What kind of Christian are you?

Over the last few months I have seen similar posts from different people I am friends with on Facebook and they have stayed with me and I have mulled over it a lot in my head.

And basically the posts have all referred to two types of Christians.

1.  Ones that seek justice and tolerance and helping the poor and promote the biggest virtue of God is love.

2.  Ones that are highly involved in serving in the local church and are more concerned with God's truth and seeing people come to know Jesus.

And somehow you can only be one or the other but not both.

And whichever one you most identify with seems to be what Jesus was most like - NOT the other one.  

And it bothers me when I see these debates because I don't think either side is right.  And I hate that we even have "sides".  Jesus spent time with the prostitutes and the tax collectors and he showed them love and he preached helping the poor and the orphans and the widows.  Yes.  He was about justice.  But he also told people to go and sin no more.  He turned over tables in righteous anger.  He spent the most time with his "Christian friends who were most like him" - the apostles.  He was Holy.  

I think if you can't find a healthy balance between the two - we are all doing it wrong.  Seeking to share only God's love and none of the truth does a disservice.  And staying in the walls of the church and never getting out to help those who are in need and not like you is not good either.  

I think it's a challenge to all Christians to find the area that they need to be more like Christ in.  

I think more than anything these debates online as much as I hate them have made me dig deep and challenge what I believe.  It's made me really get into God's word and try to know more about what it says and not what the voices on the internet say.  Or the pastors of today.  Or the Bible Teachers.  Or the influencers.  Because the only real authority is God and His word.  

And there are days that make me wonder if I'm doing it all wrong.  And that makes me seek His word more and to seek Jesus more.  

You can only know God as much as you know His word.  

In the end we are all just a bunch of sinners in need of a Savior and in need of abundant grace.  And I want people who don't know Him to see what a difference He can be in their lives.  Not what a tangled web they will step in if they step into the Christian community.  I hate that Satan has caused so much division but I imagine he is thrilled with the way it has kept us from doing what really matters and that's reaching a lost world.  

Just think about how you can do the next thing and be like Jesus.  One moment of a time.  Not the BIG thing.  Just the next thing before us.  I think if we do that - we get to the end of our lives and find a life that was well lived with purpose.  Whether others thought it was the right way or not.  The only opinion that will matter then is God.  

A week of lasts

Last week was a week of lasts.  

Will Holden had his last day of Mother's Day Out.  He looks SOOO grown up in that second picture. My little handsome boy! He had a great year! It was so good for him (and me!) 

They made this special picture with him and his teacher! He loves his teacher "Sassy" (her name is Sally but that's what he calls her).  He had her wrapped around his little finger.  We joked a lot about him - he's just a very active boy!!! He is always climbing on things or getting into things.  I have to laugh because I have had several people who have kept him at church and then they will say to me "Oh you weren't kidding! You must be so tired!".  He's sort of a legend at his preschool.  

Hollis had her kindergarten graduation.  It was at the new high school in our town so it was fun to get to go and look around at it.  

My sweet girl.  She LOVED kindergarten! I was so glad she loved it so much and came out of her shell! 

Hollis was so lucky to have all of her grandparents there too.  It worked out for them all to come and we were so glad! I know it made Hollis feel so special! 

We celebrated with snow cones later that afternoon! 

Friday was our last day of school.   Both girls had such good years! I love to see how they have changed both physically and mentally and emotionally. 

I can't believe I have a first grader and a third grader in my house.  They were just toddlers!!! We are ready for a summer of fun!!!

Good Good Father

Yesterday was the school talent show.  Harper has never wanted to try out for solos in choir at church so I couldn't believe it when she came home saying she thought she wanted to try out for the talent show.  She picked her favorite song to sing and tried out and made it.  She has practiced so much and was nervous but I was a thousand times more nervous.

I wrote this on my social media about it.

Eight and a half years ago on the night she was born, a doctor stood over my bed and said he didn't think she would live through the night. 

Six years ago we learned she had lost a lot of her hearing and would need hearing aids. 

Three years ago we found out her hearing was getting progressively worse. 

And today she stood in front of her entire public school at the talent show and sang her favorite song "Good Good Father". 

And He IS. 

He Is So Good.

I feel so overwhelmed to watch her up there singing about Jesus.  She was so brave to get up there and sing in front of everyone but I love the joy on her face! I was thankful that it gave her confidence!

Little sister was so proud.  We are trying to talk her into singing with Harper next year in the talent show! 

Scott's parents were able to come this week to see Harper sing and see Hollis graduate from kindergarten tomorrow. 

It was a very special day for our family.  

My day with the Pioneer Woman

My friends and I all love the Pioneer Woman.  So when she put in her mercantile store in her town about 3 hours from us, we have said many times we had to make a trip over.  We finally made it happen on Saturday.  And it was the BEST day! 

It was a perfect day! We had so much fun driving over to Oklahoma! We just planned to shop and eat.  We didn't know if Ree and Ladd would be there.  

As soon as we walked in, Ladd "Marlboro  Man" was at the door greeting people.  He couldn't be kinder.  My friend Ginger's husband has worked with him for a few years so she was able to talk to him about that.  He told us Ree would be coming by in about 20 minutes so we went upstairs to the bakery and got some treats and waited! 

The line was short and we got books signed and talked to her! She was so sweet and friendly! 

We loved getting to talk to her! She visits Bentonville frequently which is fun.  I'm thinking she should call us for dinner next time she is in! 

The whole place is so cute! 

We split a piece of chocolate pie and it was SOOOOOOO good! 

We got in line to eat lunch.  The wait was about an hour and a half but we took turns standing in line and shopping so it didn't seem that bad.  And the wait was TOTALLY WORTH IT!

I got the Marlboro man sandwich because I just thought I needed to.  And it was AMAZING! 

Laurie and Elizabeth both got chicken fried steak.  Laurie went on and on how it was the best CFS she has EVER had! 

We hit the jackpot because we went on a day when the Lodge was open to tour!  According to the website - these are the days you can visit the Lodge:

• June 1-3
• June 5-10
• June 12-17
• August 7-12

The Lodge is where they film her Foodwork Network show.  She also hosts guests there.  It has several bedrooms.  It's about 15 minutes out of town.  You have to drive by all their land to get to it.  It's SO beautiful.  

This is her pantry which if you watch her show - it looks familiar! 

In one of the bedrooms - she had her makeup set up and a clothes rack where she gets ready for her show.  There was also a second professional kitchen where all the prep work takes place.  It was SO interesting! 

Isn't this a beautiful view looking out from the lodge? 

We had just the BEST time together! Laurie kept saying it was the best day she's ever had! If you live anywhere near Oklahoma - you should totally make a trip! 

Swimming and Snow Cones

I have really been falling off the blogging train lately but man May is so crazy!!!! It has been non stop and I'm so tired at night I can barely remember what we did! 

Last week we did swim lessons.  Will Holden did them but he absolutely HATED swimming.  I was so surprised.  I expected him to be diving in but he lost his mind when it was his turn.  He would say "no no no swimming" every time we went.  So he didn't spend much time in the pool.  

He spent more time eating snacks and watching his sisters.  

The girls did great.  They LOVE swimming.  I think we are going to do a swim team this summer - which means they will be swimming almost every day. I think it will be great for them.  

One night last week we met up with Dale Benfield, an amazing photographer in our area, and he took pictures of the girls and I for a thing we are doing with Gap soon.  He was so nice and it easy to work with.  He did a little blog post on it. http://www.thebenfieldblog.com/2017/05/kelly-stamps-family-portraits.html

The girls had Mismatch day one day for school.  Or basically pick out your own clothes day.  

I love when my kids are fresh from baths and in their pj's every night.  We always snuggle and watch a little tv and read and pray.  It's always a sweet time.  And sometimes I am just ready for bedtime. ha! 

We had field day last Friday and OF COURSE it was pouring rain.  It ALWAYS does on field day.  WHY? Thankfully they moved stuff around and they ended up being able to do it in the afternoon but it was COLD compared to what it had been.  

The kindergarten always has a field trip downtown at the splash park and then they eat lunch and go to another downtown park.  Will Holden and I got to meet up with Hollis and see for a while on that day.  

Will Holden had a great time.  But he hated the splash park.  He loves his bath.  But it doesn't love any other water.  I have a feeling it will grow on him! 

We met up with friends after school one day for snow cones.  It was 6 boys and my girls (and WH who was more interested in his snow cone and running around then taking a picture).  The boys were playing with a football and some dude perfect thing.  My girls just stood off watching them like they were from mars.  They didn't know what to do with those boys.  

Today I had lunch with the other PTO officers from this year.  We have had a great year.  PTO is a LOT of work.  I have loved it.  Three of these moms are moving states.  I'm taking next year off from PTO because it's just too hard with a toddler at home.  But I'm sure I will be back over the next 8 years.  I am the social media chairman and I will stay that way.  That's an easy job for me to fill!!!

We have birthday parties, a talent show and kindergarten graduation coming up and 7 more days of school.  And I have a fun day trip with my friends on Saturday coming up.  And then we will take a deep breath and get ready for June! 

Mother's Day Weekend

My girls both came home with drawings of me for Mother's Day from school.   I thought it was funny that they looked so similar - right down the pink dress.  And I also think it's funny that neither of my girls know that my hair is naturally dark dark brown and not blonde.  But they have noticed my R&F lash boost apparently. ha! 

Saturday morning I went to the gym and came home to sweet cards and flowers from my family! 

Harper was invited to a birthday party Saturday afternoon and the mom brought in barn animals.  Hello - dream come true! 

Baby cows, baby ponies, baby sheet and rabbits.  

Harper had the best time! 

Saturday night our Sunday School class had a big fellowship to say goodbye to a family that is moving to Wisconsin this week.  We had it at my friend Maegan's house.  They live on some land and it's a great house for kids to run around.  I didn't really talk to hardly anyone because I was so busy chasing this wild man around.  But he played so hard that he slept until 8 this morning (he's usually up by 5:30) and then he took a 3 hour nap.  So happy Mother's day to me and we will be going to Maegan's house every Friday night from now on so I can sleep in on Saturdays. ha! 

I met Kacy about 12 years ago when we both joined a newlywed class. She quickly became one of my best friends. We went through struggling to have babies together to teaching 4 yr old Sunday school to teaching AWANA together to serving on the PTO board together to hosting 385 baby showers together to laughing, calling and texting nearly every day in between. Kacy is such a servant and one of the most faithful friends I have. My favorite memory of her was when I was in the hospital with that awful staph infection in my face and no one could come see me and even doctors came in wearing hazmat suits but Kacy came up one night and brought me a sonic Coke and sat and watched bad reality TV with me. That's the kind of friend she has been to me. It's hard as an adult to make really close friends who you can let in your inner circle. I'm grateful Kacy has been in mine and I know that a few thousand miles won't keep us from staying friends. I have a few more meet ups with her this week before she leaves and I'm trying my hardest not to be a crying mess.  I've had about 7 months to prepare for her leaving but it doesn't make it easier.  

This morning we headed to church for Mother's day.  I'm so thankful for these babies. I am overwhelmed with how much I love them.  

Our church had a fun step and repeat to take pictures in front of this morning.  

This is just part of my mom squad.  Being a mom has been so fun because I have these girls to help me through it.  These friends encourage me and we hold each other accountable.  And we laugh a lot. What a gift they all are to me.  I could weep again about each of them.  

Today also happened to be Steve's birthday and he requested that we have dinner at Outback.  The girls sat in a booth together and we ate and talked when we weren't wrestling a little bear named Will.  Will Holden did discover a blooming onion and he went nuts over it.  ha! 

Love these girls.  

It was a wonderful weekend with wonderful weather. I feel like summer is right within reach.  I hope you had a good weekend.  I hope if it wasn't the best weekend for you - for whatever reason (I know there are many) - that this week ahead will hold joy for you.