Beachblonde...

It just doesn't seem fair...

to the rest of the world that in just a few months time I'll have seen Garth (love you Garth) AND Michael Buble!  I love Garth... but Michael, he's my everything!  Poor Matt... he always wants to go to concert... like Aerosmith or Depeche Mode or Prince and I deny.... AND then he gets dragged along to the Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Garth, and now Michael.  Makes you wonder WHY he's so good to me...WHY he sits through these concert of people singing that he can't stand... Well, I'd tell you WHY but his mom and my mom read this blog:)

What a different teacher I'd have been if only...

I knew how HORRIBLE homework time was for the parents!!!!!!!!! 

fresh perspective...

Today I was provided a fresh perspective on the benefit of some of the hard experiences I've gone through the past few years...
I'm getting immunized! 

When we're young... we get  shots, small doses of a virus, so that our bodies can grow stronger and build up immunities.  It stings for a time... we feel some mild symptoms... and in the long run... we are equipped to conquer the big viruses when they come!  It hurts at the time, but we are  better in the end having received it!

I'm finding this true in my "youth" as a pastor's wife... I've gone through some experiences... and at the time, in the moment, they seem like real stingers... but truth be told... the things I've experienced have just been small doses!  However, they are growing me stronger, providing me experience to grow in wisdom from. Without stings of my own... how could I empathize and care about the stings in the lives of others?  Without doses of anger, shame, hurt, & injustice in my own life, how would I be able to combat those diseases when they hit the people in our church that I love and want to care for and minister to?

And, like shots... at the time... watching that needle go into your arm...  and it seems so HUGE... your tense and wanting to escape.  You feel the prick in you skin and feel the hot sting.  In the moment... it's the only thing going on in your world!  For a time, the area is sore and extraordinarily tender.  But after a while, you  rip off the band aid... there is that last bit of sting as it tears away from your skin and you can see the mark of where the shot entered... but the worst is over.  And before you know it... years have passed, your a healthier person having gotten the shots that you don't even remember your parents got you!

Sooo... although not fun... although I've experienced definite stings... I thank GOD for making sure I'm immunized!

What's going through my noggin lately...

If you read my blog, I'm sorry I am either hot or cold!  I either post 5 times a day... or not for weeks!  Sorry! Here's what's been going  on in my noggin....  Lately I've really been sitting back, observing, contemplating, absorbing, processing.... I've been trying to figure out what I think about people I've been watching receive a lot of attention/fame/glory publically for being "Godly" , and privately their lives are... not so much.  I've been wondering about myself, and how I "praise and glorify" people and what I'm promoting, how I too am attracted to charisma and not necessarily character, and how maybe we mistake one for the other.  I guess what I have learned from my personal experiences this past year is that people can "use God" to promote themselves and if we're not careful we will promote them and God, though possibly mentioned by name, isn't really even a part of any of it.  I'm learning that I need to be careful of whom I chose to follow because now that I have seen people follow leaders who I've known deeply who's character is.... well, non existant! So if I have experienced and been a first hand witness to this...  what the heck is the character like of people that I don't know that I'm choosing to follow, blogs I chose to read, what am I  continuing to promote or support?  I guess, my point... don't mistake charisma for character!  Look for fruits, not just talk!

And on a side not to this...Thanks to my friends for being real with me, listening, running this crazy race with me, thanks for helping me (and Matt) keep our heads on straight and remember what it's all about even when things are hard to hear, thanks for always directing us back to character and not promoting our charisma! Thanks for loving us, thanks for valuing our hearts and keeping us focused on what is REAL!

Good old iphone...

Wouldn't you know I got to the Garth concert and my camera battery was dead... that's SOOOO like me!  BUT Matt was able to snap this... as terrible as it is... pic from the concert on his iphone!  Love you Garth!

Nothing says love like...

Amish friendship bread.  Thanks Amanda for loving me when I'm sick in bed!  It seems February wanted to show up January sooo... what's that on the menu...  Broncitus.  Atleast I feel like I got something for my money when I went to Kaiser today... as crazy as it sounds I feel better when I have something instead of "go home and rest... but thanks for the $20".  Sorry to Becca and Derek for missing your parties this weekend, and Sandy for cancelling dinner...and Ricardo, sorry Matt missed game night to take care of our children!