deep questions

God has been working away at my heart.  Lately, in conversations, in readings, in sermons, and in my thoughts I've encountered some hard questions.  I'm pondering them.  I'm unsure of some of the answers.  Some of them are tough to answer, because it means I must change.

What is THE purpose of my life?

What is MY greatest ambition in life?

If my church closed down this week, would my city miss it?

No reflection on my church, but what am I doing?

When is enough enough?

Or better yet how much is enough?

What did I do today for the Kingdom?

Am I the hindrance of my prayers being answered?

If the Lord returns today, will I be ready?

how to keep calm

Source: None via Jennifer on Pinterest

a man of sorrows

⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
 ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
 ⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:4-6

Jeff & Sheri Easter

In August, Jeff and Sheri Easter, along with a two other groups, were in concert at a church in our neighboring town.  My mom and I decided to go at the last minute.  We have seen Jeff & Sheri in concert before with the Gaither Homecoming Tour, however, a solo concert is much more personable.  Sheri shared her testimony of battling breast cancer 3 years ago and Jeff is always so humorous.  We enjoyed the concert tremendously.

The song below is probably one of my favorite songs that Jeff & Sheri sing.  

And they sang this one the night of the concert.

" Just praise His name"

Pinterest

I discovered Pinterest several months ago, but never spent much time perusing through the boards.  But now, I've dove head-first into the fun.  I love the concept of sharing and keeping up with ideas.  It saves me from printing, clipping, and putting into my "Idea book."  I just 'pin' my ideas on my boards organized by categories.  Here are a few pins that I love.

I love a good quote.  Words that make you think.  Good stuff!

Source: None via Olivia on Pinterest

I want to try to make one of these stands from burner covers.

Source: decorganizecrafts.blogspot.com via Olivia on Pinterest

Next week, I hope to put some fall plants and flowers in my pots.
Love these colors and arrangement.

Source: bhg.com via Olivia on Pinterest

Three cheese chicken penne
I can't wait to try this recipe.  I love pasta.

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Olivia on Pinterest

I want to paint pumpkins!

Source: frugalflourish.blogspot.com via Olivia on Pinterest

Have you discovered Pinterest?

swim party

These are pictures from August.  (I'm catching up)  Heather and Leigh came over with their girls on Saturday afternoon for a swim.  (we missed Ash)  It was a great time.  We had lunch together.  Then we simply sat around, talked, swam, and relaxed.  It was a perfect summer afternoon.  Here are a few pictures.

  

Laurel is swimming well this year.

 

Audrey in her 'house.'

Cheyenne loved to hang and swing on the handrail.

Got goggles on and using Cheyenne's beach boogie board.

Audrey was more interested in all the pool toys.

Ready - goggles and floaties.  It took Cheyenne a little while to learn that she could maneuver in the water alone.  But she did it.  Her toes barely touch the bottom in the shallow end, but the floaties keep her up.

Two pals.

Audrey wanted to sit on the table and eat.

Audrey "floatin"

 Girl don't like getting her hands dirty.

I love swim parties.

I love summer.

It's my favorite season.

I already miss it.

another goodbye

Last week, we said "goodbye" to another pet.

This was the first dog Chris and I got together.

And it's quite funny how he came into our lives.

My aunt and uncle had gotten him and then changed their mind.

So we took him in January 2001.

Chris named him, Ickes, after a favorite musician.

At first we were going to keep him inside,

but then he became more of handful 

and grew to be a bigger dog than anticipated.

He and Chris were best of buds.  

He loved to play chase with a ball and sit in Chris' lap for a back scratch.

He didn't eat treats off the ground, he preferred to be hand-fed.

His loyalty to Chris was evident.

Truly a man's best friend.

The picture below was taken on one of his last rides.

In April, we found out he had congestive heart failure.

Medicines controlled the symptoms for a few months.

However, last week he was uncomfortable 

and his heart was beating rapidly to keep up.

Chris had to make the tough decision of letting him go.

"... what we have enjoyed, we can never lose

... all that we love deeply becomes a part of us." 

~Helen Keller

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto me, 

and I will answer thee, 

and show thee great and mighty things, 

which thou knowest not.  

Jeremiah 33:3

14 years

Tuesday marked 14 years of dating for Chris and me.
Even though we are married, we're still dating -- right? =))

We celebrated with a date, of course.

Out to dinner (Mexican, is there anything else??), 

a little shopping (got some new cologne/perfume),

and some yogurt (@ Yogurt Mountain).

We laughed and reminisced about the day we started dating.

Chris has an amazing memory about stuff like that.

It's hard to believe Chris and I have been together almost half our lives.

That means we're getting old.

... but there's no one else I'd rather grow old with.  ;)

*thanks for the picture, Miranda*

birthday wishes

Here's to a sweet birthday to the sassiest, smartest, special "sister!"

Ashley, I hope for an awesome day filled with wonderful surprises. May #29 be your best year yet ... I pray great things happen for you. Just think, next year, we'll all be in our 30's. Yikes! Time is flying.

I can't wait to celebrate your birthday. I love you and I'm thankful for such a friend like you.

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God is looking for someone

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him..." 2 Chronicles 16:9

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, ..." Ezekiel 22:30

My prayer for today as a follow up to this morning's sermon:

Oh, Lord, how I want to have my trust fully in You. Not questioning the trials that I face, but accepting them in agreement that You have allowed them --- be it for a teaching tool, effect of my choices, or a chastisement. I want You #1 in my life ... proven by my actions, pleasing You with my life. May my heart be altogether toward You, so that You may show forth power on my behalf. There are many gaps, because many have fallen and some are not answering the call. Lord, I want to be the difference. I want to be the person to stand in the gap and make up the hedge. I want to be the intercessor on behalf of our lost, our church, our nation. The Enemy is attempting to corner many off ... but strengthen us as we stand together with You. Problems abound that seem impossible and beyond our control, but God, YOU CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. Lord, I'm poor and needy. Please help me in Jesus sweet name.

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30th birthday party

Let the pictures do the talking.

 

It was a wonderful evening with some of my greatest friends.

(a few were missing)

I was so happy to have my brother in from NYC for the party.  

And Kenley attend her first birthday party at just a few days old.

Teresa and Rich left before the picture taking.

Thanks to Miranda for capturing the memories.

He Knows Just What I Need

Life can be tough at times.  This week has proven that sentence.  Work has been demanding, hectic, and overwhelming.  I've been behind at work for several weeks.  All of my efforts to "catch up" have failed.  I wish for thicker skin, but I continue to take other people's actions too personal; allowing them to affect my attitude (totally wrong on my part).  But it does confuse me when others' actions and priorities do not align with their words.  I'm not perfect and neither is everyone else.  However, I do try my best to be real, to be true, and to keep my word.  Both Monday and Tuesday I rushed home and crashed in the pool with a book - forgetting housework and such the like.  Now I'm frustrated with myself for wasting the time and allowing things to get behind at home.  I felt as though I had given, and given, and given and now I was left ... completely drained and empty.  Once again, I failed and gave in to my self-pity party.  Yesterday evening I had a melt down -- I may have even acted like a 2-year old.  Afterwards, I didn't feel like going to church,  but I went anyway - because I had responsibilities.

And I'm so glad I did.

In my little effort of worshipping; I felt God pouring love into me; filling my empty cup.  Many songs, testimonies, and scriptures spoke directly to my heart and my current frustrations.  Then I recalled the words of an old song written by Mosie Lister.

My Jesus knows when I am Lonely
He knows each pain, He sees each tear
He understands each lonely heartache
He understands because He cares

My Jesus knows just what I need
Oh yes! He knows just what I need
He satisfies and every need supplies
Yes, He knows just what I need

He is aware of my worries, my fears, my doubts.  When I cry out to Him, He hears me.  I can cast my every care upon Him, because He cares for me.  And He loves me ... not because I strive to please Him and succeed - or, not because I fail to please Him and repent ... but He loves me, because He chooses to.