JulieAnn Pratt

This week has been a week of hilarity with my kids. They just say and do the most hysterical (although not necessarily well thought out) things. (more…)

I found out this week that a friend of mine, a fellow minister’s wife, is probably going to be relocating. Her husband is considering a new ministery opportunity. While I know (in my head, at least) this opportunty could very well be God’s desire for their family, I feel like my kids are losing their friends, and I’m losing my only close friend to this thing called “ministry”…again. (more…)

So my oldest daughter came home from school yesterday, crying, and telling me how she was “so stressed out.” First of all I don’t believe I had any idea about the concept of stress when I was 7 years old. But beyond that, I was surprised to hear my daughter declare that’s how she was feeling. As she explained her frustrations to me, I realized they were pretty valid. (more…)

I hosted a baby shower this weekend for my husband’s assistant who is expecting her first child. She and her husband are so excited, yet anxious about their new addition. She’s asked me all kinds of questions: Is this pain normal? What’s this pregnancy test for? Do I really need this baby item? How do you get your kids to sleep and how soon can I expect mine to sleep through the night?  I forgot how new everything was to me when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. It’s just routine now after multiple kids. (more…)

I was at the college library today ~ it’s one way I can connect to the students. That and in the cafeteria. What do you suppose that says about me? Food and Books…hmmm

I digressed…as I was saying…I went to the library to check out a book and noticed the students in the computer lab and throughout the library.  Well over half of the students I saw working were doing social networking things.

A freshman was on Instant Messenger chatting with a friend from home (I asked – I’m nosy!). Three other people were on MySpace (apparently the favorite among the students) & one was on Facebook (another networking site, not as popular with the students). Others were checking their gmail, yahoo mail, hotmail, and one very studious student was actually using the computer for it’s intended purpose – writing a paper. You get extra credit Chris!  What occured to me after I walked out is just how relational we all are.

Genesis 2:18 (NIV): The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

There is someone around you today that needs to feel loved & cared for. We were created by God to need interaction. Even the most introverted of us. And as hard as it is, sometimes, to befriend people, it is part of what we were created to do.

2 Co 13:14 (the Message): The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

By the way-is people watching at the library wrong? (lol)

So, us moms, ya know, we’re masters in the art of “vamping.” Do you know what that means? Dealing with the unexpected as soon as it presents itself. The latest incident was this weekend with my oldest daughter’s birthday party. We had everything ready to go – decorations hanging, cupcakes made, plates, cups, and napkins set out, games prepared. Everything was done the night before. I was so happy that I had made it easy on myself when I went to bed. But why should anything be easy? So when my middle child woke up in the wee hours of the morning, throwing up, clearly, I was not having a birthday party with a child in the house throwing up. So what did I do? I vamped! (more…)

Can I just post a bible verse to encourage you today? I know that’s not really a “bloggy” thing to do. But this is so good!  This passage has just grabbed hold of me and won’t let go, so I want to share it with you: (more…)

Okay, so, like everyone, I try to allow the change of the calendar year to be a trigger that helps me hit the reset button in my life. I don’t really like to admit that I do this. I figure if I make my resolutions public knowledge, then it’s also public knowledge when I DON’T succeed with them. I’m supposing that makes it a self-fulfilling prophecy, assuming I’m not going to succeed, so this year I’m shouting my resolutions from the mountain top – well from my blog, at least. So here goes…

Be it known among all men and/or women, in all lands, all time zones, and, well, anyone who might care, that this year I resolve to: (more…)

So my husband just went “philosophical” on me…asking if I believe we each have our own individual guardian angel. After contemplating it, I gave my insightful and well-thought out response to which he replied (with a straight face) that if he has a guardian angel, that angel better be wearing a University of Oklahoma jersey, Dallas Cowboys hat, and St. Louis Cardinals sweat pants. If you could see me I’m rolling my eyes. Sheesh…

Well, it’s officially over! We took down our tree(s), our stockings, and our lights in our window. And this year…we’re not exhausted! My dear mother-in-law would hate to know this, but we have had one of the best Christmas’ we’ve ever had. Staying home, waking up in our own beds every morning (bliss), getting to do our Advent calendar all the way to the end, and our Jesse Tree devotions each night.  My children got to participate in the children’s choir at church because we didn’t travel. Cooking with my girls, and making the big Christmas dinner (which I LOVE to do). Christmas being on our schedule was just wonderful. Below are some pics of our day. (more…)