Tithing my time

I have been feeling very unorganized, unproductive and generally overwhelmed lately...and God has been gently prodding me about my lack of consistent quiet time. I was having a discussion with Chris today about my struggle to get up early for my quiet time with the Lord. Everything in my flesh fights the idea of getting up early in the morning. Yet, if I don't have my quiet time first thing in the morning, then I get too busy with my daily tasks that I never find the time to stop. I know that I probably need to start going to bed earlier, but I usually feel most productive at night. It seems to be a catch 22. (By the way, what exactly does that phrase mean??)

Anyways, during our discussion, I mentioned that my argument sounded a lot like the argument you hear from people who are having a hard time tithing. "But I already live check to check and barely have enough for the bills. If I give 10% to God, how will I have enough to pay everything else?" I have a similar argument...it just has to do with my time. I already feel like there aren't enough hours in the day and I always feel like I am behind the curve. Yet, I am not honoring God with the firstfruits of my day. I know that He will honor my sacrifice, and will make my day more productive if I will just give Him the chance. It is just my selfish flesh that always seems to want more sleep!! I know it is just an issue of self-discipline. I apparently need God's help to beat this body into submission!! Am I the only one with this struggle? Not that it really matters, I just want someone else to share my pain :)

Another funny...

Another hysterical Youtube video. I appreciate these incredibly talented people who feel compelled to share their gifts with tbe world...and give me a good laugh!

God's faithfulness

We have been back from vacation for four days and I feel like I haven't stopped running since we landed! God obviously knew I needed some rest before the craziness began. Our church ladies retreat is only 9 days away and this is my first year to be in charge. I have an awesome leadership team helping me pull everything together, but I am still fighting the stress and anxiety that tends to come with being in charge. But God is so awesome! I was running errands on Monday and found myself thinking about all the different aspects of the retreat and I could feel the anxiety beginning to creep in. As my mind was racing with all those "what if" scenarios, I suddenly looked out the front windshield and there was the most gorgeous rainbow. It blew me away and immediately I was reminded that God is faithful and He always keeps His promises. I was reminded of the verse in Matthew 18:20 that says, "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." That rainbow was God's way of reminding me that He will be there and that is all that really matters. I don't need to worry about all the little details because He is bigger than any problems that may come up. And as one of my friends reminded me, He has an agenda for the retreat and it may be different than mine. And that is OK!! My prayer is that I will be obedient and sensitive to His leading.

Hysterical Ebay auction!

If you have kids and have ever taken them to the grocery store, you have to check out this Ebay auction. Can you say hysterical??

Ebay Auction

The tongue...

Apparently Tanner has “a tongue thing” according to Rachelle! She informed me on our camping trip that Tanner used his tongue a lot, something I had never noticed. She then followed it up by telling me it was kind of like my tongue thing! What??!! Newsflash to me, but according to my sister, Tanner and I use our tongues more than normal. Of course, after she broke this to me, I watched Tanner and sure enough his tongue does come out of his mouth a lot. It became quite humorous to just watch him and see the tongue come out again and again. When he was concentrating, when he was running, when he was just standing there, and on and on. Here is a picture Rachelle took while we were observing Tanner:















Of course, now I am self conscious about my own tongue!! I think Rachelle was secretly hoping to get a picture of my tongue, but she wasn’t successful. Thank goodness!!

Camping

Tanner was finally feeling better by Sunday, so we went on a two night camping trip. We went to a beautiful campsite only 10 minutes from Paul & Rachelle’s house. We would have to drive A LOT longer than 10 minutes from our house to find anything that nice!! Paul & Rachelle have a nice travel trailer so it was definitely luxury camping, but it makes it so much easier with kids. We went up on Sunday afternoon after naps and stayed until Tuesday morning. There was a beautiful river right behind our campsite. The river was really low but it was still beautiful running around and underneath these huge rocks. We had a great time just enjoying the great outdoors and God’s beautiful creation. It made me want to go home and go camping, but then I remembered where I live!! August in Texas is not exactly camping weather…maybe in the fall!

Some pics from our camping adventure:


our campsite


sitting around the campfire



Garrett enjoying his smore!


the cousins (Tanner, Kaitlyn & Garrett)


another picture of the cousins...so cute!



Paul & Garrett

What's next??

As if the lost luggage wasn’t enough, now Tanner has come down with some sort of stomach virus! He has been sick since Thursday night and I am beginning to go a little stir crazy. I originally came a few days before Chris so that Rachelle and I could have some fun shopping and beach time. Instead, we have been stuck at her house! I think Satan is just trying to ruin this chance for some rest and relaxation, but I refuse to let him win!! I know that God is bigger than a stomach virus, and I am just asking Him to heal Tanner quickly. Poor little guy is just miserable and I have to admit it has been a challenge to keep from getting real grumpy with him.

But on a brighter note, my lost luggage finally arrived! Yippee!! At least I can now wear my clothes for Tanner to throw up on, instead of Rachelle’s clothes :)

The treasure of friends...

I was able to see a good friend today that I haven’t seen in 8 years! Sara and I met at PBC my senior year and we hit it off right away. She is such a fun girl, and I have some great memories of our time together in college. We also share the same birthday, which ensures that we talk to each other at least once a year!! I called her and told her I would be in Tahoe, and since she lives a few hours away she was willing to make the long drive so we could get together. She has two adorable children, so we met at the beach and let the kids play while we visited. We had a great time and it was so good to catch up. It seems like just yesterday we were sitting at the Starbucks on Fremont, two very strong and independent young women, talking about life and wondering what the future held for us. Would we get married and have kids? Where would God take us? Now, here we are, married with children and serving the Lord in our respective churches. Thanks again Sara for coming to see me! You have two precious children and you are a wonderful mother!! Hopefully it won’t be another 8 years before we see each other again…

A few pics from the beach:

Tanner


Skye & Asia


Asia

Never say never...

Tanner & I flew to California today to visit my sister and it actually went pretty well. I have to admit that I was a little anxious at the idea of flying by myself with a 3 year old...but he was a real trooper! But earlier in the week, I was quizzing a friend who has a son the same age and she just got back from flying with him. I was asking her for any tricks or advice she may have, and I have to laugh after our day today! One thing she suggested was packing some clothes for both of us in our carry on because you never know when you might get stuck in the airport or lose your luggage. I am just thinking "yeah, yeah, that won't happen to me". Of course, I just wanted to carry on as little as possible since I was taking the car seat on the plane and knew I had to have a free hand for Tanner. I even joked about it with Chris last night as I was packing. I told him it was probably one of those things that you really don't take seriously until you have experienced it. Well I'm sure you have guessed it by now...but I can now officially join the "lost luggage" club. As I stood there watching bag after bag go by, the same ones again and again, I kept thinking this can not be happening. And then I saw my small roller bag that had my cosmetics and some diapers for Tanner...and I had hope! But alas, the large duffel with ALL my clothes and most of Tanners...nowhere to be seen.

The baggage department claims it is in Charlotte - how it got sent there is beyond me. I just hope they know what they are talking about, especially since I heard him tell the lady in front of me the same thing. I hope that is not their standard line..."oh yeah, it's in Charlotte!". They are telling me they will deliver it either tomorrow or Friday. I sure hope so...otherwise, they better give me a nice fat check to go shopping!!

Needless to say, I will probably pack my carry-on a little different next time. Why is it so hard for us to just learn from other's mistakes without experiencing them for ourself??!!

Ready for Vacation!!

Well, it is almost 1:00 am and I am trying to finish up my "to do" list before Tanner & I leave for Tahoe in about 5 hours. Hopefully I will get in a few hours of sleep tonight!

I am so ready for vacation and really looking forward to seeing Rachelle & Paul and the kids. Hopefully I will have some fun pics to post in the next few days.

Only a few more items left on my list...I can hear the pillow calling!

My heart is overflowing....

Life with our God is never dull! I have really been feeling challenged lately to take my relationship with God to a new level. A few weeks ago during a Sunday morning service, I felt God speak very clearly to me that He wanted me to jump into the river with both feet and stop standing on the river bank dipping my toes in the water. While that thought was scary, I committed to obey His prompting. As I stand on the bank looking at the raging river, I realize that once I jump in I will no longer be in control. The current will take me where it wants and there won't be much I can do about it. While I realize that is God's intention, I also know that in order to be carried along and not drown, I need to be clinging to God, the best life jacket on the market! All of this has been swirling around in my heart, and I know that God desires a closer and more intimate relationship in order for this journey to be successful. I hear people talk about what God is doing in their life and what He is saying, and I have felt lately like my spiritual ears were on mute! Well apparently they have been turned back on, because I feel like He is speaking about 15 different things to my heart at the same time!! I don't even feel like I am at a place where I can succinctly communicate all that He is saying...but I do know that I am awed and amazed that He loves me and desires to lavish that love on me. I know that He desires to use me and I feel like such an inadequate vessel with so many flaws...yet that is the beauty of our Savior. All He asks is that we are willing, not that we be perfect. I read an awesome quote this week by Max Lucado:

"When you're full of yourself, God can't fill you.
But when you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel."

Lord, make me a willing vessel. Empty me of all my pride and fears and just the junk of sin, so that I am an empty vessel that you can flow through!