ready or not!

Jeremy’s best friend Max is getting married to Brigitte in Norway, and Jeremy is the best man, so…

In less than a month, Jeremy and I will be heading to Norway, alone.  With NO kids! 
While to some that sounds divine and delightful, to me…well, it does sound that way on occasion, but …I have to admit, I have been feeling some trepidation and anxiety.  First of all, I am not one who typically enJOYs flying.  neh.  uh.uh.  don’t like the whole idea. 
Second, we are going for 10 days.  1o DAYS!!!  on another continent.  without the kids.  what will I do?  They are going to be all grown up by the time we get back. 

Anyways… they will be in good hands and I am praying that I will be able to relax and enjoy myself enough to get a good look at those beautiful fjords and do some glacier hiking. 

I’ve been feeling a bit direction-less lately.  Feeling like I need to have something before me to which I am steadily moving torward.  I feel like I need some clarity, some direction, some prodding???  I think this trip to Norway will be a good chance to get some time to spend with myself, with my husband,  and with God.  Figuring stuff out.  I have been missing out on early morning quiet times with Jesus.  I find the kids have been getting up earlier and earlier, and I just never.seem.to.get.to.it.  I know this is why I feel directionless. 

Jer and I were talking about committing to pray and ask God (individually and together) to begin to speak to us about where we are, what we are doing and what we are supposed to be doing…etc.   We are not really the 5-year-plan kind of people (at all!), but i know that when I have nothing to move towards, I feel hopeless.  I have lost sight momentarily of what we are to do.  I guess most importantly, I desire to know what’s on God’s heart for us so that I can pray towards it and usher in God’s will for our lives.  I believe that as a wife and a mother….that is one of my main purposes.  To KNOW where God is leading us and to PRAY for His hand to move.  I think often it is assumed that if God wills something for us, it will happen, no matter what.  I don’t believe this is always the case.  He has decidedly partnered with us, giving us the authority to ask and receive, to have faith and see Him move in response to it.  It doesn’t always land in our laps.  That’s actually quite rare. 
Anyways…all this to say that I think some good fresh Norweign air and some quiet time with God and Jeremy will do wonders.  I pray that I can hear God speaking clearly. 

dark, dismal and delightful

it looks like rain today.
i absolutely love rainy days.  the dark, threatening sky somehow seems to give permission to “hunker down” and be still.  not that i need permission, but sometimes it feels as though i do. 

we plan on hunkering down here today anyway, since the kids have both caught the nasty cold that’s been going around.  they haven’t had even a sniffle in the last 5-6 months, and now it seems that they’ve caught a doozie.  so, today i play nursemaid and give myself to nurturing them back to health.  i’ve been making lime and honey tea, and garlic and honey toast…along with doses of tylenol cold to help them (and us!) sleep.  here’s praying for speedy recoveries all ’round.

jeremy spoke at church on sunday.  i love listening to him preach.  its like i get a whole new revelation into his soul.  even though we talk and share all the time,  its like he articulates his heart differently, and i love it.  plus i am always inspired.  anyway, he was speaking on being a servant.  and how we, as christians are supposed to humbly serve others, with no ulterior motive.  simply to be as christ.  and to show christ to the world.  and he also spoke about having joy, and asking God to fill us with joy.  i realized how very important this is.  first of all, as the bible says, the joy of the Lord is our strength.  his joy is what gives us the strength we need to face each day.  but i also believe that if we, as christians,  are to be different from the world, we need to really be different.  what is it that makes us different?  we still face hardships and difficulties and live “normal”life…but we have something that sets us apart.  we have christ, in us, giving us strength for the battle and joy in the battle. 

so today, i pray that my heart would be filled with joy.  not only for my own benefit, but so that those around me today, my husband, my kids, (my dog!), my neighbours would be able to sense jesus when they are around me. 

have a great tuesday ya’ll!

(and hmm…wouldn’t you know…the sun’s breaking through the clouds.  so much for my nice rainy day.  ach, vell. ) 

the stand.

here’s a video to watch…more importantly, to listen to.  the words are powerful, and convict me all the time.  sometimes its easy to think this life is all about this life.  the here and now.  and things can be overwhelming.  however, sometimes i need to be reminded that we are part of a bigger picture.  God, the creator of the universe LOVES us, cares for the details of our lives, and sent Jesus to die so that i don’t have to.  no matter how crappy i am.  his righteousness becomes mine. 
i have to recommit to this all the time…to giving my life to Him.  its not about me.  its about Him.  

Check out this video: The Stand

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