Destin—y

August 6th, 2011

Traveling can be so daunting.  We left on Thursday and drove to Montgomery Alabama for the night.  What we thought would be a horrible car ride turned out to be pretty easy.  Everyone survived and no one wants to kill anyone (so far).  I will say that I had no idea that double beds had shrunk to the size of fat twins.  Wow, those dudes are small and now that we’re 5 adult sized people they seemed teensy!  No worries though…..we made it through the night.

We stopped by my hubby’s alma mater Baptist College of Florida and took the 50cent tour (their words, not mine).  While there we spent the afternoon visiting with dear friends and catching up on exciting happenings.  It was special time spent very well.  Soon this could be our son’s college too.  Praying for that situation.

Then we headed here…

This would be the door to some friendly hospitality.   Arriving late last night was like stepping right back in time.  Our families spent some great years together being very poor and happy to do so.  Now being in their home for the weekend is turning out to be just what I needed.  Vacations Rock, but friends rock even more!

So far, this is what the kids are doing.  Laying around relaxing and watching tv.  Good for the soul and incredible for incubating the brain.  🙂

This is the baby, Ruby.  She’s found a kindred spirit in Ally.  Everywhere Ally goes…..Ruby is pretty close behind.  I think she’s found a friend in my girl.

We’re heading to the beach now.  It’s beautiful here and our hearts are full with more than just beach joy……God blesses through His people.  Vacations are way more fun with friends involved.

Bringin’ Down the Thunder

August 3rd, 2011

 I heard the tiny rumble as I rolled over to turn off my alarm.  Could it be…..rain?  I searched my memory for the last time.  It’s accurate to say, we’ve had a scorching summer.  This morning, I’m so thankful for this little shower of wet.  My yard and flowers are too.  Indiana is thirsty.  Rain down on us, Lord.  In sweet raindrops and mercy.

 It’s packing day.  We leave tomorrow for Florida.  There’s so much to do, and it doesn’t involve blogging!  😉   I’ve been putting it off long enough now it’s crunch time.  If I think on it too much, I start to feel overwhelmed by all that I have to do.  So instead of confessing my laziness here……

I think I’ll get busy and start PACKING!!!   Happy Wednesday, peeps!

Hey, Camera Guy

August 2nd, 2011

Do you ever feel like your life would make a great documentary? I have those days too. It’s not that I find myself overly fascinating or anything. I would lean more towards the wacky entertaining type of documentary. Life is an adventure and mine is no exception.

Funny things happen to me.

~I was shopping with my young children at a local grocery store (way back when). A nice older gentleman approached for some friendly conversation and to pay my three little darlin’s a compliment on their good behavior. After he told them how nice it was to see such well-bahaved children shopping with their mama. My middle child looks up at him with the sweetest smile and says, “Our Dad is gone and our Mom is a chocoholic!”. He didn’t miss a beat…patted her curly blonde head and walked away giggling. I realized then, time to tone down my chocolate obssession. “People” are talking!

~One summer we were camping at our favorite beach spot at St. Andrews State Park. Just down the road from us were our dear friends who were camping too. We had a little medical emergency with hubby and I had spent the day running back and forth to the pharmacy. I jumped out of my car not realizing I had locked my keys inside. 🙁 Moments later our friends drove up to see how they could help. Both our vehicles are Chevy Suburbans….he tried every door and then slid his key into my back door and CLICK it opened! Imagine the surprise on all of our faces. It was the craziest blessing I’d ever witnessed.

~We were new to seminary and didn’t know anyone. My husband invited a classmate and his wife over for dinner and I was so excited. So much so, that I doubled up on the hamburger meat for my spaghetti that night. I was anxious to impress my new friends and hoped they were hungry. Little did I know, my new friend didn’t eat beef. Talk about embarrassed? That was one of my most humbling moments…ever. Lucky for me, God had already decided she would be one of my lifetime friends. See ya soon, Toni! 😉

I could go on and on with crazy stories. I’ve done silly things like walked into the mens restroom at a theme park on accident, driven up a ramp THE WRONG WAY in a busy city (with a car full of kids!!), fallen up a staircase and sang off-key when people were listening. That’s just the way life is. It’s full of stuff to laugh about. At least that’s what I’m telling the camera crew.

“You have granted me life and lovingkindness;
And Your care has preserved my spirit.” Job 10:12

What’s Ahead?

August 1st, 2011

I’m starting to feel uptight and anxious again. I haven’t had these feelings all summer. It’s time to face the harsh reality–I have to work. I’m nervous about what’s ahead. For me, it could be anything. 🙁 Last night, I woke up in the total darkness worrying…..already.

I hate everything about those feelings. I like working. I don’t like being mistreated or jilted. Sadly, that’s how the game is played in some jobs. I’m wrestling with my confidence and I need a boost of assurance that it’s going to be better. With God….ALL things are possible.

Last night was our final service with the church hubby has been interim preaching. It marks an ending for us and a beginning for them. They have a new pastor arriving this week. Time goes quickly for some and slowly for others. The summer Sunday’s came and went pretty fast for us. They honored us with a cookies & icecream social. It’s always good to go out eating. 😉

I’m feeling blessed by the whole experience. God has done some amazing things in my family this summer. Not just here at home but for Gavin at camp too.  Yesterday, he and the girls sang special music in church.  I shot a little video of them practicing the night before in our kitchen.   Gates & Gavin are in view, Ally is off to the side (she sings 2nd verse).  They sounded great Sunday morning and blessed their Dad and I by participating in our last day there.

Great song, huh? I’m encouraged to move on and face whatever it is God has for me. Even rocky job stress.

Finding Inspiration

July 30th, 2011

If you’re anything like me…..you love encouragement! Kind words push me forward. Just think about a time when you felt inspired to do great things. Didn’t it feel awesome? Being encouraged to do big things is how I’m feeling today.

I’m psyched!

I don’t want to lose my enthusiasm. If I sit on what I’ve discovered too long though…..I’ll leave it for good. That’s just how I am. Lame, huh?

I’ve had this one dream for so long, that I’d reached a point of believing maybe I had it all wrong. Now, I’m feeling pulled to give that old dream a shot. What will it hurt?

If I don’t TRY…..I’ll never know.

S T I L L

July 29th, 2011

I have a morning ritual. I let my dog out, feed my cat and read (in)courage’s blog post for the day. It’s there that I’m sure to run smack-dab into Jesus and His encouragement for me. Before you flip out and say, “What, you’re relying on strangers for your spiritual nourishment?”. Don’t, these ladies write for HIM and if you sneak over and read—you’ll see for yourself. God is working through each writer at (in)courage and I’m blessed because of it.

Today, Lisa-Jo has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged readers to write from their heart on the topic Still. No deep thinking or pondering, just fingers to the keys writing for 5 minutes straight. So, here goes…

STILL

I’ve always been a right-now-gal! Recently, my husband said that he knows once I “get something in my head” I can’t move on until I do, buy, get, see, have it conquered! I wished immediately that it was a compliment but I knew it wasn’t. He was simply trying to reign me in from a wild goose chase that I was zipping towards.

I want it, now. I’m fast at everything. I cook, clean, drive and love at record speeds. Wasting time just bugs me. If I’m honest and I will be….I have a lot in common with Sarah in the Bible. She must have been a right-now-gal too. I mean who comes up with an idea of such desperation to “help” God by using her handmaiden to bear children with her husband? Looking back (I’ve not used another for children) but I have ran fast ahead of my Lord and tried to “handle” things in my own way. It stings to even admit it. Again, like Sarah….I have learned the hard way that things do work out.

Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”

Today, I’m going to be a WAIT AND BE STILL right now gal. I can do that because Jehovah God is in control of my destiny. And he is in yours too.

Whew. That was hard, ya’ll! Thanks for visiting if you’re here from (in)courage.