Bible Study Brunch

I have the neatest group of ladies in my Bible study small group! We decided to have brunch at Panera (while the kids played at church), and it worked out that we got to incorporate a baby shower, too! I have such tender feelings for these dear ladies who study God's Word and share their journeys with me.

There were several ladies that couldn't join us...we missed you! Everyone should be so blessed to have a such a wonderful group of friends. I thank God every day for these sweet ladies.

Spring Break 2011

This year we decided to take a road trip to Kansas City and stay at The Great Wolf Lodge.

Dinner at the lodge where all the kids meals come with wolf ears.

Why we came...the indoor waterpark!

Lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise - the BEST burger ever!

The kids had bunk beds to sleep on. They loved watching movies in the evening.

Story Time!

Cub Club - where Nate played and did puppet shows...

And Emma painted ceramics.

The icing on the cake was the large Cabela's store directly across the street from the lodge and the outlet mall just down the street! We had a fabulous week!!!

When an earthquake hits your life, remember...

"Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God's plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins." ~ Eric Liddell (The movie Chariots of Fire is about his life.)

I need more of this

This morning I put on a dress for church (something I rarely do in the winter). Nate saw me and asked, "What's that Mommy?" I said, "It's my dress." With lots of excitement he asked, "Is it a princess dress!?!"

I decided right then and there I need warm weather so I can wear dresses more often. I could get used to being called a princess each week!

Purity

"Purity comes with a radical attitude toward the thought life." (Beth Moore, David)

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MIND and with all your strength." ~ Mark 12:30

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart (thoughts) be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14

I began this 2nd day of Lent meditating on these truths. In order to have the mind of Christ, I must think as he does. It's a radical departure from the selfish, worldy, impure thoughts that usually consume me. Thankfully, His Word tells me exactly how I should think.

"Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy...think about such things." ~ Phillipians 4:6-7

Lord, I pray you will garrison my mind with truth. Protect my thoughts from going astray. Let the helmet of salvation cover my head so tightly that all I ponder today leads back to you and the sacrifice you made for me on the cross.

A Confession for Lent

Confession: I've never participated in Lent. Right about now I'm wondering how many of you gasped? Or is this not unusual for a modern day Christ-follower?

The truth is...after seeing lots of posts on Facebook about what people were giving up for Lent (more about this later) , I googled it to learn more about this mysterious holiday. {More gasps?}

As a child I had many Catholic friends who observed Lent, but I didn't know what that meant and I believed it did not pertain to me as I was an Evangelical Christian. I wonder now...why didn't our pastor preach on this? Why have I not learned about this "time of preparation" in the churches I have attended since my childhood? I'm surprised, really, because I have attended some wonderful churches and have heard some amazing sermons from very godly men of faith. Is this not a topic approached in most Evangelical churches? Should I know the answers to these questions?

I thought about the posts I read on Facebook regarding Lent and wondered what I would give up if I were to observe it. I wondered...Does it count if it's something you wouldn't really miss? Was this "fasting" supposed to be of great sacrifice? I wondered what the motivation was behind so many of my friends participating in this Holy tradition. Why would I do it?

I took another look at what I had found online. Lent is a time of sacrifice for Jesus. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

These powerful, moving words played in my head as I prepared dinner. The Holy Spirit was already working on me. He used the mail - of all things - to drive it home. I opened a package that had just arrived from some dear friends. They sent us this book:

A 40 day devotion/prayer book. A book for Lent. I knew instantly what it was I would give up...something of great sacrifice...and I knew I would begin tonight reading this book.

For Lent I am giving up Facebook. It's a great sacrifice because it's the one way I stay connected with distant friends and family. Facebook is great for that, but its also a time-stealer. There are many times when I sit down to Facebook and become painfully aware of the time I am putting into these "connections" while at the same time neglecting more important things. I've limited myself in many ways, but I have not ever taken a break from it.

With the time I will be saving through my Facebook fast, I will pour into daily communion with God. Praising...learning...listening...discerning...being. I hope when/if I return to Facebook in 40 days that you won't recognize me. I hope I look more like Christ...with a heart more like His...and a mind that is His.

Words of Wisdom

"I pray my pain will be healed, but more so, I pray for the strength to bear it, the grace to benefit from it, and the devotion to offer it up as a sacrifice of praise to God."

~ Joni Eareckson Tada

From THAT to THIS

This time last year I was training for my first-ever 5K. It was called 5K on St. Patrick's Day, which I chose because it was a completely flat course (hard to find in Colorado) and the weather was perfect for spring running. It was a great experience and ended up being the first of 6 races that I would run last year. I planned to do the same race again this year.

But...here we are...one week from the St. Patrick's Day race...and I have yet to sign up. It's not from lack of motivation or training. I continue to run 5 or 6 days a week and often run 5Ks as a regular part of my workouts. This is where I went from THAT to THIS.

Last year I was just a runner. This year...I find myself still running...but I am now also coordinating a 5K. COORDINATING. Not just helping. Not just being on a committee. I am THE race director. I don't say this with great pride...but with fear and trembling!

It all started when I ran a 5K fundraiser last year for a friend's school. She mentioned to me how much money the school made on that race, and I thought, "Why are we not doing this for Emma's school?" I suggested the idea to a friend, who is the PTO president, and she suggested I propose such an event at a PTO meeting. (Little did I know at the time that proposing the idea also meant coordinating the event. Lesson learned!)

So here we are...5 months into planning our event...2 1/2 months to go till race day...and I have yet to sign up for a single race this year. I am neck-deep in 5K planning and fundraising. It's fun...it's all-consuming...its rewarding...its my new passion.

I used to be a THAT (beginning runner), now I am a THIS (5K coordinator). It's weird to be on this side of things, but it has given me great appreciation for the people who host race events. So next time you are on the race course, thank those volunteers. They've put countless hours, time and energy into you having a great race experience.

P.S. For more information on the 5K FunRun I am coordinating for Colorado Springs Christian Schools, click here. We would love to have you join us!