The Fancy Watch

As many people know, I'm not what you would call a technological guru.  I have a smart phone and it can do a lot more than I give it credit for.  I'm still unsure as to how you get Pandora to actually play through your car speakers.  And our tv in the living room...is a big square box.  It's not a fancy one that most people hang on the wall.  It has an extra tv on the back.  And yes, it works and we haven't purchased another one (although we have came close) because it works !

I get this honest.  I had a long conversation with my mother within the last couple of months as to how she could get her phone to get her from point A to point B when she recently drove to Atlanta.  I was really worried about her.  I even thought about going with her, but I was so happy that she figured it all out.

I am aware of the fancy watches that it seems like everyone are sporting.  I was first intrigued when I saw someone staring at their watch for more than 10 seconds.  I thought to myself "it's 2:15....move on!"  I then realized that said person was actually reading a text message. I may or may not have actually looked at them online after that....and that is as far as it went. I know that if I had one I would probably break it on accident, I can see myself running into a wall while wearing it and shattering it or something.

Please know that if you have said fancy watch, I am NOT making fun of you at all.  I'm just intrigued....

A couple of days ago, I was talking to a friend who has a fancy watch. Said friend was talking and became frustrated and his watch began to notify him.  He said "oh hang on, text message." And he then said, "oh never mind, my watch is reminding me that I need to breathe!"

I wish that I had something that notified me whenever I need a dose of Jesus.  Which would be all of the time.  Sometimes I get slack about said quiet time.  The thing that keeps my world into orbit.  When I neglect my quiet time, I can instantly see that I am easily agitated, overwhelmed with life and more likely to become offended....with everything.

When I spend time in God's word, I am calmer.  When I spend time talking with God, I see my heart shift to look a little more like God's. I am also more likely to show love to others who are unlovable.

Why do I just not instantly have my quiet time? Well, because Satan likes to distract me with other things.  He likes to turn my head to the pile of laundry that needs to be folded, the 17 unanswered text messages on my phone and my schedule and to do list.  He's crafty like that. These things are not wrong, but they are if I neglect my quiet time to accomplish them.

What are some of your favorite devotionals? Mine include anything by Lysa TerKurst, "Draw the Circle - 40 Day Prayer Challenge and Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby.

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;    turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

Psalm 17:6

The Mask...

As a child, I didn't enjoy Halloween.  I didn't particularly enjoy dressing up in a costume.  I did not enjoy going trick or treating and seeing familiar people in costumes and masks.  I was frightened when people put a fake mask over who they really were.

Going through life, I am often finding that during hard times, it is much easier to place a happy mask over my face during the times that my face does not naturally smile.  Despite that, even though I am telling everyone that everything is fine. I am all happy inside.  In spite of that, I am really lying...and that is a sin.

I love the song "When I'm With You", by Citizen Way.  Particularly this stanza:

Everything's not fine
And I'm not okay
But it's nice to know
I can come this way

The song is really speaking of coming to God and being honest with Him during our prayers.  I know from personal experience that God honors honest and bold prayers.  Even though God knows everything about us, even the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7) and our prayers before we even speak them (Matthew 6:8).  He wants and desires to hear our needs from our very own lips.

I also feel that God wants us to be honest with each other.  Recently, I was feeling quite glum.  Later that evening, I had a friend call me and tell me about her bad day.  I was sorry that my friend was having a bad day, however it was a blessing to be needed that evening.  It was an honor for me to lift her up in prayer and to encourage her.  Since then, she has also had the opportunity to lift me up on a rough day or two.  And because of that, our friendship has gotten closer.

I feel that we are often times not honest with each other because we do not want to "bother" someone with what we feel like are pity problems.  Although, I also feel that the Devil desires for us to be alone in our struggles. When we are alone in our struggles the Devil can plant evil thoughts into our heads.  When we give our true self to God and to others, we can be filled with hope.

In summary, take your mask off today and be real...to others and to God!

I'm Still Alive...

Hello! It's been a while, but I'm still alive and kickin'. I'm not exactly sure why I've been so silent on the blog. I blame life and all of the business, but I have missed sitting here and feeling my fingertips write away on my computer.

Life...has been busy, rewarding, heartbreaking and full of joy all at the same time. However, I never dreamed that God would have blessed me as much as he has. I wake up alive each day, I'm able to kiss the man of my dreams before drifting off to sleep each night and we have two great kids.  

I'm loving that my husband is in ministry. I absolutely love our church. Not long ago I had someone ask me "do you actually love your church as much as you say you do?" I said, I actually love it and it's actually my favorite place to be. I love the people, the worship songs and the feeling of the holy spirit when I enter the doors. I love being with him late at night cutting things for children's ministry and the moments when we're picking each others brains for new activities!

We recently began teaching a class called "The Art of Marriage" on Wednesday evenings.  We have said over and over...5 years ago if someone told us that we were going to be teaching a marriage class we would have laughed!!  We have definitely had our trials, but we're thankful for how God has brought us through difficult times. I love each couple that has attended and learning about what has worked for them.

My kids are doing amazing in school and in life. Addison recently got her braces off and her teeth look soooo good! Both of them are excelling in school and this is definitely an answered prayer.  Both kids have been uninterested in learning and I am so thankful that they are both finally beginning to have a love of learning.  This is something that we have prayed about over and over!

This pretty much sums up life lately.  Hoping to get back on the blogging train!!

Blessings!

Motivational Monday: Clemson Receiver Artavis Scott

As a Mom of little people, I am constantly looking for positive role models for them.

We are a football lovin' family.  We love to be at the game, wearing our orange and pulling for our Clemson Tigers.

More than that, we love Jesus.  We love directing our kids toward Jesus and showing them why they should run to Him with all of their hearts.

Months ago, I heard the testimony of Clemson Receiver, Artavis Scott.  I do not want to take away anything from his story, so I would encourage you to watch this three minute video that was made possible by NewSpring Church in SC.  Please click the link below to watch it.

Artavis Scott

I am so thankful for Artavis for many reasons.  I am thankful that he turned from his past, admitted his wrongdoings and ran towards Jesus with his entire heart.  I am also thankful that he is so willing to share his testimony.  

While writing this post, I read an article written by the Tampa Bay Times on Artavis and discovered  that he graduated Clemson in December....in 3 years!  Not only that, he was the first person in his family to go to college.  Huge!

You can read the entire article here

So, tonight when our Tigers take the field with the Elephants we will yell Go Tigers!  But we will also be cheering for Artavis, who grew up 20 minutes away from the Buccaneer's stadium (where they were playing), but also said that you only played in the Buccaneer's stadium if you were good.

My friend Artavis, you are good.  You are good enough to play in the Buccaneer's stadium and you are good enough for Jesus.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Our Weekend at Weekend to Remember....

A couple of months ago, my husband and I were blessed with a weekend getaway to "Weekend to Remember".  A sweet couple gifted us with the opportunity to attend the conference and we definitely jumped on board.  A weekend away without kids? Yes please!

We were allowed to choose which weekend we would like to choose. Some were far away, some were close by, but we chose to attend the weekend in Chattanooga, TN because:

1. It was only 3 hours away

2. We had never been to Chattanooga before

I knew nothing about the city of Chattanooga and this is unusual for me. I normally research destinations from top to bottom before traveling. I am normally a great tour guide.  I didn't even know how to get there!  Thankfully Siri did!

On the way there, Spunky and I both admitted that we were happy to be going away, but that we thought that our marriage was "just fine." And we didn't really need to attend classes to improve our marriage! Ha! We were just thankful for a weekend away!  

We decided to stay at The Chattanoogan Hotel.  I knew that I would like the hotel as soon as we pulled my VW in.  It was big. It had a spa. And it was located smack dab in the middle of Chattanooga.  I noticed that Chattanooga was one of those cities with cute little boutiques, unusual restaurants and a pub or two scattered around.  Most people were walking around the city, or riding a bicycle.  I knew that I was going to be in love.  And it wasn't the most kid friendly place either.  I could just see myself crossing streets with little people in tow, whining that they were tired of walking.  (I really DO enjoy traveling with my children, but Chattanooga wasn't the place). 

We checked into the hotel and decided that it was time to explore.  The weather was perfect.  It was not hot, not cold and I didn't even need a jacket.  As soon as we walked outside, I noticed this  : 

A bride, in a stunning gown.  How appropriate that we noticed this on the weekend of the marriage conference!

Spunky and I spent the next couple of hours, shopping and discovering Chattanooga.  The first place that we visited?  Anthropologie!!  We don't have one in our town and I haven't been to one since I visited Birmingham, AL years ago!  We then went to eat at Tupelo Honey's and it was delicious! We also put our phones away, so that we could converse and focus on our marriage (and because you need to do that more than we actually do)!

When going into the lobby of the hotel for our first session that night, you saw two different kinds of couples.  The smitten ones, holding hands everywhere they went, looking dreamingly into each other's eyes. And the not so smitten ones, the ones who wouldn't look at each other or who wouldn't speak to one another.  I felt like Spunky and I were the in between couple.  We were in love with each other, but our days of walking and dreamingly looking into each other's eyes were abnormal because well....we're normally wrangling little people as we walk. Nevertheless, we still loved each other.  I was struggling to see what my purpose for attending the conference was.  Our marriage wasn't in trouble.  Was it to pray for those couples who were struggling?  I assumed that it was!

We walked into the conference and sat in the back, until a very tall man and his really tall wife sat in front of us right before the session started.  If I am going to be in a class in an uncomfortable chair, then I'm at least going to be able to see.  I kindly asked Spunky if he minded ever so badly if we moved.  He was hesitant...moreso when I moved us in the second row of the conference.  Even so, that's when a guy came up and started talking to my husband about football....Clemson football.  He told him that he was at one time the chaplain of Clemson football.  My husband's dream job!  Spunky was instantly a fan of this guy and then he introduced himself as one of the speakers of the weekend.

 I assumed that our communication skills were just fine, but the more that we dug into the session. I realized that I couldn't give myself an A+ in that department.

Our first session was about communication.  I assumed that our communication skills were just fine, but the more that we dug into the session. I realized that I couldn't give myself an A+ in that department.  I realized that I often kept score (I packed lunches and did homework with the kids, so yeah..it's your turn to do the dishes).  It wasn't right....not that I should do all of the household chores, but sometimes I will do more than my husband....sometimes he will do more than me.  We should both put 100% into our marriage and everything that goes into it to make it successful.  I was thankful that the session ended early enough so that Spunky and I had enough time to complete our first project and talk about the way that we felt after the first session.  

On the second day, we were invited to attend a special Pastor's Session in a different conference room.  There were 20 or so couple's present in this session and Spunky's speaker friend from the night before led the sessions.  We learned so many insights during these sessions.  How to juggle ministry and family, how to prevent burn out and to always always have a devotion with your spouse, even though you may be "in the word" all day ministering to others.  The speaker mentioned that these sessions were not offered at each weekend, so we felt blessed that we were able to participate!

We had a really long lunch break, so we decided to do some more sight seeing around Chattanooga.  It was really warm again and Spunky and I held hands (big smiley face) as we ventured around the city.  We found a cute little sandwich shop around a college campus.  We did our second project in a corner booth.  The food was fantastic (so good that I would drive back just to eat there)!  We talked about what we had learned that morning during the sessions and discussed ways that we could balance ministry / family and marriage.  One area that we both agreed needed to improve was to incorporate a monthly date night and a couple of weekends away each year.  Which is still a work in progress.

 Our marriage still isn't perfect, but we're making progress.

The last evening we went on a dinner date and shopping.  We had so much fun talking and giggling.  It seemed like we were newlyweds again.  I felt that The Weekend to Remember helped us to break down walls that we didn't even realize were standing.  Since we returned, we have made it a priority to spend time talking to each other each day and to effectively communicate more.  Our marriage still isn't perfect, but we're making progress.

The weeks after returning, I was still wondering why God took me to "Weekend to Remember".  I know that I grew in my marriage, but I still had a nagging feeling that I was supposed to do something more with the experience.  I was given the opportunity to speak to one of the pastor's at our church in the weeks following and told him about the experience.  He then asked my husband and I to teach a class beginning in March called "The Art of Marriage".  I was thrilled. Thrilled to encourage others. Thrilled to pray for couples during their struggles.  Just thrilled.

My marriage still isn't perfect.  It probably never will be.  But, we are a work in progress. We do not know all of the answers, but our Heavenly Father does and I desire to point others to The Father during those hard times, during the times when he is sleeping on the couch and she is crying herself to sleep in their queen size bed, because I have been there and if it wasn't for those people who pointed me to the heavenly father, I may have already checked out of my marriage.

Happy New Year!

**

And we blinked and 2017 has arrived.

I know that we lost iconic celebrities and suffered several tragedies in 2016.  In spite of that, 2016 was a good year for my family and I (praying that 2017 is also a good year)!  In 2016, we were blessed when my husband was given the position of Associate Children's Minister at our church (which we love), we witnessed babies come to a few special couples that had been longing to have them and we grew in new friendships.  We also had a couple of kid free weekends and times away to reflect.

Most people say that a new year is "turning over a new leaf" in life, especially with all of the changes that our country has gone through.  People try to change for the better, make resolutions and try to become a new person.  For some, a new year is also a new beginning.

However, if you have Christ in your life you do not have to wait until a new year to make a change.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold the new has come.  2 Corinthians 5:17

Thankfully, when you are in Christ you can always make a change. There are days when I really and truly blow it as a mom, a colleague, a wife or I just really stink at life and the choices I make.  I am so thankful that Christ says that his mercies are new every morning. 

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

All we have to do is ask!

I rarely make New Year's Resolutions, because more often they are usually broken.  This year my resolution is to simply look a little more like Jesus each day. I desire to love others harder, grow a little deeper in his word and in his love and to look out of the box for other opportunities to serve Him.

To sum up, I found this awesome videos by The Skit Guys that I would encourage you to check out. It talks about the New Year's resolutions that we make and break each year, it is a little comical!  It is about 5 minutes long, so check it out!

Skit Guys - New Year's Confessions

Happy 2017 everyone!!

** Photo credit:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/353814114460862031/

Christmas Part 2 (a photo overload)...

So, this Christmas was out of the ordinary for our family.  We typically gather in the living room on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought and then casually open each gift one at a time until each gift is unwrapped and there is a mountain of wrapping paper on the floor.

However, since we are blessed with my husband being on staff at a church and Christmas being on a Sunday this year....I knew that Christmas morning would be rushed.  I wanted the kids to be able to enjoy each gift without Mom and Dad saying "Hurry, hurry, hurry....we have 1 hour to open presents and eat breakfast before we have to be at church."   So....this year I broke tradition and we opened gifts after the Christmas Eve service.  Addison and Finn were super excited about this!

I always have so much anxiety about how much to buy each kid and if it is even with their sibling.   So far, Spunky and I gift each child with a couple of toys and 2-3 outfits each.  This year, Addison was gifted 2 lego sets that she wanted.  Finn got the giant fire truck that he wanted for months!

After opening Christmas gifts we decorated cookies for Santa (another tradition).

Fed our reindeer and layed the cookies out for Santa.

This is probably one of my most favorite pictures of my kids ever.  This is probably the first year (and possibly the last) year that they have ever had matching Christmas pajamas.  It is so so difficult to find matching anything for them due to their age difference.  I bought these pajamas at Gymboree shortly after Halloween! Ha!  I was really hesitant to buy them because I hate spending more than $10 on pajamas, but my husband insisted that I get them!

After cookies and reindeer, we sat down to read The Christmas story.  On Christmas Eve morning our Elf "Snowflake" showed Addison and Finn what Christmas is truly about.  

And so, we sat down to read as a family.

The next morning Santa visited.  This year both kids got small Samsung tablets.  Addison got another Lego set and Finn got the Ninja Turtle "treehouse" (which is a playset).

Christmas morning went really really well. I was glad that I had made the call to open Christmas gifts the night before.  Our awesome pastor even said that Christmas morning was pajama day.  So...I brought the kids in their pajamas to church!  It helped that I served in the nursery on Christmas morning, so both kids hung out with me and a few other kids.

After church, we came home and I made fettuccine alfredo for my family. It is one of their favorite dishes (and it is a pain to make).  This is the first year that I have had lunch with only my family on Christmas day.

After a really nice nap, we went and visited with my Grandmother, who is 96 years young.

And yes, my children are still wearing matching pajamas!  

And Christmas 2016  is in the books!