Road Trip

On Tuesday morning I am headed out on a road trip. Atlanta, here I come! I am going to a conference and will return on Sunday afternoon. (I actually am flying back, but the drive up counts, right?)

Tomorrow is a golf tournament that benefits the ministry where I work. Our entire staff will be spread out over the golf course doing various...well, we'll do whatever we are asked.

Needless to say, my blogging may be sporadic over this next week, but I will try to check in a couple of time. Honestly it all depends on the Internet access at the hotel where I am staying.

So, until I can pick up my next WiFi signal, have a great one!!!

Patience- Part IV

In case you would like a little review or need to catch up, here you go...

Patience- Part I
Patience- Part II
Patience- Part III

I am still waiting, still being patient, so I am still learning. AND sometimes I like to blog about what I am learning. :)

I don't know what it is, but music has the ability to get to a part of me like nothing else. It hits something deep inside and evokes emotions that lay dormant most of the time. Music has the ability to break through all the walls in a few notes and/or words. There are songs that just make me want to get on my face...others where it impossible to keep my arms from lifting in the air. Songs where I feel God's heart being revealed...song where I fell my heart is being poured out to God.

The following is one of those song in which I feel like the writer knew my heart. What I have been longing to say, but could never quite find the correct words. The song that has been my heart's cry for the last several months...even thought I hadn't heard it until this morning on my way to work. John Waller, who wrote and sings this song, wrote "but the important thing to remember while we're waiting on God is to not just wait but to actively wait. Serve, worship and be faith with what you have, where you are...'even while (you) wait." I don't pretend to know everything, but I think that is some pretty good advice.

Now, one disclaimer before the video...In the first verse it says that waiting is painful. I guess I can see where he is coming from, but I am not sure that I completely agree. Waiting can be frustrating. Waiting can be difficult. You know...Now that I am thinking about it more, yeah, waiting can be painful. Maybe not the kind of pain that we think of first, but pain nonetheless.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this song.

Flashback Friday

Only one of you called me out about not getting a video posted last Friday...so either no one else really cared or they figured I had an insanely busy week and just didn't get to it. Just for the record, it was the second. However, I did not want to disappoint (at least Michelle) two weeks in a row, so here we go...

Circa 1987...How many people can you pick out?

Gift

This first week of fall has brought me a little cold. Thanks, Fall.

Hmmm...

This is one of those evenings where I am not exactly sure what to write.

I mean should I write about the lady that was too "mature" to be wearing the mini skirt, heels, and tube top...in Dillards?

Should I write about my trip to the Clinique counter at Dillards? How I managed to hit their bonus time without even knowing about it? Or maybe the "fun and flirty" bag that my bonus came in? Because we all know that "fun and flirty" is the perfect phrase to describe me.

Maybe I should share the news that Madeline is going to be making her stage debut...as Baby Jesus in the church musical. Of course Stuart and Michelle will be Joseph and Mary. Two thoughts came to mind immediately..."I didn't know Mary was a redhead." and "I didn't know Jesus was a baby girl." I'm still waiting to hear how that explain that one to Jacob. On a serious note, I think they will all do great.

I guess I could give my predictions for Dancing With The Stars (DWTS)...well, at least the couples to watch for (listed in no particular order):

• Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo
  
• Brooke Burke and Derek Hough
  
• Kim Kardashian and Mark Ballas
  
• Misty May-Treanor and Maks (not even going to try and type out his last name)
  
• Cody Linley and Julianne Hough
  
• Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson

I know that is kind of a long list, but it's only week one. I think an honorable mention should go to Lance and Lacey. I don't think they will survive Len and his judging, but that is just my opinion.

On that note, I will sign off for the evening. I am fighting a little cold/sore throat and the medicine I took about a half hour ago has begun to kick in and my eyes are getting a little heavy. Besides DWTS is back on...I am watching Maurice and Cheryl dance and I might have to add them to that list...at least it was entertaining!

Warning

There may not be much blogging that occurs on Mondays for the next several weeks. Dancing with the Stars has begun, so just consider this your warning! :)

Maybe I will begin to share my thoughts...we'll see.

Peaceful Night

Really Bad TV

Over a year ago I battled with the cable company over the fact that I was receiving more stations than I was paying for. They assured me I wasn't. I mean, what are you going to do. All that to say, my roommate and I have been enjoying 90 channels...until this week. I guess the cable company finally realized their mistake. We now only get 26.

This change has drastically changed my viewing options. No more TLC. No more ABC Family. No more Travel Channel. No more HGTV. Well, you get the picture.

So, what am I watching tonight? Some show called "The Hole in the Wall." The premise is a wall comes barreling down the play area and the contestants contort their bodies to match the hole in the wall. It's like a train wreck. You don't want to see it, but for some reason you are incapable of changing the channel. Right now the teams are as follows: 3 female body builders/fire fighters and 3 men...well that are little people.

Patience- Part III

Just in case you want to go back and refresh your memory or in case you are new to my blog, you can go back and read both parts 1 and 2.

Patience- Part I
Patience- Part II

As I finished up reading about perseverance, I came across Romans 8:24-25.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

It was the last phrase, "with perseverance we wait" that really stuck out to me. I began looking at patience which lead to studying out perseverance/forbearing. I realized that waiting was going to be next. Waiting is a part of patience. All of these go hand in hand. I shouldn't have been surprised. Several of the verses that I had studied back in Psalms that used the phrase "wait patiently" (Psalm 37:7 and Psalm 40:1-3).

Not only does the Bible say that we should wait patiently, but how to wait, what to wait for, as well as benefits of waiting:

• Our soul sometimes waits in silence (Psalm 62)
• Wait for God's word (Psalm 119:74, 81, 114, 147)
• Wait for the Lord (Psalm 130, Isaiah 40:31)
• Wait for His lovingkindness (Psalm 147:10-12)
• Wait eagerly (Isaiah 26:8-9)
• Wait with hope (Isaiah 49:23)
• Wait expectantly (Isaiah 51:5, Micah 7:7)
• The Lord is good to those who wait (Lamentations 3:24-26)
• Wait continually (Hosea 12:6)
• Wait for what the Father promised (Acts 1:3-5)
• Wait patiently (Hebrews 6:15)

Another verse that really hit home was Psalm 27:13-14.

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD (NASB).

Now that is some good stuff.

I've also read a couple of different excerpts from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers, but I will have to share those at another time. I guess that means there will be a Part IV! :) Maybe I will eventually draw this to a conclusion, but until then I guess you will have to wait...

Asleep

I laid my head down for just a second...the second turned into over a three hour nap. I just woke up a few minutes ago on the couch. I'll post tomorrow.

How to Hold a Baby

First of all, I survived the open house at work. It was hot, but other than that a wonderful event. I am even all ready for tomorrow's training. I did most of my setting up after the open house. I even ran to the store on my way home and all I have to do tomorrow is pick up ice on the way to the office. (I don't have the freezer space at my apartment.) I mean, I have even ironed my clothes for the entire week. I did that last night. I am not sure what has come over me, but it is making things much smoother.

Now, to the point of the post.

Back several weeks ago when I was in Texas with the "fam", I found at the my younger brother, Uncle Roger, had yet to hold Miss Madeline. The night before I left Aunt Alisa, his wife, decided that it was time that he hold her. He protested, "I've never held a baby that small." Okay, I see his point. I remember my rotation through the NICU in nursing school. Those babies were so small. It can be intimidating, but she was a month old at this point. Alisa decided that was no excuse. I think her exact statement was something to the effect, "Well don't think I am going to hold our babies until they get big enough for you to hold." Before he knew what had hit him, Madeline was thrust into his arms. "How do I hold her?" My mom, Alisa, and I replied in unison, "Like a football!" As a football coach we thought this might help. Of course leave it to me to add, "But don't spike her!"

He thinks, "Like a football, like a football...I can do that."

Roger's face in this picture is priceless.

Relax, Brother...that's better.

"Maybe this isn't so bad after all."

"What is she doing?" Babies move, Roger. :)


Rog, watch Stuart. See. He is even man enough to sport the pink burp cloth. :)

So Much To Do...

...and so little time! That is what the last several days have felt like. I feel like I have been going, going, going...kinda like that pink bunny! :) The good news is that I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The last two nights I have only had the energy to make cereal for dinner. I guess "make" should be used rather loosely.

On a more positive note...I made a very special purchase today in attempts to organize my crazy little life. And I am not talking about my stylin' new duds that I bought at New York and Co. When the weather cools off a little bit I will definitely bust those out for everyone to see...but back to my organizational purchase.

The best thing about it is that it's red!!!

I'll admit it, I have had my fair share of planners over the years, but I am hoping this one is the answer to all my problems. It is small and compact. That means it will fit in my purse...at least most of them. This way I should never be without it. At least that is the plan. I know all of you who regularly read my blog will wait with anticipation on how this organizational strategy will work. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted!

Flashback Friday

It's that time of the week, Flashback Friday!

When you are a child in the 80s, your parents really control most of your life. I remember hearing about Petra during those years. For some reason I just always thought there was something just horribly wrong with the group. I couldn't figure it out, but the way the adults in my life talked about it, I just assumed they were evil. Of course now I know they just didn't like their music....but what's not to like?

So without further ado, here is Petra with "Counsel of the Holy" from their 1988 album On Fire! (You just have to check out the clothes in this one.)

Hmmmm...

I don't have anything important to say. I have prepared quite a nice post for tomorrow's Flashback Friday feature, so make sure you come back and check it out.

Other than that it's been a busy week at work and I am looking forward to Saturday.

House Hunt

I saw 5 tonight. Two good ones, two bad ones, and one that was okay. Let's start with the bad...the first was such an obnoxious color of yellow...it was hard to get passed that. The second most likely would have been nice had it not been for the profanity and graphic pictures that had been spray painted in every room. It was just sad. The okay one...well, it was just okay. The two nice ones...one has some definite potential but not a side of town that I had looked at before tonight. The other was interesting, but also had a lot going for it. I actually put an offer last week on a house on the exact same street, but obviously that didn't go any where I wouldn't still be looking.

Now it's late and I have much to think about and some zzzz's to catch!

Taylor the Latte Boy

I know...another video. You might think it is due to lack of inspiration, but oh no. This post is full of inspiration. This song is almost autobiographical, but I don't always get free coffee...sometimes its a brownie or a cookie or an 8 oz bag of their new special blend coffee.

All I am saying is that while his name isn't Taylor, there is this guy at Starbucks and might, kinda, sorta, definitely, maybe, possibly love him I mean have a harmless crush on him. And I don't even care that my coffee wasn't decaf last night...besides he didn't make it anyway! Sigh. :)

What Life Would Be Like

I love music. There have been several new CDs and songs that have been released recently that are quickly becoming favorites. The chorus to one of the new Big Daddy Weave songs, "What Life Would Be Like," really hits something deep inside me.

He made the lame walk
And the dumb talk
He opened blinded eyes to see
That the sun rises on His time
Yet He knows our deepest desperate need
And the world waits
While His heart aches
To realize the dream
I wonder what life would be like
If we let JESUS live through you and me

Sometimes I forget how big God truly is. I think of Him as some being that sits far off. I forget that in the person of Jesus He walked this earth and He healed many people and performed so many miracles. Oh, how I need to be reminded how big God is. Then and only then will others see my big God in me.

(I looked for a video of the song to download, but only found a rough version on You Tube. This is a much better version, but I couldn't load it to the blog.)

Flashback Friday

How can you decide what to post when it comes to Carman?



Technically, this is early 90's, but still...

Today's Questions

1. How did I manage to forget to call Roger and Alisa and wish them a happy anniversary yesterday...even after commenting to Michelle on the phone that we both needed to call them?
2. How did I manage to pack my gym bag with an array of things, several multiple items, and still some how forget socks?
3. Why does the cashier at Publix always insist on rolling my apples down to the "bagger"? Does she not know the care that goes into picking those out?
4. Why am I so tired at 9:30?
5. How did I manage to burn my hand when cooking dinner?
6. Will I actually get up tomorrow morning when my alarm goes off at 4:45 to jog?
   

Patience- Part II

Did you think I forgot? I have actually continued to search out Scriptures about patience and also used synonyms like "perseverance" and "forbearance". Bible Gateway has been a tremendous help in all of this.

Now, where were we?

Oh yes, lets begin where we left off.

Forbearance...which is "refraining from something, forbearing conduct or quality; patient endurance; self-control, an abstaining from the enforcement of a right."

So, can I interject at this point, I don't like it when a word is defined with a form of the exact same word. I mean, "forbearing conduct or quality" does not help me at all. I'm so glad that I got that off my chest.

Fortunately Dictionary.com does define forbearing- "to refrain or abstain from; desist from; to keep back; withhold; obsolete, to endure; to refrain, hold back; to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation." I also found forbearance defined as "the act of waiting, the exercise of patience."

Interestingly, I found forbearance used three different times in Scripture (Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 3:9, and Hebrews 5:1-3 all in the Amp. version) and in each instance it is talking about God's forbearance. I don't know if that is significant or not, but it does make me wonder.

While all this makes sense, it doesn't look any easier than being patient. Which reminds me of a song my nephew use to have to sing when he began to get inpatient.

"Have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry.
When you get impatient you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient too
And, think of all the other times He's had to wait for you..."

Okay, He has had to wait on me a lot in my life. Maybe I should begin to sing this when I start to get impatient.

To be continued...