So Long Paw Paw

I'm not about to start this blog with, he's in a better place. It's true but that's not helping right now. Right now I hurt. Right now I'm thinking this sucks. Right now I'm trying to remember all the times we shared but am drawing a blank. Right now I'm grieving for the greatest human I have ever know. I miss him. He's my Paw Paw. He's the same man who sets the tone of this family. This is the man who helps any and all. This is the man who is there for you when you didn't know you needed someone to be there. He's the greatest man I've ever know. I love him so much. I already miss him. Never again will I hear.. Floss what you doing? Come on Flossie. When he died every name he had ever given died with him. He is gone. Gone. I can't stand it. You know, my name (lasley) is honored because of him. He has built such a great name the entire community is weeping. Every life he touched he changed. He showed love to all people. He never asked for anything. Never wanted help. He showed God's love. He represented the love of Christ in ways many never reach or receive.... so long Paw Paw.

Christmas 09

This year I was thinking about Christmas and the idea of tradition. Just know the Lasley's do tradition but not really. We all get together on Christmas at Lunch. That's about as traditional as it goes. My mom's side, we always get together, but it's pretty different every year because we rotate houses, eat supper, and get loud. I have decided to make a kind of list saying what is and isn't the same.

Same: The most important.... all family members (and gfs/bfs), Dirty Santa, Chocolate Cake, sausage balls, pants size, christmas tractor

Different: Elevation Uptown *which is going to become a staple christmas activity*, MMW christmas eve, No cadle song, Christmas at Sylvia's, daddy decorates tractor, Horner's at Momma's, Christina comes, Engagement, no fruit tray but fruit salad, and PAYTON> Speaking of Payton... isn't she cute!

the end

Saturday the boys walked off the field, heads hung, helmets dragging and i know there were a few tears shed. This was the end of years of playing ball together. The end of a season in their life. The last time they will all be part of this phenomenal team. It was the end. In the stands I could since the same tension. This is the end of watching these boys every Friday night. This is the end of this particular group of parents preparing meals, tailgating, and having the close bond. From years in Mite league and now Varsity High School State Championship contenders, these parents have been through it all. I sat and took it in. It all in. Watched this season end. Not in the way we all wanted but in a way that was tough. They say you learn more from a loss than a win. So, here is what I'm thinking, what if the season you are in ends in a way you didn't desire. It ends in a way you don't understand. It ends in a way that doesn't seem fair. Well the interesting part is understanding, it's all for the good. Yep that's right. It's all for the good. The one who ends the season is equipping for the one to come. SO Yes a state championship would be nice, but maybe it's the hurt of missing it that makes the college state championship mean more? Or the Super Bowl victory mean more. Or the desire to work harder and never feel this way again take effect. You do learn more from a loss. This idea can also apply to life. The season you are in right now didn't really end the way you wanted. The relationship didn't end the way you wanted. The job didn't end the way you wanted. The church you're end is ending in a way you didn't want. Just know its all equipping. It's all preparing you for whats to come.

Friday Nights... so far

Make sure you have the volume up when you play the video!!

here

So, I have crazy ideas all the time. Things pop in my brain. For the longest time I thought it was just me but God has been teaching me when the idea is his and when it is mine. He has something big for me. I know what you're thinking, he has it for all of us but I don't ya'll. I have this gut feeling I am not going to be your regular American. I don't think I'll ever have a kid of my own. I don't think I'll live around my family (which fyi is the hardest off all to swallow, because ya'll know i love my family). I don't think I will stay in this country. I don't think I'll teach forever. I don't even think I'll ever get married. I don't really know what all this means. Here is what I do know. I don't have to worry about it. God is in the process of preparing my mind, emotions, and body for whatever he has for me. I am praying for when the time comes, I will do it. Not question but do it. God equips us no only physically and spiritually, but also in our desires. I will say I have desires in my heart I never imagined I would want I know that is from him. Only from him. So I don't know a lot, but I'm here and loving every step.

spring

I feel as though my life has been in a season of winter. Not dead, but sleeping. A season of waiting. For about a year now I have been in this season and God keeps revealing himself and his truths to me through this season yet those truths have yet to be fulfilled. But, part of thinks they may be starting to awaken. The truths and the words are in the budding stages, like spring. I'm not saying we are blooming yet, but I will say there is starting to be a moving, a stirring. All that was trimmed away in my life, all that has been resting in my heart, all that I have been waiting for is starting to unfold. Kind of cool. Kind of scary. Kind of unsure of it all, but all in all at complete rest with it.
One of the cool things about God is he gives us a will. We have a free will. We are not puppets on a string. I read an interesting passage the other day by an author telling how we are co-laborers with Christ, not mealy puppets on a string. God will place desires in our heart, yet when we are working with Christ we may have desires too and He will fulfill those desires. It has been interesting. I don't quite understand it all yet but I'm getting clarity little by little.
Have you ever wondered if when you have prayed over anyone to feel better if the person really did, or if God healed that particular person? I believe in healing, I believe in the power of prayer, I believe in the supernatural power of God. So, I have a friend I recently prayed over to feel better and no joke as I was praying my hand got really hot at the spot I was touching. It was one of those things where I thought, hum... my hand is hot. I'm only imagining this. I'm just thinking this is happening because I've read where other peoples hands get hot when they are praying for healing, and I'm not one who God could use to really heal someone from sickness. Nope. Please understand I am not saying God can't heal, or that he will use me to be the one to pray a prayer of healing over a person, but the enemy really attacked me. I started to second guess what God was doing. So, is the person healed? I'm not really sure, I don't know, but my hand was extremely hot, and I know God's power has often been demonstrated and released with signs of heat.
That's all for now.

update

The fact i haven't posted a blog in forever can help explain how busy I have been the past few weeks. I started home bound teaching 2 kids. Which consists of an extra 10 hours of week outside of school. I also am helping with the girls b-ball team, which is another 8 hours a week. Plus I like to stay involved with my family, so driving back and forth from here to home takes a ton of time too. It has been pretty hectic but I Love it. I do better when I'm busy. I think I function better. But the main thing I have to say is PERSPECTIVE. God has really been keeping my perspective in check. He keeps putting kids in my life with hard times, awful times, and making me see how good I have it and have HAD it. My life has been amazing. I never truly knew how wonderful it was until I see the lives some of these other kids have to live and face daily. Everything is a matter of perspective. Take a step back and look at the situation. From what angle do you see it?? The same question of is the glass half full, or half empty?

glow stick

I have thing for stars. IF you don't believe me go back and read one of my blog entries from November 2008. I love the stars! Paul writes in Philippians 2 that I will shine like the stars in the universe. The stars shine all the time but you see them best at night. You see the stars even better when it's really dark and the stars are the only light. Sometimes God lets the circumstances around you go dark so you will shine with His light. Right before the star statement he says to do everything without grumbling or arguing. Meaning no complaining. Complaining is more or an insult to God's character than an accurate assessment of the situation at hand. Not complaining is the outflow of the inward growth we have in Christ. Think about this... if we do everything without complaining no matter how horrible the circumstances may be we shine like the stars. God shines through when we don't complain! We shine him! Happiness is a symptom of circumstances but joy is a product of perspective and no matter what happens to me God is still good and I will be grateful. Perspective is hard to remember. But whatever we think is bad, there is somebody else who has it worse or who has had it worse.

Okay. This one is my favorite. Think of a glow stick! you have to break it and turn out the lights before you can really see it shine. Sometimes God has to break you and turn out the lights (make the circumstances dark) before his glory will truely shine!

This is what I learned at church this weekend! Pretty cool huh? Check out the sermon at http://www.elevationchurch.org/

how could i just walk on by

tonight was a hard night. never in my wildest dreams did i think it would be that hard. It would be that difficult to see that face. to walk past that door. to continue down the hall with out one word. what happened? where did that friendship go? where did all the events, talks, and conversations go? why did it stop? is this what it has come to? is this where the story ends? i didn't know what to do, what to say, or where to look. so i said nothing. no complaints, no arguing, no words. just silence. i know this makes no since but that's where I was. BUT... this is the happy part... MY joy is not determined by what happens TO me, but what Christ is doing IN me and THROUGH me. MY JOY. I still have joy. Happiness is a symptom of circumstances. Joy is the product of perspective. No matter what I go through God is still Good and I am still grateful. From where I'm sitting I have a good life. So, was I happy? no. Do I have joy? YES!!! happiness is a feeling and feelings change.. (especially for females about once a month) but my joy is the same.

how could I just walk on by? Not quite sure. Was that the right thing to do? not quite sure on that one either. we'll see what happens. what will come of all this drama?

Glogster

Joy

"My joy is not determined by what happens TO me but what Christ is doing IN me and THROUGH me." Pastor Steven Furtick

How often do we let our joy be determined by our happiness and what situation we are in. But out joy is deeper. Remember in VBS.
I got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart

Your joy is in your heart. Christ is in your heart! My joy isn't determined by my circumstances, my position, or my feeling. Its something deeper.
"Heather.. why do you just seem so at peace..?"
well I have the joy in my heart... to stay!

crazy kid quote

It's crazy sock day and I tell a 7th grade boy, "I like your socks!" They are polka dot and pooh bear socks. The kid respond, "yeah, they're my sisters and actually extremely comfortable."
HAHAHAHAHA!

Baby Dedication

This past weekend was the baby dedication of my niece Payton Rae... also known by her rapper name P.Rae (well... her heather lasley nickname.) I have the new responsibility of helping my big bro and SIL of raising this kid in the love of Jesus and to keep my bro and sil responsible of living with God. I have experienced a freedom from religion and tradition which has been amazing. I also know my identity in Christ and how Christ sees me. So, I was sitting during the service prior to the baby dedication and began to weep. My heart hurts so badly for the words I was hearing. The words coming from a man trapped in a spirit of tradition and spirit of religion, a spirit that the Pharisees had which caused them to miss Christ and all his love. My heart was hurting. I was praying so hard for this man and for this church asking God to give me a revelation of what to say to free these people and God said to say nothing. What does he mean say nothing? How can I say nothing and continue to hear the word of God be twisted to fit the ideas and hand-me-down teachings of man. SO I said nothing. NOTHING. Don't ask me why I had to be quiet, God hasn't revealed that aspect to me yet, but I was silent. After listening to the words of this man, I now know how to pray for that meeting of believers and pastor. I ask you to help me pray too. It's my responsibility. I made that promise at the baby dedication. A promise to this kid to raise her so her days will be filled with life in Christ. Help me to pray against a spirit of religion and pray in the spirit of truth and freedom. To pray out the spirit of pride and pray in a spirit of humility. The enemy has attacked this church and is winning. I hate to see him win. Pray for freedom. Pray for the blinders to be removed. Pray for repentance (repent: to change direction.) That is my prayer. Help me pray.

On a happier note.. I have some good pics!

My bro, Me, Abigail and Matt

Uncle DJ with P.Rae!

Me with P.Rae!

My new favorite picture of me and Payton! We're both laughing! I love it!

It's amazing what a baby will make people do. Make grown adults say, sound, and look really funny. All for a baby. I LOVE IT!

not me

I have come to grips with the fact of not being chosen... again. This concept is new to me because I was never the last one picked on the playground, for the kickball team, or to run a relay. For some reason I'm not picked when it comes to relationships. I know!? I'm nice. I can have a good time. Easy going. Not very demanding and very low maintenance. Not scared to try new things and fail or ask for help. So... here I am un chosen but strangely enough content. Not upset. Not hurt. But at peace. Because Faith is resting in the fact of knowing sometimes what I want isn't best but waiting for what God wants is. Not chosen is pretty good.

Volleyball

This year I was the lucky duck chosen to coach the middle school volleyball team. It was and continues to be a challenge because the extent of my volleyball knowledge comes from what I played in PE class when I was in middle and high school. Here's the big news... I love coaching volleyball! I know. Who would have thought? Our final practice is today. Already. We play our final game tomorrow and then we start the county tournament. I'm really not quite sure if I want it to end. About the time I started to understand the flow of the team, how to practice different skills, my sub rotation, and how to coach the team (I mean.. coach girls because they are different than boys) the season is over.
I started taking volleyball lessons to help me play, FUN FUN FUN!!! Which has been a great investment because MY coach teaches me which in return has helped me know what to say to my girls when they are struggling. I am really loving the fact of just hitting a ball. Hitting the ball with me hand. Hitting the ball with extreme force. Watch out love of running you may have some competition.
God for sure put me in this position. I don't have all the details as to why, just yet, but I have some ideas. I will say, some days, the only reason I came to school was due to the fact I had to coach. Man, what a season.

i bummed another blog...

Holly Furtick is my Pastor's wife at Elevation Church. She always has a commentary about the previous Sunday's sermon. This week was no different. Instead of me explaining to all ya'll what I learned... i just did a little copy paste work.. Read... Reflect.. and Apply to your life... Kill Switch.. It's a good Series. If you get the chance Listen to the sermon online!


This past Sunday we began our new series, Kill Switch. Opened by a super intense new Switchfoot song, my husband launched into a powerful message on the cross and sin.
The message was entitled "The Cross is the Kill Switch," based from Colossians 2:13-15. And I thought it was a such a timely message for all the people at Elevation who have recently given their lives to Christ.
My favorite point was, "get the dead cat out of your bed!" Crass I know. But my husband shared a true story about a lady whose cat had died and she wanted to sleep with it one more night. Disgusting. But oddly enough, we do the same thing with our sin.
Colossians 2:13 says we were dead in our sins, but God has made us alive in Christ. So many of us come alive in Christ yet we cling to our dead sin. A dead habit, speech, group of friends, relationship? How silly we must look to God clinging to what is already dead.
The cross is the kill switch! My husband said, "the cross is not only a crutch for our defeat, but its also a weapon for our victory!" What a powerful thought to propel us through the rest of the week!
You can listen to the message (week 1 of Kill Switch) http://www.elevationchurch.org

not having a title is the title

The enemy is sneaky. Let me say it again... the enemy is sneaky! The rat. I had a revelation this weekend. Elevation started a new sermon series called kill switch. To put it in brief, sin is the kill switch in your relationship with God. I took all the info from the sermon in and just listened. Didn't have any revelations, didn't have any hit me in the face moments, didn't have a big AH HAH until this morning drinking my coffee. My sin is worry. My sin is lack of faith. My sin is questioning God's intentions. I know how much God loves me. I know I am his kid and he has the best in mind for me. Yet here I am, again, questioning the circumstances in my life. I keep looking far ahead. I keep questioning. I keep asking why is this happening not what are you teaching. So I've been miserable. My communion with God has been broken and I hated it. I didn't understand why. The enemy has such a way of masking sin you truly don't even recognize it. I lost sight of my purpose. I lost sight of my reason of being here. I'm not here for me. I'm here to worship God. In everything. So what, if I hate my job. Praise God. So what, if some relationships didn't workout the way I wanted. Praise God. So what, if my boss thinks I do nothing right. Praise God. My Savior is the only one I live for. As long as I look at him for my guidance, I'm in the right place. My purpose is the same no matter the circumstances. To bring honor to his name. To praise him. To bring heaven to earth. The kill switch is gone. I'm in full steam ahead!

The Elevation Blog Post today was for me... Here it is... I hope it's for you too!!!
Peace
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3


Not sure what is going on in your world whenever you read this, but this verse brought a lot of comfort to me today. The key truth that gripped my heart was that trusting in the Lord means that my mind is steadfast. That my thoughts rest firmly in the knowledge of who God is and what He has promised. I can’t say I trust in the Lord and then let my thought life be dictated by my circumstances. That is why the Faith Confessions we unveiled recently at Elevation were so powerful. When we focus our attention on Jesus and away from the wind and the waves of our circumstance, we realize the hope that we have in our Savior and the love that the Father has lavished upon us through the cross. In a sermon during our Give.Me.Faith. series, Pastor Steven said that we can always trust that a God who loved us enough to send His Son to die for us always has the best intentions towards us.
And that reality brings peace.

it's good to be home

It is very rare I have weeks that are horrible. The past two weeks have literally been testing. Just crazy. I have never been in the principals office more these past weeks than I have in my entire life. I haven't been enjoying work at all and I have really felt lonely. Just lonely. So, I have been looking at Christ asking, where are you? What is going on? I'm so confused. Well, last night I drove home. Football game, Biscuitville, four wheelers, P.Rae, and family. I love home. It is home. No one truly understands how great home is for me. Some folks didn't have a great upbringing around neighbors who were kin, or on land you could roam. I love my family. I love my land. Today I was up on my mountain, looking in the distance at one of the prettiest views in NC when God reminded me how Great and Good he is. One would think I would have this concept down pat, but I get in funks and attacked by the enemy that He has to remind me of his goodness and power. Up on the mountain I start to feel silly. Yep I am confused but has God ever left me? NO. Has he never had my best interest in mind? NO. Has He blessed me with a family like none other? Yes. I have the best family in the world. Anyone who has ever gotten to know us (I'm including extended family) loves us. God has blessed this family. He has blessed me with allowing me to be a part of this family and carry on my family's name. It's good to be home. It's good to have the home I have! Thank you Lord!

can i go run and never come back

Can I do anything right? I'm in the desert. Stuck. And even out in the middle of nowhere I mess up. I hate it. I do. I really just hate it.

seasonal

My momma has been giving me advice for many years but her latest tidbit of advice came after years of knowing what I needed to do, but never being told. She verbally said out loud what my brain has been saying to myself for many years. Momma said, "Heather, stop. Get out. Just stop." So, I stopped. I got out. I quit. I ceased. I fell off the face of the earth. I put on the brakes. I jumped the wagon. I...(you get the idea).
All to say, now what? NOW WHAT? This can't be end. After all these years. Done. It doesn't make sense to me. Then I think, "God do I even know? Do I truly recognize your voice? Because Lord, it's been 2 years since you spoke this word. At least I think it was you. I don't even know anymore. 2 years of waiting, of wondering, of seasoning. So, was that you? Was that your word, or did I just make it all up? Lord why here? Really? I have been patient. I'm waiting for a revelation. I'm waiting for wisdom as to why here and not there. I like there. Everybody I love is there. My roots are there." Those are the questions on constant playback, on repeat, on continuous play rolling around my brain.
hum.... seasoning. Seasonings are added to food to increase flavor, to add variety, to stimulate the taste buds, to turn something mundane into extraordinary. So Lord, what is the seasoning? Or seasons. I feel like it's winter and everything is dormant. Not dead, but lifeless for a spell. I'm waiting for spring.
That's all I have folks. Nothing of great wisdom, just some ramblings in my brain.

A Wise Woman Once Said...

In tribute to my Maw Maw who turns 84 tomorrow I decided to write a blog in her honor. She is the funniest person I know. I honestly believe as you get older you become more like a child. Older people don't care about what others think. They aren't concerned with upholding a status quo or meeting worldly standards. They say what they think and do what they want. Here are some famous Maw Maw quotes...

"you mean there is more than one cashier at the walmart?"
"ooooooooooooo"
" S... S... S... S..."
"It's just a bite."
"there isn't that much sugar?"
"NEAL!"
"that's not the way Neal does it."
"I'm in the bathroom."
"just roll me down the hall."
"well, she's gonna smother."
"don't loose her in that bag..."
"Wesley, Matt, Kevin, I mean Larry."
"turn that fan off."
"ain't you cold?"
"please. please. please."
"ugh hum"
... think of a good cough right now.. in the middle of supper....
"does my hair look okay in the back?"
"My plate's cold."
after maw maw fell out of her wheel chair and was stuck on the floor for 3 hours she says, "there was a nice breeze coming through the window. I don't know what I would have done if there wasn't that nice breeze."
"well.. i just got stuck on the toilet."
"enough is enough"
"come pull my britches up?"
"you know any news. me neither." 5 minutes later.. "you know anything I don't know? me neither."
"What. You talking about me?"
"I'm scared of q-tips."


You know, this same wise woman can say crazy things, yet is also one heck of a woman. She has endured the life of a farmers wife, the mother of 3, and the difficulties of life altering events. Shes a pillar. She is also one that will listen to the mouth of a frustrated granddaughter and not take offense to the jokes made about her. She is one heck of a role model and one heck of a grandmother.

So I think I have for sure forgot some words of wisdom from this wise lady. Feel free to add!

kind of like i'm stuck in wal*mart

I don't know about the rest of y'all but whenever I go into wal*mart my cell phone reception isn't the greatest. I think its due to all the metal, electronics and other gadgets interfering with the signal. It's just junk getting in the way that makes the phone conversation drop or sound broken.
That happens in my life. I feel like my God reception is hitting the interference. Like I'm stuck in the wal*mart and different things are getting in the way of the signal. But you know its not a hard task to get a clear reception. All I gotta do is step outside. All I gotta do is move. Get out of the wal*mart. Get away from the interference.

My Oh My

Amazing week. All I know is it's been smooth. I have had kids this week! But every time I get a kid I fix them and then I don't have any kids. Which I guess is good, but hey, it makes the day slow. Y'all know I'm volleyball coach! Well, stop thinking what you're thinking. It's fun. The girls are fun. We have a good time! Its amazing how much one can learn, and how much one can do when put into a situation. I feel sometimes other people know me better than I know myself. Its one of those things!

This week I have really been noticing things from a different view. Looking a situations, looking a problems, looking at traffic jams differently. I wish I could explain all that I have seen through a different lens.

oh no

If you ever get the chance to coach a sport, do it, but after cuts run, hide under a rock, and don't come out for two days. Some people don' t understand. You try to make a team that will best represent your school, you try to pick a team of people with skill, coach able, and work hard. You have really good people, really bad people, and then the hardest group the ones in the middle. SO i urge you, if you have a kid that gets cut from the team, don't blame the coach. There is a big pot of people trying out. It all depends on what your kid is up against. I hate making cuts. I wish I could keep them all. But it's not doable. I'm sorry. It's all a part of life!

are you serious??

So I was just sitting here really in the dumps. Do you ever have one of those days? Just confused? Not sure what is going on. It was one of those days. It was day when the poop hits the fan and you're not sure which way is up. I was sitting here and just crying out to God asking him why I'm here. What is he doing and check out the verse he gave me.. unreal.. like instantly he showed me these verses... Phil: 1:21-26
Sometimes God has us where we are at, because His need for us there is far greater than our need to be somewhere else.
Man.. He always gives us what we need... always.. I love it!

So when the news I get isn't necessarily what I want to hear. Or what is happening isn't really what I feel God told me was going to happen. That's okay! It's okay! it's just remembering
-God doesn't put you in the fire to destroy your faith but to demonstrate His power
-FAITH is believing God CAN, EXPECTING that He will and TRUSTING Him if He doesn't

http://vimeo.com/6249081
just a good video.. made by elevation.. watch it!

so.. that's all... here I am..

you don't hear that?

Meandering to a different drum. My teacher mentor/friend gave me a plaque containing those words (Meandering to a different drum). That's how I feel. Okay. I'm 24. I look around at other 24 year old girls and I'm not like them! Then I think... my entire life I have never been like any of the status quo people my age. I have always been meandering to a different drum. I had a friend pass on a quote that said, "they may look at you like your crazy because they cant hear the music inside your head." I realize I am not normal. I think that scares people (especially boys). People have a hard time figuring me out. So.. here it goes. My life is dedicated to God. All I do and think I want solely from him to glorify him. NO.. I'm not perfect.. i don't do everything right.. and i know I mess up.. but I am truly willing to live out the spirit. So I look different. I act different. I think different. I'm just different. But I like it. So yeah I'm bebop in to my own drum.. heck.. it's my own band.. that's okay! I'm liking this music.

ananias

So in the book of Acts Ananias played an important part in the forming of the entire world. He obeyed God extended his hand to Saul (who later became Paul), prayed over him, and asked for Saul to be filled with the spirit. Ananias. This the only time he is mentioned. He was willing to intervene. He was willing to obey God. He said Yes Lord. With one obedient act, with one sentence, with one prayer, the scales fell from Saul's eyes and he was changed. He was Paul. Paul went to reach the gentiles for Christ. I don't know about y'all but I'm not a Jew, so if the gentiles weren't reached.. then ultimately i wouldn't have been reached... crazy to think about i know, but it's true. I want to be Ananias. I want to be the intervention. I want to be obedient and listen to Christ is such away the entire world will be changed by one church invite, by one prayer, by one word of encouragement. My prayer is to stay at rest with Christ. In my spirit. To be the intervention, because this world and even the church (yes many bible belt holy roly religious organizations) need the scales to be removed from their eyes. They need a resurrection injection.
Lord I ask for ears to hear you and you alone! Let me be Ananias to the world around me.

maw maw's manicure

My cousin Abigail wanted to take maw maw to the nail place to get her nails done. Well, Monday was the big day. The first thing maw maw was worried about was the fact she was wearing shorts to town. Of course it's 100 degrees outside, but maw maw thought an 80 something (she never says her real age because i don't' think she remembers) year old woman shouldn't go in shorts. We reassured her it was okay. We then were told we have to drive her car. Which makes since because she has her system of how to get in the car. All of which we did not do the way Neal (that's paw paw) does. For example.. i didn't park in the right spot at the end of the ramp. It's funny! So we get to the nail place and maw maw picks out strawberried in the sand color for her nails. The little Asian girl gets to work and maw maw was loving it! She really liked the smell of the lotion. So when it was all said and done maw maw got her first manicure at the age of 80 something (she'll be 84 in September).

Well of course we had to stroll over to the walmart. Maw Maw needed some new reading glasses, a bath towel (because the one she has is too big)... i know but she says its too big to be a bath towel and dry off with so she needs a smaller one... and some wash rags. The best part was the confused/amazed face of maw maw when we went through the self checkout. Not having a cashier blew her mind.

The hardest part was getting maw maw back in the car. I'm sure we looked like a comedy act. Maw Maw has on one black glove, me holding her britches, Abbie moving the wheelchair, and maw maw almost sliding out into the parking lot.. but she got in the car! What a day!

If you ever get the chance. Take an 80 something year old lady to get their nails done. I would stick with fingernails.. not quite sure how the feet would go over.

Faith

Faith is a word we hear all the time, especially if you were raised in a church. Well Faith is believing what one does not see. SO when you are truly at rest with God and living by the spirit sometimes the spirit speaks to you and you don't really understand. You don't understand because what the spirit is saying you can't see here (on this earth) at the current moment happening. But faith is obeying the spirit. Seeing into the unknown. Okay.. so all of the heather lasley Websters definition of FAITH to say sometimes I doubt. Yeah Yeah i know I know.. but come on, be honest, you doubt too. When I doubt is where I agree with the devil and then he has some kind of authority over the situation. The sneak...

Here it is. Honest to goodness God gave me a word a couple years ago. I wrote it down if you don't believe me! So far this word from the spirit hasn't came through. From my viewpoint it seems as though the likelihood of it happening, based on current circumstances from what I see on the earth, is this word from the spirit is never going to happen. But that is not faith. From what I see here on the earth with my eyes say I'm crazy for ever believing what the Lord told me. Here is where faith comes in. Believing in the unseen. Not agreeing with the enemy trying to tell me that it wasn't the spirit. Faith is trusting. God is teaching me. If what he said happened right off or happened very easily how would my faith grow. Believing in the unseen. Believing in the word he gave. I used to get in the way. Not anymore. I have stepped out. I'm waiting... have been waiting... continue to wait.

Today I see pictures. My first thought is from the enemy. See I told you. But my second thought was from me saying in the name of Jesus back off. At one point I would have believed the enemy's lie but that's what cool. It's cool to see how much my faith has grown. So thank you Lord. It's in this waiting period that God proves his faithfulness because I want all aspects of my life to live by faith. It's the times that he proves his faithfulness that pull us through when things seem bleak. Think Elijah... go read the story!.. It's cool to see how God proves his faithfulness!!

OH and if there are crazy sentences in this blog it's because the guy beside me in the computer lab is watching You Tube videos on crazy old soccer and I can't concentrate very well. It's taken me forever just to form the words above...

so long for now!

GOP 2009

If you talk to me you will know that when God told me to go back to Central America this summer I was thinking, "why God?" Well, being obedient I returned. I absolutely love it there. It is amazing to see how far the center has came within the past year. The bugs were fewer, we had hot water the last week we were there, and God moved big!! So this year I was placed in a leadership role. This role consisted of guiding a book study, loving on these girls, and praying continuously... oh and driving(aka four wheeling) every time we left the mountain. Let me tell you... God moved in these girls. He destroyed strongholds. He revealed Himself for who he is and how He sees them. We are princesses to the king. Think about that. Princess. Being a princess means I have some power, some authority, only because of who my daddy is. We were taught and disciplined in the Kingdom of God. FYI... in case your church has failed to tell you.. the Kingdom of God is here!!! it's on earth now... because the holy spirit is within all of God's children. The problem is we don't always allow the holy spirit to be lived out in our lives. We learned how to fight the spiritual realm of heaven. We learned how to abide. We learned. God moved. Again, I can safely say no person goes on the mountain and not leave a stronger person.

As for me. God took many things to a deeper level of understanding. Some of the same truths He revealed to me last summer he took to a deeper level. He also taught me to allow him to speak. Trust. I learned how to better recognize his voice. It was my prayer for God to anoint my mind, eyes, ears, and tongue so the words that came were his and not my own. You know what.. He did!!! I learned how to pray. Pray Heaven to Earth. Asking God how to pray for a certain problem of situation! Amazing. There is no one reason as to why I returned. God moved. I was the vessel. I was willing to go. He'll uses the willing.

Will I return?? Not sure. Probably. Part of me thinks that I'll live there one day but I will defiantly have to be married. So that's the prayer. A man who will up and live in the jungle!! OH and have some pretty tough hands... hehehehe

In the Jungle... Again

That's right folks. I'm going back. Central America here I come. It's crazy to think I would but I am. Last summer when myself and 7 other girls were heading up the mountain to leave after our month stay, I looked back and thought, "take a good look because you'll probably never going to see this place again." As soon as the thought crossed my mine I had a divine word spoken from God that said, "You'll be back. This is not the last time you'll see this place." When He said those words I immediately responded with, "you know and do what you want regardless, but it will all definitely have to come from you." Needless to say, my desire to be in Central America stayed with me (after a huge salad and hot shower of course) and I have just wanted to be there more than anything. I talked about it constantly, looked at pictures, and just prayed for guidance on decisions I needed to make. God worked it out. He worked the entire trip out. From the timing, arrangements, money, and group I will be with. It's really exciting to see and look back on how He orchestrated the events of my return. I fly out Saturday!

Last summer was the start of a movement of God in me. I went to Central America thinking I was going to serve underground pastors and ended up going through intensive training on abiding in Christ and spiritual warfare. Two issues that are so simple, yet are not talked about in the church, well in traditional, i don't want to offend anybody, we have to follow man made rules (which could be an entire different blog entry about my thoughts on "rules of religion"the Church as adopted), American bible belt churches. God really moved in me. Tearing down strongholds (which is anything that consumes my thoughts and behavior patterns more than Christ) and opening up my eyes to the authority and power I have in the name of Jesus to fight off attacks from demonic spirits. That's right I said demonic spirits. They're out there. If you don't believe me look at the news, look at the world. There is a spiritual battle taking place and as believers in Christ we have the power to fight it through Jesus' name. The Bible says we are not fighting flesh and bones but powers and principalities. These powers and principalities are demonic spirits which can not stand or even thrive in a place spoken for Christ. I can see some of you right now thinking... oh lord she's into witchcraft... no not at all. This is not witchcraft. If you read in the Bible they talk about the spirit of Jezebel in the old testament, and then again in revelations. Spirits never die.. they just change spots. Do some research but this Jezebel spirit is one that is seductive. It's hitting the churches hard. Look at how many church leaders have fallen because of the temptations and the bombardment of immoral images. But... I really got on a rabbit trail to the point I was trying to make but... what I'm saying is I had no clue prior to last summer about any of this happening and an even larger clueless state I had power to fight against it. Even some of the battles I have fought for years. Thoughts and behaviors I thought I would have to deal with for the rest of my life were cast out by using my authority in Christ. I was free.

So... as I go back this summer. I know God will move. The center, I believe, is on a spot of holy ground. There is no place like it. As I go this summer and am considered "the mountain momma" I have been praying for the girls I will oversee and myself. Last summer was a huge eye opening, life changing experience for the cause of Christ in my life. I pray the group I am over this summer will experience the same and allow Christ to move in their hearts. At the same time I know I have a long way to go in my on spiritual walk and journey. What God reveals is always in his perfect timing. We'll see what He does in the next 2.5 weeks. Have no fear a blog will come to explain all that was accomplished in His name.

lets get together... yeah.. yeah.. yeah..

If you've never seen old school Parent Trap the subject line will not make a lick of sense. About twice a year this subject comes to a head amongst the friends I made in middle and high school. Thus becomes the chore of getting a time and date everyone's schedule can conform to. This is no easy task. Lisa is a nurse, so her schedule is crazy, CD helps run the family business so her schedule is packed, I do a bazillion things in the school year (but in the summer am pretty flexible), Marie works 3 different jobs, where as Megan and Becky are the only true ones that say we'll come whenever.. we'll work out something. SO... then comes the long thread in facebook (thank you Jesus for Facebook) with brainstorming of places to meet and times. I think this year it came down to maybe 40 different messages back and forth. Well this past Saturday was the assigned date for meeting and this past Saturday was yet again a conformation that some friendships never die.

It's crazy to look around at our group. We're so diverse, we're so different, we have many different outlooks on things, yet we are united. I think this bond is one that is deeper than the surface, it is a spiritual bond the Lord has blessed us with. We can go weeks, months even, without a word to each other, yet when we get together it seems we're back in high school at the lunch table finishing the conversation we started the day before. So imagine six girls at a table and at max three different conversations going on, or one conversation, or two conversations, or just random jaw, but all words are spoken with purpose, all words have value, all words have merit. There is no judgement at the table, there is no condemnation at the table, there is only honesty, patience, understanding, wisdom, and guidance that only friends can give because they know you the best.

As the years have progressed the conversations have changed. It's gone from dating boys to wedding pictures, buying houses and having babies (YIKES). I'm still at the dating boys part... But, I can imagine the future when we're sitting around talking about the stupid stuff our kids are doing and I'll just pipe in with the stupid stuff my students are doing! Granted each year our conversations change, our lives change, our predicaments change, but our bond stays the same. Part of me thinks we're better friends now than we were in high school. Which seems crazy, but is true.

God has blessed and continues to bless me with each one of these girls. Looking back I can see how He orchestrated in each of our lives to bind us together. He knew the gifts we each had and the gifts that would develop over the years and how these unique gifts would bind us in a way that only comes from him. He knew how one of our strengths was another's weakness and how becoming friends we somehow put a balance in each other's lives. God is Great and Good. He is both. He proves it time and time again. Even in simple friendships.

I know.. I know.. this blog seems to be the longest ever.. but the last thing. Before we left Lisa made the comment, "Look at us. I am proud of us. We have made it through college. We are making something with our lives. We are doing well." Yes, sitting at that McAlister's Table in Durham/Chapel Hill was a group of girls that fit those characteristics, but all of that wasn't of our doing. We hadn't done any of it. God directed our lives, controlled our paths, and guided us. We did nothing. He did everything and continues to do everything. Praise God! Praise Him for His Power. Praise Him for His might. Praise Him for this crazy group of girls!

Father's Day

Yesterday was the big day to celebrate daddy's. The day that it set aside, just like the one for mommas, to reflect on your father, who he is and what he means. So, for those who don't know, my daddy is crazy! I love it though. He doesn't know he's crazy which is kind of scary because I feel as though one of these days I'm going to be crazy and not know it as well. It has to be a thing from Maw Maw's side of the family. But my daddy is the best! He is the one who can fix anything. I know... I know.. everybody makes that statement about their fathers, but mine truly can. I have the utmost confidence on anything that breaks, he can fix. Several times I have been with some friends when an item broke and I was so quick to say, "I'll call my Daddy, he'll know how to fix it." He is the one who will help anybody and who will drop everything to help. He also will stand back (I'm sure in frustration) and watch me or my brother attempt to do something, knowing good and well he could do the task better and faster. And when we fail miserably and ask for his help he's there to fix it, and not mention he would have done it right the first time, or that if we followed his advice we would have had success. He is the one who works hard not matter how tired he is or how much he hates the task at hand. Sometimes I wonder what goes through his mind when he hears people talk about their work hours in an office, because they don't compare to the true work hours of dairy farming. He is also the one who watches over me. Protects me. Really wants to make me happy. He'd never truly say that out loud but I know. One time in college he drove all the way to Wilma when the cable in my gear shift broke just to see if he could fix it, and make sure I took it to a place that it could be fixed. I remember my momma saying, "He was all in a sputter. Thinking the whole way. He wouldn't be able to settle down until he checked it out." What a daddy. OH and this past winter while I was stuck in my apartment with the snow, I mentioned how I wish I had my sled. Of course I heard my daddy in the background say, "I'll take it to her." Now he may have been picking, and of course I said, "no thanks daddy. That's crazy. I can do without," BUT the fact is, he would have done it. I know he would have. I think he just wants to make sure I'm happy. My daddy has the hands of a man. Ones that are calloused, scared, and usually bruised from piddling (for you city people.. piddlin' means messing around on something down at the barn). He is an inventor. Super smart dude. He made a leaf sucker (aka turbo vac) with the engine of an old John Deere lawn mower, a silage fan, and plywood. That doesn't even compare to the toolbox he made that had key less entry, push button cab entry, lights that came on when the lid started to raise and some kind of hydraulics to make the lid come up slow. So that's my daddy. I could honestly go on for a while longer but I'll stop.

So my daddy has been one of the best examples of my heavenly father. My God loves me, protects me, created me, watches my every move (good and bad), lets me learn, is always there to help me, holds me and loves me more than anybody else can. For so long I never saw God as my daddy. But he is. He is my Daddy. Just like the daddy I have, but better. He's the ultimate father. You might think it's crazy but when I think about me and God I see myself sitting in God's lap (granted I don't know what he looks like but I'm in a lap), He has his arm around me and at that moment I am safe, I am protected. When I'm resting in his lap and sitting WITH him, I can almost hear him say, "Heather I'm here, tell me your problems. Let me fix them." He wants to fix them. He's my father. He stands back and watches me try to do things on my own and when I fail he's there to fix it. What a wonder father! So to all you out there... Happy Father's Day!!! Remember who your true father is! Know how he sees and loves you!

Be particular!

PaytoN RaE

Here she is! My Niece.

She's so small!

unplanned

I've been told the best things in life happen when you least expect them... happen when you don't plan them... or happen completely out of your control. I have to say this concept rings true. These words of wisdom have been validated in my life. It's the random, crazy, out of my control, it just happens, out of the blue situations and experiences that are amazing!

Hard

The hardest thing so far this year in teaching hasn't been the lesson plans, hasn't been the discipline, or even in the instruction.  The hardest thing I have had to do is tell a few of my students they made a 2 on the EOG and have to retake it.  To watch their eyes fill up with tears and just cry.  Cry because they are disappointed.  Cry because they wanted so badly to get a 3 or 4.  Cry because they have worked so hard this year and boom, one test, and it seems to knock them off their feet.  That was hard.  To watch them in pain.  I wanted to take it all away.  I wanted to carry the pain all on my back.  I wanted to say something to make them feel better.  Now I see how my parents feel, or even how Christ feels, when they see me in pain.  When they see me hurt.  They want to take it away.  Somewhere I know the pain is good, but right now... right now it just plain sucks!

CR!

Central America, here I come! Yes, I am going back this summer. I have to say, ever since I left I wanted to go back. Granted, this desire was after I had a hot shower, and a salad, but still I knew I would return. This past year has been crazy. It seems God is speaking to me more, no, let me correct that, I have learned to listen to God. He proabably has spoken to me just as much as in previous years, but now I know his voice. Now I know when HE speaks! Let me summerazie the past few month.
Feb... I apply for a summer counselor job... rejected. I apply to run the paddle boats/ concession stands on the weekend.. rejected. I didn't have the qualifications. I'm sorry but a math teacher can handle money, and watch at group of kids.
March.. I'm in the funk. I was called out by my VP and I evaluated my spot. I was in the dip! (watch elevation dip series and you'll understand).
April.. I called ATC. Momma JOY said come on. At the moment I didn't know how I was going to pay for the trip, pay my summer's rent without any kind of job, and be able to eat in August. Entered contest for a years worth of free rent... thinking this is how God is working it out.. NOPE.. I lost.
MAY>>>Two days after I lost, I found out I only needed to buy a plane ticket! OH>>>> Also in april.. I started to homebound teach a student... extra money.. which is about as much as I need for a plane ticket. A teacher that i prayed about this situation with me.. gave me support money, which finished the amount needed for a plane ticket!

So.. it's 2.5 weeks in July. I have been praying for the girls. I have been praying for God to use me.. I have been praying for wisdom, and I ask you pray for me too!

OH.. FYI God is still working in other areas too. One day I'll be able to write a book about this road. or be on Oprah! (and oprah could use some JESUS!)

What not Why

Last night I was confused.  I know.. I know... It doesn't take much, but I was honestly confused about an event happening in my life.  So instead of saying God why are you doing this?  Why does it not ever seem to workout, why do you tell me one thing and it seems like it doesn't happen? I asked what.  It was something Pastor Furtick preached on a while back.  When God puts a situation in our lives we are often to say WHY, but what we need to say is WHAT.  So, I said instead God what are you teaching me?  What do you want me to learn?  How do I get through this while you teach me? Do you know what?  I asked and he answered.  He is teaching me to hold fast to what he has told me.  When God gives me worlds of knowledge they don't always appear as if those words are going to happen based on current situations.  God is teaching me to trust in what He has said to me and continue to believe in the word of knowledge he has given.  So, it's not why but what! 

I'm an AUNT!!!!!!!!!!

It's so exciting. Ya'll have no idea how much trouble my Bro and Sil have gone through the past two weeks. I mean, it has been insane. Susanne was in the hospital for a week for the preclampsia.. and that means my bro was there with her. If you don't know my brother gets worried very easily. So, granted Susanne was having the baby, but my brother was an emotional rollercoaster. But that's over.. back to being an aunt.. I'm AN AUNT!!!!>.. SO i don't know what to do other than look at the aunts I have had in my life. I have to say I have been blessed with 4 amazing roll models in my life to demonstrate what being an aunt is all about. One is ANUT.. one I am just like, another is a leader, and the last one is an aunt who isn't afraid to speak her mind. I honestly believe every one of these individuals have had an impact on my life and making me who I am today. What kind of aunt will I be? I don't know.. but if I'm anything close to the aunt's I have.. I will be amazing! SO... the journey begins!

If you haven't go to www.elevationchurch.org and watch this week's sermon.

Finally

Does anybody remember in college when the professor handed out the syllabus at the beginning of the semester?  Was I the only person who looked at the projects, reading, and papers needing to be completed and start to panic?  Especially during the 18 hour semesters where everything in every class was due the same week?  The thought of having to take that exam or write the 20 page paper seemed horrible, but once the paper was written and the semester was over, looking back it didn't seem all that difficult.  The work wasn't to bad, but the thought of the work at the beginning was overwhelming.  Sometimes I think I often times fear a day that may possibly come in the future and the thought of that day upsets me, but once that day comes, it's not that bad at all.  

I had one of those days yesterday.  A day I knew was coming at some point in time.  A day I thought would really upset me.  But honestly, I wasn't upset at all.  I thought, I pondered, why is this not bothering me?  I have no reason.  I actually feel free.  Free that the day has come and has gone.  Free like in college when you take the last exam.  You knew the day would come and now that its over, there is some kind of freedom.  humm

just WAIT!

in brief... God is working (he always does.. but you'll see).. and when every thing gets a little clearer and certain.. i will for sure put a blog about it.. just know it's coming... oh so pumped!

Resurrection Injection

Go to this blog.. and find the opening video from church on sunday.. i still love it!

http://weswatsonblog.com/

it's the first video on the blog.  The second is of one of the worship songs..  

Hands

If you know me for any length of time you will know that I have a thing for hands.  Not my hands, they look and feel horrible, but man hands are the things I am attracted to.  Yes, a boy may have a really cute face, be really nice, but if his hands are wimpy.. i am suddenly not attracted to this person at all.  I like big, strong, calloused, scar covered hands.  You can tell a lot about a person by their hands.  I think this all comes from years at looking at my daddy's, paw paw's, and grand paw's hands.  They all have big, tough hands.  They are brown from the sun, calloused and scar covered from years of farm and carpentry work.  Rarely is there a nail that doesn't have a blue spot or a crease they doesn't have some form of grease.  As tough as these hands are, they are also gentle.  They are the hands that have the gentle touch of a hug.  The hands that caught me when I was little.  The hands that clap at any achievement and the hands that have created things for my enjoyment.  

It took me a long time to see myself as God's little girl.  And when I think about his hands I am again at aw.  His hands have scars from the cross for me, his hands have life, his hands are strong, his hands hold the world, and his hands are the ones that hold me when no one else can.  

So, I have a thing for hands.  It's probably the first thing I notice about a boy.  The hands.  I like hands.   

Cooper River Bridge

This weekend was the big race weekend. I forgot how much I missed running with a lot of people. So here is the low down of the race. I was placed in the Red group.. which is 3 groups back from the crazy, insane Kenyan group. So needless to say i was kind of in the front, but there were still maybe 2000 people ahead of me, and 30,000 behind me. The gun fires and I'm off. I felt so stinking good, and due to the constant weaving in and out of people traffic, my first mile was finished and I hadn't the slightest idea until I saw the bridge. I knew when you reached the top of the bridge you would have completed 3 miles of the race, one of the miles actually climbing the bridge. The bridge is the cooper river bridge. So I start up the bridge and I am thinking I'm not tired at all, I'm not out of breath, my body feels great, my mind is great, this is great, wow look at the view, oh my gosh there is the air craft carrier my daddy wants to tour, oh gosh is that girl in front of me really having to stop and walk already, and OH i hope this fireman gives me a high five when I run by (which he did), were all thoughts fast forwarding through my mind. Before I knew it, I was at the top of the bridge, the supposedly hardest part of the entire race was over.
The down the bridge decent, well let me say was the hardest part of the race. You start down the bridge, a gradual decline of course, but for me it was mentally difficult. It was white, no longer could you get a good view of the water, Charleston, or other God views, but just the white concrete on the bridge. So, I was running the "mid-mile... mile3 to mile 4" and for a moment I was hit, hit with this craziness of... i kind of wish my running buddy was here to run this race with me... he'd like it.. and this is the point where he would pick up the pace because it would be a slight downhill, and of course I wouldn't want him to beat me so I would pick it up too... but that was just a thought.. a thought of remembrance, and just randomness... As quickly as the thought entered, it fled, because I refocused on the run/race at hand.
Finnally get off the bridge, and the time clock says 29.56.. and i'm thinking okay.. it took me a min to get to the start line, so i'm around 28.56.. dude 7.15 miles... not to shabby.. but Heather you can go faster... Once off the bridge is the part through downtown Charleston.. I had to keep reminding myself to not get so caught up in the race that I miss the run... so I noticed the run.. I noticed the shops.. I noticed the black man on the side of the road ringing his bell. (which in my mind would have been my momma ringing her cowbell if she was there). I noticed the colors, the dips in the road, and how people are already sitting at the bars. I round the last corner, to see my 6 mile time of 41.30.. and I"m pumped 2/10ths left.. So, I kind of spread out my stride, and try to pick it up.. well looking back i know I could have went a little fast the last half-mile, but what's run in ran.. so I can't fix that.. but I finished.. and I finished well. 42.46??>. I think.. but here are the results overall...
16th out of I don't know how many.. but I was the top 5 percent in my age bracket (20-24) and 611/32000 overall!!!!!!!!.. top 2 percent!! OH.. I'm pumped.. my original goal was top 10 percent... so Mission Accomplished.

I want to remind you this run was not of my own strength. I am definitely not in the best running shape I have ever been in. I'm not running as many miles each week, but I am in the best spiritual shape I have ever been. So the entire wait for the gun to go off I was asking God for fresh legs, clear lungs, and a fun run. God is so good, he gave me everything I asked for!

Some "Christians"

Today I told a kid, "you have some holes in your britches.."

He responds, "yeah Miss Lasley, they are my church pants"

I say, "oh that's nice. some of my favorite pants have holes in them and I wear them to church too."

He comes back, "Miss Lasley... they are holy... get it??.. holy..." then runs off laughing...

But this always gets me thinking about churches. I get so frustrated with some churches and the "rules" they try to enforce. It's simple, love God, and from loving God you love others. That is all He wants from us. I get upset at churches saying you have to wear one thing, or not wear another thing because we have standards, and we don't want to be like the world. I'm sorry to tell you the way you look now is not the same as the way Jesus looked back in the day. And I'm pretty sure when Jesus was teaching people he didn't require or expect folks to look a certain way. So... I can hear it now.. what about the world, it says do not be conformed to this world. Well, I know all about that verse in Romans, and John addresses the "world" in 1st John 2: 15. John makes a point to clarify the world as it's attitudes and values. Do not be like the world in what you value, or be like the world in the attitudes you have about life and other people. So when a church says you need to appear a certain way at church, that sounds to me like an attitude the world would have. You have to look a certain way to be welcomed into this restaurant, or come to our club meeting, or be apart of the cool kids at school. Or when the church says a certain instrument of music is "worldly."  No where does it say something with a lot of beat is "worldly" in the Bible.  It says "praise the Lord"... read psalm 150.  So for me to get excited and jump and  clap and shout something other than "amen" is not a standard in church.. but is okay at a ball game or a race track.  I have to say, some churches are so rigid and so stiff, and so rule oriented, you can't get excited.  Who would want that?  Who would want to be like that?  What person?  One last thing. The world judges you. As a church how are you to judge what is and isn't acceptable. I place my life and standards in being guided by the holy spirit. Truly guided.. not this mess of doing what somebody says to do because that is what "tradition is" or "we can't look like the world." When you say that... you do...

Sometimes "Christians" are the worst. I personally get judged more by most "Christians" than non-Christians.

SOUR>>>

For about a month, well maybe a month and a half, I have felt off.  Just like something is missing, somthing is not there, something is out of balance.  In my brain I knew this, but it took my AP to say, "Well, you've been kind of sour lately."  My response was not offensive but, "I KNOW!"  and I thanked him for telling me.  I think I just needed the extra ump, the extra reinforcement that you are in a sour mood.  SO on the board I made a list, the 6 areas of health and what was missing or has changed in those 6 areas within the last month.

• Environmental: I need SUN
  
• Spiritual: OKAY... I have never felt closer and more at rest... well maybe in CR
  
• Emotional: I have been very up front with people.. I'm okay
  
• Social: LACKING!!!>. Most of my social interaction is with Middle Schoolers.  I haven't been home as much, so not having every individual in my family within a 1 mile radius has been hard.  You know not being able to run over to Maw Maw's and Paw Paw's house... it's tough to adjust... and then the fact most of my friends have gotten married, or live far away.
  
• Sexual: I'm not married.. so not applicable
• Physical:  I definitely haven't been working out as much. I can't explain why, but I haven't. My weight training has been slack, and I'm not running as much.  

SO my problems have been social, physical, and environmental.  With the advice of other teachers, we concluded I needed a new running buddy.  I miss that. I miss having someone to run with.  SO, that probably plays a part in not being as physical, social, and being in the sun.  Oh the balance of HEALTH... I LOVE IT!

My momma used to say, "Heather, GO RUN," when I would get like this.

All this to say, thanks AP VP!

Uncontrollable Desires

"When I want what God wants, for the reasons God wants it, I’m unbeatable and unstoppable."

I love this quote. It sums up where I am right now. I am at rest in having the desires God wants me to have. Other people may not understand, but my desires are coming from God. It hit me in C.R. the Lord will give you the desires of your heart, as long as your desires are coming from him. He knows best. He wants you to have the best. Granted we as humans think we know what is best for us.. how can we?? Only the creator knows what is best for what he created!

Check out John 15.. I think.. and 1st john.. 1st john is written when John was older (like a gpaw).. but in John 15.. abiding. "He that abides in me (meaning he that rests in God, he that just lets God do what he has for you and me). Trade out abide for rest.

4

The student I am referring to in the conversation below is probably one of my favorites. A great kid. He is the clown, but a respectful clown! Let me set the stage. I was walking around the class recording the names of the students who didn't have their homework and giving credit to the students that did. The assignment was pg 346 (6-18 even). I know.. not a lot to do but.. this is what he had to say when I got to him:

Student: Oh shoot Miss Lasley, I didn't do number 4.
ME: the problems were 6-18 even
Student: I know, I didn't do number 4.
ME: "imagine me giving him a good long look..." you had to do the even numbers from 6-18
Student: Yeah.. 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Me: another long look
Student: I forgot to do 4.

pause

Student: OH wait.. shoot.. i didn't have to do four.. it was 6-18


It was a great moment... and what made it better was the fact today we were talking about quadrilaterals.

No Comment

I got a phone call today. One that was pretty exciting because rarely does this person call me (b/c hes just not much of a phone person.. more of a texting person) I usually call him. So I resorted to being a letter writer. I just write him letters. Telling him all that is going on, what's happening, asking the questions I would ask on the phone and thinking of the one word answer he has in his head... but back to the call. So here is what's so interesting, I was driving down the interstate when I was thinking... dag I need to mail a letter because I have a ton to say when low and behold he called. It was very weird.. because I was like.. WHOA.. i was just about to write you a letter... So we talked and I usually end most phone conversations with okay.. well I have nothing else to say.. so long... So I say this statement.. so long I have nothing left to say.. when he says.. "well sometimes its good not to say anything."

Here is my question, when? Right now I haven't been saying anything. I really need to say something just to clear the air and make sure everyone is on the same page. SO... i think I might hurt feelings.. but I need to say something... but right now its easier to not say anything.

(P.S. This has nothing to do with the person on the phone... I tell him everything that pops in my mind)

Dead Battery

For starters... I'm a girl but that doesn't mean I'm clueless when it comes to cars.  I was raised with a daddy that can fix anything and I was an excellent observer.. Okay.. so for those who don't know this is how you jump a car..

1.  Turn both cars off

2. connect positive to dead battery (the red)

3. connect positive to live battery (the red)

4. connect negative to live battery (the black)

5. connect negative to dead battery (the black)... or ground it to any piece of metal under the hood

6. Start vehicle with live battery.. maybe rev the engine a little

7. Start car with dead battery

8. Take off cables in reverse order (dead black, live black, live red, dead red)

9.  Make sure you let the dead battery car run for about 15 mins so it has time to charge.

If you have a 5 speed and a good hill.. put it in 2nd gear and pop the clutch as you roll.. yeah I know that trick too.. and am very successful at it!

Yeah I'm a girl but I do know a little.. maybe next time I'll educate you on putting front brakes on your vehicle.. or changing the oil and filter!

Kites

Okay... The weather has been amazing and I LOVE IT!!!!!.... I blossom on sunny days.  My entire attitude, behaviors, outlook on life just changes.  It's unreal!  But I was at the park on Saturday and Sunday, running, reading, and playing catch by myself (which by the way is an excellent interval workout for speed) when I noticed parents flying kites with their kids.  At first I thought.. aww that's sweet.. but then I really started to pay attention to the interaction taking place.  The parent was flying the kite... the kid was out in the middle of the field...  Why was the kid in the middle of the field.. easy.. so when the kite crashed the kid was there to pick it up for the parent.  Granted every time the kite came crashing to the ground the child would pick it up and help drag it back to the parent to get it started again.. and each time say..  "let me try... can I do it?"  the parent would say, "oh it's not right yet.. the wind is to strong.." or some other excuse.  

They were having a good time.. and the parent didn't even have to move.  

coupons

I sat down on Saturday night.. with my Total Money Makeover Budget sheet.. and started telling my money where to go... you have to read the book it's amazing. Well, I decided one of the major things I could do to help manage my money would be to plan out my meals and create a permanent grocery list (A list of the things I buy or eat on a weekly basis). With this list I was going to use as a basis for looking for the best deals in the Wednesday food ads as well as, when I cut coupons. Because I also decided buying a Sunday Paper for 1.50 might save me 4 bucks in coupons.. if I use the double coupon deals or if an item is already on sale.. i might save even more!!... so the 1.50 went into the budget! On Sunday I go by food lion, buy the paper, and pick up the weekly circular to check for some sales.
With the massive Charlotte Observer in my lap I am first amazed at how big the paper is. You're getting the perspective of one who thought Burlington had a big Sunday paper.. but now.. I'm thinking holy moly it's gonna take me a week just to read the paper... which is good since i'll only be getting a paper once a week. Sorry.. back to the coupons... well in the center of the massive amount of words is the stack of CVS, Walgreen's, Lowes, Marshall's, Kohl's, Walmart, Target, etc... papers and strategically placed amongst those are the three little booklets of coupons.. Finally, my money saving drive for purchasing the paper in the first place.

With my grocery list beside me I start my search for coupons. I quickly notice the coupons are for foods I don't eat, or would never think of eating. I think.. where is my apple coupon? Why are there never any coupons for produce? Never.. just boxed, processed, give me a heart attack because I can last in the freezer a year foods get the discount of a coupon.

I did get a 2 dollar coupon for deodorant... and 50 cent off of rice.. and a coupon for toothpaste. I guess I got my moneys worth.. but hey I do have a weeks worth of reading to tackle. Will I get a paper next week??>... probably not....

AMC

I had a visitor this past weekend.. Probably one of my favorite people ever.  We sang.. we cried.. we laughed at people.. we endured the mountains, fast balls, and wind.  Not to mention a massive amount of people in one central location.  All to find the best price on shoes to find out they don't have your size.  She knows me better than anyone, calls me out on everything, and agrees with me on some things.  She ran for the snot.. and saw a great fiesta spot.  Endured my amazement of large buildings, and jammed to cotton eyed Joe.  Was content with pretzels, fruit, veggies, and animal cookies.  Did we have a good weekend?  no.. we had one heck of a great weekend!

Bring the Imodium

Below you will find some information on Sugar Free Jelly Beans from Jelly Belly.

1. great option to have a jelly bean and not rot your teeth from cavities

2. low in calories

3. satisfy a sweet craving

4. clean out your digestive track

5. clear out a room

Yes.. you read correctly.  

That's all I have to say about that. 

My Valentine

I recieved 2 valentines this year.  Most years I get one from my parents signed love momma and daddy.  This year was different.  I got a valentine from my momma and a valentine from my daddy.  My dad is not one for mushy stuff but would rather send a humerous card, so on valentines day most cards are not funny, all mushy, so he just signs the one momma picks out.  My Card from him (which I'm sure my momma picked out..) fit him to a tee.  You see my daddy would do anything for me.  I have AAA but if my car breaks down, I'll call him first.  One time in Wilmington, my car broke down and he drove 174 miles to look at it and try to fix it.. all in one day.

SO.. back to the card.  The front of the card says "anything I'd do for you" and when you open the card up it reads "everything you mean to me" and its a hallmark sound card so it's singing "Just to see you smile, I'd do anything.... " by Tim Mcgraw.  At the very bottom it's signed, love daddy.

Before I recieved this card I was talking to one of my friends and she was saying how she was in a rut trying to achieve aproval from people around her and how she needed to refocus and make Christ the love of her life; make Christ her valentine.  

So... back to the card.  Think of that love daddy as your heavenly daddy.  He feels the same way about you.  He would do anything for you (he did everything for you) and you mean everything to him.  I still love the whole, love daddy part.  I hate how some "christians" stop seeing God as their daddy.   It's nice to be reminded that He is your daddy. 

love, daddy.. I love it!

No Shoes

I had a coffee mishap this morning, meaning I didn't prep my coffee last night so when I pushed the on button nothing happened except a lot of noise of the water pump trying to suck up the little bit of condensation water left from the previous morning.  I decided on my drive into work I needed coffee.  I stopped at McDonald's.  I know.. I never eat there but i often will stop and get a drink.  I pull up to the window to give the man my dollar fifty for the large coffee I ordered when I saw the sign:

Drive Thru and Lobby

no shoes... no shirt.. no service...

I stared at the little self adhesive sign on the window and began to think.  How do they know if I'm wearing shoes in my car?  A shirt they can tell.. and what about during the summer when boys don't wear shirts?  especially at the beach.  Do beach McDonald's have this sign?  Nobody at the beach wears shoes or shirts.  Even bikini tops are acceptable shirts at the beach.  SO  I took my shoes off.  I was not wearing shoes.  And you know what?  I got my coffee!

Here comes the SUN!

In college I was an Elementary Ed major and I minored in Community Health.  With community health classes I learned quite a bit about vitamins, nutrients, and what my body needs to function properly.  For the past two weeks I have been in a funk.  A weird funk.  It was crazy.  To the point where in the mornings I would lay in the bed and ponder the thought of just not getting up and laying there all day.  I would then think why are you saying this, why are you thinking this?  This attitude is NOT Heather Lasley, this attitude is crazy.. I would then think.. are you depressed, and if so why.  So I would pray Lord help me get up, change my attitude, and help me enjoy this day.

For those of you who don't know, the weather in NC right now is AMAZING!!!.. I mean crazy nice.  So.. all weekend I was outside.  Just reading in the sun, running in the sun, playing in the sun, just being in the sun.  Do you know what?  VITAMIN D!!!!>... that is what I have been missing.  Vitamin D.  Due to the fact of not being able to drink milk, Vitamin D is hard for me to come by if I don't get it from the sun.  SO.. as of right now.. the FUNK IS GONE!!!.. I KNOW... all of the craziness because of not being in the sun.  It was as though I had a new found joy.  

There was this crazy welling up in my soul, a joy.  Then the praising began.  God thank you for this day, thank you for this SUN, thank you for your Son, and thank you for giving me all I need.

With all of this said, the same thing applies on a spiritual level.  When I get to the point of confusion, loneliness, and just in a desert all it takes to get me out is the Son.  All you need is the Son.... and sometimes the Sun.  

Crazy Kids

In class I constantly talk to my kids about my family. My maw maw, my paw paw, my cousins, my parents, and recently my brother. I informed my students my brother and his wife were going to find out on this past Thursday whether or not they were expecting a son or a daughter. Friday morning this is the conversation I engaged in...

Student A: Miss Lasley are you going to be an aunt or an uncle?
Me: Am I going to be an aunt or an uncle... hum... let's think about that
Student A: (confused face...) oh wait... are you going to have a niece or a nephew?
Me: OH... a niece!