my world and one granddaughter that completely makes my heart melt, a husband that makes me feel like I’m the apple of his eye and then some and a God who loves me in spite of me. Praise Him!
I just love your blogs and all the other siestas! Thank you!
YAY!! So happy for you all! What a wonderful Christmas gift to have your nest full, at least for a time 🙂
LOVE the spiral!! Thank you
I received my beautiful Siesta spiral yesterday, and I live many states away from you in Ohio! Great turn around time! Can’t wait to start the memory verses!
My spiral arrived yesterday! When my husband handed me the package, he asked if I was going to wait until Christmas to open it. I didn’t bother answering because I was too busy tearing open the package.
I’m glad you have both daughters close to home for awhile.
I can’t WAIT to memorize Scripture with this wonderful groups of women! I actually have my own little 3×5 spiral that my friend, Deb, made after we completed the Esther study. I wrote down different things that stuck out to me…quotes from Beth and verses from God. I’m going to add our memory verses! Can’t wait 🙂
Not sure of where to post this so I chose here. I received my spiral Saturday. I am AMAZED(!!!) that I received it as quickly as what I did!!! I think it could only have been 3 days from the day I ordered it. It is adorable & I am looking forward to memorizing my Scriptures this year.
May each of you who have worked so diligently, tirelessly & lovingly to get these out to all of us have a most blessed & happy Christmas!!!
Thank you so much!!!
I can’t believe I missed out on this. I love the spiral. If there is anyway I can get one let me know. I went to the site… I missed it.
I found it!!! 🙂
Sorry, Tammy! You might want try to order online again after New Years…
That is so funny you are trying to decide which pen to use, because we are kindred spirits, I too am trying to decide and if I write it in pen what if I mess up and spell something wrong, oh my! I can’t wait to start. I also ordered another one for a friend of mine who says she wants to start memorizing scripture this year also. We are pumped!!
Thanks for sharing your family with us Beth………cannot wait to get my spiral!!!! Blessings and peace to you and your loved ones this CHRISTmas season. Annette
What a surprise! My spiral was in my mailbox yesterday when I got home! Thanks to you for the idea and your staff for making it happen. Blessings to you and your entire family during this most wonderful season. You are a blessing and inspiration in my life! I love you!
My spiral came and it gives me a lot of hope for 2011. I am in a challenging work season right now and it is HARD to stay in the Word. I feel like I “manufactured” God’s Presence in a project that I “thought” had his FULL BLESSING and yet (months)of work was rejected and I must start over.
Thank you Living Proof for being CONSISTENT with your message.