first loose tooth

Compassion Bloggers Trip Widget (Facebook, Myspace, Blogs)

ten seconds from tears

Watching the rain come down this morning, I'm reminded of something I heard this past weekend. I had the privilege of hearing Wess Stafford speak. He's the President and CEO of Compassion International. He's also the author of Too Small to Ignore. He was talking about why he has such a big heart for the children of Compassion. His story is outlined in his book and it's amazing. A true testament of the power of God's saving grace. And as he was speaking, he got choked up. He said he is never more than ten seconds from tears. With his tender heart, the water line stays right at nose level. I was so delighted to be in the presence of someone else who has the same reaction to the children of Compassion. I get choked up or teary-eyed when I hear about these children or see pictures of them. They are intricately connected to my heart. I am usually never more than ten seconds from tears, especially when we are talking about these precious children.

And you know what? I'm okay with that.

a piece of cake

There was so much information given, I don't remember who said the following quote - but I loved it.

"When our love isn’t strong enough, Christ’s love takes over and loves for us. When we aren’t strong enough, Christ is the only strength we need."

I have a really bad habit of not getting involved in something because I don't feel like I can take the task to completion. Or the situation may get "messier" than I would like. This statement reassured me. If God is calling me to something, He isn't going to leave me hanging out there all alone. When my skill-set is maxed, God steps in and through the power of Jesus Christ, He takes over. How freeing! And really, it's all about God in the first place. I am just the vehicle He is choosing to use for a particular task. I think once that truth is planted firmly inside, the rest is just a piece of cake.

Show up. If you feel the nudge, DO IT. God will be there.

I always liked cake. :)

this is the air I breathe

Being at this altitude, I wondered if I would struggle to breathe. I have asthma and while it doesn't flare up much in my hometown, I thought it was a good possibility here in Colorado.

My fears weren't completely unfounded. I'm not short of breath but I feel the heaviness of breathing in my chest. The smallest exertion - like carrying my suitcase - makes me pretty winded. So while it isn't a struggle, I definitely notice the effort my body is putting forth to fill my lungs.

Last night, at the opening session, we heard Wess Stafford speak. Very moving. He put forth a personal challenge of forgiveness. Which struck me because this is something God had already been working in my life.

Then we sang a song - " This is the air I breathe". There is a line in it about being desperate for God. With being so aware about the air I am breathing and the effort it is taking, I fully understood the desperation of needing God as I need to breathe. He is the very air I breathe. He is what is inside of me, making me alive. Just as I need my body to push air into my lungs, I need my sweet Lord.

It was such a vivid picture for me. I'm so thankful that He took my struggle, my fear and turned it into a wonderful lesson on the critical need for total dependence on Him.

In addition, and not just a little off track, I was led to pray for my family last night. To declare in the name of Jesus Christ that Satan has no place among them, among us. That we will be a God seeking family. That I will be the love of Christ to them. That I will honor their God given gifts and not impose my human judgements upon them. That I will be encouraging and uplifting. That God will make me the mean mom when necessary but that only kindness will remain.

It was an emotional night. A big night spiritually. One that I felt was a culmination of many small steps and nudges over a very long period of time.

A collision of mercy, forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. Amen.

2 more days!

Stay tuned! In TWO days, I'm off to the Advocate National Conference for Compassion International!!! I am SO excited. It's in Colorado and I've never been there. I'll be sure to post while I'm gone and share all the GOOD stuff!!

I ask for your prayers - for travel mercies and for the clarity that only God can give. I want to be able to take it all in and not be overwhelmed with information.

Oh, and pray for the children of Compassion - because that's what it's all about!

Thanks and talk to you soon...from Colorado!

hiya

Is it just me or is life a bit crazy right now?

I'm standing at the store, restoring my phone. It decided to go crazy too and I realized just to what extent I was (am) addicted to my phone. See, when I got my phone, I decided to use it as my calendar too. Now, I'm a paper person so this was a BIG adjustment for me. And, yes, my calendar is on my computer but I need it in my hand, on the road, where the heck am I going? So the past few days have been a bit like I'm missing my hand. Not the one I write with, but close enough. :)

So while I love the technology of my phone, it stinks right about now. I'm waiting...waiting...waiting...for it to download whatever lovely thing it needs to work again. So what better time to update my blog. Free internet - check. Free time (even if it is unwanted) - check. My trusty computer - check. So here we are....

The kids are doing well in school. Little Man still petitions for half day school on a regular basis (no such luck, kiddo) and Baby Girl is super busy with soccer AND cross country. I have no idea how she runs so much but you go, girl! She had her first meet on Saturday and she ran two miles in 18 minutes. With only a week of training. After three quarters of a soccer game. Wonder woman. :)

Handsome is gearing up to travel for work. He has to go on three trips in the span of three weeks. That's a lot. And I squeeze in a trip to Colorado in there. Busy, busy, busy. Reminding myself for the millionth time that these are the good days.

I look forward to going to Colorado. I've never been west of Illinois. Unless you count the week at Young Life camp in Minnesota. I hear it is beautiful. I can't wait to learn more about Compassion and to see all the things they are up to. I'll definitely try to post while I'm out there. Especially pictures.

(halfway on the restore...in case you were wondering...)

Is anyone else excited that the Fall TV shows are about to start? I'm not a big TV watcher but my husband has gotten me hooked on a few shows. Plus I'm curious to see what Jay Leno has up his sleeve. To be honest, I'll just be glad to watch something other than football. I know it just started and all, but well, it isn't my favorite thing to watch and our tv is full of it these days.

Wow, that halfway went to complete in a very short time....not that I'm complaining!! I gotta run but I will try to post again soon!!! I'm not even going to stop and read this through first, just post it (might be a mistake!!) so if there are errors, sorry!

God bless!

jpg - beauty

Headed home from a Compassion Advocate picnic. Beautiful sunset...
Thank you God for great weather, inspiring fellowship, and good
prayers for children who need it.

snapshot of 1st grade

the jerk and mr. potter

excuse me

if this ends up sounding

a little incoherent

but i spent most of last night

in a movie theater

with fans way more dedicated

than myself

whose bright idea was it

to premiere a movie

at midnight

even with all the hoopla

i saw at least two people sleeping

that's an expensive nap

so what was i doing there?

baby girl and her step sister

really really wanted to go

and while i usually say no

to wild adventures in the night

i couldn't think of a good enough reason

to say no

so off we went

in the middle of the night

to see mr. potter

and his friends

on their latest adventure

i think they thanked me

a couple hundred times

they sure enjoyed themselves

even though the events of the movie

devastated one of them

luckily i ordered the tickets online

because when we got there

all 14 theaters showing mr. potter

were sold out

arriving a little over an hour early

and finding a seat was still difficult

the girls ended up sitting two rows back

together

and i took the single spot

next to a handicap slot

knowing i'd give it up should someone need it

you get to do a lot of people watching

when you have little else to do

for an hour

and there were interesting people galore

there was a man there with his two children

the kids were maybe 8 and 11

a boy and a girl

well this man confronted these two young guys

that were sitting in my handicap row

in two of the seats

he told them he thought they shouldn't be sitting there

the one young guy tried to explain

and was real respectful, calling the other guy sir

but the man got all up in the guy's face

and was yelling at him

mind you, his two children are watching all of this

the young guy wasn't able to tell his side of the story

although he sure tried

and the man finally backed down

and went back to his seat by his children

about this time

a young girl comes in with a couple friends and her mom

she's maybe a senior in high school

and she's trying to find a seat

the man bullies a few other young guys

about the empty seats next to them

and tells the girl she can sit there with her group

the girl gushes all over the place

and thanks him

i'm silently repulsed

the man proceeds to buy this girl a Coke

when he goes to buy $20 worth of candy for his kids

and won't take the money she tries to pay him back

i'm wondering why in the world

the girl's mom is allowing this to go on

again, this man's children are watching every move

and he was creepy

i caught him staring at the girl

at least a half dozen times

creepy, i tell you

but harmless with so many people around

thank goodness

i just silently observe

so the movie is getting ready to start

and the young guys in the handicap row with me

realize there is one empty seat

behind them

so the guy who was confronted

tells them to save the seat for him

and takes off out of the theater

after a little while

he returns

with two of his friends

one of them is in a wheelchair

and even as they roll over my toe

getting this guy to the spot two seats down from me

i was so excited

that this young guy got the last word

and he didn't have to say anything at all