Behind the scenes at GAFA

Just thought I’d give you a sneak peak from behind the scenes at Glory Academy Of Fine Arts tech. week as they prepare for their production, “Creation”.  I thought you must see the adorableness of these GAFA girls. Needless to say, none of them were camera shy, and I didn’t even have to ask to take their pictures. They saw a camera and were all begging me to snap their pictures in their out of this world cute dance costumes.

Amidst the costume bloopers, hyperactive kids, and power craziness, It’s been a crazy busy, yet fun week for GAFA. Can’t wait to see it all come together in the the productions Fri. night and Sat. Do you have your tickets yet? If not, why not? Get them here?

Oh, and as for the show. I could not resist and snuck from backstage to see the last few scenes of the show. And trust me. You DON’T want to miss it. I’m working backstage tomorrow night, but I’m going to WATCH and enjoy Saturday.

How’s your roots?

What is the difference between a dead tree and a healthy tree?  What’s the difference between a dead or dying spiritual life and a healthy one?….the roots.

It’s my turn to lead the group discussion at the small group ministry  we lead this weekend, and the topic is going to be, “How’s Your Roots?” Simply put, so many of us are walking around with things in our lives that have been deeply embeded in us and alot of them are not good. Bad roots such as depression, guilt, fear, inadequecy, rejection, insecurity, negativism, laziness, complacency, faithlessness, pride,  controlling spirit, self-pity, judgementalism, anger, hostility, doubt, ect….

When we try to get these things out of our lives by simply cutting them down it only leads to temporary relief. It’s like pulling weeds by only breaking them off above the ground. We are fighting a losing battle and they will only grow back again and will likely mulitiply. The only way to completely rid our lives of these bad roots and the lack of fruit, and even the death they will bring to our spiritual being, is to allow the Holy Spirit to literally put them up by the roots. Some of these roots were planted very early on in our childhood, even some at birth. BUT GOD is the ultimate “Round Up”. That’s the awesome truth!

So how about you? How’s your roots? You have ‘em. Are they good ones, or bad ones? Look at the fruit your life is producing…..you’ll know.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,with roots that reach deep into the water.
 Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green,
 and they never stop producing fruit.”         - Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.”      - Proverbs 12:2-4

What are some bad roots you’ve had or have in your life that you have had or would like to see be pulled out?

Jackson AKA Whiny boy

Meet Jackson. aka Whiny boy. Although, I just absolutely adore him and cannot seem to resist his cuteness at any given moment, I am running out of patience for this. He is extremely clingy, needy, and just plain out whiny almost every second his little eyes are open. To be totally honest, most days I count down the hours until his naptime, and then his bedtime just for some peace and time to actually be able to get things done. Then I get to the end of the day and realize that I’ve spent the entire day wishing it away. I don’t like that. But I have no idea what to do about his whinyness or how to get it to stop. I’ve asked myself why. He has such a good life! I’ve tried just absolutely lavishing him with attention and affection, totally ignoring him and walking away when he’s whining and hanging on my legs, correcting him, and forcing him to stay in his room and play with his toys without my presence. None of which has made a difference. I’ve somewhat attributed his whinyness to the fact that he’s 20 months old and still does not talk well so he gets frustrated in trying to communicate, and he feels in competition with his older sister.

 I’ve been saying it’s just a stage and it will pass for the last six months and so far it seems there’s no end in sight. It makes even the most normal life functions such as going out to eat (as seen in the above picture), going to stores or any other public place a task to burdensome for me to agree to on most occasions. But we have found that it seems to be fueld by my presence. His behavior is 90% better when I am not around.

Of course none of this causes me to love him any less, he is my baby boy and the cutest thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on. But at times it sure makes being around him less than easy. I know it will get better, but until then, I’ll snuggle with him at any given moment in the middle of the day, sit on the floor of his room just so he can play with his toys, let him stand next to me with one finger in his mouth with the other hand squeezing me to comfort himself, and take a bottle of antiacids with us to the restaurant so we won’t all leave with indigestion, and leave a little extra tip for the waiter just for putting up with us.

Ahhhh, these days raising little ones. I know I’ll look back when they’re 16 and 17 and wish to God I could have these trials back again.

Anyone else have a kid like this? Any suggestions?

Play-doh morning

These are my children doing what they love to do best…..Olivia calls it playing and having fun! I call it making monumental messes. Normally, I keep things like this put away and hidden from them so they won’t even ask if they can play with them. But today, I thought, “What the heck!” They’re only little once and so freakin’ what if they strow Play-doh all over my kitchen. It’s not anything I can’ t clean up.

I’m learning to “let go” of my need for things to be just as I think they should all the time. I’ve realized that it has the potential to consume me and rob the joy out of life for those I love the most. Another little area that God is “putting His finger on in my life.” Telling me I need to let Him stretch me into what the people in my life need more than my idea of perfection.

Using the arts to bring the glory back to Him

I’m spending my afternoons here. It’s so fun to see these girls and guys get ready for the big production this weekend. Have you got your tickets yet? Get them here!

More pics. of the madness to come!

 

Favorite things

These are a few of my favorite things!

 

What are yours? Please share!! 

 

A kiss to remember

   

Standing hand in hand on the beach as the sun set. Brushing the hair away from the front of my face, he leaned in next to my ear and whispered, “Can I kiss you?” That look in his eyes resounded his question. Neglecting my immediate response, my mind raced instead with these thoughts? “Are you kidding me? “Did he just ASK if he could kiss me?” “Who does that?”…. He did. No one would have known why, maybe even he didn’t know. But deep in my heart was the reason. I knew why he asked.

When we first started dating, I had unkowingly to him, placed a fleece before the Lord on whether or not I should continue to pursue this relationship towards marriage. And however you feel about doing that, I thought if Gideon in the Bible did it and God answered, why couldn’t I?

 I told God that I didn’t want to waste both of our time dating if he wasn’t “the one.” So, one day I asked God to give me two signs to let me know he was the one for me and it was ok. The first was fleece was that the very first time we kissed, he would ask me first. I chose this because I knew there was slim chance of any guy ever doing such a thing, and if he did, I would know.

The second, was that the first flowers he ever gave me would be pink roses. Why pink? Not sure, just my favotire color, so that’s what I picked.

That day on the beach, when he asked that question I’m sure I must have had a look of utter shock. He had to ask again, of course I said yes, and ooooooooh that kiss! Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of THAT kiss. You know the feeling. Tingles up and down your body from head to toe, think I’m gonna melt now, feeling. No one should live life without that feeling. Here it was. I had waited for that kiss all my life. And finally, it was mine.

It by far stands out in my mind as one of sweetest moments I’ll ever experience in life. Some days, I just replay it in my mind just to remember the sweetness of that day. I still adore his kisses, but that one,  (sigh) - now, that is a kiss to remember.

Oh, and as far as the pink roses……I got them a few weeks later. And once again, I was floored.  And the rest as they say, is history. God DID hear me!……and I got the man of my dreams!

Do you have a moment you’ll never forget? Tell me about it.

Mother’s Day….reflecting back

I think every year on Mother’s Day, if you’re like me, along with being adored and pampered, it’s a time of reflection on what mothering really means to us. For me it’s become a re-evaluation time to reflect on the kind of mother I’ve been so far and what my children would honestly say about me if they were old enough to put it into words. So far, thinking about what they might say has brought me pleasure, because I know that I have been the best mother I can possibly be to Jackson and Olivia. Not perfect, but the best mommy I can be. Ever wonder what your children would say about you if given the opportunity? I do.

Just a couple of days ago my daughter and I were standing in a store and she slides her arms around my leg and gently says, “Mommy” I asked “what”, she replied, “You’re my bestest friend.” …Happy Mother’s Day to me!! No letter, no card, no song could have said or meant more to me than the honest feelings of her little heart coming out and the look of adoration on her face. In that moment, I realized that In the midst of all my self doubt, I must be doing something right. Doing this thing right is so hugely important to me for two reasons:

1. What kind of mother I am to my children isn’t just about me. It will impact my children for the rest of their lives, and will even impact what kind of parents they choose to be to their own children one day. It will propel them closer to Christ, or farther away. In all actuality, mothering gives us to power to further propel our children’s lives period, or quench the fire that burns within them. 
2. What kind of mother I am relates directly to what kind of woman I am. The right kind of mother can only come from the right kind of person. My mothering says a lot about who I am on the inside.

All in all, it all boils down to one thing for me. I love my children way to much to not give them the absolute best mother possible. I truly hope that when they’re old enough to go out on their own, one day they’ll look back with all honesty and be able to say, ” I am who I am today because my mom loved me.” I will have done my job well. My reward for being mommy will simply be this:

Proverbs 31:28   Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

What would your children say about you?

Who are you..who who, who who?

                         

I have been getting quite a few new visitors dropping by my blog lately and I am just curious to know who you are. So, if you would be so kind as to shoot me a quick comment as you drop by my blog. You don’t have to say anything profoud, just who you are and what brings you by.

Yes, that means even all of you that I know. Just for fun. Tell me who you are! Click the comment button at the top of this post and type away.  Thanks for stopping by!

Just maybe…

THIS has always been a dream of mine. Not one that I’ve shared with very many people for the sake of them squashing it like a bug.  But none the less it’s always been there, deep in my heart. I’ve always just pushed it to the back of my mind thinking it could never happen, or that I wasn’t “good enough”.  Good enough for who? Me, never gonna happen. Other people? It’s not for them. Good enough for God?….could be.

Maybe it’s sheer coincidence, or luck (if you beleive in that), or maybe my change of mind, or maybe it’s just the right time. But doors are opening that I never thought possible. And I’m going to walk through them. I got an incredible offer this week. One that I’m definitely not saying no to. Now I just gotta get my head together and get on the move. It’s up to me. I’m not running away this time. I promised God recently that I would never say no to His opportunities again. I’ve done that for four years too long. Every since I made that promise, it’s like He’s been checking me. To see if I meant it. I did.

Not sure how this will all come together, I do know I’ve got A LOT of work to do. So, God, “Turn on the waterfall!” I can’t and won’t even attempt to do this or anything else without Him. Maybe if I believe He’s who I say He is He will take my fear and turn it into courage. Maybe if I will just trust Him He will take my weakness and turn it into strength. Maybe if I will believe that God loves to work through imperfection He will take it and show Himself through it. Maybe if I will honor Him He will take the gifts He’s given me and use them to bring glory to Himself. Just maybe….

Someone I adore

Everyone, meet my sister, Sarah. Isn’t she adorable? I just love her to pieces. She reminds me of me and it’s kinda neat. She is a leader. One day SHE IS going to change the world. She has influence, a strong mind and BIG dreams. This girl is going places. I’m so proud of the young woman I’m watching her become. I hope my life impacts hers for the good in some way and is yet another way I’m making a difference in my world. Maybe one day we will change the world together…….just maybe. Who knows!

Who is someone you adore?

Is THIS what Pastor’s have come to?

Wanta get your laugh in for the day? Take a look at what Pastor Bryan has been doing in the church…..Is this what Pastor’s have come to now days? Sad…….really sad.  Take a look HERE, HERE, OR HERE!

 

Chasing the Lion Part 1

       

OK. It is time. Time for me to let go of something that has monumentally held me back for most of my life.  It’s the lion in my life. It’s just been recently that I’ve come face to face with recognizing it, understanding it, and having the guts to freakin’ get over myself, chase it, and kill it already.

 FEAR. This is odd for me to even admit. I am not at all fearful by nature. I am the person that is way too trusting of people. I’m the girl that forgets to lock doors, forgets to check behind her shoulder, and is most of the time just downright uncautious. My husband has been working on me about that recently. But this one fear I do have. It’s time for me to admit it, face it, unlearn it, and get it out of my life once and for all. So here goes the first step. I have this incredibly overwhelming fear of failure and imperfection. Along with that comes a fear of commitment  that is directly caused by my fear of failing. I fear commiting to do things because I fear that I’ll fail at it, thus letting people down. This is what holds me back. It came from somewhere, I’m just not exactly sure where.

I’ve been reading this incredibly amazing book, In a Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day, that I am convinced was written with me in mind. The dedication in the front of the book should read, “For Rachel, who’s life desperately needs these words, and will change her world and propel her to new levels that she never imagined possible if she will read, understand, and act on them.”  In the book it talks about lions in our lives. Which is the fear that will either chase and kill us, or we it. What we do with it is the key though.

I am going to chase mine. I am going to face my fear eyeball to eyeball and do what I’ve dreaded worse than death. I’m going to learn to let myself be imperfect, I’m going to let myself fail.

So, here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time. But the right place often seems like the wrong place, and the right time often seems like the wrong time.
• Goodness is not the absence of badness. You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Our calling is much higher than simply running away from what’s wrong. We’re called to chase lions-look for opportunities in our problems and obstables and take risks to reach for God’s best.
• When we don’t have the guts to step out in faith and chase lions, then God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him.
• Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God-ordained opportunities.
• Half of learning is unlearning.
• We were only born with two inate fears.  -1. The fear of falling  2. The fear of loud noises.  All other fears have been learned through an experience. Therefore, they can be unlearned. But this process is twice as hard.

I’m dying to post more, but I will hold back until tomorrow. This is good stuff!! Like miracle grow to a plant.

“Follow me on my lion chase….or go chase your own!”

So what is YOUR lion?

• Defying odds?
• Committment?
• Facing fears?
• Reframing problems?
• Embracing uncertainty?
• Taking risks?
• Seizing opportunities?
• Looking foolish?
• Failure?

  I am learning that breaking out of my comfort zone and facing my mistakes can lead to innovation and stronger relationships. When did failing at something become bad? It is merely a sign that we are DOING things. If we never fail, we never tried.

2008 Glory Academy of Fine Arts’ Original Full Length Dance Production - “Creation”

First Showing, Friday, May 16th at 7:00pm. Doors Open at 6:30pm.

Matinee, Saturday, May 17th at 3:00pm. Doors Open at 2:30pm.

Tickets for Glory Academy of Fine Arts’ Original Full Length Dance Production, “Seasons” are on sale now! You may purchase your’s from any Glory Academy of Fine Arts Studentor online. Tickets purchased online will be held for pick up at will-call on the date of the performance.

Salt

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

I was just thinking. I was standing in my kitchen last night chugging back a glass of water because I had eaten something extremely salty for dinner and I could not get over how insanely thirsty it had made me. I had made a few trips back the frig. for more water when this whole theory struck me. It was this, ”Wonder what it is about salt that makes us so thirsty?” Although, I still haven’t answered my own question here, next I thought. “Salt!”That’s what Jesus told us to be. But why? Now, I know that salt can serve many functions. It can be used to cleanse wounds, to flavor, to purify. But this was the first time that I ever thought about salt in this fashion. Salt makes us thirsty for another substance that our bodies need. Such as water. Could it not also mean that one of the reasons Christ tells us to be salt to the world is that our very lives should cause others that don’t know Christ to become “thirsty” for something else that their soul desperately needs, thus they will begin to crave it? This doesn’t necessarily mean that they will understand or even recognize what it is they are craving right away. But I believe that if we are being salt to those around us that don’t know Him, their thirst for something else, something more, will become insatiable. They may even begin to feel totally desperate for ”the water of life” just like I did the water I drank. So, they will search. They may or may not immediately acknowledge, accept or even understand what it is that will quench their thirst. But nevertheless, we will have been the salt that placed within them the thirst that can only be quenched by finding and accepting the He who designed us to never be competely satisfied and completely fulfilled without living in a relationship with Him.

That’s just my thoughts on it.
What do YOU think?

Who I want to be

Salt
Servant to all
Friend to the friendless
Counselor to the confused and hurting
Shoulder and strong arm to the weary who cannot go on alone
and leads them to the one who can mend them and make them whole again
One who wipes the tears of the broken
Lifter of the head to the beaten down
The voice of truth to the lost
Encourager to the discouraged
The one who’s just always there
Faithful in the small things
Carrier of other’s burdens
Light in the darkness
Person of passion
Dream re-ignitor
The listening ear
Mother to my children
Nurturer
Dream incubator
Heart mender
BooBoo kisser
Wife to my husband
Daughter
Sister
Granddaughter
Teacher
Lover
Child of God
Follower of Christ
Dreamer
Fulfiller of purpose
Vision carrier
Always a work in progress

THIS is who I want to be….this is who I choose to be. This is who I am or at least always am striving to always be.  I may not always be the best of all of these, but this is what I am called to be and I will give it my best with everything that is in me. Because above all else, my number one goal in life is simply to please Him. Because I know that if I accomplish this one thing, He will cause me to accomplish His ultimate purpose for my life.

If I allow these things to shine through my life, my life will without fail point straight to my Father.

 

A visit back to our roots.

This was most definitely an off the cuff photo shoot. But we were there, they were cute, the scenery everywhere was incredible, and I simply could not resist. So, I snapped a few shots at my late great-grandparents farm place while we were there this week. Everything around there is literally like taking a step back in time. Realizing just how simple life was, and just how far we’ve come still blows my mind. Scenes from a way of life that we can barely imagine, yet can appreciate, and are a grateful for.

 The older I get, the more I care about the legacy of life that has been passed down from generation to generation. And I love to get to know my roots and how they lived a little better, so I can show them to my children. I want them to know and respect where they came from, so they can understand and embrace where they are going, and keep passing the legacy on. 

3 John 1:4 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

They are why

 

They are yet another reason why we live for Him. THIS is why we cannot be silent.  THIS is what it’s all about.

   People just like you, reaching people just like us, all for the glory of one amazing God!                              

                       THIS is a life-changing journey. Will you go?

Next…

I was witness to a monumentally huge day at my church. Today we stood witness to our Pastor passing the baton of leadership on to the next generation. Never have I seen such humility in a man who has and is accomplishing such great things. I was in totally in awe not only at what was done today, but how it was done. I choked back tears all morning.

Not to mention the new staging and worship today was absolutely over the top amazing! “Thank you Pastor Abbye and the worship team for your passion and dedication for leading us into His presence every week. I had a friend with me this morning who has never been in a church service like the ones we have the privilege of experiencing every week.” During worship she looked and me and said, ” I am just in awe!” She didn’t know church and God could be this way. This gave me tingles up my spine!

 See more of what happened here, here, here, & here. HUGE changes are taking place, and God is doing BIG things in all of us. But none of this is never about us, it is always about all of us reaching this city together by creating genuine relationships and loving them right were they are. Showing them that there is a way to freedom, and it can be found by looking at our lives and knowing that the God they see reflected in us is real and working. So, in the words of Pastor Ron this morning ”Let’s getr’ done!!”

“ Bold faith is not often easy or peaceful because it always stretches us far beyond our comfort zones and moves us from the realm of the known into the unknown.  The announcement Sunday was a bold faith move for me filled with a lot of yet unknown things.  In some ways it was scarier than moving my family to Wilmington 19 ½ years ago when we knew no one here.

 These are the known components of this move for me:  1) It is the right thing to do 2) This is the right time to do it 3) It is the word of the Lord to me 4) It is necessary for this church to be relevant and effective in the 21^st Century

 These are the unknown components of this move for me:  1) I don’t know what the final picture will look like for me, my family or this church 2) I don’t know who or how many will embrace this bold step of faith and move forward with us to impact our city, nation and the world in the 21^st Century  3) I don’t know who or how many will not choose or be able to go with us 4) I don’t know how the city God has called us to make a difference in will react

 As I have compared the two lists and asked the Lord to help me put all of this in proper perspective, this is what He has shown me.  The unknown components are scary, but the known components are powerful, awesome and incredible!  Bold faith requires me to embrace the known and release the unknown back into the hands of the God who called us here almost 20 years ago.  Then, the known list was about the same as it is now, but the unknown list was long and much more intimidating. 

 But God was faithful, has continued to be faithful and will be faithful yet again.

 I love God too much to not do this.  I love my family too much not to do this.  I love this church and the wonderful people who call me pastor too much not to do this.  I love the lost too much not to do this.

Fasten your seatbelt.  It’s going to be an exciting ride!  ”

Pastor Ron

Here’s some pics. of this morning’s service. http://bryanmcgee.com/galleries/transition/index.html

A responsible three year old!?!?

We’re trying something new and fun with our 3 year old. Today was our first day trying out a “chore chart” to give her incentives to be responsible in the ways that she can….with help from mom and dad of course. The important part to her, is that Dora the Explorer (not in the picture) is at the top of the chart and everytime she accomplishes one of the goals on her chart she gets to add a new sticker and she gets to pick one for herself. She also makes sure that brother earns one every time she does. So far, so good. She loooooves it! And she’s so proud of herself when it’s time to go add another sticker to her chart. I guess we’ll see if it continues to work. If she finishes out an entire week with a pretty good amount of sticker coverage she gets a fun trip to Toys R Us! Think that should do the trick! We’ll keep ya posted.

 

Blogable moment

“Captions please!”

Could not resist!! Leave your best caption for the pictures above. This will be so fun to see what everyone comes up with!

I’ll post what actually happened here in a few days after everyone’s had a chance to leave their captions. And no, this was not at all posed. He drug the chair up to the counter himself.

Another weekend recap.

• First of all, I am happy to attempt to redeem myself by saying that I accomplished my exercise goal for this week. I’m starting out somewhat slow, so I got in three days of 35 minutes of TaeBo, along with chin ups and push ups at each session. Whew! I feel much better just because I finally made myself do it. I don’t think it’ll be so hard to do now that I’m back in the groove again. Let’s see if I can blast past last week’s goal this week.
• Fri. - took Mom out for her birthday lunch! Mmmmmm….Mama Fu’s and mom! 
• Sat. - spent all day at the air show with my boyfriend and our two kids….got a bit toasted.
• Sunday AM - Had yet another awesome church service where I got to “get into His presence” and be fed. Always a great combo. Pastor Ron finished Alpha series with ”Authority.” Good stuff!…oh, and we sang my new fav. song (How He Loves) AGAIN! I was stoked!!!
• Had cable turned off and had our highspeed internet turned up to the max. because we realized that we never watch TV so it was a complete waste of $55.00  hmmmmm….what else can we find to do with that $55?
• Sunday afternoon - Off to the house to put sleepy kids down for naps and get ready for AXIS!!!!
• Had a great time of food and fellowship and an intimate, interactive group study on “service.” Anthony got to wash someone’s feet!
• Ended the weekend by snuggling with my favorite man for a whole 2 hours while we watched some sappy Hallmark movie.
• Post AXIS blog about tonight’s meeting.

What a woman

Today is my mother’s 46th birthday and oh what a woman! I don’t think she minds me telling everyone her age because the way I see it, she has proudly earned every single year that has passed. The older I get and the more my kids test me at times, I realize just how much honor my mother is due simply for being mom. She has sacrificed personal ambitions to raise six children and she will never know how much she is appreciated for what she gave up for us. She has loved and stayed by the same man, (our dad) for 25 years without fail, giving of herself for others around her.

She will never win a nobel peace prize award, or travel around the world (which she could have done) or see her name flashing in Hollywood lights. But what she will leave and have credited to her name for eternity is her mark. She will live on in the lives of countless souls that will remain her legacy. Her mark will be left here in a bigger way than all of those other things ever could. Her legacy will live on in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and all that are to come after. You see, no life lived is only to oneselves and neither is it limited to the acts which one can perform in only their lifetime alone. So, hold your head high mom. You have much to be proud of! Bring on the next 46 years!!!!!!!

Kickin’ it up a notch

The Rock is kickin’ it up a notch. You must see what’s going here and here. It’s so exciting!!! This church is not content to sit back and let today’s culture pass them by why they are sticking to “the old ways.” The old days have long since passed. The raw truth is this is a new day, a new time, that demands new and creative ways to reach the people of this generation. It’s time for the church to rise to the occasion. The world gives their causes the very best that they have, why shouldn’t the church? Isn’t what we are trying to impact them with more than worthy of better than the best? I think so. The world should look at us and say, I want what they have. Not, “Oh my, if that’s what church and God are, no thank you!” It’s time. Time to stop playing around and do this thing with all that is in us. The church is going places with some amazing people, with incredible vision, all for one totally awesome God.

Quotes from my daughter

Things my daughter tells me…..alot . My daily reminders that little arms need me, little eyes are watching me, and little feet are following me.

• “You’re my favorite mommy!”
• “Sit in the rocking chair and love me.”
• “I neeeeeeed you.”
• “Do I look like you?”
• “I love you.”
• “My room is a pig-sty again!”
• “We’re going to play and have fun!!”
• “You’re a silly goober mommy!”
• “I want to sleep in YOUR bed!”
• “Get your butt up mommy!”
• “Does Jesus live in our home?”
• “Are we going to Wal-Mart again?”
• “I’m afraid of the drunger man.”   …not sure exactly what that means. She’s referring to the cooks at Hiro’s restaurant. We think she means dragon man.

The most recent one hit me like a ton of bricks….

• “Can I be just like you?”

 

Weekend recap.

Just a quick recap. of my busy, yet fun weekend! For those of you that care to know…..lol.

• Fri. Evening- Went to see Barlow Girl down at the waterfront with my whole little family. They sang “Never Alone”and “I Believe In Love” and I was happy! They were awesome, even better than I expected. I was absolutely in awe of the talent and anointing that God has given them. It’s obvious that they are very effectively reaching this generation for Christ and giving them a positive alternative to the world’s garbage lyrics in music and I think that’s cool. It was neat to see so many young people that could have been other places, being ministered too through the words of their music. Could not believe that three pastors daughters could make that much noise….lol. Got home way to late for the little ones. They were zonked.
• Sat. Morning- Missed the parade because I couldn’t stand the thought of dragging myself and two sleepy kids out of the house at 7:30 to find a parking spot and seat for the parade.
• Sat. Afternoon- Street fair from 1:30-4:30. (kids missed their naps…..again) It was hot. The kids got ill……really, really ill. Waaaay too many people.  Watched GAFA dancers perform. That was cool!
• Sun. Morning- Found a new fav. song at church. “How He Loves” Beautiful reminder of His amazing love for us. Sometimes It’s just good to be reminded. Man, how I adore the worship part of the services. Pastor Ron preached an awesome message in our Alpha series on: Alignment…..I feel like a plant that can’t get enough water in church. Just soaking it up.
• Sun. Afternoon- Spent afternoon at Nana’s. Good food and kids got loved on all day.
• Sun. Evening-  Put kids to bed and….hmmmm, a bubble bath and a good book sounds enticing.  ………..huuuuuuuh. I must now stop stalling, and confess very ashamedly, that I failed on my exercise commitment this week, and I’m very upset about it. I’m hoping this week will be calmer and I can focus. I’m usually a pretty disciplined person, but why can’t I make myself do this one thing????
• Tomorrow is going to be perfect because it’s Anthony’s day off so it’s a family day. We all get to sleep in; all four of us. And hang out in our PJs all day if we choose to do so. Those are always, always my favorite days…….yes, I’d say we’re living the blessed life….with no apologies.

You reap what ya sow.

Can you sense the spirit of excitement around here? If you’ve been keeping up with any of our blogs, whether it’s mine, Anthony’s or AXIS you would have caught it by now. I’m reading the book, The Power of Vision and WOW! is it ever fueling my engine. It’s confirming some thing I already knew, and teaching me some things I never knew. More to come on that later. 

But I wanted to share something that just made me glow today….it was reading this.  Why is this exciting? Because she is one of our AXIS people, and as I was reading what she had to say I thought to myself, wow, this really sounds like something I would have written about. Then it hit me!!! Pastor Bryan’s words from a few weeks back: “Reproduce ourselves” If you’ve read one of my previous blogs you will understand why this is significant. That is what is happening. The hard work is already paying off. We’re already beginning to reap small harvests of what we’re still in the process of planting. We are reproducing ourselves. That is honestly one of the most exciting things that I’ve ever realized we had the ability and awesome privilege to do. Influencing people to realize that God intended them to be more than what the average person settles for. God intended the human heart to be fueled by purpose, driven by vision, and powered by God. There is a total wholeness, freedom, and fulfillment that is ours for the taking. If we will only apply ourselves to being followers of Christ and not be complacent. This really is a journey, we really are following Him, and ooooh the places He wants to take us, might just be totally out of this world!!!!!!

So, who’s the new guy?

I am speechlessly in awe of my husband and the changes in him recently. He, normally a guy who only gets through an entire book because I’ve force-fed it to him by reading it to him, has been shoveling books in his brain by the truckload. Faster than our bank account can recover, he’s investing in books. Not to mention the blogging. Example, While strolling through the mall this afternoon we are coming up to a bookstore and he exclaims, “Oh look! A huge book sale!!!!” I looked at him, as if to say, “Are you alright?” So we bee-lined towards it like ants to sugar. He’s been getting through at least a book a week, along with his own personal devotional time, studying for devotionals and group discussion topics for AXIS.

 Then today, came the kicker of all kickers. He says to me, “I’m think I’m going back to school.” Now, if you know Anthony, you know that books, tests, and studying are not his fortee. So therefore, you would understand why this new version of him is slightly off the wall and definitely odd. Give him a hammer and some wood and away he goes, happy and productive as a lark. So, who’s the new guy?

I’m not exactly sure of all the reasons, but I do know one thing for certain. He has found passion in his life. He has vision and knows he must do whatever it takes to reach it and accomplish the thing that he was born to do. I can see it every part of him. His heart, in his words, actions, and dreams. They all point to one thing. Making a difference in people’s lives. I mean,  really making a difference.

I am so proud of the man he is becoming and am quite sure that all those that in the past have taken a front row seat to stomp out his dreams before he could even get started, will one day stand in amazement at the boy they said will never make it, and most importantly, the God that said he could. With everything that is in me I want to be his number one fan. Because I know what kind of man he is. And I know that anyone with a dream bigger than them, a fire burning within their spirit, and a God that just loves to make the impossible, possible; can do nothing other than succeed.

Get movin’

Alright, that’s it! I’m fed up with myself and my excuses. I have been saying I was going to get back on the ball exercising since Dec. of LAST year! Rediculous. I did so well getting in my excerise and staying fit all last year. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me now. I miss that feeling of being fit, energetic and healthy. I think it’s because I’ve fallen into the mindset of, ” Well, I don’t need to lose weight anymore so I don’t have to exercise.” That’s bull-crap! Everyone needs exercise. It’s good for us.  Thin does not = fit.

So I’m seriously gonna stop making excuses and just get my butt out there and do it. And if it takes me blogging in my exercise every week to make me do it, that’s what I’ll do.  So, come the end of next week, look for a post on my exercise accomplishments for the week. 3-4 days week is the goal. THAT is so doable. So, here I go Carolyn. Thanks for the motivation.

Sick

My kids have been sick, well, every since the evening of our park day. It all started with Olivia barfing in the back of the car on the way home (yeah, that was nice) and it has been a downhill slope every since. She and Jackson have both been sick with colds, fevers, and the other non-mentionables that I’m sure no one wants to listen to be describe. So, needless to say, all they’ve wanted to do for the last couple of days is lay around. Not just lay around anywhere. Particularly on me. So I’ve literally been a human pillow for the past two days.

Well, today I believe it’s catching up to me. I’m feeling more and more crappy as the day goes on.  I just wanta crawl into bed, get under the covers and stay there. I’m quite certain they are at the end of this thing, but I, on the other hand, may not be so lucky. Yuck!