Weekend Stuff

I intend to post a few pics soon from our Memorial Day weekend in Chattanooga. We decided at the last minute to take a trip to Mom's house. We had not been there since New Year's and were in need of a lake fix. Luckily, Mom got a boat (a story for the next post) and we enjoyed a relaxing weekend on the water. The older I get, the harder these 'road trips' are to recover from. You remember being in college and a few people would decide Friday morning to leave Friday afternoon and wouldn't return until late Sunday. At which time you had only one person's laundry to do, no bills to attend to, and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese was your gourmet dinner. Now, though, I have four people's laundry, a mountain of bills, and we had better be home before dinner or all hell breaks loose in the back seat from lack of sustenance. I feel more tired from my "relaxing weekend" than if I had just stayed home. Can anyone relate? But, like I told Brad, a bad day at the lake is a great day anywhere else!! I wouldn't trade the time with my girls swimming for anything.

Becoming

I was sitting in church Sunday and Michael Givens got up to pray. Now, I'm sure he said "Heavenly Father as we come to you..." but what I heard was "Heavenly Father as we become to you...". And it got me thinking. In fact, I haven't been able to stop thinking about this slip of the ear. Since Sunday, I have been pondering...what if we came to God this way every time we talk to Him? What a relief that would be. Instead of prayers being driven by guilt and anxiety for all that is wrong, we could converse with God about all the ways we are "becoming" better. I have noted time and again this week ways that I am "becoming" to God. Every day, I am becoming a better mother, becoming a better boss, becoming a better wife, becoming a better friend. And some days I am not becoming any of these things. But what is so poignant about this idea is that every day is filled with actions that cause us to become more or less of whatever it is we want to be and grace to help us get there. It is so gratifying that we can enter this relationship with God where He allows us to "become" and not to have to already "be" where we need to be. I love "becoming"! Every day I am becoming more of the kind of child I want to be for God. Thank you, God, that we can "become" to you!

California

Some time back, Brad and I were invited to attend the Pepperdine Lectureship in Malibu, CA as panelists to talk about church planting. Who wouldn't accept?!! We had a great trip. Although we missed our kids, we got to see two of our good friends, Joe and Laura Cebulski. It was great getting to see them and catch up and see Joe take another step toward competing for the Olympics. Here are just a few of the pictures we took. During our stay, we found some time to visit Hollywood and the beach! We had some great food and although we didn't see any famous people, we went to a couple of restaurants where they go sometimes. That's just the same isn't it? We did just miss Annette Benning and Russell Crowe by a few hours at one place! Does that count for anything? Regardless, we had a great time. We also got to reconnect with a few of our church plant friends from Oregon. All in all, it was an amazing trip. I think I would live in Malibu!

These are in no particular order but first is a Rolls Royce that costs around $400k-$500k. This was just one of the many Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Maybach, and Mazzarati cars we saw. BMWs and Mercedes were about as prevelant as Hondas around there.



Next is the Hollywood sign. This is the best picture I could get.



We took one afternoon and met Joe and Laura in Claremont, CA where Joe was competing. I got some great action shots.



Here Laura is preparing to take a shot of Joe's jump over the bar. Check her blog to see the result!



These are a couple of shots of the Pepperdine campus. It is every bit as beautiful as you have heard. It sits in the midst of rolling cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The view was awesome but walking up the stairs around campus was a workout.





And Finally, Rodeo Dr. We found a $1000 t-shirt on sale for 70% off. What a deal!!



Let me also make a plug for the book The Shack. I took it on my trip with me and this book has changed my life and certainly the way I relate to God and the Trinity. I hope to post more about it later, but it is a must read!

March for Babies PSA

This year, we are marching for babies! Paces is sponsoring a team to help raise money for the March of Dimes. Paces' mission is 'to help young parents raise healthy, nurtured children'. Our mission lines up closely with that of the March of Dimes. Both agencies are in business to make sure the next generation has a healthy start in life. To that end, we have created a website where you can donate online. Please help us by visiting our website at www.marchforbabies.org/paces. Or you can just link to it here. It's pretty self explanatory from there. The event is April 26 here in Jonesboro. If you like you can view the March For Babies public service announcement below to find out more about why we are doing this. You might also want to consider coming out to walk with your families. Event information can be found on our webpage. Thanks for helping us out. We are trying to raise $500. Any amount you can give is appreciated, even if it is just a little bit! Thanks everyone

Birthday Thoughts

Today is one of those days that is bitter sweet. Today is Kiley's Birthday! She is four today. It's weird to think about where I was at this time four years ago. But it's even harder to think about where my family was a year ago. At this time last year, my Dad had just survived Throat Cancer and we thought he was going to be okay. He came out for Kiley's birthday party and we had the best time our family had had in a long time. We all laughed together and spent a lot of really good time together. It was not long after that Dad got Lung Cancer and the year from hell commenced. So, today is a happy and sad day all at once. I knew it would be a good day to go run. Even though I am very sad right now, I can feel myself coming out of this funk I have been in for many months. I feel the cloud is lifting. I have so many emotions that I can't articulate, but I can say that there are days when I just know the Lord is walking this road with me and today was one of those days. I had a great run. The sun was beginning to rise behind the clouds, it was quiet and peaceful...restful. I needed it today. Have you ever had times in your life when a song just seems to come out at just the right time? I think part of my recovery has come since the release of this Natalie Grant song. It's been a while since I have heard a song that encapsulates the message of Christ so well. I smiled a lot today as I ran listening to this song. How can you not smile at the thought of this kind of power working in you?

CMOM

We always try to keep our Saturdays sacred to do something purely fun with the girls. This past Saturday, we took them to the Children's Museum of Memphis. It was so amazing to see how much Kiley has changed since the last time we were there. I saw a video clip recently that talked about disciplining your toddler. It said that it is important to let your toddler lead but to also follow behind. We have been struggling in our household with helping Kiley understand that she CAN get dressed by herself, she CAN eat without supervision, she CAN put her toys and shoes away. It is never a matter of CAN it is a matter of WILL. I can't imagine where she gets a strong will!? Anyway, while we were at the museum, I made a point to let her lead me around the museum. She always got to lead the way. "Mommy, let's do this", "Mommy, do it this way", "Mommy I want to show you this". And do you know what? Ever since we got back from the museum, she has gotten dressed by herself, she puts her clothes in the clothes hamper, she puts her shoes on, and she has been finding ways to help out around the house. I think something clicked with me this weekend. I don't expect this sudden change of heart to last forever, but I don't expect that it was coincidence either. Hmmmm, it turns out it really is important to let them lead and sometimes be the follower. I'll have to work on that.

Keystone

It was the trip of a lifetime! We went with 2 other couples and all of us agreed that this was the most flawless trip any of us have ever taken. Although it was a busy week, it was at once relaxing and invigorating. I have never seen so much snow and these pictures will not do it justice, but this is a sampling. On our last day, we took a snowmobile excursion into the tundra. I felt like I was in the arctic somewhere. There was no wildlife, a whole lot of snow, and very little air. We finished the tour at 12,500 feet and ended at the Continental Divide. I was not able to take pictures there but it was snowing so hard that the conditions were white out. I was very glad Brad was driving. We ate a lot of great food including a fondue adventure at the peak of one of the mountains. I'm glad to be home, but what a great time! Here are some of the pictures...





If you ever get the chance to go...take it!