Today I feel uninspired. I have no witty words to share with you. No words to inspire and encourage you as you go about your day. No cute stories to share. As my husband would say, "I've got nothing."
But, I need your help. And so in exchange for your help I've managed to come up with a few words (which you might be better of skipping and just jump to #4).
My friend Christina will often do a weekend update. And since I have no creativity within me at this moment, I am going to steal her idea (I hope you don't mind). And while her weekend updates are fun to read, please prepare yourself - mine is extremely lame and quite possibly a large waste of your time.
And so, I present...
My Weekend Update:
1. Somehow I managed to attain tens of mosquito bites all over my legs. They are driving me crazy one itch at a time.
2. On Saturday I was able to go to my cousin's wedding. In a twist of irony, we attended the shortest wedding service ever (approx 5 minutes) coupled with the longest wait for a reception (and meal) (approx 4 hours). On the plus side, the bride was beautiful, we got to hang out with fun people without children :), and enjoyed a little salsa courtesy of the bride and her father - very cool! Oh, and the food was really good too!
3. The Cubs lost again. Swept by the White Sox. My husband ( a fan of both Chicago teams) was unable to decide who to root for. So he watched the game dressed in a Sox shirt and a Cubs hat. He is a conflicted man.
And now for the blog participation portion of this riveting post:
4. The upcoming week is "birthday week" at our house. My daughter's is on Thursday and the boy's is on Sunday. I need some help. Do you have any fun gift ideas for 3 year old boys? I could use a few suggestions.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I almost forgot...
We were so tired the last leg of our trip home from She Speaks. Our plane had been delayed and we were arriving an hour later than planned. My sister Jami shares our last "adventure" quite well here. She makes me laugh. I remember at one point during the plane ride looking over at her with her eyes closed, her hands folded and a very worried expression on her face.
But that was not the only way she inspired laughter on that fateful trip home (and yes I do haver her permission to share this - it is just one more example of what tired can do to a person).
We were looking out the window at all the pretty lights shining from the earth below us. And she made the comment, "Oh we must be getting lower."
"Why do you say that?" I questioned
"Because we can see the lights." she answered back.
"Jami, that is because there are no clouds out tonight."
"You mean we can always see the lights when there are no clouds?"
Some questions are better left unanswered.
But that was not the only way she inspired laughter on that fateful trip home (and yes I do haver her permission to share this - it is just one more example of what tired can do to a person).
We were looking out the window at all the pretty lights shining from the earth below us. And she made the comment, "Oh we must be getting lower."
"Why do you say that?" I questioned
"Because we can see the lights." she answered back.
"Jami, that is because there are no clouds out tonight."
"You mean we can always see the lights when there are no clouds?"
Some questions are better left unanswered.
Stories, Pictures and New Friends
I'm not sure where to begin. I came away from She Speaks full of information, friendship and an excitement for the future. (And to think I almost missed it by miscalculating what time we should be at the airport Friday morning - picture me running through an airport parking lot hyperventilating at the thought of missing our plane!)
One of the highlights of the weekend was the focus on blogging. Not only did I get to meet people who love to blog and whose blogs I read, I got to sit in on workshops led by Boo Mama, Big Mama and Rocks in My Dryer! (If you are interested in growing your traffic or learning about blogging boundaries, etiquette and privacy check out their blogs, they have posted their material from the weekend!)
All of the workshops I attended were full of good information. I have a lot to process and sift through.
The best part of the weekend, however, (besides getting to share it with my sister) was the friendships that I made. I love it when God provides a kindred spirit. Even when you are not looking for one.
Pictured below are Karla, me, Jami and Emily (not pictured is Samantha). These are women I laughed with, cried with, connected with, ate with, and stayed up late with. Our time together was entirely too short. Thank you for making She Speaks extra special. And, for sharing your hearts and time with me. I can't wait until we meet again!
One of the highlights of the weekend was the focus on blogging. Not only did I get to meet people who love to blog and whose blogs I read, I got to sit in on workshops led by Boo Mama, Big Mama and Rocks in My Dryer! (If you are interested in growing your traffic or learning about blogging boundaries, etiquette and privacy check out their blogs, they have posted their material from the weekend!)All of the workshops I attended were full of good information. I have a lot to process and sift through.
The best part of the weekend, however, (besides getting to share it with my sister) was the friendships that I made. I love it when God provides a kindred spirit. Even when you are not looking for one.
Pictured below are Karla, me, Jami and Emily (not pictured is Samantha). These are women I laughed with, cried with, connected with, ate with, and stayed up late with. Our time together was entirely too short. Thank you for making She Speaks extra special. And, for sharing your hearts and time with me. I can't wait until we meet again!
Monday, June 23, 2008
He Speaks, I listen (sometimes)
What a weekend! I had the opportunity to travel to Charlotte, NC with my sister this past weekend for Proverbs 31's She Speaks conference. I went expecting a "message from God." I went expecting to hear from Him at the conference. And I did, although not in the way I expected.
On the first day of the conference I felt Him prompting me to do something outside of my comfort zone, it was not a big thing. It was not even that far out of the zone (like maybe an inch outside). But I said no. And it bugged me the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday night, I visited the prayer room. In the prayer room tables were set up that held papers with the different names of God and the names of all the conference attendees. I went to look for my name and walked right to it. It was on a page that said "The Lord of the hosts of heaven will always fulfill His purposes, even when the hosts of His earthly people fail." It spoke peace to me immediately.
Today during my quiet time I looked up the verses that were listed underneath those words. Malachi 1:10, 13 spoke to me. They say
Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my alter!... When you bring injured crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?, says the Lord.
I think that is the state of my heart. I offer "sacrifices" that don't inconvenience me or make me uncomfortable. I offer only the things that I can give while still keeping up "appearances". But, I am not willing to give the best offerings, to make the true sacrifices and so I light a "useless fire" and offer him the "crippled animals." I obey Him when it is convenient and when I don't look like a fool in the process.
That is not how I want to live. I want to experience God in big ways and small ones. And that involves obedience. Honestly, I don't have a lot of confidence that I will obey him the next time he nudges me. So I will just plead for mercy and grace, which He always seems to have enough of, and rest in the knowledge that His purposes are always fulfilled, even when his people fail.
And now I am feeling very tired, so I think I am going to take advantage of my quiet house and take a nap. I will be posting pictures later. And telling stories. And introducing you to my new friends (one of the biggest blessings of the conference!).
On the first day of the conference I felt Him prompting me to do something outside of my comfort zone, it was not a big thing. It was not even that far out of the zone (like maybe an inch outside). But I said no. And it bugged me the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday night, I visited the prayer room. In the prayer room tables were set up that held papers with the different names of God and the names of all the conference attendees. I went to look for my name and walked right to it. It was on a page that said "The Lord of the hosts of heaven will always fulfill His purposes, even when the hosts of His earthly people fail." It spoke peace to me immediately.
Today during my quiet time I looked up the verses that were listed underneath those words. Malachi 1:10, 13 spoke to me. They say
Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my alter!... When you bring injured crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?, says the Lord.
I think that is the state of my heart. I offer "sacrifices" that don't inconvenience me or make me uncomfortable. I offer only the things that I can give while still keeping up "appearances". But, I am not willing to give the best offerings, to make the true sacrifices and so I light a "useless fire" and offer him the "crippled animals." I obey Him when it is convenient and when I don't look like a fool in the process.
That is not how I want to live. I want to experience God in big ways and small ones. And that involves obedience. Honestly, I don't have a lot of confidence that I will obey him the next time he nudges me. So I will just plead for mercy and grace, which He always seems to have enough of, and rest in the knowledge that His purposes are always fulfilled, even when his people fail.
And now I am feeling very tired, so I think I am going to take advantage of my quiet house and take a nap. I will be posting pictures later. And telling stories. And introducing you to my new friends (one of the biggest blessings of the conference!).
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Amber...
you are the winner of Susie's book Balance that Works When Life Doesn't!
Congrats - it is a great book. I know you will enjoy it.
Congrats - it is a great book. I know you will enjoy it.
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