Princess for a day

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

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Last week was our little princess birthday. I can’t believe that she is already 4 years old! Where does time go?! You would have thought that it was a national holiday around the Rouse House. Not because of Elly but because of the boys (daddy included). Everything for a day was all about her. She got anything she wanted and got to go where ever she wanted to go.

We began breakfast with cinnamon rolls, lunch at Taco Bell (her choice), shopping, McAdenville lights (if you haven’t been there you should go during Christmas. It’s an entire town covered in lights. So awesome!), rode around downtown Charlotte, and then headed to MidWood Smoke House for some mac and mheese (she didn’t even get mac and cheese…girls).IMG_3384

The next day we continued the celebration. At church, while in the hallway, I heard  someone say, “whose birthday is it?”. And immediately we all heard Elly’s BFF yell, “it’s Elly’s birthday, my sister’s birthday!” **side note Elly and her BFF, Brinley, actually don’t say they are friends. They call each other sisters. Pretty cute!** We had one of the coolest (it was a Frozen princess party) parties after church. Little girls running around dressed in costumes, its something that I never ever thought would be a Rouse House thing but I am so glad I get to be the father of a princess! One of my favorite things in the entire world.

This little girl is #myblessing! Every December 6th I think about the long ride in a small bus from the jungles of Panama to the airport when God told me that I was having a baby girl one day. After a little snooze I woke up with the thought, ” should we have another baby?”. The next thought was, “it’s a baby girl with blond hair and blue eyes.” WHAT?!?! I remember coming home, walking in my bathroom to see a note wrote in a red marker on the mirror that said, “Welcome home daddy of 3”. I thought that my wife had just added wrong but to be safe I ask, “3?” She sat on our bed smiling from ear to ear! Not sure if I was more surprised to know that we were pregnant with number 3 or that I for sure heard from God earlier that day. Either way…WOW!

Guess what, the baby was a beautiful girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She stole my heart the moment I held her. To this day I know that there is no mistaken that she is a gift from God to remind me that he cares about me and he knows what I truly need (and want) even more than I do! His plans are amazing for me…I can’t seemed to get away from that truth every time I look at my princess!

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Celebrating getting dunked!

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

Just a couple Sunday nights ago we had the chance to celebrate Greyson putting his faith in Jesus! Last year on Thanksgiving night Grey and his cousin were talking about God and through a simple conversation his cousin lead him in a prayer. After conversations with Nana (my mom) and with us he definitely understands his need for Jesus!

Fast forward to a year later we had a special event at Ridge Church called Family Birthday Celebration. A huge celebrations it is!!! Family Birthday Celebration is a special service where we celebrate through baptism the decisions children have made to put their trust in Jesus as their personal Savior. Family, friends, and small group leaders all join together to help celebrate this decision in a big way!

I will let you see it for your self.

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Grey Rouse – Family Birthday Celebration from Ridge Church on Vimeo.

Decorating for Christmas

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

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One of the funniest nights of the year for us is when we get to decorate for Christmas. We get all of the decorations our of storage, go pick out a christmas tree, and of course Pandora’s Mariah Carey’s (don’t judge) Christmas station playing in the background.

First, the boys and I (Spanky) get the stand on the tree. Usually it is a big ordeal to get it to stay standing upright and not leaning, but not this time. We got it in one try and there were no bad words said. That’s a win!

The girls are in the house rearranging the furniture and putting up other Christmas decor like stockings, candles, and snowmen. After getting the tree in the house it is all hands on deck putting lights and ornaments on the tree. Usually, Elly finds one spot near the bottom of the tree where she has every single ornament of hers hanging. The rest of us are reminiscing over each ornament since they all have some kind of meaning while spreading them around to compensate for Elly’s overload on that one single branch.

Next, big bro Mac, reads the Elf On The Shelf while we chomp down on one of our new Christmas favorites. Peppermint Joe Joes! Trader Joes has these oreo like cookies that have peppermint cream in the middle (Joe Joe’s) and they are delicious. Thanks Mere Greer for introducing us to them!

We finish the night off by watching Christmas movies and cuddling on the couch. ahhh!

Sounds like a fairy tale kind of evening and it really is. Not every night or moment is this magical, believe me, it gets pretty out of control around the Rouse House some days. I say that because most blog writers, to me seem like they only want you to view into their life and see the fun light heart moments. We all know that life just aint that whimsical all the time. You know what I am talking about. Like those days when the stuff hits the fan, or the unexpected bill come in, or that person frustrated you one too many times. That’s how much of our lives are lived but I think that when we cherish those special times like decorating for Christmas, it can make life seem that much sweeter. Focusing on the blessings we already have not being so preoccupied with need to get or fix is the way to enjoy the moments in life.

Daddy week

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

Last week was Spring Break for our children. Much like the past couple of years we try and plan the week around some fun activities. It is a week of family time for the most part so I try to limit how much I work. We do special days with just Mommy or just Daddy, go to the park, hang out with friends, go to the zoo, and anything that we can do together as a family. This week is a really fun and refreshing time for all of us but especially for me. I absolutely love this week with my kiddos!

Towards the end of the week Lara and I noticed Elly (our 2 year old princess) kept repeating something but we could only make out the first word, “Daddy”. Then on Thursday morning I was headed out to the gym before Grey and I spent the day together. Elly started it again but with more of a determination in her voice and head shaking to not let me leave the house. Lara and I asked her, “What are you saying Elly?” and she said those same few words again. This time we got it!

“Daddy week, daddy week, no workin, stay home baby, no workin!“…all the while she was shaking her head no and giving me this precious look that can get me to do anything she wants.

Everywhere we went for the next few days she proceeded to let everyone know that this is daddy’s week and daddy was staying home to play with baby (btw ‘baby’ is the name she has claimed to be hers) and is not working. This broken, half way of a sentence filled me with such joy because the highlight in my daughters life was for me to be home spending time with her. At the same time it made me evaluate where my focus in normal weeks were and where my time is spent. What better way could I be spending my days than loving, playing, listening to my family….NONE!

I think God is calling me to more “Daddy weeks”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…Ephesians 5:15-16

Dude where is my wife’s car???

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

As many of you already know we had something happen to our family this week that we never thought would happen. Our car was stolen in broad day light. Lara, her mom, Grey, and Elly were shopping at one of her favorite stores, Hobby Lobby. When Lara had her back turned someone reached under Elly while she was in the shopping cart and took her wallet. That’s when they found her key to the car and proceed to leave my family at Hobby Lobby with no car.

When Lara calls me to come bring her a key because she thinks someone may have stolen her wallet she had no idea that her car was missing too. As I arrive we then learned that we could not find her car in the parking lot because her parking space was currently empty. Now we are in a full state of shock. Really?!?! It is 2:45 on a Tuesday at Hobby Lobby, which my mom said, “Hobby Lobby, I thought only good christian people shopped there! haha

We called the police and waited on the sidewalk in front of the store. While waiting we realized that Greyson was a little upset. With a few tears and a tight grip on us I saw that this was a good time to talk about what we read in the Bible the night before. See Grey was remembering all of those things that were still in the car like his brand new coat, Nintendo DS, DVD players, and toys. Lara and I still couldn’t believe that someone would still our car but now we began recounting what was in the car too. The Christmas gifts Lara was returning or exchanging like jeans, shoes, cloths and then there was the $250 in cash she was taking to the bank when she left the store, $150 in multiple gift cards we received from Christmas, new makeup and perfume, 2 car really nice car seats, and plenty of other smaller things that mainly Lara had got as gifts.

We now are beginning to feel why Greyson is getting upset but going back to the night before, we began reading in the book of Job. If you don’t know in Job chapter 1 you get a good picture of just how wealthy this man Job was. It actually says that he is the most wealthy man in the east and he had a huge family, which is another good indicator of just how blessed he was. So Satan believes that if God will allow Job to loose everything he will not remain faithful to God but will instead curse God. God knew Jobs heart so he allowed his positions to be gone, his servants all gone, and even his 7 sons and 3 daughters were killed all in one day. Here is what I was wanting to remind Grey about, Job gets frustrated but immediately begins to worship God in the middle of the worse day of his entire life. When we got home and told Mac about the day and then reminded him how this was similar to Jobs worse day he said, “hey! this is like Job so maybe we should just worship.”

Even in the middle of the storms and when we are in territory we have never experienced remember our God is faithful! Life is going to be crappy and times are not going to make sense but He is going to take care of us. I like the words of wisdom from Job at the end of chapter 1,“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Paradise in the eyes of a 5 year old

Posted on by Spanky Rouse
Earlier this week when our family was going through our night time routine getting ready for bed Grey said the funniest thing. It seems like everyday he says something funnier than the day before. For example, Grey heard a commercial about the presidential race and about 5 minutes after the commercial had gone off he turns to me and says, “How is Obama wasting all of our money? Is he giving it away to someone?” Half asleep and drinking my first cup of coffee I responded back, “ah ah…I don’t know but I wish he would give me some more. ” Grey, “Me too.”
So back to the funniest thing our 5 year old has said this week other than commenting on Obama’s handling of the economy…
We were reading as a family in the boys story bible about the Garden of Eden. When we got to the description of the Garden, Mac (8 years old) explains to us what the word “paradise” means.
Mac, “Paradise is a wonderful place where everything is perfect…”
Grey pipes up before Mac can finish his very sincere definition of the word paradise and says with all seriousness and no smiles, “Oh, you mean like Monkey Joes.”  – For those of you who don’t have the privilege to know what Monkey Joes is, it is a indoor play ground with a bunch of  blow up bounce house type games and an arcade.
Lara and I busted out laughing so hard while Grey keep saying, “Serious guy it is like paradise!”
So the next time you go to Monkey Joes keep in mind that it is as close as you will ever get to knowing what the Garden of Eden was like…paradise.

A Father’s Love

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

For those of you who know Greyson my 5 year old son you have to read what he says with his fun little voice in mind because there is no way I can spell as he speaks. 

One of the highlights for our whole family is when we go to the beach for our big family vacation and get an icee on the beach. There are these carts that people push up and down the beach that have the Italian Ice icee but the one we like has all kinds of flavors. Mango is mine and Grey’s favorite! There is only one brand that we buy because it is amazing and all of our kids can tell which cart to go to. One day Greyson was eating lunch later than usual and he got out to the beach a little too late and the icee cart we like had pasted about 15 minutes earlier. There was another brand literally sitting right in front of us but he said he really would like the other one. I asked him if he would be willing to walk all the way down the beach to find the other one. Of course he said, “sure!” So off we went, just me and Grey.

After about 5 minutes of walking in the soft, unstable sand because the tide was almost in, I could tell he was tired and not really enjoying this anymore.
Me, “Hey, Grey you want me to carry you on my shoulder? I think we might be able to get to the icee cart a little faster that way.” Grey, “Only if you want me to.”
 So there we went as fast

as I could walk carrying this 38lb little boy while he gave me an update about every other minute of how much closer we were getting. He said he could see better than me because he was up “more higher”. Finally after 20+ minutes of walking we reached the guy just as he was waiting for the truck to come pick him up. Grey got the along waited icee but before he did he he had to say to the teenager pushing the cart, “What?! no mango flavor. Seriously.” Even though he had to settle for cotton candy flavor I am pretty sure he enjoyed it.

I asked Greyson if he wanted to start walking back or sit down to eat the icee first and he said, “I think that we should wait so you don’t get too exhausted. I’m kind of heavy you know.” So I sat in the edge of the water and Greyson sitting in my lap enjoying every drop of that cotton candy icee. I told him that I love spending time with him because he is my blessing and I love him so much. Grey let me know that alone time with me was one of his favorite things in the whole wide world too, so we should do it more. This is a snapshot in life that I will hopefully never forget.
Close to an hour had passed and we had returned back to the rest of the family and my grandmother said, “Now that’s real love.” I thought to myself, yea of course I love my son and I want to do what it takes to make him have a great time at the beach and that’s just part of being a dad. After thinking more about that statement, “Now that’s real love”, I have been pondering all that my Heavenly Father has and is doing for me, His son.
God is constantly loving on me, working things out for my good, giving me good gifts, leading me in the right ways, and carrying me through my days and all of this just because He loves me and wants to bless me. I truly LOVE each of my children and wife more than anything else in this whole wide world. Other than Jesus there is nothing more important to me each day than them and their happiness but this is just a speck in comparison to how much we all mean to God and how much He loves us. The Heavenly Father’s love for us is immeasurable in size and unimaginable in depth but completely available and satisfying to all!
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

First and Last

Posted on by Spanky Rouse
This time of year brings many memories and emotions for most Americans. For me it reminds me of a special time in my life and a special night. On July 3, 1999 I had a date with a girl that was so much different than me but so special in many ways. This date would change my life and be my last first date, FOREVER!

On July 1 I was at home reading my bible, this had to be a God thing because no 17 year old boy is reading his bible at 11pm during the summer time. So… I was reading the bible and found a piece of paper with a girls name and number on it with a date of many many months earlier on it. Here is where the natural actions of a 17 year old bot comes into play. I texted this girl “Hi”, and yes I said text. Back in the good old days we didn’t have cell phones but we had pagers and I have no idea why we did to be honest. Back to the story…I texted “Hi” and she quickly sent me a message back. We then engaged in a conversations using short text back and forth for over an hour…crazy kids! The next night we happened to run into each other at a church softball game and there we set up a date for July 3.

We went out on a typical teenager date but then we drove around. That’s what I remember, driving all over Charlotte and just talking. We seemed to really enjoy just talking and getting to know each other. I never saw this coming but I experienced the best date ever that night. Lara and I have had many great dates since then but I find my self reminiscing over that night often. That was the the night that I fell head over hills in love with the girl that one day would be my wife, mother of my children, best friend, partner, and the one that could complete who I am suppose to be in this life. Thank you God for sending to me the girl that would become the love of my life! #blessed to have her!

30 Days Fasting Snacks

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

For the month of May a group from our church have been fasting. We called it Advance 30. Over the past 30 days we have been doing what we believe is one of the most powerful things we can do to advance His Kingdom. Fasting, praying and declaring our dependence on God. Some did a straight liquid fast, some did no dessert, some no coffee, some no meat, some no tv, and the list goes on. There is one fast or one person fasting that has made the biggest impact on me. My son, Mac chose to fast all snacks for the 30 days. Let me remind you that he is only 7 years old.

Just before this big fast I had done a 3 day fast and it was really interesting to him. He asked a ton of questions over those 3 days. When we announced that we were calling our entire church to a fast he decided to do this on his own. We did not in anyway encourage or push him to do this. We really thought he was kidding and would never really do it, this boy likes to eat if you didn’t already know this, so going with out is no joke. When I was telling him about the different kinds of fast I explained the David fast of no meat and his response was, “NOOOOOO way! That would be crazy!” As some of you may remember at Mac’s 5 year old doctor check up he was asked what is your favorite food and he responded with, “MEAT! and lots of it.”

Many days he would come home and tell us that during snack time at school he would just sit there and pray to God instead of eating like everyone else. Can you imagine this 7 year old sitting there while all of his friends are eating and praying. Most of us wouldn’t be able to do that. I asked him what he prays about and he said, “I pray that God will help me to know him more and for my friend at school that I am not sure if he knows Jesus.” I was impressed that Mac wanted to fast but now he is praying that he can know God more and he is praying for his non-christian friends! I have said this over and over but I truly believe that God has His hand on this boy and is going to use him to make a huge impact on this world.

It has been 30 days and he said that he was going to even do one extra day just to finish out the end of the month since May has 31 days.  Lara and I are so thankful that we get to be apart of this amazing little boys life and that we get to experience what God is doing in his heart everyday.

Teacher Appreciation

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

As you all know this year I have been focusing much of my time on this community project with Piney Grove. We have been able to serve the families and staff of this school in many life changing and impactful ways. Loving and serving for the purpose of His fame in this community!photo-24-2

Last Wednesday it happened again and we weren’t even expecting it. We were able to bless the teachers and staff at Piney Grove Elementary in a simple but powerful way. Last week was teacher appreciation week so we thought we would do a little something for this amazing staff, they truly are amazing too. **From their mouths, “we are called to this and there is nothing we would rather do than teach these children that don’t have much help or hope.”** We completely under estimated the effect it would have on these teachers and us. It was a simple breakfast and lunch done up in an exceptional way that touched their hearts.

“You have no idea what this does for these teachers, to know that a group of people really care about them and this school.”

“We never get anything special here, this is a real treat!”

“LOVED not having to make my breakfast and lunch this morning!”

“We really feel loved today. Thank you!”

“We are not allowed to leave school for lunch, so to get a special lunch like this is great!”

“RIDGE CHURCH, RIDGE CHURCH, RIDGE CHURCH”

“WOW you are have been here all day serving us?!?!”

“Can you guys come back every week? We love having you guys here.”

To top it all off we left 4 gift baskets full of candy, chocolates, snacks, sunglasses, pins, markers, etc. I can only explain what happened when we brought them out by referring to what happens when you bring out a bag of candy in a third world country and the kids spot it. It was like Christmas for these teachers and I found out why from my contact at the school. She told me that NO one has ever gone this over the top and done something like this for the staff at Piney Grove Elementary, and we really didn’t do much we thought.

As we were leaving that day I got multiple high fives, hugs, smiles, and Thank You’s which leaves me thinking of how big of an impact this day is might be on the teachers but also the children they care for each day. We will never know the fullness of our serving and giving to this community but we know the gift there is in being obedient to the Father and loving those here, THERE, and everywhere.