Confessions of a Messie in Rehab

Freedom, that's all I've got to say, is freedom! I am a messie. I have said it before and I will say it again: I AM A MESSIE! I am also a procrastinator, which the worst combination in the world. Have you ever had someone call and say, "We're on the way, we'll be there in 15 minutes." Talk about freak out time! Well, sometimes for me it's freak out time when it's Monday and somebody says, "I am coming to your house on Friday!" How in the world can I get it all done. Every where I look is a mess!

Well, the last two weeks have been a little different for me. Are things perfect? NO WAY!!! But, I can do a quick run through of the house and in 30 minutes, things can be straightened and presentable. I have never been this way in my life, and honestly, I was a little nervous to write about it since I am only two weeks in.

So what's different about my life in the last two weeks that I've never had before? FREEDOM!!! When I want to sit down and read with my kids or for myself, I don't have the guilt (albeit small amount of it) hanging over me. When I want to paint with them, I can do it. When we want to hop in the car and go somewhere last minute, we can do it! How is it different? Did I do things with my kids, YES! But there was always that sinking feeling about what was still awaiting me when I got done. There was always a huge mess to have to deal with. Now, there are messes, just not so big. And is it perfect? NO WAY!!!

Even the kids notice the difference. My Jedi was always crying about having to clean up his room. He would fuss and fuss and say he could never do it. Now, because we do it in 5 minute increments, he will do it without complaint. My Artist is one who likes for things to be organized, although she's never had the chance to experience that because I never let her. This was not purposeful, but it happened because I was always so messy. And my Princess now races to have her room clean. She loves it.

This is freedom. And for me, it is a way of presenting my body as a living sacrifice that is for God's glory. As you all know, I dislike (I used a very mild word) housework tremendously. So, this is an area where I am working out the "kinks" in my life in order to give Him more praise and honor. I can do more ministry! And it's just so much better to come home to a semi-straight house. It's freedom, pure freedom.

A new game and lots of savings!

As many of you know, my mom and dad raised me on a four letter word...."S-A-L-E." I love a good bargain. Who doesn't? Well, this week has been particularly good for savings, and it's been SO MUCH FUN!!!!

When I was little, my mom was a coupon queen. She had a shoe box with dividers where she filed and stored her coupons. She never went into a store with out it. She never knew what deal was around the corner. Well, like mother like daughter. This week, I decided that I was done spending so much money on stuff that I could buy for so much less (or even get for free.) I found one of the kid-sized shoe boxes, put in the dividers, and then I cut and sorted 3 months of coupons! Well, it paid off. On Monday, I headed to Rite Aid. After making a couple of Coupon-Rookie mistakes and returning two items, I bought $40 dollars worth of stuff for $5. Yes, you read that correctly. Today, I went to Walgreens and used $40 in coupons! So, I bought $60 worth of stuff for $20. For $20 I bought Crest Whitening Strips, two boxes of Loreal Preference Hair Color (yes, my hair color is from a box), two boxes of Fiber One Cereal, Pledge Furniture Polish, Pledge Multipurpose Wipes, and Bayer Heart Advantage Aspirin. Just so you know how much of a deal all that is...the Crest Whitening Strips regular price is $20!!!

This is a new game for me. I must share the two websites that have helped me begin this savings journey. Check out Coupon Mom and Hot Coupon World for yourselves. Be prepared to spend some time studying because there is an enormous amount of information. It's worth the time!

And one more big bargain for us today: Today is COW APPRECIATION DAY at Chic-fil-A. We all dressed up like cows and ate completely for FREE. Jan and Samuel Herring joined us for the fun as you can see in the pictures. We've decided that it will be an annual tradition!

If you add up all the savings, I've saved over $100 in 2 days of shopping! So, if you see a lady on a mission with that CRAZED COUPON look in her eyes and a shoe box in tow, RUN!

I am off to Walgreens for some more hair color in a box. I found some more coupons, and although it won't be as good of deal as this morning, by the time I'm done, I will have 4 boxes for $13!!! Maybe I'll see you there!

My good friends

It never ceases to amaze me how God provides good friends for me wherever I am in the world. Not only are they good friends, but they are women who are seeking God and long to see me do the same. They are willing to hold me accountable and challenge me to walk in His ways and live my life according to His Word. Thank you Lord for this gift.

One of my friends here in VA has a blog. She writes daily to encourage the members of our homeschool support group we have at church. Her post from yesterday, Moving Motive, ministered to me in an incredible way. I am always dealing with the feelings of inadequacy and guilt for not being able to GET IT ALL DONE! Thanks Dee for being my friend. Thanks for encouraging me to walk in the Spirit. And thank you, Lord, for always graciously surrounding me with women who are like iron to sharpen me.

Once again wishing I was like a child....

Our kids love to take walks. There is one street in our neighborhood that is their favorite. It is Duck Pond Road. Although we have water and wildlife around us, there is a place where MANY geese and ducks like to "hang out." The kids love to run into the gaggle of geese (I am not sure I have ever written that phrase "gaggle of geese" before!). The geese run or fly away or scatter into the water. The kids just love it.

On Sunday evening, we walked over to Duck Pond Road. On the way, we passed a group of teenagers hanging out. They were talking and laughing. The Artist got excited and said, "Look Mom, they're having bible study." You see, she is accustomed to seeing small groups gathered in homes having bible study. That is how she grew up. It wasn't abnormal for her to see a group of people gathered outside a home having a good time and studying the Word. That's how we did it in Mexico. That's how missionaries around the world are making a difference where there are NO churches.

Well, when the Artist said this I almost laughed out loud. I told her that they were probably not having bible study, and my thoughts were that they were definitely NOT having bible study and probably weren't interested in having bible study. And then I heard this, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Lord, thank you for being patient with me. You desire for me to put aside all assumptions and fears so that more can come to know you. You want my neighbors to know you. You want the teenagers who live on the way to the duck pond to know you. You want NO ONE to perish. You want ALL to know you. Give me your compassion to see each person I encounter through your eyes. And thank you for giving my daughter a heart that recognizes a place where You might be at work.

The Acting Debut....

One morning in Preschool worship during VBS, the Princess was chosen to help tell the bible story. Ms. Beth, our Minister of Childhood Development, was telling the story of the Good Samaritan. We had to share the pictures and a short video with you! SHE IS JUST SO CUTE! Thanks Ms. Beth! Way to go Princess!

And here is the video!

I had to write about this....

But a friend beat me to it. You must read what our friend Ben wrote about it all. Click his name to read his blog. The man Ben writes about was my youth minister as well. Read almost exactly what the Lord had put on my heart. Way to go Ben!
I must say that I actually like Craig's hair this way. He's had lots of opportunities for ministry with it like this. People just want to talk to him about it. These men did this to raise money for bicycles for church planters in India! The kids involved in VBS brought in the money! The original goal was enough money for 15 bikes...but as more pastors raised the bar and said if they brought more money, more heads would be shaved. They raised enough for more than 50 bikes. Four pastors heads got shaved! GOOD JOB!!!

Pray for Mexico

When we felt the Lord calling us from Mexico, our burden for the lost there did not change. I still pray for them almost daily. Unfortunately, some of the struggles they face there have spilled over into the US. This video is a story put together by FOX news. It is hard to believe that this is occurring in OUR country. I will warn you that they talk about some very hard issues. We must pray for the lost of Mexico. AND most importantly, we must do what we can to reach for Christ those who are in our country so they will go and change their homeland for Christ.

Click here to see the video.

A Day for Dads....

I must confess that I have the two most wonderful men in my life...who are both dads. My husband Craig and my Daddy. I have to share with you some things that make them such wonderful Dads!

Craig:
1. He makes pirate mac-n-cheese. That is a cut up hot dog buried like treasure beneath the mac-n-cheese.
2. He braves the insanity and takes the 3 kids to IHOP all by himself. So far he's survived, and he keeps doing it!
(See the pic, he's actually smiling!)
3. He lets the kids help him wash the cars. The kids love this!
4. He is always looking for new places and things to do with them. I think that is 50% of the reason he reads the newspaper.
5. He loves my kids unconditionally!
6. He shows them everyday what it means to be a missionary follower of Christ!
AND THE MOST SACRIFICIAL FOR ME....
He handles super early morning duty with the kids.

You are a great husband and a great dad! I am so thankful that the Lord put us together with our kiddos. You are leaving an incredible legacy for them. You make a great ringleader for our circus, and I love you!


My Daddy:
1. He used to tell me I was his perfect 10. I knew my daddy thought I was beautiful!
2. He used to put silly notes in my lunch sacks.


3. He caught for me as I threw countless pitches....rain or shine.
4. He let me have lagniappe days to rest when I needed them most.
5. I could understand the concept of God being my Father because I had such a loving example in real life.
Dad, I love you and thank you for the legacy you are for me.


Happy Father's Day!

Why can't I be more like a child?

This past Saturday night was the Artist's and the Jedi's choir program at church. They did so good. We are so thankful for the opportunity our children have at FBC Norfolk. The biggest surprise and most joyful moment came after the performance was over. I was trying to find Lydia among all the people and looked up to find her at the edge of the stage standing with our NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR!!!

The Artist had been begging me for weeks to take her an invitation to the program. Every time she thought about it, our neighbor wasn't home, or we were late heading somewhere, or we were really late getting home. There just never seemed to be just the right time. And honestly, I didn't want the Artist to be disappointed if she wasn't able come. And to be really honest, I wasn't quite sure she would come. Well, Friday afternoon (the day before the performance), the Artist took her an invitation. And you can tell from the picture that she DID come. After the Artist hugged her, she looked at me and said, "This is the best day ever!" Was it because she had finished singing in a great musical? NO! It was truly because our neighbor, who she invited, came to church to see her sing.

Why can't I be more like a child? Why can't I have just a tiny bit of the faith my daughter has? Will I overcome my "assumptions" and continue to pursue those around me? Lord, continue to open my eyes and allow me to see people just like you do.

Wish I was made of rubber....

Yesterday was going so well. We had gotten some stuff done and I was headed down the stairs to change the laundry. I was talking to the older kids and almost to the bottom when my foot slipped. For some reason, it wasn't fun. When I was little, I used to sit at the top of the stairs of my house and slide down. We even used to get in our sleeping bags and "ride" all the way down. The faster and harder we went, the more fun we had. Well, I am not sure the kids would describe all of my wailing as fun. Poor kids had to watch me fall...and then watch me wail as I held my backside. They began to cry as I was wailing. I am actually giggling as I am writing this because it's funny now. The Artist asked if we needed to call the hospital. Jedi asked if I was going to need a wheel chair for the rest of my life. All I could say was "Everybody go to bed." I assured them I was fine, although at the moment I wasn't so sure. I sent everybody to their beds so I could regroup. I literally thought that if I stood up my backside was going to fall off (which might not be so bad, actually). Just so you know, I am fine, and my backside did not fall off. It is bruised though. A massive eggplant colored bruise that will remind me of the fall for MONTHS to come.

So, has this fall changed me in any way (other than being purple and sore?) Well, I can tell you that I walk extremely slow on the stairs and hold the rail all the way down or up. The last thing I need is to fall again! Well, there is a part of me that wishes I would hurt that badly every time I was about to fall into sin. Can you imagine? Here comes a bad thought and OUCH! Or, I am not being loving to my husband or my kids and OUCH! Well, we really do have an accountability as believers. God has given us HIS Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. He is also there to convict us when we sin. When I have sin in my life, it should grieve me. When I catch myself in sin, I should hurt. When I find myself breaking my relationship with Christ, I should mourn. I must admit that when I do find myself in sin, I wouldn't exactly say I grieve or mourn the relationship I've broken. I feel bad and ask for forgiveness, but does it grieve me? We must be ready and willing to hear the Holy Spirit. We must be attentive and listening as He speaks in that still and quiet voice. And if we are, we can hopefully avoid the pain of the fall.

"But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." John 14:26

The Breath of Life....

THEY'RE ALIVE!!!!!
Jedi's bones are alive! After x-rays today, we now know that Jedi's bones are in the regenerative stage of the disease! He has
had significant bone growth since December. Isn't God good? The pain that he is experiencing is normal at this stage. He will
grow out of this eventually. When he has pain, he can be treated with simple pain medication. We will return to Duke in December for more x-
rays. Thank you for praying for us.



Now, I will share one more request. We have friends, Greg and Missy
Wood, who are sharing Jesus with people in Mexico. A week ago this
past Saturday their 4 year old daughter, Annie, fell into a boiling
pot of liquid. She was burned on over 20% of her body. She was flown
to Shriner's Hospital in Galveston, TX, and God has done incredible
things in this situation. For example, in the beginning, they were
told the burns were over more than 40% of her body. God has also
provided for their family in Galveston in incredible ways. They have
a blog, www.pray4annie.com . Please visit the website to read the
whole story and see daily updates about this precious little girl and
her family. Please pray for healing for Annie. Pray for patience and
wisdom for Greg and Missy as they help clean her wounds and help her
heal psychologically as well. We love this family, and we know that
you, our prayer warriors, would do an incredible job lifting them up.

Thanks again for holding the ropes for us through another tough time!
The Clayton Circus

Pray for life...

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
Ezekiel 37:4-6

Hello Prayer Warriors,
Greetings from Norfolk, VA! The Clayton Circus is doing well here. Ministry is booming. We are continually amazed at all God is doing here, and humbled that He is allowing us to be a part. Just tonight, Craig began to formalize plans with the Sunday School leadership for an event called the Big Serve. On Sunday morning, August 31, our church will cancel morning classes and services to participate in numerous local missions projects. We will gather that Sunday night for a time of celebration and praise for all the things God will accomplish. It’s thinking outside of the box, and it’s radical. We are seeing that God is calling us to radical living in everyday life to bring people to an intersection with Him!

Also, let me tell you about Teresa. She works at a Goodwill Store not too far from our house. She was working the cash register when we bought some great finds! After talking to her, we discovered that she is from Zambia, Africa. Without sharing who we were, she asked if we were missionaries. We, of course, responded, “Yes,” but were in awe of the Holy Spirit’s working. Then she asked, “Would you like to get together with me to talk about religion?” Well of course I said, “YES!” We’ve gotten together twice and will continue to meet. Please pray for her. She has said that although we’ve not known each other long that she feels like we’re “kindred.”

Now, you may be wondering why in the world I would be sharing verses about dry bones from Ezekiel. Some of you may know, but most may not, that the Jedi was diagnosed in December with Legg Calve Perthes disease. It is a degenerative disease of the heads of the femurs. The heads of the femurs are actually dying. Over time, they will actually re-grow, but there are many factors that play into it. When it was discovered in December, Jedi had shown none of the symptoms of limping or pain, which was a blessing. Unfortunately, he is having more and more pain. On Tuesday at 1pm we will see a specialist at Duke University. He is known as one of the top orthopedists in the country for this disease. We are asking you to pray for healing. We are asking you to pray that God will breathe new life into Jedi’s dry bones. We are also asking that what ever the outcome that He will receive all of the honor and glory He is due, and that more people will come to that HE is LORD.

Thank you for the continually holding the ropes for us!
Craig, Lori, and the Kids
www.theclaytoncircus.blogspot.com

Also, would you please change our email address to claytoncircus@gmail.com. Our pobox address will continue to work for a while, but we’ve made the permanent change to gmail. Thank you.

It's been too long...

It's been awhile. I am learning that if I don't just stop and blog, it never gets done!!! We are in our new house. It's wonderful, yet we still have no furniture. We have beds and a table and chairs and Craig's recliner, and a few rocking chairs. So, we are definitely fine, it's just weird. We found out last week that our furniture would be delayed another week, so we took the hint and painted! With the help of some very gracious and sacrificial friends we've painted almost the entire house. We have very little left to complete and we are so thankful. I will post pictures soon when I can remember where I packed the download cord for my camera!

God is also doing some incredible things. Ministry is going so well for Craig. We have a pastor that is so supportive when it comes to helping our church to be a New Testament church; he longs for it as much as we do! Also, God has given me some unbelievable opportunities to connect with people that I meet while just living life. I will ask this question, Do you know that God is working around us every single second of the day...and we just have to be prepared to notice it and join in? Here are two stories:

Teresa works at Goodwill. Within 5 miles of our house there are numerous thrift stores which is great for us frugal types! Well, Teresa helped us check out at Goodwill and as soon as she opened her mouth, I knew she was not from the US. She is from Zambia, Africa! So I found out about how she came to live in the US and OUT OF NOWHERE SHE ASKED US, "Are you missionaries?" Can you believe that??? We had not shared at all about who we were. We talked about where she and her husband attend church and where we attended. Then she asked, "Would you like to get together and talk about religion?" CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???? I told her that I would love to! We are meeting for lunch on Thursday and she is attending a women's luncheon at church with me on Tuesday! Pray for her as she is obviously seeking....

Lynn lives next door to us. We've learned she is kind of the "queen bee" of our street. We've had a rough start with some of our neighbors because they are not used to kids living on the street. I kind of feel sorry for them because the Clayton Circus has come to town...and it's not a temporary visit :)! Yesterday she was out on her front porch and I was determined to "win her over!" After an hour long conversation she had told me that today was her birthday (which is personal in my opinion), and she told me she was looking for a change in a church. She wanted to know if she could visit FBC Norfolk!!! So...she will also be attending the women's luncheon with me on Tuesday!!!! Pray for Lynn....

So, God is doing miraculous things. Thank you for your continued prayers although we are not in another country. God is moving here in the Hampton Roads area, and we are excited to be a part of it.

"God doesn't wear underwear...."

Or at least the princess doesn't think so. She recently said this. We're not sure why...but we will tell you this; THE PRINCESS WEARS UNDERWEAR!!!! SHE IS POTTY TRAINED!!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!! GO PRINCESS! We are thankful for this new stage in our lives considering that we have been changing diapers everyday for the last 7.5 years. Yes, you read that correctly. The Jedi was born before the Artist was trained, and the Princess was born before the Jedi was trained! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!

Also, we had some good times over the weekend and wanted to share them with you!

Also, we think we've found a house. We are under contract, but most of you know that means we still must get through the process to close. We are so excited. It's in a great neighborhood, it's very close to the church, it's on the water, and it's so close to Walmart!!! Here are some pictures of the HOPEFUL new house. Please pray for us through the process. We love you all!!!

At the Beach....

So, have I told you where we are living? When we got here the church was going to put us in a Residence Inn not too far from the church. Well, it was a small, two bedroom suite, and they wanted to charge almost $4,000 a month in rent. Yes, I said four thousand dollars a month. THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS!!! They began to investigate other options, and as you know, we are living in an area on the coast. They discovered that many of the vacation homes at the beach sit empty all winter long, and have really really good rates on rent. Well, they found us an INCREDIBLE house for lots less money ONE BLOCK FROM THE BEACH (I will post pictures of the house soon!) We are still currently looking for housing. There's no hurry since we're staying at the beach. No seriously, we've decided to rent for a year so that we can wisely decide exactly where we want to live in this huge place. So pray for us as we make that decision.

Here is a beautiful example of God's creation. We could get so wrapped up in where we are living, the kind of house we're in (at least for now), or our new job. It's really not about any of that. It's truly about who God is and glorifying Him in the glorious and the mundane. Enjoy this little piece of something that I consider to be glorious!

Here's a video so you can hear it as well!