Life Changes

So, I'm going to India.  In February.  For six months.

I will tell you the whole, entire story soon!!  Right now, I am overwhelmed by God's goodness, grace, and perfect timing.  My words and thoughts are all over the place.  As soon as I can wrestle them to the ground and make them behave like good little thoughts, I will be able to write allll about what has been happening the last several weeks.

Until then...

Life Decisions = Absent Blogger

Sorry for the absence.

I am in the process of making a big decision (cue dramatic music).  But really.  It's a big decision.  I can barely talk about it in real life, so writing about it is not going to happen at the moment.

But trust me.  I'll let you know what's going down very soon--I'm just listening to Jesus right now.  I would greatly appreciate any and all prayers (even just one-second ones) for me to KNOW, like way deep in my knower, what Jesus wants me to do.

In the mean time, check out some of my favorite blogs and read them:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

http://kateelizabethconner.com/

http://pearmama.blogspot.com/

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/

Or you could listen to the sermons I've been jamming to:

http://www.brookhills.org/media/series/radical

These are literally the most life-giving messages that I have heard in a while.  I like Truth, even if it's harsh because I don't like to be coddled.  I just want to know what's up.  Straight up.  (I know I'm gansta. Don't hate.)

I'll be back soon.  

What would I do?

If I had more strength.  More courage.  If I tapped into the POWER available to me through the Holy Spirit.  How would my life change?

This commercial inspired these questions in my heart.  And I've had some answers, and I was surprised.  I never think of myself as timid or mousy.  But when I thought about the things that make me scared (ya know, those fears that are tucked away and usually only emerge during times of crisis), I realized my life would be different--  perhaps only slightly different, but what if all of those little differences created huge ripple effects to make BIG differences.



I thank the Lord for using even Dove commercials to inspire deep thought on spiritual matters. And let me remember God's words to Joshua, "Be Strong and Very Courageous"  and do the same!

Call me Mary...

Poppins, that is.

This week I have been a nanny to 5 (yep, f-i-v-e) children, every day all day.  From morning 'til night, I was substitute Mom.  The three oldest I sent off to school, making sure everyone had breakfast, had a lunch, and had appropriate clothes (like no swimsuits).  Throughout the day, my charges were a three year old, Noelle and her younger baby sister, Gianna who is 9 months old.

It was entertaining, enlightening, and exhausting.  Serious.


I want to give a shout out to all the Moms out there.  I admire you and thank you.  You are definitely underappreciated.  Well, let me tell you, even from this last week alone: I see what you do, and I THANK you.

II'll give you a glimpse of the week I channeled Mary Poppins:

1.  I have cleaned floors, sinks, noses, faces, hands, feet, and booties. Children are messy, but so is life.  It's okay. Roll with it.

2.  Three year olds say the craziest stuff.  I have laughed at everything this child has said.  She is so precious, making up songs and dancing on a whim.  Maybe I should do more of that...

3.  I have pretended to be an airplane in the yard, Bowser from Mario, and a frog.  Not only have I been the guard of the castle, but also the guard of the stairs.  The baby wants to crawl up the stairs any chance she can get.  So I have to guard them because that's not safe, just fyi.

4.  I praise the Lord above for the Wiggles.  I don't know who you men are, but I. love. you.  With my whole heart.  Is that an exaggeration?  Nope, not in the least.  When I turn on those colorfully dressed, dancing men, the baby and the 3 year old will stop dead in their tracks and sit still.  THAT, my friends, is a miracle.

There were sometimes I felt like it was the easiest job in the world, and there were other times when I thought Mary had the right idea, "just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down..." Where's the Nyquil??  These children NEED sedation.  (Just kidding  people... don't freak.)

Loving my life.  And taking a nice break today... Saturdays are great for that!

I want a garden....

Simply to have a garden gnome.

And name him something like, Rupert or Pip.

Remembering the Sparrows

Our Lord God is a watchful Creator.  He is a caring Father.  I have to remind myself of this often.  When I do, my first thought is of the sparrows.

He knows when a single sparrow falls to the ground (yeah.. check out Matthew 10).  The sparrow was considered a worthless bird.  Back in the day of sacrifices, you couldn't even buy one by itself... you could buy FIVE with half of a penny!!

And our God--our holy, mighty, awe-inspiring, loving, gracious God knows when just one of these birds falls to ground.

How much more does He care about us, His Beloved?  His children?  And how/why do I forget this?  He cares.  He cares about the details.  He cares about my thoughts. motives. actions. intentions.

When I know deep down... the kind of knowing that makes me ache and can bring tears to my eyes...when I KNOW this, then I will fear nothing.  Nothing can harm me except what the Father has known about.

Let not your heart be troubled.
Do not worry.
Fear not.

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

The Crying Laugh...

That's what I was doing after I watched these. Watch the first one... it's the original newscast. The second one is well... freaking hilarious.

hahahahaha....

annndd you're welcome.