My musings on Irma

I often joke that I live under a rock, but of course we've been paying attention to Irma.  Max​ has worked tirelessly this week at Martin's planning production and deliveries of bread for those in the path of this mighty storm.  I was supposed to attend a women's retreat with ladies at my church, but plans got changed last minute due to this crazy hurricane.  I may need to rename of of my favorite LuLaRoe tops after this week.  ;) 

Today, we're doing some last-minute prepping in case we experience a long-term power outage.  I've got Bethel worship playing this afternoon as I work in the kitchen (and seriously, play the "You Make Me Brave" album if you need some peace in the midst of this literal storm...it's free for Amazon Prime members).

As I was listening to my favorite song from the album, I was reminded of Matthew 8:27:

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Our God is so much bigger than this storm, but yet so many of us deny He even exists.  He could snap His fingers and Irma would instantly disappear.  But sometimes we need great reminders that we are not the Creators of this world, and that there is a God in heaven who desires our complete, whole-hearted worship of Him.  He loves us with an unfailing, undying love, and we ignore Him.  He paid the ultimate price so we could be with Him forever.  That kind of love is almost beyond our comprehension.  And we don't have to do a thing to earn that love.  It doesn't make sense from a human perspective.  That's the great mystery of our God.  He loves us so much, and all He wants is for us to rightly worship Him as the King that He is.  

Come Celebrate With Me!

I have a confession to make...I don't have a project ready to share with you this morning.   I do have a very good excuse, though.  

Last Tuesday, I received a phone call that I wouldn't wish on anyone. My Mom was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening complications from surgery. Needless to say, my family dropped everything and made the 10+ hour trip to be with her.  Fast forward to today...she has made an incredible recovery and will most likely get to go home today. In the span of 7 days, she went from being unable to move from a hospital bed to walking laps in the hospital hallway!  What a difference a week makes!

In thinking back on this past week, I've been reflecting on how quickly life can change - for both better and worse.  While I'm thanking God for the recovery my Mom has made this week, I know that there are others who had to say goodbye to precious loved ones in the same time span.

My challenge to you is to document this week in photos.  Each day, take one - or more - pictures of your everyday life.

Our new home...

We've been renting for a while, and I've been monitoring the local real estate listings for longer than I care to admit, but finally, we found a house. This house wasn't even on my radar because of the price; then, in early July, the seller made a huge price reduction. I made Max drive past it as we were out running errands, but we didn't get our hopes up because we needed a lease/purchase home and had a feeling this one would be sold in 2 or 3 days. Fast forward 3 weeks later, and the house was still on the market. I made a call to the agent, found out the seller was agreeable to a lease/purchase, and we made our first visit. Three weeks later, the final contract was signed.

This home is our favorite floor plan (and trust me, we've seen a ton of floor plans): a split 2/2 with 2 bedrooms sharing a jack-and-jill bathroom and the third child's bedroom next to a third full bath. The kitchen is huge - there's even an extra "nook" space that we are thinking will be an office or library space...I'm still deciding. The yard's not huge, but the backyard is private, and there's plenty of space for tossing a football or getting on a mean game of bocce. :)

We love the extra bonuses in the neighborhood - a community playground, pool, and tennis courts, not to mention the golf course. Not that my husband would be swayed by an 18-hole golf course down the road. ;)

Considering where we were less than 2 years ago, this is such an amazing blessing. God has been so faithful to us, and He really has blessed us beyond what we ever expected.

Now, I'm off to homeschool and then pack. In the next five weeks, I need to craigslist some furniture, pack the house, go on vacation (yay!), move, and then have surgery. The vacation, which was planned months ago, is our breathing time (thank you, Mom and Dad, for having a timeshare!).

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. --Romans 15:13

Concert Pics + 2011 Plans

As part of Max's 35th birthday celebration, we took the boys down to Jacksonville for the Winter Jam concert this past weekend. Will, of course, was in heaven...he has not-so-secret plans to be a drummer (and just doesn't understand why Max and I won't buy him a drum set!). Christian wasn't so into it; he kept asking if it was time to go home yet. And Andrew had his moments. He wasn't so into the first band, Red, as evidenced by this picture:



However, it got better for him...he was dancing once David Crowder came on the scene. By the middle of the Newsboys though, he was sound asleep. Only a little one could sleep at 100+ decibels!

I had the hardest time getting a picture of Will - this is my best shot and he looks like a deer in headlights!



Will played air guitar and air drums and danced and waved his arms and had a great time. Unfortunately, it was too dark at our seats to get a decent picture. But I hold his joy in my heart...it really is remarkable to see the change that comes over him when he's surrounded by music.

I was excited about Francesca Battistelli (love her new music!):



And who doesn't like David Crowder?



Max really enjoyed Kutless:



And of course the Newsboys:



They did a meet & greet after the show, but the line was so long and the boys were so tired, we didn't go through. I did manage to catch a picture (notice the kinda scary looking security guard):



And finally, just because I didn't get a decent picture of my Christian at the show:



I seriously love this kid!

Our next concert is tobymac in April...just so happens to be on Andrew's birthday. :) I ordered our tickets this week (15th row center). Will is ecstatic - he's already counting down!

I started the new quarter at work. I'm still on my hybrid/online course schedule - and I'm very thankful to my dean who allows me to only come in once a week. It's been such a blessing to be home with the boys and still bring in a paycheck each month.

Max and I are working to build a house later this year (unless our dream home comes on the market very soon, but 5 bedroom houses seem to be in very short supply in south GA). Right now I'm doing a slow purge of this house, going through and deep-cleaning/sorting/tossing all our stuff. And then I get embarassed that we have so much stuff...seriously not necessary. But I'm working on it.

And now I need to make a late breakfast for my boys. Their late-night chat fest last night made for a late morning. :)

I love living in the country...

This morning, the boys and I were able to pet some horses while standing in our yard (the advantages of living next door to a horse farm). A year ago, if someone asked me if I wanted to live on a dirt road next to a farm I would have laughed "no way!". And now, I couldn't be happier. These past six months have been a time of trial and tribulation for Max and I, and God has brought us through even better than before. I read through the book of Job last year, and while what we've been through doesn't even begin to compare to his turmoils, I learned an important lesson. When God allows you to face the trials, He will completely, abundantly bless you on the other side. Stay strong in Him!

Back in the saddle...

It's official...I start teaching September 30 at Val Tech. The wonderful Dean gave me 6 classes - and I'm choosing the text for one of them! Two of the texts I'm using I've taught from before - how cool is that?

I'm really excited about the possibilities. We've got some debt that's my fault and I really want to work to erase it. My Mom raised me to accept responsibility, and sometimes it's harder than others. I'm not looking forward to being away from the boys, but I'll be home for lunch 3 days a week. The other two I'll be home a little after 3, so it shouldn't be too bad. They're actually looking forward to a babysitter - go figure!

I've been hired part-time right now, but I've put in for a full-time math position that begins with the January quarter. Here's the kicker - I'll actually be teaching FEWER classes as a full-time instructor! They're about to start remodeling the general studies building, and it should be really nice when it's done (supposed to be finished in December). So that's really promising.

I know this job is from God...I'll post later how the whole thing played out. And in this economy it's a real blessing to have the extra income. We are so blessed!

Big changes...

And I'm still not sure how I feel about them. Lots of mixed emotions right now. If you're reading this, please pray for me. I'm in the midst of some big decisions. I really only want to do what's best for my boys.

I feel like the dam is about to burst...

In my spirit, I feel like something big is about to happen. I don't know what yet, but I think it's going to involve me getting over my fears of speaking out and possibly offending someone. There are people dying without hope...I have loved ones without hope. I need to tell them about Jesus, but more than that, I need to show them Jesus.

And I'm going to start singing again. Healing is coming.

From Mark 5:

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

A little preaching...

Things have been busy and I haven't been feeling so well, but we're on the upswing. I went to the doctor, I'm getting better, and the house is just about unpacked! We've found a great church, made some new friends, and are generally very-much enjoying Georgia (the bugs I could do without!).

Will's birthday was Sunday; I'm still not believing he's 6 years old. We had a low-key celebration, but it was good. One of the gifts that Max and I bought for him was a Bible (and here's where the preaching comes in).

So Monday I read the story of David and Goliath (I Samuel 17 if you're interested in reading the whole thing). And I've heard the story so many times but I haven't often actually read it. And it's powerful. You've got this giant who has petrified the entire Israeli army...I'm talking they're hiding from him. And then you have this boy come onto the scene and he's the only one willing to stand up to giant warrior. David has such faith and trust in God; he says that God has protected him from lions and bears and he will protect him now. Wow! You've got a giant, a trained warrior, in full battle armor and then this boy with nothing but a slingshot a 5 rocks. And the boy is not afraid!

But it gets better. The giant starts to taunt David and is almost offended that Israel would send a boy to fight him. So David says:

45 "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

If those aren't fighting words I don't know what is. So the giant comes after him and the Bible says that David runs to the battle line to meet him. Looking at the picture from a human perspective, the odds were completely against David. But we so often forgot about the ultimate warrior that was standing beside David. God loves to work through the weakest and most unlikely person because it's not by power, or might, or sword, or smooth-talking that the battle gets won. There's another passage in Exodus 14 that I love (this is as the Israelites are leaving Egypt and are being followed by Pharaoh's army; the people are afraid and starting to complain):

13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

How often do I try to fight the battle on my own and I fail miserably. As David says "the battle is the LORD's". Every person on this planet has battles - whether they be health or financial or marital or whatever. We need to remember that God is our ultimate warrior and He will fight for us. We simply need to be still in Him.

We've arrived...

Still sinking in...dude, I live in Georgia! It's hot and humid, but the AC works so life is good! ;)

Total God thing yesterday - so cool. Some of our neighbors came over...they have 4 kids. Turns out she's a former teacher, now staying at home, will be homeschooling, and she scrapbooks! No kidding! I've been praying for friends for Max and I and how cool is that? God is good!

I'm off to scrounge up some dinner...I'll update later this week with pics and some stories.

It's here...

we're finally moving. The packers are packing, I'm sitting around feeling guilty that I can't help. It's hard to believe we've finally reached this point. Crazy last few days, including an ER visit for me for an anxiety attack. But things are calming down. I'm actually more relaxed now than I've been in quite some time. We're leaving tomorrow afternoon for the trek to Georgia, so I'll probably be AWOL for a bit. Internet doesn't come to the new house until next Friday...what's a girl to do? ;)

Cool story about my anxiety attack. My blood pressure was super high when I first got to the ER, and I'm paranoid to begin with about my heart (it's fine, by the way). Anyhow, I'm trying to calm down and I prayed for a sign. I thought about Gideon's fleece and I asked the Lord for my next blood pressure reading to be 150/90 or lower (it was 171/106). Next reading...149/88. God answers prayers big time! It gets better though. When I get home I decide to read the story about Gideon. As I'm paging there, the first verse that I see is from the previous passage. It read "Peace. Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." No kidding. If that's not a word from God, I don't know what is. It's amazing...a few days ago I was praying for God to make Himself really real to me. I'd say He did. What a good God we serve!

I needed this one today...

God is good...

It's been so easy to get discouraged about our house, but I am trusting that God will provide. It's so easy to praise Him and be thankful when everything is going right, but I was reminded this week that I need to be thankful in all circumstances.

I am thankful that God has allowed us to lease our house in Georgia. I am thankful that He has blessed me with two nephews in the past two weeks. I am thankful for my amazing family. I am thankful that Max's company is providing so much for our move. I am thankful for Max's hard work that allows me to be home with my boys. I am thankful for my health and my family's health. I am thankful for a God who knows my needs and will meet them. So, in faith, thank you Lord for providing a buyer for our home in Your time. Amen.

I just needed to get that off my chest. :) Have a happy weekend!

Good Friday...

Easter is my all-time favorite holiday....after all, if it wasn't for Easter, where would we be? Some people get kind of morbid about Good Friday, but I think it's an amazing day. Think how much our Savior loves us that He would willingly be put to death on the cross. I think we sometimes forget that Jesus could have come down off that cross at any point, but love for us kept Him there. It's overwhelming. What a Savior!

Enjoy your Good Friday. And if you don't mind, say a little prayer for our family....Will, Christian and I are fighting a cold.

Happy Birthday Jesus

I think it's much too easy to forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas. We hear the cliche, but has it really sunk into your heart that Jesus is the reason? It's much too easy to get caught up in the decorating and shopping and cooking and eating and forget why we're doing it all. Two thousand years ago, the God of all creation came to earth as a baby. If you've ever held a newborn in your arms, you know just how precious and fragile they are. Yet God came down to us as a baby. He came down knowing that one day he'd die on a cross, not for His own sins, but for my sins and yours. Has the truth of this season really impacted your heart? I received a letter in the mail today that really disturbed my spirit and felt that I needed to write a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. We give gifts not because we expect anything from the recipient, but to celebrate our love and thankfulness for our family and other loved ones. We give because God gave the greatest gift of all to us. He gave us His one and only Son, to be our Savior. I leave you with this, taken from the NIV version of the Bible...

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Happy music day...

Yesterday my new David Phelps cds finally came!! The boys and I watched the cd/dvd combo yesterday afternoon...so good! He's got some real honest narration in there as well - I love that!

And the Christmas cd...AMAZING!! I'm listening to it right now. Wow! Seriously, if you're not familiar with David Phelps, check out his website. Just a phenomenal voice...I'm so thankful he has chosen to use his talent to honor our Lord.