I was tagged by my friend Suzanne so now you've been tagged - Come on, it'll be fun. Eight random facts about yourself posted on your blog (or email them to me...) So here are mine:
1. I've been 5'8" since I was 13 years old.
2. I was pulled over for the first time EVER (and given a speeding ticket) this summer - that's a clean record of over 15 years down the tube.
3. I haven't been skiing since 1990 (travesty for many reading this)!
4. In elementary school, my favorite color was brown.
5. In college, I sat in a courtroom when a man was given a life sentence for murder.
6. I gave the speech at my high school graduation on a dare.
7. I was a cheerleader for the EBCS Eagles Basketball team.
8. When I was 18, I hit and killed a cow on a road trip to the Grand Canyon.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Tears & Sympanthy
The past few weeks have been hard. When I challenge myself to stay near to the feet of my Father, I start to feel hurt. Sometimes, it's my own pain and sorrow and sometimes it's that of others.
It's been about 10 days now that my friend was late to brunch. When she arrived she looked frazzled and torn. We cried and prayed together as she shared of her husband's physical abuse earlier that morning. My heart aches and cries for her as she continues to emotionally heal and tries to forgive and seek counsel and move forward. Not 48 hours later, I received news that a friend lost her 3rd child (her 1st boy) in her womb and would have to deliver a beautiful stillborn baby the next day. Her sorrowful words still echo in my heart as she recounted the days that followed in an email to friends.
I have not been able to do much more than offer tears and sympathy. I have never been through these difficult valleys, nor do I have much to offer in the way of wise words. I am so impressed at the strength in Christ that my friends have demonstrated. I have been humbled that each woman has acknowledged their dependence onGod and that holding on to His strength is the only way that these dear friends can face another day.
There is hope and there is peace when we sit at His feet and pour out our hearts to the One who has taken on more pain than anyone can fathom. There is comfort knowing the Great Comforter knows my name and has a purpose for my life. We may not have the answers and it may not be clear where to go from here, but we certainly can know that there is purpose in all that we experience. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
It's been about 10 days now that my friend was late to brunch. When she arrived she looked frazzled and torn. We cried and prayed together as she shared of her husband's physical abuse earlier that morning. My heart aches and cries for her as she continues to emotionally heal and tries to forgive and seek counsel and move forward. Not 48 hours later, I received news that a friend lost her 3rd child (her 1st boy) in her womb and would have to deliver a beautiful stillborn baby the next day. Her sorrowful words still echo in my heart as she recounted the days that followed in an email to friends.
I have not been able to do much more than offer tears and sympathy. I have never been through these difficult valleys, nor do I have much to offer in the way of wise words. I am so impressed at the strength in Christ that my friends have demonstrated. I have been humbled that each woman has acknowledged their dependence onGod and that holding on to His strength is the only way that these dear friends can face another day.
There is hope and there is peace when we sit at His feet and pour out our hearts to the One who has taken on more pain than anyone can fathom. There is comfort knowing the Great Comforter knows my name and has a purpose for my life. We may not have the answers and it may not be clear where to go from here, but we certainly can know that there is purpose in all that we experience. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
I've been Thinking
I really haven't been writing much lately. I haven't been doing much talking recently, either, at least on a deep spiritual or even intellectual level. I think I've been afraid.
I was reading through some old college journals this week and realized that I have forgotten much of the old days. In college, I made it a habit on a frequent basis to grab my Bible, my journal and head over to the chapel. God and I communed for hours over my fears, joys, struggles, hopes and dreams. I'm sure I could point out tear stains on the pew where I always chose to sit. I would tell him everything as I wrote page after page - dreaming some day that my words were so amazing that they would inspire others to live a life of passionate servitude for Christ (or at least that someone would learn from all my stupid mistakes and make better choices when it came to guys, jobs or haircuts). The writings are really nothing more than an emotional girl who chose to write down every thought that crossed her mind, nothing inspiring about them.
So coming back to my fear. I may not know my hopes and dreams right now. I believe that when we are in touch with our awesome Creator, face to face with no distractions we not only find out more about who He is but who He created us to be. No matter where we've been in life or the path we are on presently - God is honest with us about where we need to be going. I haven't been writing, I haven't been crying, I haven't been talking, I've been reacting. I have been allowing life to happen around me and I respond. No time for stopping. My coffee doesn't even make it into my favorite mug these days. It goes straight into a travel mug suitable for the mini van cup holder as I drive the caravan of kids to and from school each morning. I work for Kris (my boss) until midnight so that I can be at the gym, at Bible study, at MOPS during the day.
I can't stop to think, to talk, to write.
I have a journal that has 4 pages written on from this last year. I want it filled by Christmas. I need it filled with my hopes, dreams, struggles, fears, joys and memories. I need to be reminded of this time in my life so that maybe someone in the future will read my words and know that I was a child of the Most High God who wasn't too busy to sit at her Father's feet and weep, listen, worship, learn. Please join me...Anyone? Tell me I'm not alone.
I was reading through some old college journals this week and realized that I have forgotten much of the old days. In college, I made it a habit on a frequent basis to grab my Bible, my journal and head over to the chapel. God and I communed for hours over my fears, joys, struggles, hopes and dreams. I'm sure I could point out tear stains on the pew where I always chose to sit. I would tell him everything as I wrote page after page - dreaming some day that my words were so amazing that they would inspire others to live a life of passionate servitude for Christ (or at least that someone would learn from all my stupid mistakes and make better choices when it came to guys, jobs or haircuts). The writings are really nothing more than an emotional girl who chose to write down every thought that crossed her mind, nothing inspiring about them.
So coming back to my fear. I may not know my hopes and dreams right now. I believe that when we are in touch with our awesome Creator, face to face with no distractions we not only find out more about who He is but who He created us to be. No matter where we've been in life or the path we are on presently - God is honest with us about where we need to be going. I haven't been writing, I haven't been crying, I haven't been talking, I've been reacting. I have been allowing life to happen around me and I respond. No time for stopping. My coffee doesn't even make it into my favorite mug these days. It goes straight into a travel mug suitable for the mini van cup holder as I drive the caravan of kids to and from school each morning. I work for Kris (my boss) until midnight so that I can be at the gym, at Bible study, at MOPS during the day.
I can't stop to think, to talk, to write.
I have a journal that has 4 pages written on from this last year. I want it filled by Christmas. I need it filled with my hopes, dreams, struggles, fears, joys and memories. I need to be reminded of this time in my life so that maybe someone in the future will read my words and know that I was a child of the Most High God who wasn't too busy to sit at her Father's feet and weep, listen, worship, learn. Please join me...Anyone? Tell me I'm not alone.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
My Oldest Cutie Patootie's 1st Day
For all of you who told me not to cry today - I didn't, but boy did I get a lump in my throat. She made me proud. She hung her Hello Kitty backpack up on the hook, walked into a classroom of new kids (most speaking Spanish at the time), sat down and never looked back. I was holding Mattie (who was sleeping peacefully on my shoulder) and realized that all too soon I would have to let her go, too. For all the stress I have associated with a messy ho
use, constant laundry, changing diapers, playing chauffeur, and staying consistent at every turn, I wouldn't trade it for all the riches of this world!It happened so gradually. I was just rocking Ellie to sleep yesterday in a small apartment, telling her she needed to stop growing and the world needed to stop spinning so I could take it all in.
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