Would you rather scooba dive (in a cage) with sharks or go skydiving?
And... What If you could choose to live anywhere in the world - where would it be?
By the way... my answers are scooba dive with the sharks (although I would be absolutely terrified). And If I could live anywhere in the world I think it would be Vero Beach or Palm Beach Florida. I loved when we lived in Homestead, FL but if I could choose anywhere, I think it would be a little bit more north of there.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Woud You Rather?
We just got back from a trip to see family. It was a 9 - 10 hour drive each way. To pass time we play "Would you rather" and "What if". I like those games MUCH more than Matt does. But I thought I would try to play a little bit here. I know I have several people who read here, but don't write much, so maybe this will help get you ladies talking - lol.
Question 1 - Would You Rather... go on vacation at the beach or in the mountains?
Shauna
Question 1 - Would You Rather... go on vacation at the beach or in the mountains?
Shauna
Saturday, November 8, 2008
True Love
A couple from our church brought their horses to our fall festival last week. When I got there, the first thing I did was to go and smell the horses. Now, I know you think I am crazy. But I love the smell of horses. Please tell me that some of you who read my blog know what I am talking about - Michelle, help me out here - lol.
My son loves to smell my hair. Actually, he likes to rub my hair on his face. He often tells me that my hair smells good. The funny thing is, he tells me that whether I have just gotten out of the shower, or whether I probably am in need of one - lol.
Lets face it, my hair doesn't always smell good; and horses definately don't always smell good... but the reason my son likes to smell my hair, and the reason I like the smell of horses is because those smells remind us of something we like. I love to ride horses, in fact, I just like being around them. I just think they are beautiful animals and although I haven't been able to ride in a long time - it is still something that I love to do. The reason that my son likes to smell my hair or rub it on his face, is because he loves me.
This may be stretching it a bit, but I thought of this the other day when Tyler was telling me that my hair smelled good - I wonder how we smell to God. I wonder if God likes to gently touch our hand, or stroke our cheek, or even smell our hair. I wonder if when he sees us coming to him if He gets excited to see us. I bet He knows us so well that He knows how we smell, and I bet that even when we don't smell so good - we smell good to Him, because His love for us is TRUE LOVE. Much more than I love horses, more than my son loves me, God loves me, and God loves you. His love is the only perfect love. It never fails. I pray that God will continue to work in me and help me to love more like He does.
My son loves to smell my hair. Actually, he likes to rub my hair on his face. He often tells me that my hair smells good. The funny thing is, he tells me that whether I have just gotten out of the shower, or whether I probably am in need of one - lol.
Lets face it, my hair doesn't always smell good; and horses definately don't always smell good... but the reason my son likes to smell my hair, and the reason I like the smell of horses is because those smells remind us of something we like. I love to ride horses, in fact, I just like being around them. I just think they are beautiful animals and although I haven't been able to ride in a long time - it is still something that I love to do. The reason that my son likes to smell my hair or rub it on his face, is because he loves me.
This may be stretching it a bit, but I thought of this the other day when Tyler was telling me that my hair smelled good - I wonder how we smell to God. I wonder if God likes to gently touch our hand, or stroke our cheek, or even smell our hair. I wonder if when he sees us coming to him if He gets excited to see us. I bet He knows us so well that He knows how we smell, and I bet that even when we don't smell so good - we smell good to Him, because His love for us is TRUE LOVE. Much more than I love horses, more than my son loves me, God loves me, and God loves you. His love is the only perfect love. It never fails. I pray that God will continue to work in me and help me to love more like He does.
Friday, November 7, 2008
lessons from a theme park part 2
Thinking about SixFlags earlier reminded me of some other lessons I have learned.
When I was a freshman in college, Tammy and I hung out with the youth group at our church quite often. Oh the stories that are coming to mind - some to remain only between me and Tammy and the few people we might trust with the embarassing details :)
I am going to share one embarassing story with you though, because I think there is a good lesson to learn from it. We were at SixFlags for Atlanta Fest; DC talk was going to be in concert. Being the avid fans that we were, we got up early, got in line early at the entrance to the park with the plan of RUNNING to the ampitheater to get front row seats. (Sidetrack for a minute - a few years later in life, when we were in our 20's, we actually did get front row seats at a DC Talk concert. Standing there in the crowd jumping up and down with the speaker blaring in our ears, Toby Mac looked down at us as he prepared to "jump" off of a tall speaker into the crowd below. Being a little older and wiser then, we shook our heads "NO" and backed up - see we do get a little smarter with age. Maybe there is hope yet) Back to my story... They opened the gate, I had a soda can in my hand, my youth minister behind me, I took off running - never slowed down as I ran past a trash can and threw my empty can into it - my youth minister said I could have won a heisman trophy for it - and I ran, and ran, and ran until I could run no more. I suddenly realized that I had NO IDEA where I was going. I spent a few hours just trying to find my youth group again. Of course when I found them, they all laughed at me - A LOT! What I learned from that was this: If you are going to run with determination, make sure you know where you are going.
Matt and I are running with determination right now. And all we know is that we want to go where God leads us. He has a few possibilities for his ministry and we are praying that God leads us where we are supposed to go. And I have been waiting for a very long time for another foster child after our foster baby passed away last year. I got a call yesterday asking me if I would take a little boy with some major medical needs. I said yes, of course, and was SOOOO very excited. I turned in a 2 week notice at work, bought some new stuff for the little guy, and my kids and I made lots of plans. Then this morning I got a call that it was not going to work out, and I am not getting him. That is what has led me to these last 2 posts - I feel like we are running with blind determination, and I am about to run out of energy. But... I love the rollercoasters, and if I will let go, trust God, and let Him lead me - I know I will get to where I need to be and have a wonderful time when I get there.
When I was a freshman in college, Tammy and I hung out with the youth group at our church quite often. Oh the stories that are coming to mind - some to remain only between me and Tammy and the few people we might trust with the embarassing details :)
I am going to share one embarassing story with you though, because I think there is a good lesson to learn from it. We were at SixFlags for Atlanta Fest; DC talk was going to be in concert. Being the avid fans that we were, we got up early, got in line early at the entrance to the park with the plan of RUNNING to the ampitheater to get front row seats. (Sidetrack for a minute - a few years later in life, when we were in our 20's, we actually did get front row seats at a DC Talk concert. Standing there in the crowd jumping up and down with the speaker blaring in our ears, Toby Mac looked down at us as he prepared to "jump" off of a tall speaker into the crowd below. Being a little older and wiser then, we shook our heads "NO" and backed up - see we do get a little smarter with age. Maybe there is hope yet) Back to my story... They opened the gate, I had a soda can in my hand, my youth minister behind me, I took off running - never slowed down as I ran past a trash can and threw my empty can into it - my youth minister said I could have won a heisman trophy for it - and I ran, and ran, and ran until I could run no more. I suddenly realized that I had NO IDEA where I was going. I spent a few hours just trying to find my youth group again. Of course when I found them, they all laughed at me - A LOT! What I learned from that was this: If you are going to run with determination, make sure you know where you are going.
Matt and I are running with determination right now. And all we know is that we want to go where God leads us. He has a few possibilities for his ministry and we are praying that God leads us where we are supposed to go. And I have been waiting for a very long time for another foster child after our foster baby passed away last year. I got a call yesterday asking me if I would take a little boy with some major medical needs. I said yes, of course, and was SOOOO very excited. I turned in a 2 week notice at work, bought some new stuff for the little guy, and my kids and I made lots of plans. Then this morning I got a call that it was not going to work out, and I am not getting him. That is what has led me to these last 2 posts - I feel like we are running with blind determination, and I am about to run out of energy. But... I love the rollercoasters, and if I will let go, trust God, and let Him lead me - I know I will get to where I need to be and have a wonderful time when I get there.
Rollercoasters
I love rollercoasters! My favorite ones are the floorless ones; and the best seat is the very front. It honestly feels like you are flying - there is nothing below you, and in the front seat - there is nothing in front of you as you fly through the air - up, down, upside down, around turns... When I was a teenager one of my favorite places to go was SixFlags over Georgia. I haven't been there in over 15 years, but I am sure they have many new exciting roller coasters since I was there last. However, one of my favorite rides as a teenager at SixFlags was "The Scream Machine". There were no lap or shoulder bars on this ride - just a plain seat belt that you fastened over your lap. My friend, Tammy and I would fasten the seat belt so that it was loose enough that when we went over the hills we would be lifted completely out of the seat. We would hold our hands in the air and feel the thrill of being tossed in the air - with no control, letting go, and enjoying the ride.
I need to learn to do that again. Not on the "Scream Machine" at SixFlags, but rather on the "Scream Machine" of LIFE. I honestly feel like I have been on a rollercoaster the past year or so. We have had so many ups and downs around here that it has been easy to get scared and try to grab onto and hold onto anything I can. What I NEED to do is lift my hands in the air to praise the Almighty God who is in control of my life, and enjoy the ride.
I have to admit - although that is what I want to do, it is hard to trust enough to let go when you see life flying by so quickly underneath you, and you feel tossed about with what feels like only a small seat belt holding you safely on the ride.
Lord, I want to experience all that you have for me. Help me to let go, trust you, and enjoy the ride.
I need to learn to do that again. Not on the "Scream Machine" at SixFlags, but rather on the "Scream Machine" of LIFE. I honestly feel like I have been on a rollercoaster the past year or so. We have had so many ups and downs around here that it has been easy to get scared and try to grab onto and hold onto anything I can. What I NEED to do is lift my hands in the air to praise the Almighty God who is in control of my life, and enjoy the ride.
I have to admit - although that is what I want to do, it is hard to trust enough to let go when you see life flying by so quickly underneath you, and you feel tossed about with what feels like only a small seat belt holding you safely on the ride.
Lord, I want to experience all that you have for me. Help me to let go, trust you, and enjoy the ride.
Monday, November 3, 2008
prayer
It was one year ago today that our foster baby died. Please pray for his birth family. I don't have contact with them anymore, but I am sure that today was difficult for them.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Give Me Your Eyes
I love this song by Brandon Heath:
Look down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touch down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breathe in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared
Chorus: Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work, he's buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared
Chorus
I've been here a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well, I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way You've seen the people all along
I realized this morning that if my children are only exposed to Christian people at church, then we as a church are not doing our job. Our job as a church is to reach the lost, and we can't expect the lost to dress like us, act like us, or think like us. So although I don't think this transformation of thinking will be easy for me - I think my viewpoint should be: I need to teach my children to love all people, even if they are dressed in ways that may not glorify God; but I want them to glorify God in all that they do - in how they dress, in how they speak, in how they act, and in how they treat ALL people. So my prayer to God is like the song says "Give my your eyes', God, so that I can see all of Your people in need of Your love, then help me to love them.
Look down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touch down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breathe in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared
Chorus: Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work, he's buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared
Chorus
I've been here a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well, I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way You've seen the people all along
I realized this morning that if my children are only exposed to Christian people at church, then we as a church are not doing our job. Our job as a church is to reach the lost, and we can't expect the lost to dress like us, act like us, or think like us. So although I don't think this transformation of thinking will be easy for me - I think my viewpoint should be: I need to teach my children to love all people, even if they are dressed in ways that may not glorify God; but I want them to glorify God in all that they do - in how they dress, in how they speak, in how they act, and in how they treat ALL people. So my prayer to God is like the song says "Give my your eyes', God, so that I can see all of Your people in need of Your love, then help me to love them.
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