I am loved

This morning as I sit here sipping on coffee I am so in awe of the love and blessing in my life. My husband is away. It is hard to be alone.

Yet, yesterday afternoon I talked with a friend for 4 hours over lunch. And last night my house was filled with more friends, laughter, and lots of food. My mothers are throwing money at me left and right for my birthday gifts. My good friend sent me an email and shared her fears and concerns. It just so happens that we are dealing with similar feelings.

I am blessed.

My life is full even when it seems like it should be empty.

kittens

Yesterday on our way to church we experienced something so unbelievable and so disheartening. Here is my story.

It was a regular Sunday. Joel and I were headed to church. We were a bit late do to the change of time in the service...15 minutes earlier...ugh. Nonetheless, we were on our way. Listening to worship music and just enjoying each other as we sing along in the car. The traffic wasn't terribly bad, but we kept hitting all of the red lights. We got stopped at a main intersections. This intersections forms a 'T'. Behind the cross of the 'T' is an air force base that is fenced off, leaving about 4 feet of grass between the road and the fence. We're sitting there, waiting to turn right, in what seems like the longest light ever, when all of the sudden Joel yells, "See that's what I'm talking about, kittens just falling out of cars! Did you see that?" I say no, but immediately look over to where he is looking. There was a small white/brown kitten dashing back and forth in the street. He would run over in the grass looking for an escape, run into the fence, then back into the street. The car that was moving forward saw him, and stopped. The poor kitten so frazzled, and looking for safety, jumped into the undercarriage of the stopped car. The driver, thinking the kitten was gone, started moving, the kitten fell onto the ground, and mostly dodged the back wheels of the car. The same thing happen 3 times to this poor guy while we were waiting in the light. Joel and I were speechless. Mouths open...speechless. The funny thing is that I have NO love whatsoever for these creatures and yet I wanted to cry. The image of the helpless kitten, running back and forth, trying as best he could to dodge cars...poor thing. I am afraid to go on that road again because I don't wish to see smashed kitty all over the road... So sad.

pictures...

As I promised before, here are some of the nursery rhymes I drew for my friend's baby shower.

New Realities 2

" The real scandal is that by crucifying Jesus and that for the most corrupt of motives- they serve God's providential purposes in slaughtering the God-man whose death accomplishes God's redemptive purposes," Scandalous, D.A. Carson.

This quote is talking about how Caiaphas prophesied about Jesus, "that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish, "John 11:50. These men are doing what they truly thought was the right thing to do for their nation. They thought that by crucifying Jesus, their nation would be better off and their places in politics would be solidified.

When I read this part in the book, I was utterly amazed at how the Lord uses corrupt, horrible leaders to accomplish his will on this earth. It gives me hope in so many facets of life, but most recently in our youth group. Sometimes I am SO SO SO discouraged about the lack of ability from the main leaders of the youth, but I have hope that the Lord is using them to further His kingdom and His plans in the lives of the children. It is hard though to sit back and see just how awful some of the situations are, the lack of theological understanding, the lack of discipline, the lack of organization...just in general a lack of true leadership.

"We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength," 1 Cor. 1:23-25.

Boy am I glad of this not just concerning our youth group, but also in my own personal life! God uses my best and worst efforts, redeems them, and uses them to further His kingdom. We serve His providential purposes... amazing. I am thankful that He is above all and in all. His grace is amazing.

Inspiration

There is no way that you can listen to this song and tell me that it doesn't move you in some way shape or form. This girl's voice is AMAZING! When I watched this song in the episode, I was moved to tears. I want to sing like this woman, and convey this emotion and energy. I am inspired to sing again, even if its only in karaoke. I cannot wait to sing it out!

I am telling you I'm not going- Glee

BBQ and Baby Shower

I can finally breathe again. These last two weeks have been so busy with planning, cooking, and baking. Lots of baking. I don't know when it happened, but somewhere in the last 6 months I've become a party planner. Mostly I just end up volunteering my tim

e and money to host events.

Two weeks ago I helped plan and host a bbq for the youth group. This wasn't just your typical run of the mill bbq. It was a military bbq, aka, a "combat dining out." There was a whole bunch of protocol, a script, food, water guns, flour, teams, an obstacle course, and a "bowl of shame." Anyway, I was told to plan food for 100 people. With all my lists and organization, nothing turned out as I planned it, talk about a rough week...but in the end the food tasted good and the kids had a great time.

Some pics.

The jr. high boys team.

The red team.

Eating.

The obstacle course.

Lovely husband completing the obstacle course.

The next week I had a baby shower that I was planning for friends who just adopted a little 3 mo. old boy from Japan. Talk about the sweetest baby ever! I told her some time ago that I would love to host a party for her and her husband, that I'd make a FB event and she could invite people. 90 people later, there was a guest list. I was freaking out a bit at the size of this baby shower/ small reception that I was planning and hosting. Eyes wide, I gulped, changed the plan, and continued on. Of course I couldn't buy the cakes or the food from a store, who does that? So the week was full of cooking, baking, at which my husband was super bummed he couldn't indulge, and crafting. I did a nursery rhyme theme. So, I drew about 15 nursery rhyme characters from a book, colored them, and wrote the corresponding rhyme on the card...SO TIME CONSUMING!!! In hindsight, I don't think I would do the drawing and coloring again... The shower turned out lovely after a few cake mishaps. My friends felt so loved by the gesture, and 50-60 people showed up...which was good because I that's all the people I planned for. :) Pics. of this to come at a later time.