What's going on around here

-Caleb has had a virus the past couple of days. :( Took him to the doc (our new doctor, we LOVE him!!!!) and he said there wasn't much we could do besides give him Tylenol/Motrin...he's had some pretty high fevers. So that's what we're doing! But poor little thing--he's been so unlike himself--sleeping a lot, grumpy when he's awake, not eating, etc. One good thing is, he let us hold him when he wasn't feeling well. I have forgotten what that was like, since he is ALWAYS on the go these days!!

-We are in the process of buying our first home! The inspection is Fri., and we're hoping it goes well. There are so many things to think about, so much red tape and hoops to jump through, but I know it will all be worth it in the end. We can't wait to have the keys and make it our own. My favorite, favorite thing about this house is the kitchen. It is beautiful and I can't WAIT to cook meals in there, entertain our friends, etc. :) I am also very excited about the big backyard and deck...I'm already dreaming about cookouts next summer, growing veggies in the garden, etc.

-Lee Strobel is coming to church this weekend to speak...he is a famous newspaper reporter/writer who used to be an atheist, who, when his wife became a Christian, decided to see if there was evidence that Jesus was who He said He was. He began interviewing experts, investigating the facts, and wrote a book on his findings called The Case for Christ. Very compelling stuff. Can't wait to hear him speak!!

-I am trying to ignore the fact that the big 3-0 is right around the corner. *shudder*

IT stories...

Incredible, amazing stories. You will need tissues. Jon told a bunch more stories today as well. I am just on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what God is going to do next through His church. This is all about HIM making himself known to this city...we are just the vessels He is using to get that done. Click here to read some of the stories of what happened last weekend.

WE ARE BUYING A HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

Be happy with YOU!!

So, a friend of mine posted this on her Facebook page, and I had to share it here as well. Great thoughts!!! As someone who has struggled with insecurity for as long as I can remember, these words spoke peace into my heart. I am so glad to be approaching 30 with a real sense of who I am IN CHRIST. Wish I had known/felt that when I was in middle/high school.

"Dare to be happy w/ who you are right now. Many social, physical, and emotional problems stem from the fact that people don't like themselves. They are uncomfortable w/ how they look, how they talk, or how they act. They don't like their personality. They are always comparing themselves w/ other people, wishing they were something different.

You were not created to mimic somebody else. You were created to be you. You can be happy with who God made you to be, and quit wishing you were something different. If God had wanted you to look like the perfect PTA mother, He would have made you look like her. If God had wanted you to have a different personality, He would have given you that personality. When you go around trying to be like somebody else, not only does it demean you, it steals your uniqueness.

An important factor in seeing yourself God's way is to understand your intrinsic sense of value. Your sense of value cannot be based on your successes or failures, how your children treat you, or how popular you are. It is not something we earn; indeed, we cannot earn it. God built value into us when He created us. As His unique creation, you have something to offer your family and this world that nobody else has, that nobody else can be. Your sense of value should be based SOLELY on the fact that you are a child of the Most High God...

God doesn't want a bunch of clones. He like variety, and you should not let people pressure you or make you feel badly about yourself because you don't fit their image of who you should be. Be an original, not a copycat. Be secure in who God made you to be and then go out and be the best mom you can be. Even if everybody else rejects you, remember, God stands before you with His arms open wide. Learn to be happy with who God made you."

Also check out Philippians 1:6 :)

Peace and love to all of us moms and everyone out there!!

Thoughts on school starting again

This is the 2nd year in a row that I haven't been crazy busy getting my classroom together for a new school year, and I'm finding that I miss it in some ways. I miss those first day jitters (did you know teachers get as nervous as students??), seeing those little tan faces and sweet smiles, brand new clothes and shoes, new workbooks, pencils that still have the erasers and aren't chewed up, markers with the right colored tops on them, crayons that are neatly arranged in the box instead of strewn all over their school box, the excitement of everything being fresh and new. A chance to start over with a brand new bunch of children who God put me in charge of for the next year. A chance to make sure I pray for them each by name, to bless their families in any way I can, to do a better job teaching this or that, etc. There is something about that newness, that freshness, that put an extra spring in my step each August.

I guess I'm feeling the same way in my spiritual life as well. For a little while now I have felt as though I've been "going through the motions"instead of having that dynamic faith that I encountered when I first became a Christian, and then when I went through the divorce a few years ago. I've gotten comfortable on my "couch." But with everything surrounding IT, I have been awakened. I have seen that the abundant life Christ talked about is possible. I have seen God showing up in people's lives who've never thought about Him before. I have been humbled. Am I perfect?? Certainly, certainly not. No where close. There are areas of my life I haven't completely given over to him, mostly out of pride. I hope to grow and ask God to change me to be more like Him in all aspects of my life. My prayer is to be the "aroma of Christ" to everyone I encounter. I know that there are times when I am FAR from that...in fact, I am downright stinky! I am well aware of my own tendencies toward sin, hypocriticalness (is that a word?), and selfishness. But I AM a work in progress...and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am a new creation in Christ--the old has gone, the new has come.

As I was getting ready to turn in tonight, I saw that a fellow blogger had posted this: http://tarynhopes4.blogspot.com/2009/08/more-than-conquerors.html?showComment=1250649607714#c551825287552508927 and it couldn't be more right on. Thanks, Taryn.

Marriage recommitment service

This Monday night, Jon did a massive marriage recommitment service for anyone in the church who wanted to come. It was so, so neat. We went and sat with Christina and Mason, Tiffany and Ben, and Becky and Tyson. Becky made veils for us! It was so, so meaningful...the vows were amazing, and we got a copy of them sent to us and Bryan retyped them and put them into frames for us...how sweet is that?!?! The service last weekend was all about love, and how we need to get our relationships with our spouses right before we try to love on the city (big part of IT!). It really meant a lot to us to see so many couples there, making this decision to honor their spouses over themselves, remove the word "divorce" from their vocabulary, treat each other the way Christ would, respect, serve, and love each other in a God-honoring way, and ask for forgiveness for anything that we had done to hurt the other person up to that point. Jon also talked about raising our children to love and follow Christ, and the huge importance of that. All in all, wonderful service that made my heart glad. :)

Explorium fun

This week I took Caleb to the Explorium here in town...it is a children's museum, and so much fun!! He really had a BLAST. There is a little toddler area that is set apart from the rest of the museum that had a water table, train table, tree house, books, etc. and he was a HUGE fan of that water table! He also loved the balloon on the 2nd floor that was constantly pushed up by a big gust of wind, the dinosaurs, dressing up like a doctor/nurse (did that especially for daddy!), the mirror room, and the silver pots and pans that he seriously could have played with for hours. We went with our friends Kristy, Eva, Jordan, Leslee, and Conlee. We will definitely be going back again soon...I am even considering getting a season pass for this winter when the weather is gross outside!

30 Day Shred--complete!!

Well, we have officially finished the 30 Day Shred! WOO HOO! Only missed a couple days here and there, which I think is pretty good. We're both feeling a big difference, and seeing it as well. I am feeling so good in all areas of my self--it's amazing the difference being in somewhat-a-bit-of-shape can do for my emotional well-being. NEVER thought I'd be able to do "walking push ups" (yes, those are as scary as they sound!!) or full-blown "Rocky-style" sit ups...but we both can (with much grunting and groaning)! We're going to start over with level 1 tomorrow, following the "hard" girl this time...yikes! I'm also really trying to step of my game with going walking with ladies from my playgroup bunches...I think that is a HUGE help. Here are two pics---one is of Day 10, when I thought I looked decent---the next is day 28--it's hard to see a big difference because I am certainly not one to post "sports bra and exercise shorts" pics, but I think you can tell a little bit anyways. We're hoping the Day 60 pics will be even better. And I need to take a recent one of Bryan, he is looking awesome.

Another update!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while!! We did Day 23 of Shred last night--level 3 now--and I like level 3 SOOO much better than level 2. We had to buy the DVD because it got taken down off YouTube...luckily we had a gift card! I feel stronger, I definitely have muscles I didn't have before, and I feel leaner overall. YAY! One more week, then I think we'll start over at level 1 again, this time doing it without the modifications that make it easier.

In other news, IT is awesome. The message series began last weekend and I can't even put IT into words! It is a new church that seeks out people who have been hurt and wounded by the church, "Christians," etc. due to hypocricy, judgmentalism, etc. A church that is seeking to "make Jesus famous" by getting out of the pews and into the world. Jon literally said that he was "resigning" to start a "new church" on Sept. 6. Go to www.itlexington.com to watch the message and learn more. I am so excited because a friend of mine from playgroup got intrigued by the whole thing and came to 608 with me on Sunday, and she is coming again this weekend...she is now reading The Case for Christ, because another friend of mine who goes to Southland told her that Lee Strobel (the author) is coming at the end of the month to speak. Very cool. If you don't know, the author was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune (I think!) and he was an atheist. He began investigating the claims of Christ, and well...you'd have to read the book. Anyway, she said she didn't know a church like this could even exist. God is doing big, big things...I can hardly wait to find out more about IT in the upcoming weeks!!! :)

I am also just LOVING the playgroup I've joined. I've made some great friends and we really do a lot together during the week--going walking, to storytimes, the park, etc. Tomorrow we are painting with pudding which should be a mess but fun!! I know God has put me in this group "for such a time as this"...and my heart is so full and happy to be in a place where I can (hopefully) show these moms God's love. I feel as though I have purpose again, and that does wonders for my emotional/spiritual/physical well-being.

Bryan is doing well, too. He's enjoying his job at the hospital, and even has taken on a web-design project with his old design studio for some extra money. They are very grateful to have him helping out!!
Well, that's it for now!!