Feeling Blah...

I'm having a pretty blah day and I can't quite put my finger on it. This camp is looming in the near future and I have so much preparation to do and I'm not even sure where to begin. This weekend is a family reunion so I'm not sure how much stuff I'll actually get done before Monday. And I need to get a lot done before Monday! But I've been reminded today just how faithful my God is and He's drawn me to Philippians 1:6, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." This camp thing is a direct answer to one of my prayers for more teaching opportunities. So why am I so fearful? My friend, Kris, reminded me last night over coffee at Caribou that it's because I'm believing a lie from Satan that my God is not the God of Philippians 1:6. Did you know that all sin can be traced back to simply believing a lie from Satan? If we worry we are simply believing the lie that God is not the God of Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." If we are afraid we are simply believing the lie that God is not the God of Joshua 1:5, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." If we are afraid we are simply believing the lie that God is not the God of 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Do I need to go on? :-)

I ran across this quote today from C.S. Lewis...it's pretty cool.

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."

Busy-ness

It seems I've been busy lately but at this moment I couldn't tell you what I've been doing. Crazy, eh? I am gearing up for a busy July, though. I'm speaking at a bible camp from July 7-11 then I leave July 12 for Pennsylvania for two weeks of classes and training at the mission agency. I'm carpooling with three other girls and we're driving with another family so it should be fun travelling. Long but fun! But before any of this can happen I've got tons of preparations to do. Five lessons to prepare for the bible camp and before I get to Pennsylvania? Four articles and one book to read, several things to research and read online and one 80 minute DVD to watch. I'm sure I'm forgetting something...........oh yeah. Continuing my class so I don't get farther behind.

It's a lot overwhelming right now but in the last week God has put some very specific people in my path to encourage me and to actually pray with, and for, me. One couple that I just met this year is actually buying me a much needed Bible Commentary. You know who you are and you know how very grateful I am for you and for our time together last Saturday.

I want to leave you with this quote that I received today in my email.

"Peace and comfort can be found in simple obedience to Him. So be faithful even when you do not understand."

I would covet your prayers for me to be obedient in the simple things. And to have peace and comfort in this part of my journey to Brazil.......

Flexibility

Well I was planning on spending the evening at the library doing homework but my sister-in-law called today needing help with my nephews. They had bible study and their regular sitter couldn't come because he found out Lonestar was in town giving a free concert and he wanted to go. So Jill called me and I ended up meeting them at the concert since Tyler and Lucas are both big Lonestar fans. And it actually was pretty fun. I've not heard much of anything from Lonestar but I really enjoyed the concert. There weren't many people there but they didn't seem to care. Here are some pics of the night...

Let's Celebrate!

Happy First Day of Summer!!

Balloon Dog

This is too funny not to share!!

My Day

Do you ever have one of those days where nothing goes right? Today is that day for me. I woke up late (not entirely unusual) and after my shower I started my coffee in my brother's single-serving coffee maker (which I do every morning) then went downstairs to get ready. So far, so good. I went upstairs to grab my lunch and my coffee before leaving for work and discovered the I forgot to put the coffee grounds in the coffee maker. So all I had was hot water. So, no coffee...which in and of itself is bad enough!! On the way to work I realized that I forgot my zip up hoodie that I always take because it's cold at work. So, no coffee AND I'll be cold. When I got to work I decided that I would make some hot tea. I have a coffee cup and tea bags at work so I went into break room to wash out my cup and get hot water. As I was rinsing off my cup it slipped out of my hands and fell in the sink and cracked all the way down. So, no coffee...I'm cold...and I have no cup anymore to have hot tea! I wonder what else is in store for me today?

But I guess it doesn't matter because whatever happens my God is still good!!

Lucas

I'm watching my nephews this weekend and tonight it was just me and Lucas. Tyler had a sleepover birthday party. Lucas reminded me last night that I never took him to Toys R Us for his birthday like I told him I would so tonight I made good on that promise. This is what he picked out...



A legos set called Surf Mania. (You can see that our night also included pizza and movies. I put the (Papa Murphy's) pizza in the oven while he got every piece of the Legos out and in piles. And he put together the crocodiles. When the pizza was done we put the movie in - "The Final Season". After he finished his pizza he was more interested in the Legos than the movie and asked if I'd help him put it together. So we paused the movie and spent the next hour or so on the floor finishing the masterpiece. And I discovered that it's pretty fun to play with Legos! After that we started to watch the rest of the movie and he asked if he could snuggie with me. What aunt in her right mind would give up the chance to snuggie with her nephew? He crawled in my lap and we watched the rest of the movie. When it was over I looked at the clock. 10:45pm. What? I had no idea it was that late. When I told Lucas what time it was all he said was, "Wow!". I put him in bed and told him he could sleep as late as he wanted to in the morning.

Sorry to Dan and Jill for keeping him up so late but we were having a really great time!!!

Comfort Zone Violation

I've been asked to be the missionary speaker at Raccoon River Bible Camp the week of July 6-12. And I accepted. Then when what I had done sank in I said to myself, "What did I just do?" So, I will be "in charge" of the morning program every morning for the 3-6 graders. The morning program is from 9:15-10:15 and they usually do about 15 of singing and then it's all me. Yikes......

Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated!! Any of you out there who actually do speak and have some fun activities or topic ideas - please send them my way!!

Flood

Here are some random pictures I took of the flooding in Des Moines last night. I drove downtown and walked along the swollen Des Moines river, along with several dozen other people. From the news reports today, and the rain we got last night, things have worsened.

Running

I've been thinking for awhile now that I need to get active and more in shape. I went to the doctor in February for a complete physical and was told it would do me good to walk and eat more wheat stuff. Two things that I don't really enjoy but I'm giving it a shot. Wheat bread is not actually that bad (except for the really grainy stuff) and last week I started to walk/run. My friend told me about this program called Couch to 5k and I've been doing it for one week and one day now. Basically you spend 30 minutes alternating running and walking (with a 5 minutes warm-up and cool-down walk) until eventually you're running 3 miles or 30 minutes. I'm on week 2 and yesterday's workout was more difficult for me but I made it through!! I seem like sort of a wimp when I tell people that I ran for 90 seconds and it was hard...but when you haven't done anything for as long as I have it is difficult. Especially when you're running 90 seconds 6 different times over 20 minutes. But I've figured out how to program my iPod to switch songs whenever I need to change from walking to running and vice versa along with a "ding". Pretty fancy...

I discovered last night when I was running that I tend to run faster because I think it will get me done faster. As if running fast will make those 90 seconds go by that much quicker. Not really....so I slowed back down. I don't much like it during the 20 minutes I'm walking/running (or anticipating the next run as I'm walking) but I do feel good when I'm finished!

So tomorrow I'm off again. Maybe this time 90 seconds won't seem so long...

Perspective...

I needed a little perspective today and then I got this from a friend...

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and God is good.

Live Life, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, forgive quickly, and never regret anything that made you smile.

Oh what a night!

It's been quite a night for me. Actually it's been quite a couple nights for me! Last night I went to Indianola to watch the season finale of LOST with Julie (yes, we're addicted!). It started to storm and by the time we finished watching the finale there were tornado warnings to the southwest of us. And the news said they were moving northeast at about 30 mph. It appeared they were headed right for Indianola and if I left I would be driving right into that weather. After some debate we decided I should spend the night there. So I did and all was well.

Tonight I picked up my friend, Bob, from the airport and we headed to Waukee for the first-ever worship team rehearsal for Westwind Church. After that we headed to Ankeny because Bob is staying with Lucas and Teresa Bair. I went in for a bit and Teresa and I ended up going to Sonic and getting shakes for everyone. We were back at their house enjoying our shakes and talking and keeping an eye on the weather when we noticed the TV said that Polk County was under a tornado warning. But the weathermen on TV were all calm and almost nonchalant about it and that made us curious. Well, it made Teresa and I curious...the guys didn't seem fazed by it. Then the tornado sirens went off and Teresa jumped up to get their kids in the basement and I jumped up because I just HATE storms and headed down there with her while the guys sat there and after awhile went outside to watch the storm! Why do guys do that?

Anyway, all of a sudden the sirens stopped and the weatherman said the warning was lifted. Teresa and I were not convinced! But as we sat there for a bit we realized maybe it was true. She checked the radar online and it said the worst was over and now it would be just rain. So I made a break for home! There was mention of me spending the night and I was like "Oh no! Not two nights in a row." There's just something about your own bed, you know? So I headed home in a TORRENTIAL downpour. It was pretty hairy driving but I made it safe and sound. Only to find water running in one of the basement windows. (I live in the basement at my brother's house.) So I went upstairs to break the bad news to Jill and she came down and we surveyed the situation. Not much we could do at this point. So we have towels and washcloths acting as a barricade to the water but it's still streaming down. Now we're just going to bed to not think about it. Yeah right...

And with this thunder and lightening it will another sleepless night for me...

Kids and the Bible

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.

"Mama, look what I found," the boy called out.

"What have you got there, dear?"

With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear!"

Billboard

I saw this on a billboard on the way to the library tonight...

"Eggs. Not useful until they are broken."

Makes me think of myself and how useful I am to God when I remain unbroken over the things that break His heart. Or when I remain unbroken in regards to my sin.

Just something for you to chew on...

On a lighter note...I did juggle 3 eggs at Julie's house recently. And much to the joy of her 2 boys I dropped one on the floor! We didn't use it - although it was broken. :-)

What do you value?

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." -- Nate Saint

Weekend

Saturday my brother's family, along with my sister, and my sister-in-laws parents, ran in the Dam to Dam race. There's a 20k from the Saylorville Lake Dam (north of Des Moines) to the Des Moines River Dam (in Downtown Des Moines). I was the family photographer today as I don't run...yet. You can see the pictures I took by clicking on "My Pictures" in the list on the left. I got pictures of everyone as they were nearing the finish line - at about 12.2 out f 12.4 miles. But they all finished which is really cool!

Sunday afternoon was the first softball practice for the team from my new church, Westwind. It was hot but it was fun! And I didn't totally stink like I thought I would! Wohoo! We'll see how it goes for our first game next Monday night! After practice we had Atmosphere...which is what they call it when we (Westwind Church) gathers for social/fun/get to know you time. We had grilled hot dogs that were ginormous!! And then we played a recreational game of softball. I am going to be so sore in the morning....not looking forward to that too much!!

That's all the news for now. I have more news to share but that will have to happen in another blog.

Happy birthday (yesterday) to my friend, Darwin, and his twin brother, Clint!