tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24744012905922296772024-03-13T09:50:55.184-05:00surviving munchkin landthere's no place like empty nest, there's no place like empty nestshellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.comBlogger454125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-36881736562740398742013-12-21T07:31:00.002-06:002013-12-21T07:31:38.304-06:00Ducking Reality<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've tried to write the next part of our story 5 times now....5 deleted posts....struggling how to bring God the most glory in this all, so please bear with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In the mean time, I woke up this morning at 4...if the sun ain't up, then I shouldn't be either. But, God likes to lay things on my heart when I'm half awake, so here we go ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This week, my facebook feed has blown up with images of scraggly bearded backwoodsmen (and according to my hubby, it's on all of the networks too).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">American Christians have worked themselves into a full blown tizzy over the suspension of a man who spoke his mind on a hot button topic. Now, I'm not saying it's right or wrong...I'm not going to debate the merits of his answer or freedom of speech. What has a burr in my behind is the fervor and outrage the Church swept up into at record speed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Injustice!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Persecution!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Really?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm sorry that sometimes life isn't fair. Jesus himself warned us that in this life we will have troubles. The world hated him and therefore it will hate us too. Are we surprised?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We lose our ever loving minds because a reality tv star loses his job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Does anyone see the irony of this all?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Duck calls y'all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Duck.Calls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Everyday around the world, Christians LOSE their lives for their faith. Are we outraged by that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Everyday, people go hungry...babies with empty swollen bellies pass on from this earthly life...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Everyday, we walk right past the orphans and widows...we step over the homeless and the needy....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Everyday, we forget about a lost and fallen world without hope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">American Church, You don't know persecution. Our country is the Only one in the world where Christianity is on the decline. Truly persecuted churches are thriving. People worship in caves and in the middle of the night, their faith is dangerous and real....they don't take Jesus for granted..He is their life, their everything and nothing else matters!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We too have the answer and yet we sit on our couches, fat and happy, remote in hand, patting ourselves on the back for watching a tv show that emulates good Christian family values. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Maybe a television show really could change society...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Or maybe, it's us that needs our own perspective change....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Happy Happy Quack Quack and all that jazz.</span><br />
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shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-78295536261520508492013-11-30T17:15:00.001-06:002013-11-30T17:15:57.552-06:00Delayed Flight<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shortly after we arrived in New Mexico, our plans imploded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blind sided by life I guess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jobs fell through, certain professions that we thought for sure would be a safe bet for Jim finding employment, never called back...doors were firmly closed..dead bolted...boarded shut...armed guards at all entrances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a huge blow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, here we were: Just moved 1600 miles away from home. Enough small jobs plus our nest egg kept our heads above water..for the time being. Air mattresses, craigslist furniture, and the 5 of us...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We knew that we had heard God so clearly back in Illinois. We knew that we knew what we knew...does that make any sense? Shock fell in. Did we hear wrong? What happened?!? Where is God...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What happens when God delays?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No, more than that...who are we to judge what is a delay?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>he suspends the earth over nothing.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He wraps up the waters in his clouds,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>yet the clouds do not burst under their weight....</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>By His breath the skies become fair...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And these are but the outer fringe of his works;</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>how faint the whisper we hear of him!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Who then can understand the thunder of his power?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Job 26:7-14</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These amazing works, are just the fringe...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's like studying a thimble of water and saying that we know all there is to know about the ocean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What did we do? We trusted and prayed and sought His face like our lives depended on it..because they did...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every day we received our manna from heaven.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every day our needs were met.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I won't lie, it was scary as heck. There were moments where packing up and heading back north were real options. But, God never left us. It wasn't easy. We were Not in control of our own lives. Every moment was surrendered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking back, it was a sweet time of learning, faith building, and reliance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Job 42:5 was my only thread of hope:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My ears had heard of you,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>but now my eyes have seen you.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Without walking through these trials, we never would have seen God like we did..we never would have grown in relationship like that..begun to fathom how deep and wide his love is for us. I had always heard of God. I knew of Him, but now I Know Him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The whole point of the Israelites wandering in the desert was for them to trust and rely on God. He knew how hard it would be to stay loyal to Him once they arrived at a "safe and plentiful" land. Total dependence is hard when your needs are already met...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As our journey continues, I want to always let it be known that none of this happened because of our own talent or goodness or skill. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We walked where He led. He opened doors that only He knew where there and the places we are going even I can't imagine! Not to us, but to God goes the glory!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dear Friend, if you're in a place of delay...if you're struggling with where you're at or even where you're not at...Trust in God. His timing is everything. Give Him control over your whole life, not just the easily managed areas. He loves you with a lavish abandonment that will not lead you wrong! Walk by faith, trust in His plan for your life...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Without a doubt, there are no delayed flights in heaven...only impatient passengers ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-43629116908221123792013-11-26T11:45:00.000-06:002013-11-26T11:45:54.566-06:00Year One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How does one sum up a year....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where are there words to do justice describing the things that we've seen..the things that we've felt..the miraculous blooming in the desert all around us?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been meaning to write a thousand different times, but I never felt like we had an "ending" to the story. And maybe that's the whole point, there are no endings, just a constant kaleidoscope of life...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year of ours would make one heck of a Hallmark movie...So I guess, we just start from the beginning:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we moved here, we were pretty broken..Life had punched us in the gut,knocked the wind out of us all. But through all of the horrible dark times, God was there. We felt Him like we have never felt His presence before: telling us it'll be ok, He had a plan, just keep trusting. So we did (honestly, we had nothing left to hold onto but Hope so don't think of us as some giants of the faith or something). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Throughout the summer before our move, God blessed Jim's business beyond measure. He went from a couple of construction jobs a year to like 20 in a summer! No one knew what was brewing below the surface of our lives, they all just needed construction work done. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had heard a message on Elisha and the jars of oil. Jim and I decided that, like the widow, we would set out "jars" to be filled..as long as Jim had jobs coming in, we stayed in IL. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our first move date was in July..then August...Then October..and Finally November...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We sold what we could, donated countless truckloads to Goodwill, and in the end..we packed up our lives into a 16 foot job trailer. We said goodbye to the best friends a family could ever have...left our close knit family that we loved so dearly...and headed west. All of the oil jars provided more than enough to move and begin with a comfortable fresh start. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The desert was going to be our Promised Land...I guess that I should have reread that story before clinging so tightly to the whole Promised Land notion...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Blessed is the one who trusts in Me Alone...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He is like a tree rooted near the stream...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Not fearing heat or drought,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>But staying green and fruitful-No Matter What It Faces.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Jeremiah 17:7-8 (the Shelly paraphrase)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-88207934531691935242013-06-03T16:02:00.003-05:002013-06-03T16:02:36.572-05:00True Grit<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're half way through Dad's trip....and today, I'm beat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I've been exhausted ever since our trip..sickness, long car rides, and no time to recover before the next thing hit...but today...today...I'm just done. The kids haven't been crazy bad, nothing has really gone wrong (except for all of the night noises that make the Lucy in me go crazy)..just tired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim's almost home..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">just a few more days...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Can Do This.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nope. No I can't...but I can't curl up in a ball and cry either...instead, close the door and get some Jesus time in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Funny how he reveals stuff, things that you know and studied before but through the tired broken-ness he reveals it fresh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I am stubborn. Pig headed, pitbull with a toy, dumb as an ox...won't quit till I hit the wall or keel over.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When going through something hard, I put my head down, set my teeth, square my hips and just push through it. I'm a rip the bandaid off kind of girl. I do it all of the time, whether I'm working out or dealing with a crap storm...suck it up buttercup and move on through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Jim and I are a great team...we fill in the weak cracks. When he's gone, it's really hard. But maybe this time is for us to learn to lean on the the other rope in our three stranded cord...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Sometimes, no matter how hard you push..ya just ain't gonna move that mountain! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">....and then you sit down in frustration and evaluate the situation....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Matthew 11:28-30)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we get all excited about the rest part, Jesus isn't saying "Yo, you tired? burdened? well, come on out to Jesus Beaches Resort...pull up a chair, slap on some lotion, and rest...."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We still get a yoke...hooked up to a plow, ready to work. But the yoke is easy, it's burden is light. When we team up with Jesus, we are no longer the lone ox pushing through the hard ground. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus is the one pushing through. He's the lead carrying the brunt of the weight, we just have stop trying to do it ourselves, accept his lead and follow his steps. I find myself always picking up the God-sized yoke, but it's one that I was never meant to carry. Take up his yoke, it's just your size Goldilocks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is a gentle and humble teacher, find your rest in him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, maybe True Grit isn't the power to push through any situation....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe suck it up buttercup, should be let it go cocomo....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need you more, more than yesterday</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need you Lord, more than words can say</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need you more than ever before</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need you Lord</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I need you Lord</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends, the choice is ours....Grit vs. Need. In our weakness, we are strong. So, I'm not a supermom who braves the bumps in the night and still has the strength to keep up with the laundry and the dishes...it's ok...one day at a time, following the steps of Jesus. Head not down pushing though, but looking up for my strength.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even in the trials, we are so blessed!</span><br />
<br />shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-50256199300321400212013-05-30T13:39:00.000-05:002013-05-30T13:39:07.225-05:00Exhausted and Not Much To Say...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to recover from our trip back north....life doesn't stop just because the mama's exhausted...no matter how hard I try lol.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This guy turned 13 while we were in IL. 13. I have no words. I could just cry, not because I'm sad that he's growing up...well maybe, but 13!!! I remember 13! There's no way that we can have a 13 yr old son. I want to somehow slow these moments down...but it just slips through my fingers like sand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we got back, Jim had the genius idea of hiking up to the cliff dwellings (a 3 hr drive!!! plus the hike to the dwellings..which I'm sure are amazing, but my butt had spent the last 2 days in a car.....) So after some mature discussion (aka loving loudly...not arguing), we decided to take the short trip to Elephant Butte :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poor guy, he's so white that he Glows!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Three Stooges...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just soaking in the moments...Jim's back gone on business, Jamie sliced his finger open the day after this picture (7 stitches and a major excuse to get out of dishes for 2 weeks)....sigh....our new normal!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, dishes and laundry are calling and every time I walk into the kitchen I remember that I need to desperately mop the whole dang house.....a mother's work is never done....</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-81806948955552377642013-05-13T11:25:00.001-05:002013-05-13T11:25:43.512-05:00What?!?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, we made the long haul back home on Friday...just me and the kiddiepoos..oh and the dog...<br /><br />Major Mother's Day Surprise!!!<br /><br />Because Mum was the word until Mother's Day, here's the million facebook posts that I wanted to type but couldn't lol:<br /><br />* Freakin' Orange Cones!<br /><br />* No Rain for 80 Days in Cruces, Rained the ENTIRE way Up NM!<br /><br />* At least an hour per stop...seriously need to invest in preteen sized diapers! (when we were <br /> kids, we stopped when the car needed gas..not because the billboard looks fun...and <br /> seriously..the southwest rival the Badlands in billboards)<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Freakin' Orange Cones!!!!!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* If I see the TIV or any other storm chaser vehicles, both me and the middle son will pee our </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> pants..both for different reasons lol.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* "Oklahoma City is nice, but I like Missouri's plain rainbow better." 10 cool detective points if </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> you figure that one out.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />* Freaking Orange Cones!!!!!!!!!!!<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* How many "turnpikes" does Oklahoma need? Seriously...have my ancient phone, an atlas, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and a 13 giving me directions...freakin mapquest!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />* Missouri, the land of tobacco outlets, guns and ammo, and porn shops...oh and Churches..<br /><br />* Sneezed in St. Louis should be a musical...popped my ears and I thought I was going to <br /><br /> Die all the way back up to Northern IL!<br /><br />*Freakin' I55..or I7whatever..or I39 whatever the heck you are..you are long and boring and smell like cheese...just kidding about the cheese, but it's loathesome!<br /><br />* 50 degrees....let me just let that one rest for a minute.....stepped out in El Paso IL to 50 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> degrees....El Paso TX was like 60 something (ok, we had a cold front..but normally it has </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> been 90's!)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />* Child #3, shaking in his boots..." I am Never leaving NM AGAIN!"<br /><br />* Reached Auntie Crystal and Uncle Duane's house...child #3 "I am Never going back to NM".<br /><br />* Surprised my mom at church...spent the last 2 days in the car trying to figure out her reaction..</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> nope, not what they thought (and someone had even said She's going to Pass Out!)...just sat </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> there, stunned into a frozen blank stare for like 30 seconds...and then the screaming and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> jumping, but no passing out!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Best day ever :) </span></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So sorry about the wonky spacing..tried to fix it..but it won't and I really am so messed up with this drive and alt. change and whatever that I really don't care!!!</span></div>
shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-76057791017781201562013-04-18T12:03:00.001-05:002013-04-18T12:03:22.579-05:00 Fearless Leader...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After months of waiting, Jim starts his new job today!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really, it has felt like climbing up a cliff...slow and steady, maybe not the surest of footings but we (really he) just kept focused on the day to day and God made the way. (I think that I've already shared these pics, but they fit so whatev lol)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If someone would have said to me 10 years ago, heck even last year, that Jim would be in a job like this...with a real honest to goodness office...I would have just laughed! But God has a plan and a sense of humor! This life really is about putting aside yourself (and your preconceived notions about yourself) and taking up all that God has in store. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someday I hope to have words that do everything we've been through justice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until then, take hope that no matter what mountains lie ahead, you can make it through Anything with God's help! The hardest times all of a sudden become the ones that ended up being the most blessed!</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-20105160690695552002013-02-21T14:12:00.001-06:002013-02-21T14:12:43.528-06:00Giants, Ramblings, and Just Checking In... <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During Christmas break (aka the Grandparent invasion), we visited this park called the City of Rocks. It's crazy how new and different everything is for us down here....I find myself connecting with how the Israelites must have felt as they journeyed into their promised land flowing with milk and honey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Awe inspiring to say the least...we think of ourselves as this ultimate force, but really we're just a breath...these rock formations have been here practically forever, seen countless generations and fads go by, yet they stay the same....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jim is gearing up for a work trip, one that could change everything...it's scary big....way out of our box..but when you step back, you see that it might just be exactly what God's been preparing him for all along....and maybe our box has been way too small....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same God who set these rocks into place, who measured out the waters in the crease of his hand...the one who holds the universe together...is the same one who knew us before we were born and laid out our steps..these very steps, right here and now...for His purpose and His plan. For such a time as this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we are not daunted by impossible odds, sales numbers, and comfort zones...We seek God with our whole heart, His way is the only way...and trust in His timing, in His promises...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At times, we might feel like grasshoppers in the shadow of the giants of this land. But we have a God who has gone before us, our path is smooth and our footing is sound. We put all of our trust in the Lord our God because in this world, He is the only sure thing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you think about it this next week, some prayers of agreement would be much appreciated. I hope to be able to disclose more soon....God sure does make a great story out of humble journeys!!!!</span></div>
<br />shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-8975374345150882612013-02-07T11:52:00.003-06:002013-02-07T11:52:56.576-06:00Press On<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(nope, not talking about fake nails today lol)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's funny how in my own prayer time and Jim's little devotional that he goes through every morning, we've heard the same messages..uncanny how different verses, but reinforcing the message that God's got this all under control!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During my fasting in January, I read through Daniel (if you haven't, go..now...awesome amazing life breathing faith in times of trouble). After that I went back through Exodus, feeling like we were in the midst of our own desert journey, and God didn't let me down! Today, I picked it back up and surprise, surprise...just what I needed for today ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Israel was on the way to the promised land, but God did not lead them on the shortest route...he took them around the Philistines because he knew that the people would loose heart and turn back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, when the direct path isn't open, Trust..Follow...Remember that God sees the whole picture from beginning to end. Only he can see what you need to be led around! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My goal today is to wipe off this funk 'tude..to press on and press through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philipians 3:14 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fight the good fight! Take hold of the life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The devil may be a roaring lion, but I am standing behind the ultimate lion tamer...got my eye on the prize and I'm not backing down! I may have been knocked down, but I'm not out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Putting on my Rocky Face today...Eye of the Tiger all of the way baby!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am always amazed at how funny life works out...and how I keep thinking this is Not what I was expecting!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, we got all dolled up for a launch of a local business...this company is amazing and something that I feel we can really stand behind...perfect fit for Jim's multiple experiences....so excited...could this be it?!? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Thing that we've been praying for?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe...but just not yet.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Timing..I always get jacked up on timing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like answers and plans and dreams turned to reality Now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God likes perfect and well pieced together, on His time not ours....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's like instant pudding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sure, it tastes good and it'll do in a sugar crazed fix....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But nothing compares to the real stuff. The stand at the stovetop for an hour melting butter, mixing yolks and sugar and milk to combine into this creamy sweet concoction that satisfies you to the soul.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't want to settle for instant. I want the real deal. I want to wait on his timing and receive the blessing that he has worked into our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is a loving Father, who gives his children the desires of their hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning, I'm wondering how many times I've gotten instant pudding, when all the while God had something delectable in store...slow cooked to perfection, cooled and topped with whip cream?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quiet time today led me to Job. Oh Job, how your life speaks to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who are we to try and control our lives? Did we form the earth? Or tell the ocean where to stop? Can we bring forth dawn or tell the stars where to shine? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My small finite mind compared to an infinite God...hmmmm...who would I rather have calling the shots? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thank you for this day. I thank you for the struggles and trials that lead me to a deeper relationship with you. Father, I pray for strength and faith...to be resolute in following you...to be focused on you and nothing else! You spun the earth into being and yet know every hair on my head and have saved every tear. You are my redeemer, my strong tower, my shepherd who leads me through the valleys to calm waters. Thank you Lord for loving me enough to not keep me were I was. I give you my fears and my dreams...my life is yours to be molded and moved for your purpose alone. Thank you for lavishing gifts into our lives...and help me have eyes to see them in the midst of darkness. I lift up anyone who reads these words. Father, that your grace and comfort would wrap around them, no matter what their struggle. You are bigger than any mountain we may face. If we would just call upon you and wait for your rescue!</span></div>
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shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-86015869789796139482013-02-02T03:30:00.000-06:002013-02-02T03:30:52.948-06:00A Bit Who-ish<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happened to breeze by this old neglected blog (it's about as pitiful as one of my house plants lol)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel a little bit like a Who in Horton Hears a Who....I'm HERE! I'm Here! I'm HEEEEERRRREEE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've attempted to write countless times, but none of them have seemed right just yet. This weekend could mean some big things for us, would really appreciate prayers for tomorrow night...God really does have a sense of humor how he works all things out for his children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just focusing on Trusting and Believing and realizing that I talk a big faith, but when it comes down to the wire I'm still just a silly, nervous girl. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am choosing to stay positive, to speak light into our situations, to glean as much truth from God's word as I possibly can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you every really watched a baby take it's first steps..the clenched fingers wrapped around daddy's? Maybe we were never supposed to learn to run on our own, but to constantly hold on and be guided by our ever loving Father? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've learned so much this past month about depending for everything. This move has not been at all what I had expected, but then where would the mystery and wonder be in it all if my tiny little brain could wrap around all that the Creator of the Universe has in store for us?!?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow..Big Things...I'll be sure to take pictures...and post once we have more news...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you all, sorry for being so absent. One day all will make sense and I'll never believe how far we've really come!!!!!</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-65125936290934128172013-01-07T19:36:00.001-06:002013-01-07T19:36:48.105-06:00Keep WalkingIt's been a long few weeks...Christmas brought my parents and lots of site seeing and eating and just having fun being together.
I have tons of pics to go through...lots of awesome places that we found.
But....my heart is just in a rut....I miss my family.
...I miss my friends...
I miss my Church...
I thought that taking this giant leap of faith to move down here was going to fix everything. Like some magic curtain would unveil this promise land just waiting for us.
Instead, we seem to find one hurdle after another.
What the heck?!?!?
My sister sent me the book The Circle Maker for Christmas. We had done a service on it last year or so, but I needed it now.
So, I'm digging in my heels....marking my spot and praying through this!
It's funny how God speaks to me sometimes....I wonder if he ever shakes his head and thinks Someday she'll get this...Someday!
He really laid it on my heart that once the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land, they still had battles to fight! God didn't just throw them the keys and say Have Fun...
He did say that he had given them the land...their battle was won...just had some work to do.
Crossroads always starts their year with prayer and fasting....the timing is perfect and the need is great. So, I'll be doing a Daniel fast for the next 10 days....if no answer comes about then I'm going to keep pressing through
I've had the veggie tales song Keep Walking in my head for the last few days and that's just what I'm going to do...keep Walking till God knocks down this wall!!!!
A quick side note to my friends back home...we are doing ok..seeing God move every day....just not in the way I had thought.....but when is that ever our case!shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-40843157078033576732012-12-18T17:59:00.001-06:002012-12-18T17:59:29.518-06:00Dashing Through The Snow....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other weekend we made the trip out to White Sands National Monument. It's one of the world's largest gypsum sand dunes. Corey was a little freaked out when we got there....it looks crazily similar to huge plowed through snow drifts and he thought that he'd need a coat, not just a t-shirt lol!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's just a handful of pics, not much to say about them just lots and lots of fun (and wow, does that stuff get Everywhere! Shoes, pants pockets...I'm still sweeping it up)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sunsets here are so beautiful...my camera is way above my abilities, but every day I am constently reminded how lucky we are to live in such beauty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grandma and Granpa are driving out for a visit this weekend, please pray for safe travels for them and that their stay will be amazing (the boys are about to jump out of their skin...the major count down has begun!) Not sure how much I'll be able to snag Starbuck's internet...or if blogger will even let me on (has anyone else had issues?!?).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for being patient with me....and if you've emailed and I haven't responded I'm very sorry...no internet at the house and Jim's smart phone from IL is as slow as a rotary phone ;)</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-79520903821400834252012-12-05T20:31:00.001-06:002012-12-05T20:31:13.429-06:00I'm Here...I'm Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a wild and crazy trip this has been!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've made it.....no internet, computer issues, and absolutely no time to do things other than clean, unpack, and clean!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arrived the day before Thanksgiving. Full trailer to unpack, no table, no chairs, no beds....very thankful for walmart close by lol.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were so blessed by a friend that I had met on facebook whose family brought us a full blown Thanksgiving meal...so humbled and overwhelmed how people could reach out like that to total strangers!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It didn't take us long to make a trip to "our" mountains.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know that this flatlander will ever get used to this sight! Just amazing!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 mile hike didn't faze this guy at all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number 2 on the other hand is not really an outdoors man ;) Jim carried him the last 1/4 mile...up the mountain! We begged and bribed...milkshakes, batteries for the wii, anything to get this kid up there. Once we turned back from the springs and it was all down hill, he took off like a shot! (1.5 hrs up, 20 min to get back down lol)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This looks like a tiny hill, but trust me...it's not ;) So proud of them for making it up and back on their first mountain adventure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll try to be more diligent at sneaking away to starbucks until we can get the whole internet deal figured out!</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-63458969869586637392012-11-12T09:11:00.002-06:002012-11-12T09:11:39.051-06:00It's the Final Countdown!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Quick Recap:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Riley turned 9, Capt. America Bday, Amazing Cake (which I have yet to download pics off my camera for..bummer)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Anniversary, 14 years...kids spent the weekend with gparents and we packed and cleaned and tossed out worthless stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Halloween, kids were whatever they could find in their rooms...my mom made Corey's dream party come true..candy candy candy...again pics still on my camera...or not, I can't remember!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Found a house!!!! Yay!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Packing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Craiglisting</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Selling</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Packing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Goodwilling</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Jim finally put plywood into the hutch that I painted uh 5 million years ago so that our clothes wouldn't fall out during the move!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Packing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Something dead and horrible under mudroom freezer (thank you big strong hubby for taking care of that this morning)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Packing</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Pinterest cleaning wins!!!! almost asphyxiated myself, but the shower is Amazing! Vinegar and Dawn who knew? Cleaned the washer before we sold it...Disgusting City! How does something that is supposed to clean our clothes get so nasty?!? I run bleach cycles all of the time...but this was super fantastic brand spankin new clean! 1qt bleach in a hot cycle, let sit for 1 hr and then run through longest setting. 1qt vinegar, hot cycle, let sit for 1 hr and then run through longest setting. While the vinegar is sitting, dip cloth into the basin and clean off all the grime around the lid and all up in the washers business (aka, the little tucked up region where the thingamabob spins....aka..pit of hell, nasty catcher)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-The clock is ticking and I need to shut down the computer and pack some boxes...Trailer is getting loaded on Thursday...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-hope to leave bright and early on Saturday and make it to the new house by Monday....I'll be sure to post once we get internet (or maybe I'll just sneak over to our neighborhood Starbucks..yep, Neighborhood Starbucks!!! God is so Good!)</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-91877535454329803072012-10-31T16:06:00.000-05:002012-10-31T16:06:10.148-05:00Reformed<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halloween, the eve of All Saints Day always seems to overshadow that today is also Reformation Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Martin Luther, with his trusty hammer and nails, did more than nail a paper to a door. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder what he'd say today about the state of the church?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would he tweet it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facebook?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe he'd make a youtube vid that would go viral?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a feeling that he'd say we missed the point....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've weighed ourselves down with the burdens of our masochistic rules and regulations....denominationalized every aspect of faith to try and make ourselves the superior church (notice superior, not righteous).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We kneel, we give, we punch our cards for perfect attendance, we pray (when we pass a cop on the highway). I'm not even talking about other religions who aim to be good enough, pray certain times of the day....all trying to pave their way...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When is it enough?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did we forget that we can't earn grace?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">News Flash, you'll never be good enough!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It came to me this afternoon: we struggle and toil to make ourselves good enough to be called His children....when all along, He's been here...waiting..arms wide open...calling us home!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 65, The Message </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kept saying, 'I'm here, I'm right here'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to a nation that ignored me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I reached out day after day </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to a people who turned their backs on me,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People who make wrong turns,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who insist on doing things their own way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They get on my nerves,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are rude to my face day after day,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make up their own kitchen religion,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a potluck religious stew.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that this isn't the same context, but if the shoe fits....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It isn't about the numbers or the programs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It isn't about the brass plaques memorializing every possible thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's about Love!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God's absolute, chain breaking, earth shattering, paradigm shifting Love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not for the righteous....but for us all while we were still caught up in our sin.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does he want in return? What need does God have that he cannot fill himself?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God wants nothing in return for this gift of grace other than for us to love him in return. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To love him with a reckless abandon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To love him with everything we have...every fiber of our being, with all of our hearts and minds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's all about Love, plain and simple....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-78755524607155655462012-10-30T11:47:00.000-05:002012-10-30T11:47:41.559-05:00Peace Out<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace that surpasses all understanding....aka...crazy peace...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace has not been the word of the day at our house lately. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole housing deal--I am not an anxious person, but so much rides on this decision...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where are we called?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To whom are we called to?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it possible to serve this amazing purpose and not destroy our kids in the process?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do we shoot for the ubber neighborhoods? We really don't fit that model...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reclamation district? Urban renewal...sure, it would be cool...but do we fit there either?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have looked at so many houses....some were quite promising...but none gave me peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During my prayer time last week I read about Jesus sending out his disciples. He told them that when they stopped at a house, let your peace come upon it. (The Amplified version described it as Freedom from Distress) If your peace returns to you then move on to the next house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine it like a peace sonar. Pinging peace as you go---if it returns, you're not free from distress...move on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ping</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ping</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ping</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday night I was up until 4 a.m. researching a neighborhood. 4 a.m. Peace? Duh, go to bed Shelly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is really nerve wracking searching for a home so far away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(suck it up buttercup, people do it all the time...in far worse situations!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, our friends emailed about a house they saw listed locally. Called and talked to the owner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our friends drove by and took pictures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The neighborhood is not "trendy", it's good....steady....evidence of kids in neighboring houses. Sunday our friends went through the house with the landlord.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My perfect ideal number of bedrooms, plus more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is good. So we sign on to rent a house that we've never stepped foot in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No panic, no searching crime rates/ school ratings/ google maps-ing the area.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace that goes beyond the logical.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are going to be ok. God does have a plan and he will take care of our needs--He knows the desires of our hearts. We just have to wait and trust. He is a Good Daddy, one who delights in taking care of his children!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is not up to us. It is not about us. It is all about HIM!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(and now that I am all peaced out, I reeeeeealllllly need to go pack up some more stuff!)</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-72274680229311247272012-10-18T13:43:00.000-05:002012-10-18T13:43:06.899-05:00Just Dropping By<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This poor neglected blog...almost as neglected as my kids lol!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a rainy, dreary day here in the midwest. It's COLD today. My heart needs desert temps...and sunshine! Lots and Lots of sunshine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're working on finding a house. So far ehhh. Found one that was amazing, but God has ways of working things out..at the last minute, the owner decided to try and sell it instead of rent. Oh well, nothing lost and there will be other houses. God doesn't shut a door without another in mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just have to trust.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi, my name is Shelly and I have trust issues...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was reading in Mark yesterday. (I find myself being anxious the closer we get to moving..not that I'm not excited about this..it's just out of my comfort zone, but I'd rather be out of my box and in the will of God than comfy and mediocre.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So anyway, Mark...the first verse that I jumped out and smacked me between the eyes was Mark 5:36---Do Not Be Afraid, Just Believe. Just Believe..stop thinking with your "what if's" and your perceived truth, Just Believe that God is who he says that he is and his promises are true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later on in Mark, Jesus gets annoyed with his disciples (well, at least in my head he sounds annoyed..) After seeing him do 2 miracles with loaves of bread, the disciples were still worried that on their boat trip they'd run out. Seriously, he fed thousands of people with 5 loaves of bread and had baskets and baskets of leftovers....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus asks them--Why are you still worried about bread? Do you still not understand? How many baskets were leftover when I fed 5,000? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (at this point, I'm picturing the disciples looking a lot like my kids when I get after them..heads down, hands in pockets, kicking at the dirt...) 12 baskets...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how many were leftover when I fed the 4,000? Do you still not get it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ....this is the same Jesus who just walked out on water..who calmed the wind! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet still, they are worried about taking care of their day to day basic needs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were still trying to grab hold and control things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Control</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such stumbling block for human nature. For my nature. I like to be in control. I like to know all of my options and every step of the plan...to read and reread the instructions just in case I miss a bolt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Control and Trust can never be besties.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Control has to be cut off at the knees in order for Trust to grow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord- I believe that you are the God of the miraculous and the ordinary. You spin the planets in orbit and take care of the sparrow and the flowers of the field, how much more will you take care of your children. Your ways are perfect, your vision for my life cannot be comprehended...even when I can't see, I trust in your plan. And when I am filled with anxiety because things aren't working as I think they should, I will praise you for protecting me from things that I can not see just yet!</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-55112229119730966132012-10-08T19:18:00.000-05:002012-10-08T19:18:57.936-05:00Oh My..Not Nine!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little guy somehow turned 9 today....</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJGt-omAba4/UHNrPd-yFtI/AAAAAAAABbU/DEeueFhOGag/s1600/fall+2012+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJGt-omAba4/UHNrPd-yFtI/AAAAAAAABbU/DEeueFhOGag/s400/fall+2012+005.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He believes that he can do anything....Olympic swimmer-no problem.....Major Rockstar-why not...Pro Skateboarder-you betchya!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDEkkZXgr7o/UHNrTqh0bdI/AAAAAAAABbc/OHzlWgmCibU/s1600/fall+2012+011a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDEkkZXgr7o/UHNrTqh0bdI/AAAAAAAABbc/OHzlWgmCibU/s400/fall+2012+011a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fearless...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtPxwmap5ys/UHNrY4vu3pI/AAAAAAAABbk/6gSixEGZCH8/s1600/fall+2012+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtPxwmap5ys/UHNrY4vu3pI/AAAAAAAABbk/6gSixEGZCH8/s400/fall+2012+021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somedays, a 'tude the size of Texas...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb83jpwFC6U/UHNrcyRiN-I/AAAAAAAABbs/EUdQKcJA3dg/s1600/fall+2012+026a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb83jpwFC6U/UHNrcyRiN-I/AAAAAAAABbs/EUdQKcJA3dg/s400/fall+2012+026a.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But no matter what, we've got ourselves one awesome little guys here!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday Riley--may your year be filled with the new adventures, many successes, and just enough trouble to make it interesting ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you!!!</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-42432518694896891922012-09-18T13:56:00.000-05:002012-09-18T13:56:38.579-05:00It's All Gonna Be Ok<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VphBebphKLY?list=PL18389E2550C492E5&hl=en_US" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been hanging on by a thread this week...and this song seems to be the one thing that keeps me from free falling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If your eye is on the sparrow then your heart is on me...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Had a panic attack today in the car. Just a little over whelmed. Not like crazy, call the whambulance and send her to the padded room. Just Tired. Things are moving ahead, great things that are such a dream, but scary as crap when they're looming in the near future!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decided that if my heart was going to race out of control, then I might as well be doing something that would actually benefit me...pit stop at the gym, my key fob was dusty..bad gym goer, bad, bad, bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, this song was on repeat for the hour I was there...running, praising, releasing...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's all gonna be ok, It's all gonna be ok...over and over and over...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because God takes care of the sparrow, so how much more will he take care of me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's all gonna be ok, Shelly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I went to my little stretching `corner and plopped my foot up on a stool so that my hamstring wouldn't kill me later, only to find a single little feather...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See...It's all gonna be ok, Shelly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gotta love it when your Daddy sends you little love notes ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're looking for some great workout/warrior prayer/praise music, Jake Hamilton puts out some absolutely anointed stuff!!! It's pretty rare that he's not playing somewhere in our house....and man, in concert..let's just say there's no way not to be swept away in the spirit!</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-48651882799598389512012-09-07T15:29:00.000-05:002012-09-07T15:29:37.753-05:00I've Had ALL That I Can Take..<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...And I Can't Take ANY MORE!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been so quiet lately...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still waiting, things are definitely moving forward, but no dates or plans or whatever...just waiting patiently on God's timing. It's frustrating for me, it's frustrating for everyone who keeps asking what's the deal. Well, I don't know...no, I do know...God working things out (in us and ordaining our steps for this journey). Not the firm sunshiney answer that people like to hear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another reason that I've been quiet is that it's election year </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm trying really hard to keep my mouth shut because things are starting to get on my last nerve....and Not in the way that you think!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I dread looking at my blog feeds, facebook is just one negative repost after another. I have so many things to say, but I don't know if I can tactfully voice them...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's the deal--</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">---Whatever happened to being known as followers of Christ by the love we share?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The absolute Hate that is being spewed back and forth is shameful! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you think that cutting repost or shared picture digging our leaders glorifies Christ? Do you think he's laughing along with you or ready to give you a high five?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, I'm pretty sure that he's shaking his head because, again, we've missed the point....all the while the devil is laughing his burning butt cheeks off!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to change someone's life, love them first. Really, really love them...with the love of Christ!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--Was our current president's election some cosmic mistake? Did God turn his head, when really he felt that someone else would be better? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we truly believe the Word of God, can we then discount Romans 13?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was written while the Jews were under Rome's control. They.Were.SLAVES. There was no "I'm so mad that this legislation passed"..there was you cross me and you die, have a nice day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Should we then not be involved in politics? No, not saying that....but seriously, people...We have Lost Our Freakin Minds! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One last verse and then I'll jump off this soap box....I'm not judging anyone, it's your right to believe what you believe...just, check your tone....are you glorifying?...are you loving?...are you building up or tearing down? No one loves a hater, just sayin'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at how God describes the Messiah, he didn't send a tyrant...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Isaiah 42: 1-4</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Take a good look at my servant,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> I'm backing him to the hilt.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He's the one I chose,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> and I couldn't be more pleased with him.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I bathed him with my Spirit, my life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> He'll set everything right among the nations.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He won't call attention to what he does</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> with loud speeches and gaudy parades.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and he won't disregard the small and the insignificant,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>He won't tire out or quit. He won't be stopped</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> until he's finished his work--to set things right on earth.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Far-flung ocean islands</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> wait expectantly for his teaching."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i>Jesus is not a card carrying member of a political party....and News flash...If we as a church actually got up off our butts and practiced what we preached, there'd be a lot less of the things that we are fighting over! Wouldn't that be something! Don't worry orphans and widows, homeless, prisoners, and prostitutes---We're here to help---Jesus loves you and so do we!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, I'm done! I think that I need to go buy a Coke and find someone to hold hands with and sing ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-78375704432127868312012-08-09T10:56:00.000-05:002012-08-09T10:56:33.719-05:00Depth Perception<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHN8-5ouxm8/UCPYm8-5TlI/AAAAAAAABa8/OHpP3vthbh0/s1600/dripping+springs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHN8-5ouxm8/UCPYm8-5TlI/AAAAAAAABa8/OHpP3vthbh0/s400/dripping+springs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(you'll have to excuse my old cell phone photo...grainy and blah...tried to fix it 100x's but it didn't want to save it so whatev)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been struggling with timing and patience..and patience..and trusting...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yeah, I guess that I've just been all around struggling ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yesterday during my quiet time I came across this thought in my study Bible: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> sometimes life is like looking at a mountain range---from a distance the peaks look like they almost touch each other, but once you get a closer view you realize that they are really miles apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kind of feel like that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it seemed like- wow, it's finally happening..and it is...but once we reached the top of our mountain, the next peak wasn't just a quick little hop over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nope...well crap...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">looking out on the horizon, we have a lot of work to do. yes, we are definitely in a season of green pastures and still waters...but there is harvesting and preparing and growing along the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God promises to make our paths straight and to keep us from stumbling. So, I walk...I follow the Shepard's leading....I hold tight to the hope in His promises...because He is good..He is true..He is the author of my life...the Redeemer of my soul...my fortress...my strength.</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-27430170025002461612012-08-02T11:53:00.000-05:002012-08-02T11:53:42.548-05:00Disconnect Vs. Discontent<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blah...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pretty much sums up what I'm feeling lately.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so much to do, no motivation to do it, no timelines--just deadlines.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like I'm in a huge tug of war battle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one side is this feeling of total disconnect: like I'm uprooted, just waiting to be transplanted into another garden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the other side is awe of how much God is blessing us and is providing the way (even when it feels like we aren't making steps forward...it's the behind the scenes God stuff that keeps my head above water right now)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not really sure what to say or feel. I'm going through a quiet stage I guess (and if you know me personally, you're probably laughing at the thought of that....yeah, hahaha)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to try and be more present in my life this week...no more of this "out of life" experience..I'm here...life doesn't stop just because I'm stressed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so, I'm giving myself a dose of my own friendly advice:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suck it up Buttercup! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">time to go give myself a butt kicking at the gym, a little adrenaline dose will do my mind some good :)</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-1701587352886869232012-07-20T11:46:00.000-05:002012-07-20T11:46:25.153-05:00Warning Construction Ahead...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the title should say something like Warning Construction in MY Head!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhMmyaY4qZg/UAl7YjofmAI/AAAAAAAABaw/L1ZhfTD8EYQ/s1600/Road+Construction+3_jpg_475x310_q85.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhMmyaY4qZg/UAl7YjofmAI/AAAAAAAABaw/L1ZhfTD8EYQ/s400/Road+Construction+3_jpg_475x310_q85.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
so many words. so many thoughts. so many feelings and stresses and junk. all trying to make their way down my neurons to my fingers. it's like 20 lanes of traffic merging into 1 lane.<br />
<br />
maybe it's not my time yet to write out our story...it for sure doesn't have an ending yet and the plot keeps twisting and turning. still the same destination, just not the way I expected it....ever....and it keeps on going. <br />
<br />
Paul's journey to Rome keeps coming to mind. he knew that God wanted him to go and preach in Rome, but it wasn't like he just hopped on an airplane and went.....there were all of these twists and curves and God used them to share the gospel to so many people who wouldn't have been touched with out that direction of the journey. it wasn't all cake and tea either....beatings...prison...shipwrecks...snake bites...but all for God's glory. <br />
<br />
do you think he ever looked upward and asked "What the Heck?!?"<br />
<br />
in May I never would have dreamed that I'd be sitting here typing on this couch, in this house...never...<br />
<br />
and yet here I am.<br />
<br />
four weeks ago, I thought for sure my silent time would reveal this huge master plan...instead i got Trust Me..Wait on Me...<br />
<br />
so again, here I am. <br />
<br />
I am learning first hand James 4:<br />
<br />
"Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that." <br />
<br />
I've stopped planning. His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than ours.<br />
<br />
we're not in it for the money, we're going because we have been called. <br />
<br />
I've stopped worrying about this or that, times and dates mean nothing as long as I'm looking forward and looking upward.<br />
<br />
at first little blessings started happening, things just fell into place. <br />
<br />
we found a trailer that was under the cost we were looking for (amazing considering everything we saw before that for weeks had been double to triple the price). <br />
<br />
Corey got a clean bill of health after his surgery (and thank you Lord that we had insurance..oy vey that was a big bill!)<br />
<br />
then, Jim's business that had all but dried up over the past few years started getting calls....first one, then two, then more...lots more...and the phone is still ringing...talk about opening the flood gates of heaven. unexpected income that will give us security in our eventual new start. <br />
<br />
so, people inevitably always ask...When are you leaving?<br />
<br />
I don't know, we'll know when it's right. <br />
<br />
months ago we had prayed that God would use Jim's hands like the widow who Elisha told to gather as many jars as she could to fill with oil. as long as the jobs keep coming, we'll do them. <br />
<br />
it's funny because we aren't relying on our own strength or our own talents. God is the one providing this overflow. and when it's his time, it will all fall into place....and I'm good with that.<br />
<br />
people like plans, they like dates and security...especially grandmas lol...<br />
<br />
sometimes it feels like our reliance on God and lack of plans kind of freaks people out. I have always been the free spirit. Jim on the other hand is a play it by the book, find the depth of the lake before you jump in off the cliff kind of guy. for him to be at peace without everything but the next step figured out is huge..HUGE. and it's right.<br />
<br />
for now we're preparing (waiting in expectation)...when God waves the green flag, it's on!<br />
<br />
so, it is what it is. eventually there'll be more. <br />
<br />
consider this the back cover preview of our story ;) </span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474401290592229677.post-83434125571294321792012-07-13T10:28:00.000-05:002012-07-13T10:28:41.479-05:00Young Eagles Take Flight<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I promise to give you an update on all of my silent time. But until I get my words straight, this little picture show will have to do ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These too little cuties were offered a flight with the<a href="http://youngeagles.org/"> Young Eagles</a>. Riley was raring to go...Corey was super nervous...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CfTeaTRVRds/UAA5ASgDmFI/AAAAAAAABYk/XTz6fyQ5PQo/s1600/young+eages+flight+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CfTeaTRVRds/UAA5ASgDmFI/AAAAAAAABYk/XTz6fyQ5PQo/s400/young+eages+flight+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jamie had done this a few years ago..looking back at Rick's photo album it was '07 (Wow, has he changed!) There was an open seat in the plane so Jamie got to tag along too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here they are going through the preflight check list. I learned a ton of new stuff! (like stalling wasn't the engine shutting off, it's when the wings are at an angle where there is not enough air flowing over them to keep it up...who knew?!?)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gyzC59Q3BxA/UAA5E9TLv0I/AAAAAAAABYs/3pbCuNc9JvI/s1600/young+eages+flight+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gyzC59Q3BxA/UAA5E9TLv0I/AAAAAAAABYs/3pbCuNc9JvI/s400/young+eages+flight+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Away they go!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzNx0MW-TsQ/UAA5JT2qefI/AAAAAAAABY0/1Bx6TuYV57A/s1600/young+eages+flight+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yzNx0MW-TsQ/UAA5JT2qefI/AAAAAAAABY0/1Bx6TuYV57A/s400/young+eages+flight+003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bye Mom!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XB5jU5rQnxA/UAA5J8rG1nI/AAAAAAAABY8/Y55aaRTO28M/s1600/young+eages+flight+010b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XB5jU5rQnxA/UAA5J8rG1nI/AAAAAAAABY8/Y55aaRTO28M/s400/young+eages+flight+010b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSBTpgUqm2o/UAA5K_cQ7JI/AAAAAAAABZE/N9F7-E1iR5s/s1600/young+eages+flight+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSBTpgUqm2o/UAA5K_cQ7JI/AAAAAAAABZE/N9F7-E1iR5s/s400/young+eages+flight+021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rick flew them over our house and made a big swing out past Jim's parents' place. All night I heard nothing but arguing over how "big" certain buildings around town were...Riley would hold his thumb and finger near each other and say it was only this big...Jamie would argue that it was smaller or bigger, get annoyed and say "well, maybe from you point of view.."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some how or another, this guy found us ;) Made my day! He was on his way to a job a few towns over and decided to swing by and see the boys off! He's been putting in crazy hours again so I'll take whatever minutes with him that I can get!!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzjYlFsiI9M/UAA5MJTbbHI/AAAAAAAABZM/teI8nJJYFR8/s1600/young+eages+flight+026b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzjYlFsiI9M/UAA5MJTbbHI/AAAAAAAABZM/teI8nJJYFR8/s400/young+eages+flight+026b.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we knew it, they were back...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTyEgjkypvY/UAA5O7gGPHI/AAAAAAAABZU/YACfshjt_e0/s1600/young+eages+flight+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTyEgjkypvY/UAA5O7gGPHI/AAAAAAAABZU/YACfshjt_e0/s400/young+eages+flight+029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exiting like total Rock Stars!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmiVSwcq9Q0/UAA5RA7LnSI/AAAAAAAABZc/y_RV2OgCuJ8/s1600/young+eages+flight+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gmiVSwcq9Q0/UAA5RA7LnSI/AAAAAAAABZc/y_RV2OgCuJ8/s400/young+eages+flight+031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOiyEYoJ2CM/UAA5UtfuqJI/AAAAAAAABZk/zlUNZAL_PUc/s1600/young+eages+flight+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lOiyEYoJ2CM/UAA5UtfuqJI/AAAAAAAABZk/zlUNZAL_PUc/s400/young+eages+flight+032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zeYh8vTu23M/UAA5XKMt8XI/AAAAAAAABZs/GbtI_MhDUPE/s1600/young+eages+flight+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zeYh8vTu23M/UAA5XKMt8XI/AAAAAAAABZs/GbtI_MhDUPE/s400/young+eages+flight+033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdTG6msWwTA/UAA5YXlTNCI/AAAAAAAABZ0/z4_t-H1CSvg/s1600/young+eages+flight+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BdTG6msWwTA/UAA5YXlTNCI/AAAAAAAABZ0/z4_t-H1CSvg/s400/young+eages+flight+034.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I foresee flight lessons in their distant future (they better get some good after school jobs, that's all I can say!).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cbdU5HFFjM/UAA5dP9YyvI/AAAAAAAABaA/m2Fxz6TnVzg/s1600/young+eages+flight+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cbdU5HFFjM/UAA5dP9YyvI/AAAAAAAABaA/m2Fxz6TnVzg/s400/young+eages+flight+035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQFF6CvVtEM/UAA5hwKQ6yI/AAAAAAAABaI/_q8GpoTgGrE/s1600/young+eages+flight+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQFF6CvVtEM/UAA5hwKQ6yI/AAAAAAAABaI/_q8GpoTgGrE/s400/young+eages+flight+036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After pictures, the boys helped Rick push the plane back into his hanger...can't be all play and no work!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWCrUWaI-NI/UAA5mv92O9I/AAAAAAAABaQ/SI8T0JFFhHY/s1600/young+eages+flight+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWCrUWaI-NI/UAA5mv92O9I/AAAAAAAABaQ/SI8T0JFFhHY/s400/young+eages+flight+037.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All decked out with pins and certificates....they were pretty stoked by the whole thing!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzOYJ67-cYo/UAA5q1lodXI/AAAAAAAABaY/pUTvWiySmQg/s1600/young+eages+flight+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzOYJ67-cYo/UAA5q1lodXI/AAAAAAAABaY/pUTvWiySmQg/s400/young+eages+flight+038.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have this available in your area, I would definitely recommend it!!!! They learned so much and it only fueled their obsession with airplanes!</span>shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15138326861657251385noreply@blogger.com1