You are Entering Your Mission Field...

I've seen a sign like this as we've left churches before. But today I was studying Colossians for Prison Epistles, and reading about how our greatest area of Christian witness is our our own home. And I was suddenly inspired to make this sign and put it on the garage door, leading INTO our home. You see, we've struggled with living lives of love here in our household lately. And I wanted to remind all of my family what the Word says about loving one another. They all got the message right away, and it's a great reminder for me, too!!

PS - Sarah brought home these spring flowers for me not too long ago. Aren't they dear??

Full-Time Mom for the week.

This week has been a rough one in some senses. Eli has been down with a sinus infection. I had given him some prescription cough medicine (given to us by our dr's office) to help him sleep on Monday night. He awoke Tuesday covered in hives. We took the first available appointment of the day (hives had almost disappeared by this point) and got him started on a prescription of Omnicef. Later that afternoon he was busted out in hives again, much worse this time. A call to the office and they said to watch his breathing closely because his airway could get restricted. I woke up with him over and over the next two nights to check his breathing and administer Benadryl. Finally, yesterday his hives cleared and stayed clear. He's slowly recovering from the sinus infection, without any antibiotics because we are trying to clear his systen.

There is good news. I am so grateful that now we know he's allergic to codeine and omnisporens. We learned in non life-threatening dosages, thankfully. I've gotten to spend more time with my favorite son this week than I have in a long, long time. He is such a joy.

And I've gotten some serious time to catch up. All of my photography is edited and sent to clients. My kitchen is clean. I made supper tonight and chocolate chip cookies. And now I even have a moment to blog. I've been working on a top secret anniversary project, too. I can't remember the last time I had an opportunity to craft for the love of crafting!

I feel like I can breathe again. I, of course, miss work and church and my students. But I am grateful to regain some ground here at home. I'm thankful to spend time with my sweet kids (when they aren't torturing each other). We worked on projects for the grandmas today, and we are all so excited about them!! It's just nice to be a normal mom for a week again. It makes me appreciate where I came from, and reminds me how much I love what I do during a normal week. I'm wrapping up this week feeling very content and blessed and only the teeniest tinge guilty. It's all good.

Jesus Manifesto

Delighting in this book, although I have no business reading it while trying to carve my way through Prison Epistles... Found and cherished this quote today:

‎"We ought to read the scriptures with the express design of finding Christ in them. Whoever shall turn aside from this object, though he may weary himself throught his whole life in learning, will never attain the knowledge of the truth: for what wisdom can we have without the wisdom of God?" John Calvin

Life As We Know It..

HATE that I abandoned Photo 365. It was probably too ambitious. Shocking considering my personality, isn't it?

Got convicted this morning, read a message board thread about taking everyday photos of your family. Not just the posed, portraits. I stink at this. Need to work on it.

So in that spirit, I took a few pics of Sarah playing with Legos this morning. She stayed home from church this morning with a foul tummy..

The crazy Lego collection is her and Eli's private world, called Lego City. It's pretty awesome!

Eating Elephant and other Ramblings..

Finally, a moment to record a few thoughts. It's a shame, really, that I've missed so much blogging lately. God has been doing some incredible things in my life and I just haven't had time to write them down.

For starters;

I am working on my Beginning Ministerial Internship. This is a class that I am working through with Pastor Doug, and also starting a mentoring relationship with a woman pastor in our section. I'm halfway through the internship and it's already been impactful on my life. One of the biggest issues we've learned about is the issue of pride, and how this can be such a huge stumbling blocks, especially it seems for pastors. I've been praying about this issue in my own life for several months... It's always exciting to see how God prepares you before He schools you. :)

The biggest highlight thus far in this experience was definitely getting to preach on Women's Ministries Sunday. That was such an honor; terrifying, exhilarating, and addicting all at the same marvelous time!

I'm simultaneously finishing my last certified level course; Prison Epistles. This is proving to be another difficult course. But the challenge is always rewarding. The crazy thing is, as I finish this class I'm applying for credentials and starting the testing/interviewing process. (eeee!) Nothing makes you analyze every past mistake and misstep like applying for ministerial credentials! Just filling out that application was a lesson in humility!!

I honestly can't believe I'm already to this point. It seems like just a couple months ago I received my calling at youth camp and nervously phoning Berean to enroll for classes. The past nine months have been challenging and overwhelming at times.. In fact I reached a breaking point in November where I really had to receive a pep talk to keep going.. But God is faithful and He proves Himself over and over to me!! He sent just the right person to speak into my life and refresh me. I finished that course strong, and even accepted my only sad little B+ on a harder than average class.

I seemingly gain momentum with each course and at the halfway point I could begin to ascertain my progress. It's a bit like eating an elephant, you just have to keep eating elephant, one bite at a time, even if there reach's a point that you begin to wonder why you like elephant in the first place. LOL.

The reality is, as you near the end of the process, (or at least the first level in the process) you realize how very worth it it's been. I'm there. I look back at the last nine months and am floored, amazed, and blessed by the personal spiritual growth that God has done in me through these classess. It makes me so grateful!! I'm excited that I have two levels to go, because I am not ready to say goodbye to this season of my life. I say that, and some days I am ready to pitch a textbook to the wall, but most days I love it!!

Beyond school...

Photography has been really awesome lately. Thus the missing blog posts. All my spare time has been consumed with editing. I had six photo sessions last weekend. I've busted my rear and edited 3 of them, have a good start in the fourth. Last night (after about 9 nights of five or hours of sleep) I hit a wall and laid on the couch at 7:45pm. Rob looks at me and said "what are you doing?" I said "I thought I'd watch some tv." and he replies "You don't do that." He was so surprised to see me set down for a few moments, I guess because I never do. At 9:30 I crawled upstairs and into bed, out within a few minutes. I think it all caught up with me, slept like a baby last night.

I've got another session this weekend, so another week or so of insane editing and I should be caught up. But it's so worth it. You see, a couple weeks ago we paid off Rob's car. That's right, now we own two fully paid for vehicles. :) Again, I sing God's praises, He is so faithful! We started paying extra on his car in October. We had $7000 to go. And God honored it. Six months later it's finished. Now we are working on building our savings back up. This is unbelievable if you know anything about Rob's and my financial history. We got married extremely young and have made just about every insanely stupid financial choice you can make. The year that Ike hit we were taking Financial Peace University classes - one week in and Ike passed right over our home. We evacuated with $200 to our name and a credit card that was too close to credit limit. I vowed that week that we were going to turn things around. And by God's grace we have. I give Him all the praise and glory for that!!

I don't know why I am being so transparent today. I guess it's just reading all this scripture about having our lives point to Jesus. If you look at me and see anything worthwhile, I implore you, it's because of HIM..

I exist because of His mercy. I have talents and giftings because of His creativity. I serve out of love for Him. I work and love and photograph and smile out of thanksgiving and appreciation for all that He has done in and for and through me.

I pray that this is the case for you as well. And if it isn't, it's not too late. Take a moment to understand your sin, your depravity that separates you from His righteousness. Realize His tremendous sacrifice on the cross, that paid the price for sin. Understand that He is reaching out in love and offering you relationship with Him. Repent, turn from your sin, cast it aside, and accept the new, better, life that He offers; both now and with the hope of glory. And let Him flood your life and heart and mind the way He has mine.