Magic Word

Yesterday morning after dropping my son off at summer school, (school starts at 7:30am) my daughter Rebekah asked if we could stay home today and watch movies. It seems like most of the day we are driving from place to place getting errands done. So I told her alright. She fell back to sleep on my bed for a couple of hours, allowing me to get some things done, and shower.
When she woke I told her come on lets get ready to go, she replied, "Mom, you said that we could just stay home and watch movies today, where are we going?" I said, "We're going to Costco with Grammy." Rebekah- " I'm up!" It seems like those are magic words in this family. Whether it is Lets go to Grammy's house, or we're going shopping with Grammy. The kids always get excited to be with Grammy. She is like their own Fairy Godmother or something. Grammy caters to their every need, or desire. She always listens to them, and what they've done with great enthusiasm. She shows extreme patience and love towards them, and always makes them feel extra special. That is just one reason she is my mentor.

My Garden

Every morning I go out to my garden and check things out, see how big the plants have grown since yesterday, see if there are any bad bugs eating them. This is my first garden, so I'm pretty excited to watch my veggies grow. I've never really had a place for a garden, so when we had our backyard re-landscaped last Fall, they put in a raised flower bed. It's only about 2 1/2 feet wide, but about 25 feet long. I don't really have a green thumb, I usually neglect plants, forgetting to water them, and not giving them fertilizer.

Jesus uses gardening practices in many of his teachings. One of my favorites is the parable of the sower Matthew 13. We simply can't just throw out seed and expect it to grow. We must take care of it, water it daily, nurture it until it produces fruit. Last night at Bible study Joel used an illustration that we must become sponges filled with water, not dry and empty, so that we have something to pour out onto others.

Those words really inspired me to do some self-reflection on if I am really filled with the water of life, or am I dry, having nothing to give.

Kung Fu Panda

So I took Rebekah to see Kung Fu Panda today. She enjoyed the movie, but don't ask me how it was, I fell asleep. Slept through most of it too. As you can see from my 1am blogs and comments, I have sleeping issues. I haven't always had them. I used to be a heavy sleeper.

I can remember when Kayleigh and Brandon were babies it would take every ounce of energy to wake myself up and take care of them. I think one reason is when Tim had sleeping issues I kind of took it on as well. He sleeps better now, Praise God. However about 4 times a week I'm up for several hours in the middle of the night. I probably should use my time better than I do, I usually watch tv desperately trying to fall asleep, or I go on the computer.

Tim's Mom

This is in response to my Husband's Wednesday blog about his mom.

I have never met anyone more dedicated and loving to her family than Carol Scarbrough.

She really is amazing. Over the past eight years that I have known her I have witnessed her unconditional love for her family, and her love for the Lord.

I have developed a deep, valuable friendship with her, and am blessed that she considers me her daughter. I definately have a better relationship with her than my own mother.

She has always taken care of the needs of her family before her own. I think after all she's been through, it's about time for HER!

(And yes, my sweetie is a momma boy!)

What are you willing to do for God?

When I worked at our old church, I used to be very involved in helping people less fortunate, down on their luck. Most of those I helped it was because of poor choices they had made in life really. I would run into those people while out shopping, and would stop and say hello, and ask how are things going? Most of the time they would ask me to please pray for them because this or that wasn't going right in their life. They wanted God to do something for them, but I felt as if they weren't willing to do anything for God. Sometimes I would think to myself how can you even ask God to do this for you when you won't even get your butt to church and worship Him?
I do believe that God can, and does bless us when we don't deserve it. However I also believe that we can live in such a way that it makes it difficult for God to bless us. Next time I see one of those people who seems to always need prayer for the way their life is going, I'm going to ask them "what are you willing to do for God."

Date Night

Tonight I get a Date night with my honey. I'm so excited as it's been a while since we've been out for a real date night. Oh we've been home alone without the children, but too tired to do anything. It is so important to take time out for each other and do something without kids.

It seems like my life revolves around kids, their activities, keeping them entertained. I'm really going to enjoy time with my husband tonight. =)

Hearing

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17 NKJV

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Rom 10:17 NIV

This scripture has been on my mind lately. I have a cousin who is deaf. Her family came to live with us for a while when I was around 7 or 8. It was then that I learned sign language, after all if I wanted to play with her and talk to her I had to know some signs. Her stay with us was brief, but somehow my interest in sign language has stuck with me. I had the opportunity to learn more signing when I was a teenager. I'm not fluent, and have a very hard time reading people when they are signing, but I do know quiet a bit. Where am I going with all of this? I guess the thought that is in my head is "who's going to tell the deaf people about Jesus?" How can I effectively communicate the gospel to my cousin? Just random thoughts I had this morning.

How did I get here?

I used to be very competitive. It bothered me if someone did more than me, and when it came to running, it especially bothered me if my husband did more than I. We used to have these little contests, who would run more miles in a week, who could eat better...ect.

I've gained 50 pounds in the past three years. What happened? Did I just stop caring? How did I get here? I definitely don't desire to be here.

It reminds me of a great sermon my husband did three years ago called "Getting out of here," and how if we're not careful and disciplined we can slowly drift from God's will for us, to someplace we don't desire to be. I put the weight on by myself, but with God's grace I'm going to allow Him to get me out of this place. I want to make Jesus my refuge, and not food!

(BTW, it's on babe!) =)