Five for Friday

1. I am pretending like August 16th doesn't exist this year.  If it did, that would be the day that Katie would move to Ball State.  I guess I should just be thankful that it's off the calendar for 2011! 

2.  Lee and I are going to have a garage sale at the end of August.  I am going to start tonight, trying to touch everything in my house and decide if I really NEED it.  I hope I have the energy to get through everything like I am planning.  SO, mark your calendars for August 26 & 27....because you know you need my stuff!

3. I have had a really bad attitude lately about money.  Mike and I have been working so hard to pay off all of our debts and it seems like every now and again we get surprises (that only happens to us, right...hahahah!) and we don't get to move forward on debt reduction as fast as I would like.  Mike does a nice job of leading me to be thankful for what we do have; which is SO much and just what we need.  I guess I need a little attitude adjustment!

4. I bought the Jaycee Dugard book last night...uh, that fact probably isn't going to be good for the whole touch-everything-in-my-house garage sale prep tonight.

5. Happy Birthday, Mary! 

My Girls

Me and my girls

Most girls look forward to the day that they will become a wife.  I wasn't too different when it comes to this; I dreamed for much of my life about the handsome man that God had created with me in mind.  Of course, for many the next immediate thought is children, becoming a Mother.  Now I hope you all have learned by now that I am crazy about Mike.  But when I married him something second to none happened to me.  I got to become a step-mom too. 

(too bad I don't look like Julia Roberts!)

I have already spent many days worried sick,
had many sleepless nights,
many tears shed
but also laughter I might not have known,
smiles of awesome joy,
so much pride that it sometimes feels like my heart may burst,
too great an anticipation for God's plan for their life to unfold that I can hardly sit and wait. 

To be completely honest with you sometimes I feel like it's too much.  But at the same time you should know that I wouldn't change my life for anything. 

Is it difficult to be newlyweds and raise 2 teenage girls? 

Yes, I think both of those things seem impossible at times and when you mix them together - it creates the perfect storm that I call my beautifully blessed life.  Like any parent I can't imagine my life without Katie and Ashley.  They make me crazy sometimes but the blessing that they bring to my life completely, entirely and undoubtedly supercedes. 

Katie you should know that I think you are pretty great!  It brings tears to my eyes to know that you are literally standing on the edge of the rest of your life.  Choose to follow Christ in all your decisions - no matter how small they seem and I know unbelievable things are in store for you.  I need you to know that my heart already seems too full because you are in my life.  No matter what the future holds, I hope you know that I am behind you 110% of the way.  There is nothing that you could do that would change the fact that I am on your side.  I pray for you often and ask God to guide your steps and show you the Amazing Love that He has for you.  I have mixed feelings with the fast approaching August 14th date.  So excited for you but have already started to miss you being here.  Love you so much, Katherine!

Ashley you should know that I think you are pretty great!  I think often about what the future holds for you -  I would place a bet that it's awesome.  I know it's tempting to fast forward but take time to enjoy this last year of High School - can you believe that?  I know that you have many big decisions right in front of you.  I trust God that He will help you see what's best for you and I pray that you will follow His lead.  You should know that I think the world of you.  Your laughter and smile can brighten any day.  My cup overflows with joy because you are in my life.  It won't matter what happens in your life, from now on you at least have me on your side.  I will be behind you every step of the way, cheering and praying!  I know that God is Wild about you and I ask Him daily to reveal Himself to you.  I can't wait to see you soar through your Senior year and it won't be long before you are leaving me and your Dad in an empty nest.  Love you so dearly, Ash!

The more I live this life the more I start to recognize that it's the ones around us that are the most important. 

I love my job, I love my ministry, I love my car (is that so terrible?),

I love my house, and of course I love my shoes :),

I love my Mike, 

BUT there is nothing like the love I have for

My Girls. 

Answer

Gretchen you did it!!! The correct answer is orange. Congrats!

Wacky Wednesday Trivia

What fruit is depicted in Leonardo's Last Supper, even though it did not arrive in the Holy Land until long after Jesus' death?

HE brings you to it, HE brings you through it

What a load?

Let me first say that I am not underestimating the POWER of my God - I know He can orchestrate anything He wants to in my life - He can move mountains or move me. 

So, why do I sometimes then insist on staying right where I am?

It's not something I talk about much anymore (or even think about to be honest). 
If I do, people accuse me of hanging on to the past, harboring hate and anger, or even sinning against God. 

Call it what you want. 

But if I am honest with you, I still struggle with the breakdown of my position at NWUMC.  I realize that most other people (especially those who were involved) would like to just "move on" with life and pretend as if nothing happened.

Well I am here to tell you that: Something Did Happen.

Quite possibly the biggest heartbreak I have ever felt happened.

I was disrespected, treated as if I were disposable, not shown any grace or mercy.

I felt broken down, beaten up, and abandoned by so many people in my life.

Since then it has been easier for most people to pretend that we are acquaintances at best.  To act like my behavior is reaction to something that never occurred.  That it would be better for all of us if I just admit that I was over-reacting, misinterpreting, telling lies, or just being emotional.

I am emotional.  But you know, I am also done with it.  I have seen my parents, siblings, and other close family members and friends lose something through all of this.  I have seen them go through some of the same trials that I did; right along with me and in some ways on there own as well.

And learn, we must.  My Dad always taught me to look at a situation and ask yourself: will this affect me in a week, a month, a year.  I believe it will, but not negatively. 

So, what have I learned? 
How can I move through this positively.

- First and Foremost, I have learned that God loves me as much as He says He does. 

That He is working in me. 

- The true definition of family isn't something that can be verbalized.  It's a feeling, a look, a pat on the leg or a hug that lasts a little longer.  It's defending the person you love in ways no one could ever imagine.  That my family has a love that I am not sure anyone else could feel.  The way we support each other unites us in a way that no one can break us completely down.  That my parents are people of incredible charecter, integrity and respect; they have the capacity to love like no other humans I know.

- That healing is more than a single decision.  It's one that has to be made everyday. 

- That some people aren't who you think they are.

- That forgiveness is hard.

- That each one of us is responsible only for our own behavior.

- That I never want anyone to feel like I don't consider their thoughts, feelings, or life as invalid.  No matter what situations I may face for the rest of my days on this Earth, I will try to be sure that I never cause the pain that I felt.

- But it seems the theme that sticks out the most to me is that people are just that, people.  We all make mistakes, we all can sometimes choose to look past someone else's fear and pain ... too afraid that it will make us hurt too. 

So be scared, I won't do it.  Hurt, I will, deeply and terrifyingly...I will let myself feel pain and heartache.  It makes me human, it helps me heal.  And as I move forward from here, more days I will choose to forgive the people that I feel have done wrong or caused the pain.  By the Grace of God, I will choose to forgive, with the Love of Christ, I will learn to love even those that my human heart couldn't possibly dream of loving.

Answer

Heather you are starting to dominate!  You're correct the answer is Thomas Edison...wonder what the trivia question will be about me after I die.

Potential Monica Trivia Questions:
1. Who watched the equivalence of one FRIENDS episode for each day of her life?
2. Who owned enough bags/purses to carry a new one each day of any given month?
3. Who got married and sent a kid to college in the same year?

The one I hope for:
1. Who spent her entire life serving Christ and those around her?

Wacky Wednesday Trivia

so it's late, but it's here.

Who averaged one patent for every three weeks of his life?