Spur of the Moment

Have you ever found that your life must be set up for success? You must remove the distractions and replace them with things that help you reach productive goals. Today, John helped me do that and I'm not sure he even understands the impact of what he did. He rearranged our bedroom...well, I helped just a smidge :)
You've heard me talk about the treadmill in the past. Of course a treadmill is only useful if you open it and USE it!!! It becomes a lovely clothes hanger if not in use. So, I've come to this conclusion- in order for ME to use a treadmill, it must be left down and look very inviting :) Anyhow, John sooooo sweetly moved it to where it can remain open in our room!! yay!!!! All afternoon, I kept thinking "just jump on that silly thing and walk for 20 min." And then I'd think "Nahhhh...it's just too hot today and I already feel sticky from the humidity."
After getting home from Evan's game this evening, I had a spur of the moment thought "Just get on the treadmill!!!" And i did!
My goal is just 20 min per day. I can do it!!!

Serenaded by My Hubby

I'm entering a new phase of life. My youngest child is now 5 years old and getting ready for Kindergarten this fall....I still can't believe this!!! For years and years and years, I would attend family events and parties with such a tense feeling as I had babies and toddlers to always, always care for. I would long for the moments when my very caring family would relieve me and take one child for a walk, or change a diaper, or just feed them and enterain them. I couldn't really ever just relax and have fun. But tonight...was different.

My uncle and fiance hosted an amazing blowout party event in W. Point. This was the first year that John and I could breathe more easily and let the kids run, play, have fun, explore, ride horses...just be kids...without us being on edge. The karoke was absolutely hysterical. The kids would take turns singing songs, dancing, strumming their pretend electric guitars, jam.....just have a hootin' good time!

As the evening went on, I kept nudging my dear hubby to try the karoke (he's super good at it and has a nice voice too) Me, on the other hand, can NOT carry a tune if my life depended on it!!! Finally, finally, he was brave enough to give it a shot and of course...hit a home run! He warmed right up and took his turn singing several songs. By the end of the night, he was confident enough to serenade me to a song that was quite funny....do you remember the movie "Top Gun" ? Remember the part when Tom Cruise decides to talk to the blonde gal and he begins singing to her? Well, my cuz Kristy's hubby Matt put John up to reinacting that whole scene! The song doesn't make much sense about our marriage or anything...but it was cute and fun to just sort of act out that scene. I'm quite theatrical and really think I missed my calling to be an actress :) teeheee...maybe not :) Anyhow, it wasn't actually the words that John sang, but the fact that he did it in front of about 50 people, that just touched my heart. I felt like I was 16 again and my crazy boyfriend, John, was wooing me with his fun-loving personality......that man melts my heart. Who would have ever dreamed that we would be where we are today? I'll tell you who....GOD. God didn't dream it though- HE ordained it and I'm blessed to walk this road called "marriage" with him as my soul-mate.
Praise and honor to God alone who has brought us this far and will continue to strengthen our marriage, our lives!

Ever Get Sick of Ordinary?

For anyone that has read my blog, you know that I had taken a bit of a blog "sebaticle." I've decided to return to blogging because God is making me more and more uncomfortable and pushing me to dig deeper. I'm on the cusp of a major change in my life and I'm not sure exactly what it is though I have some ideas. I've decided to start living a life more of faith and purpose, to not be satisfied with the ordinary. I'm getting sick of ordinary!

I don't want an ordinary marriage.
I don't want to be an ordinary parent.
I don't want to act ordinary at church.
I don't want an ordinary relationship with Jesus.
No!

I want an extra-ordinary joyful life. I want to be soooo contagious that if you even look at me- you see Jesus. If you speak to me- you want more of Jesus within me. If you spend time with me- you long to be more like Jesus. If I pray with you, God's extraordinary love overflows on you. If I hug you, you want to melt becasue God's love consumes you. I want more. I want more.

I want the heavens to rain down a flood of power unto me and others to unashamedly share the gospel of Jesus. Have i so quickly forgotten His power to change lives? Apparently so! When is the last time I shared about the gospel? His truth? I'm ashamed to say "it's been WAY too long!"

I asked God to light a fire under me a few days ago and it's starting to get warm...possibly real HOT...quite uncomfortable actually. I've pulled away from God over the past few months. It's been a not so fun place--spiritually speaking.
I've doubted every spiritual gift that He's given me. I've listened to the lies of the enemy as they are whispered into my ear and have gave way to these lies. I've stepped over to the side and allowed the lies to win. I've been embarrassed to even suggest that I have something of value to say to a group of women. Why would God use me? I became distracted by some personal issues. But Oh boy...I'm ready and willing to follow His call. I don't think that it is some earth-shaking radical change for me, but I think it's right before my very eyes. Every breath and step I take is being watched and compared to what I "say" I believe in.

I have 6 kids who are spending their entire summer with me...listening...watching..waiting...wondering and thirsty to know more about who God is. I have a husband who IS undoubtedly the most amazing man on the face of this earth- I adore many things about him. But mostly- I LOVE that he loves Jesus. I love his honesty, genuineness, transparency, and His growing level of discernment. I feel safe and secure with his umbrella of protection. I feel loved unconditionally. I am the love of his life and he the love of mine. Oh...how richly blessed I am. My greatest ministry is to be John's wife and I am honored!

So...my fire has been lit and I'm going to rely on God's power to live life full of love for others. May the world know HIM because of my love for his people. Whatever that looks like God, I'm ready to listen and to act upon it. Please oh please God-
I'm begging for your strength to transform my eating and exercising habits. You know I don't want to be skinny for skinny's sake, but I want to be healthy and vibrant.
There is NO doubt in my mind that you-God- and you alone are the only one who can help me succeed down this path and to change a lifelong history of leaning on food for comfort. The Bible says to give thanks for all things. Therefore, today, right now, I give thanks for exactly how much I weigh, for exactly where I am, and to know that you promise to work all things together for good. You are God alone and I trust YOU! I'm sick of ordinary when GOD- you are full of extraordinary greatness and grace. Fill me up.