My Dad

I love my dad. In honor of Father's Day, I want to share a bit about him with you.

• Dad is a rock. He is a constant in my life. He has always been there for me.

• I have never doubted his love for me. Not even when I've disappointed him. He is a great example of unconditional love.

• Even now in my 30's, Dad will still bait a hook for me when we fish together. I love these reminders that I am still his little girl.

• Just last week when we traveled to MA, Dad drove to Boston's Logan airport...a 4 hour roundtrip..twice. He's driven to all-sorts of airports all over New England for us.

• He's a giver of sound advice. Dad's experience and knowledge are jewels to me.

• Since Dad was laid off in January, we've had more opportunities for phone conversations. I'm enjoying connecting with him more.

• Dad is a wealth of knowledge...in a no-so-scholarly way. He's a big reader, but never makes you feel like he knows more than you.

• He's pretty handy too. Dad can handle quiet a bit, and he knows when to ask for help.

• Dad's very patient. He rarely shows it if he does become impatient.

• He's extremely helpful. His needs are second when someone has a need. Dad would go to the end of the earth...

Dad is a great example of our heavenly Father's love for us. I love my Dad and especially honor him on this Father's Day.

In my head...

I've got a ton going on in my life and bouncing around in my head these days...so, I'm going to share a bit:

• Action Week, Oak Leaf Church's version of VBS, is NEXT WEEK!!! With two sessions to choose from and rotations called Connect, Create, Challenge, & Chow, kids are going to have a blast making connections to adults who genuinely care about them and desire to see kids meet Jesus on their level.
• On Friday, my family & I fly home to Massachusetts. We'll be burying Mike's grandparents who passed in January, visiting my grandpa's grave, hanging with family and catching a Red Sox game.
• You know that magical feeling you get when you walk down Main Street, USA at Disney World and see Cinderella's Castle? Well, I get that feeling when we walk out into the stands at Fenway Park (and I'm not even a die-hard baseball fan), but something about the Red Sox, Fenway Park and the history of it all catches my breath.
• I've run into waaaaaaay too many people who can't pronounce Massachusetts, even educators....so I'm going to break it down for you: Mass-uh-chew-sets. Really, it's not that difficult. Please practice this a few times.
• We have ants in our house. Ew, I know. It frustrates me to no end.
• I'm an introvert. Meaning that people wear me out physically. Just being around people in group settings for periods of time drains me. (Don't get me wrong, I love people). I am learning to identify these situations and find alone time that will fill me up again.
• The Georgia Barbecue Classic starts today! My husband, brother-n-law and a team of friends are entering for the first time. Their team is Backside Barbeque and they are really clever, talented, funny, guys who sure can smoke a butt (pork, I mean).

Lots going on, lots to pray about. I love how different the seasons of life can be!

Not right now God

I was reading in James this morning and came across 4:17. It says: "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

When we hold back from doing things the Spirit puts upon us- for His glory, not ours - it is sin.

I have identified times like these in my life where an almost audible voice inside of me prompts me to pick up the phone and call someone or go and open up the Bible. For whatever earthly, selfish reasons, I have ignored the Holy Spirit. My excuses my have sounded like this: "that phone call has the potential to be way too long, and I just don't have time for that right now," or, "my bed feels so good, I can read the Bible later."

This is sin. It is ignoring God. Yikes! Of course it's a sin to ignore the creator, our savior, the alpha & omega -beginning and end. How selfish and disgusting of us to think our personal agendas can even begin to measure up in importance to His plan!

Oh, and the missed opportunities to bless others and be blessed! When I live in obedience, according to His will, not mine, I may make that phone call just as a friend is feeling stressed beyond relief, and may be the blessing God intended for me to be. In obedience, I have been blessed with joy in times of sadness, with peace in times of stress, and with love in times of anger.

Do you hear that still, small voice calling? Take heed, and listen. But, "do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourself, do what it says." James 1:22

Jeremiah 29:11

"' I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'."

What an awesome promise from the Lord!

I have seen this promise play out. My heart has been stirred for Oak Leaf Church and Kids Ministry for quite some time. After much prayer and patience, I have been blessed with the awesome opportunity to serve on staff at Oak Leaf Church as a volunteer coordinator with Oak Leaf Kids.

I have great respect for Michael, the staff, and the mission of Oak Leaf Church: "Lead people from where they are to where God wants them to be." God meets people where they are in life and people are drawn to Him. Lives are changed at Oak Leaf. I have heard countless stories and seen great change.

I truly believe that if a child has experiences at church where they have fun, feel welcome & loved, and hear Truth about Jesus - they will beg their parents to go back. This past weekend I heard a story from a volunteer about just this: two kids begged their parents to attend Oak Leaf!

I am blessed to be a part of this mission. I trust in God's plan for my life. I cradle it in the palm of my hand, strap on my tool-belt, lace up my running shoes and jump aboard, keeping my eyes on Jesus.

BBQ for a Great Cause

My husband, brother-in-law, and several of our friends have formed a team and are taking on the Georgia Barbecue Classic, a major fundraiser of the Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter in Cartersville, Georgia June 4 &5, 2010.

Come out and support these guys as they smoke it up all night long in hopes of claiming a victory in categories such as "sauce", "ribs", and "pork".

Backsidebarbeque Team Page - http://www.backsidebarbeque.com

http://www.georgiabarbecueclassic.com

http://goodneighborshelter.org

It's Ok to Have Questions

I lead a "Connection Group"(aka small group) during the City, Oak Leaf church's K-5th experience. About a month ago, we were talking about how it's ok to have questions and doubts.

God wants us to bring those questions to Him. I handed each kid a small piece of paper and a pen and instructed them to think of a question, maybe something they've wrestled with, and anonymously write it down.

I told them that I would collect the papers, pray over them, then take the questions home and continue to pray. What amazed me is how excited the kids were that I was going to be praying for their concerns throughout the week.

As I later read through and prayed over their questions I was struck by some of the things written:

• "I don't get why Jesus came back from the dead."
• "Why can't we be perfect?"
• "Which religion to follow?"
• "Why doesn't He answer my prayers?"
• "Why is it so easy to be pulled away from God? But so hard to give up sinful things and follow him?
• "Why did God put the tree in the Garden of Eden when He knew Eve would eat the apple?"
• "Why do we never see God?"
• "Why did my two sisters get split up?"
• "Who am I really inside of my heart?"

This reminded me that the hearts of children are deep. They wrestle with many of the same things we wrestle with. Even more we need to be connecting with and building up relationships with kids so that they can be told and know without a doubt that God loves them.

Favorite things, part 2

A while back I posted "These are a Few of My Favorite Things." Here's part 2:

• cinnamon toast, yum! The smell and taste. Growing up it was white bread and lots of butter...now it's whole wheat and "spread", but it's oh so close!


• Freshly painted toes...red and purple toes are the best! I think pink and french tips are over-done :)


• swimming. i love the weightless feeling. (as a kid, i would become a mermaid by putting a scrunchie around my ankles and practice swimming with my "fin"...that's another story)


• laughing. not polite chuckles, but shake-your-whole-body, pee-in-your-pants, ow-my-stomach-hurts laughing.

• A good friend. There's nothing like having someone who knows you and can tell your mood just by how you answer the phone.

• A clean kitchen. My entire house can be a mess and it won't bother me. Life goes on. But a clean kitchen makes me feel good.

• Visiting my parents house. It's a safe, comfortable place and I feel like a kid again.

• Coloring. Yes, give me crayons and a coloring book and I surely can entertain myself. I always could stay in the lines.

• Post-it notes. Multi-colored and in varying sizes, these sticky-backed squares of paper could be used for a multitude of things if you let me.

Mom

Yesterday was Mother's Day. I love my mom so much...here are just a few of the many reasons why:

• she loves me...no matter what. i have never doubted her love.
• mom has a great sense of humor. and a really funny laugh. when mom, my sister Naomi & I get together...watch out! there will be hysterical laughing.
• mom is smart. really smart. she reads a ton. i always thought she'd make a great contestant on Jeopardy.
• she is wise. i know that mom will give me sound Godly advice when i need it.
• she loves Jesus with all her heart and seeks after Him
• Mom loves my husband and my kids :) she is an awesome Haha (grandma) and she has a real relationship with Mike
• her tender heart.
• mom is still in awe of God's creation...and its contagious. She has a way of causing you to stop and really admire & appreciate the world around us.

Happy Mother's Day Mom. Thank you. I love you.

Her children rise up, and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28

Riding along in your automobile...

...with your kids beside you at the wheel...What do you do?

Most parents with school-aged kids spend significant amounts of time driving...to school, to practice, to friends' houses...What happens in your car during these times? Do you pop in a DVD? Talk on your cell phone? Tune out? Listen half-heartedly to complaints & bickering?

Or do you value this time as precious?

Here's what I've found:

• You have a captive audience when you are in the car together. Don't take this time to "lecture", but converse. My daughter always opens up about what's going on in school. See this time as a chance to find out what's going on in their lives. I find out more about Amber's life during car rides than I do at any other time.
• Listening to the music your kids listen to connects you. Let them select the station/song. You may not particularly enjoy the music, but this is about connecting. Don't cut yourself off from your kids' world...share it. I will listen (and sing along) to many of the finds on my 13 year old son's ipod.
• (side note: do not attempt to be "cool"...you will never succeed in your middle-schoolers eye!)
• Allow for a quiet ride. No music...just quiet.

My heart aches when I see the same mom, day after day, in the car-rider lane at school, on her cell phone, with the dual DVD players on in the back...

Parents, you have the most influence on your child...every moment counts!!!

Preparing for Orange

With a small team of people from Oak Leaf church, next week I am heading to the Orange Conference, a kid-ministry extravaganza (www.theorangeconference.com). In addition to an amazing list of speakers and musicians, I'll be attending four breakout groups that will give me specialized information on areas of kids ministry. I am really looking forward to next week.

Before I leave, I'll be sitting down with my husband to create a list to all the comings-and-goings that he'll have to oversee while I am gone. I know he can handle it. He's my Superman. :)

The other thing I am doing before heading to Orange is try to think through what some things I'd like to walk away from it with are. I've picked up a new journal. (I love new journals!) I've begun recording a jumble of thoughts. I am a note-taker, a quote-jotter, and a doodler-while-I listener. I think that half of what I learn from Orange will be later on as I as review and mull through my writings.

Here's a few things I am looking forward to:

• meeting others like me! Admit it, kids ministry volunteers are a little goofy, and I can't wait to bask in the fun.
• the ideas! People from churches of all sizes, budgets, & needs will be there. I hope to hear how they may be adapting 252basics (our curriculum) to their own situations.
• bonding with the others going. Even just the road trip will be an experience! (did I mention I get carsick?)
• making connections with people that I can share ideas with in the future.
• getting away :) Yes, I am excited to sleep in a hotel.
• worship. there is nothing like thousands of voices raised to the heavens in praise! gives me goosebumps just thinking of it.
• growing closer to God. it's so true that we can be inspired and drawn closer to Him through experiences like this.
• sharing stories. we all have them. the kid who got stuck in the movie-theater chair. the child who asked, "who am i really, inside of my heart?". The time i sat in a puddle of who-knows-what and had wet jeans for the rest of the service. The day you watch one of your students get baptized. It's these touching, quirky, spirit-filled moments, that create great stories, and I can't wait to hear them.

I am so blessed to have this opportunity...Yes, I am looking forward to growing at Orange 2010!

Winter comes before Spring

I love the rebirth of the earth during spring, when all becomes new again. It definitely gives way to thoughts about rebirth into something new and how we are made new in Christ.

I've also reflected on the dormant state that much of nature goes into during winter. After the leaves fall and die, the beauty of flowers and trees fades, we are left looking at brown and grayish bare branches, dried grass, and withered flowers.

But what is really going on? On the outside these things look dead and lifeless, but inside where no one can see, they are being renewed and prepared for the next season where their beauty will soon emerge. There are times of life when it feels like nothing beautiful or meaningful is being produced, or when your potential isn't fully used.

But take heart! It is at these times, that God is preparing and renewing you for something great. During this time or dormancy, we must train ourselves in obedience and truth and be still. Patience.

Take joy in the winter, for spring will follow.

Pre-Egg Drop Thoughts

The 3rd Annual Cartersville Egg Drop is tomorrow, March 27th. (See www.TheEggDrop.com)

The planning is done, 50,000 Easter Eggs are assembled, tons of candy has been donated and sorted, hundreds of volunteers have signed up and are prepared, doorhangers and invite cards have been passed out, the trailer is loaded and ready to go. Prayers have been said for weeks and months leading up to this one event. Volunteers will show up as early as 7am for an event that doesn't start until 10am.

Why? Why does a church put such a huge effort into an event not about Jesus but about candy and eggs? Simple. Jesus called his followers to be light in the darkness, so that those in the dark would be drawn to Him. If through The Egg Drop, one person accepts an invitation to Oak Leaf Church where they can come and hear about Jesus, then we have succeeded. We desire to see people drawn to God. There are so many people just in Cartersville who are far from God. We are not going to reach them by quoting scripture or pointing fingers at them. Jesus went out to the people. The Egg Drop is one way that Oak Leaf Church gets into the community to have fun and build connections with people.

Hope you can come!

An email from my 8-year-old

The following is an email my 8-year-old daughter sent me today.

Hi,MOM

i jest wanted to tell you that i love you and that i am so glad that God put us together.If we were not together then i would be so sad and my hart would jest break.When ever you were gone i would always look at a picture and cry because i always had fun with you and you were jest gone and i still do that and i will always do that even when i am in colege.When ever you come home and i hug you and you hug me my hart would be pounding with joy because you came home to see your family.I jest wanted to tell you that so you could keep us together,but i know we would always be together.I love you so much.

LOVE, your best girl Amber

Christmas Traditions

I'm a sentimental gal. I love traditions and rituals and warm, cuddly, heart-felt moments. That's one of the things that I love about the Christmas season. There are random things that have become traditions in our family unintentionally that I wouldn't trade for the world.

• Choosing our Christmas tree as a family. When we lived in Massachusetts, we would gear up and trek around at the snow-covered tree farm (sometimes for an hour+) looking for the perfect tree. Mike usually is the most particular about the tree, the kids usually end up running around, and I try and help Mike visualize the tree decorated. Of course, here in Georgia, there's no tree farm, but we still go together as a family to select the tree and bring it home.
• Lights and decorations. This too, is a family event. I'm the one with the patience to string the lights and then it's game on and the decorating begins. We usually have a fire and Christmas music playing...perfect.
• Bon-bons...or buckeyes...or chocolate-covered peanut-butter balls. Call them what you want but I will make these with either my mom or my sister at every Christmas possible. I love baking with them.
• 25 Days of Christmas...movies that is. Gotta love watching the oldie-but-goody Christmas movies like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Frosty the Snowman. These classics are a part of every season.
• Yankee Swap. Some call it White Elephant. It goes by many-a-name, but this game of gift exchange has always happened at my large family Christmases. Upon moving to Georgia, we haven't been able to attend those family gatherings and have introduce our version to our southern friends...and the fun continues...
• Christmas morning....everyone must be awake and together we go to the living room. No late sleepers or early peekers.
• Driving around town at night looking at Christmas lights. Some are crazy, some are over-the-top, some are reserved and tasteful.
• Reading the Christmas story in the Bible. We all know the story, but I love to reread it every year. And every year God reveals something different to me. Through reading the scripture and listening to the message at church, God shows me more of Him and why He chose to humble Himself and come to earth. Oh, what an awesome love!

Creation perfection

I recently was going through some photos that I had taken this past summer, and was able to pause and reflect on the perfect, beauty of God's creation. No detail was left unlooked. The intricacies, colors, textures all point to God. How can anyone contest a creator?