Seems like life is one big adventure lately. We think of adventure as being fun and filled with happiness. But truthfully with adventure comes some times of hurt and tragedy. So much has happened all around me this week alone. Dear friends loosing loved ones and even in our family times of sickness and question. But we must realize whose we are. We need to remember that our God is the victor. Just like David facing the giant who held a spear and javelin-we hold the stones. The stones that will in the end let all know that there is a God in heaven. He is a sovereign God of Love, Patience, Righteousness, Justice. He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. Our adventure is when we can walk forward, enjoying the life that Christ has made possible for us. Living it out completely for HIM. Counting our blessings that He gives us. I took this week to really enjoy my blessings. Through only observing tragedy and disappointing events, I want to make sure to be joyful in the things that I have. My 3 beautiful children, my amazing husband, my home, my friends. Thank you Lord. Today we just got to sit outside and play with our kids. We took a walk around the pond and through the woods. (Ben is just like his mommy-very cautious and slow through the foliage and such- While Sam and Jack are crawling over mushroom and bug infested logs) I want to also make sure to be there for my hurting friends and acquaintances. It tells us in Galatians 6:2 that we should “carry each others burdens so to fulfill the law of Christ”. Being continually in prayer for them and doing whatever it takes to make their time in this lonely place of sorrow any bit easier it can be. What an adventure. I’m thankful to the Lord for being with me along the way.
curiouser and curiouser
AHHHH. Girls Retreat 2010 has come to an end…I am relieved, but sad at the same time. I had such a great time getting away with these girls. They are all so precious. Each different, but with the same purpose. To glorify the Lord with their lives. For the most part I think most understood this by the end of the weekend. It was so great to see these beautiful vessels, lifting their hands in complete surrender, singing so loud no rock would dare speak out. We had an adventure to say the least. Painting our own teacups at Kiln Time in Mt. Pleasant. Beast of a Red Rover game at the Memorial Waterfront Park in Mt. Pleasant (resulting in some clothesline action and a badly jammed finger-poor Debbie). A texting scavenger hunt that took us around looking for Alice type clues-leading our team to the one and only historic court house-(which is on the corner of Broad and Meeting if anyone wants to know). Kendall Bohman did a great job coming up with all the clues and landmarks. Shopping on King. Then a fabulous Tea Party where food was provided by lovely women from Faith’s women’s ministry (thank you Lena!!). All together a great weekend. If there are any girls who read this…I want to say: Thank you girls for loving the Lord. Just remember what he has set you apart to do. You are his Masterpiece, created anew in him, to do good work that was planned long ago. Remember there is a time to wait, a time to listen and a time to obey. Be peculiar!
Weekend of adventure
We are off-trailer is packed and team is in place. I’m so ready to see God work in these amazing girls this weekend. They are all so precious. I’m looking forward to laughing and taking with them. It’s going to be monumental!!! Alice in wonderland adventures for kinetic starts now!!
Halmark verses tide in an olympic battle
Growing up, if I was with my family watching tv in the family room and a hallmark commercial came on, I would find a reason to leave the room. I had it figured out that these commercials were made to create mushy moments for teens that would rather be left alone. You have seen it. The daughter is leaving for college and leaves the mother a card that says all and more about how much she means to her and tears and embracing happen. My mom, being the great mother she is would look at me and my sister with weld up eyes longing for her daughters to have a moment with her. Me, being the stubborn independent daughter-runs to the bathroom-avoiding all contact.
Well, I’m a mother now of a new generation. Ben, Sam and Jack were tucked away in bed. Jason and I were sitting on the tv veggin out after a long day. The olympics were on. What a great example of dedication. You hear the stories of the athletes and cheer them on as they compete. Then it is time for another commercial break. Tide-you know. The grass stain fighter. Well, obviously they have tapped in to the same emotional driven campaign that hallmark has been running for years. The commercial consists of heart strung music decorated with shots of moms cheering on their sons and daughters as they compete in the chance of a lifetime at the winter olympics. The proud mothers were crying, screaming, and of course there was sound bites of “that’s my baby!!!!”. Jason looked at me to find his wife-me-miss got it together. I had tears in my eyes. He only thing I could say that could explain my emotion was “it is happening”. And it was. I was all of a sudden overcome with an emotion that was tied to the women on the commercial. I am a mother. And I shared their pride in their children. So thank you Tide. Thank you for connecting me to the emotional mothers of the world. And thank you for making my mother very proud that I can now relate to her emotional reaction to the production of greeting cards.
?!snow!?
To blog for me twice in one month seems crazy. And to blog twice ever about snow-even crazier!! But we had 6″ of beautiful snow blanket the lowcountry Saturday and I have to write it down. It was Valentine’s weekend too which made it all more magical. I had so much fun with my kids and husband. It couldn’t have been better. We went out three times with cocoa and cookie breaks inbetween he building of frosty (which we learned how from our NY neighbor), snow angels, snowballs fights and ended with making snow icecream. The ‘icecream’ wasn’t a creamy bruster’s blend but it was good, and made great memories. I made yummo chicken and dumplings for our wintery evening and watched be my Valentine Charlie Brown with my 3 little Valentine’s. It is funny how things change after having kids. A family holiday-of course Jason and I are going out this week for date night. So many blessings.
That is it about snow-Except WAIT: snow fest at Faith this Saturday!!!! Where do we live again???
Sweet snow
So I guess it takes me sitting in a car for 8 1/2 hours to be able to write another blog. It has been a while. No worries. Life tends to be that way. After all, this is a glimpse, right. I am currently in a rental SUV-a Jeep commander-nice-with my amazing husband at the wheel. Along with Laura Hardegree, and 3 fab students: Courtney, Jessica, and Melissa. Right behind us in he mini bus is Laura’s husband the great Pastor Adam, awesome youth leader-Gary Tucker, and hard working intern Matt Hoag who are with the remainder of our wonderful student group totalling 17. We are on our way back from skiing in Snowshoe, WV. The conditions were what the Olympic athletes are praying for for Vancouver this week. 2 feet of beautiful thick powder fell during our 2 day stay. The best conditions this once a year -if I’m lucky- skier has experienced. This time it had been 3 years since I had been strapped into a pair of skiis. So I stayed to the green slopes (the beginners) with exception of the time my husband tricked me into going down a black diamond (expert) filled with mogles. I would have normally ventured out there with him and enjoyed the challenge, but something about the last 3 years bringing me into my 30’s and having 3 children that I’m responsible for brought more of a knowledge of my immortality against nature. He got the silent treatment halfway up the next lift. But the students had a great time. We had many first timers and none of them complained or gave up no matter how many times they ate snow. And they all excelled by day 2. It was a great weekend. We are so blessed to be a part of these students lives. The luckiest youth pastors ever!! Now home to my kiddos-I’ve missed them so. Won’t be long and they will be joining us.
The Door-Leeland
As the rain falls from heaven i’m lost in your love
Your overwhelming jesus
And were walking together holding hands
Oh it’s just you and me jesus
Life is good here food is growing
On the beautiful branches
There is rest and there is peace
Inside the shade of your garden
Jesus your the only one for me
There’s no way i’m leaving you
Your the love the way the life the truth
Your the door i’m walking through
Angels are lifting songs of praise
Oh thier just singing your story
And nothing can take me away from this place
Lord i’m just lost in your glory
Your love is the reason that i am free
And i’m running to you ‘cause you’re all i need
Jesus your the only one for me
There’s no way i’m leaving you
Your the love the way the life the truth
Your the door i’m walking through
the great outdoors
This is hands down my favorite time of year. The air seems cleaner…thinner…crisp. I know that we, being in South Carolina, don’t have so much of a “season change”, but this is enough for me! #1: The temp drops just enough to welcome wrestling and games of catch with 3 boys in the front yard. Picnics become enjoyable since the air is too thin for mosquitos to carry you and your loved ones away. Laying in the grass is a great way to relax-looking up at the clear sky…
then being tackled by a drooling laughing 18 month old…nothing much better than that. The smell of a bonfire is one of my top favorites, so when the nights are cooler, I can sometimes convince Jason to build one. #2: ( and really should be the #1 reason) Fall foods are my all time favorite which brings more insulation to the body for the little bit of cold weather we do get here. MMMM apples, pumpkin, turkeys, soups, I’m gaining just thinking about it all! #3: It is just simply gorgeous. The trees turning all different shades of fall, the sunsets just take on a whole different color, and then there are the fall decorations leading us into the Christmas season. I literally get goose bumps and butterflies. And as a extra happy note: Target already has their Christmas lights/cards and garland out on display!!! YAY!
Home is where the heart is?
The past 2 weeks, Jason and I have been frequently been asked the questions: What are you guys going to do? and When are you moving back to your house? For those who may live in another state, country or universe, these questions are in reference to the fact that for the past 10 1/2 months we have been living with my father in law-just being here for him and taking care of the house. Obviously, now that he is married, that job/priviledge belongs to another-who is more qualified for the position! So to answer everyone’s questions: our renters (who were literally sent by the Lord) have our house for another 6 weeks. So we are all still here together until the time that the lease runs out. We want to take the time to get all that we can out of this lesson that God has put us in. He is a great God and a phenomenal teacher. We have been blessed to have so much this past year. Wonderful people who have taken a GREAT deal of care to our house, and even let us keep our custom paint up in our children’s rooms (a giant red robot in one and primary stripes and personalized headboards in the other). He has given us a great home to look after-on the river with a huge yard and long driveway for sam and ben to learn to ride their bikes. We are blessed.
We also look at this time to get to know our new family. Jeanne is amazing. I can’t wait to sit and have great conversations over coffee with her. And my newest sister in law, Emily. This girl is a fantastic example of a teenaged girl who has faced some great challenges and has held tight to her sovereign Lord. I look forward to a wonderful relationship with her.
So for this time we are still here on the river. And we will enjoy every last day. I am very much looking forward to getting all our stuff out of Adam and Laura’s garage…they are the best of friends to give up their space for such a lengthy time. It will be like Christmas to move this time! All the things we forgot we had! Thanks for the thoughts and prayers…
Impossible to fill…
These days I have heard more than enough times “oh the big shoes to fill”. I don’t really get this statement. I actually think that it is quite narrow minded. God has made everyone in his own image, but not all with the same shoe size. We are such a people of comparison, even when we ‘think’ we aren’t. Not until we can come to the confidence that- God has given us our unique feet to walk in will we be able to ‘fill’ the shoes that we are purposed for. That goes with the expectations we have of others as well. God puts size 5’s, size 7 1/2’s and the average size 8’s all here at such a time as this to fulfill HIS purpose and to further HIS kingdom. No one is here to fill another’s shoes, but to continue HIS work. And to sound so cliche’-just as I get excited to see a new fall line of shoes-I am excited for the next level in this chapter of life. The shoes are a different size, and style, but the passion and purpose remains the same. I praise the Lord for uniqueness in his creation…
goodness
what a long time in between posts. well, i have an excuse. i have been busy! but in a good way. we just wrapped up our annual girls retreat. it was great. we went to greenville, sc this year. our theme was once upon a time. the girls had a great time and i saw God do much in their lives. but i know that we haven’t seen half of it yet! that is the most exciting part. i know that we will continue to see the repercussions of this retreat and God’s hand in many lives. i can’t wait! but i had a great time too. we have such a great group of students at faith assembly. we know that this year is going to be phenomenal in kinetic youth ministries!
no words needed
just see for yourselves.
Oak and Pines 