Moving for the 18th time

Moving kinda makes me giddy.

Change.

Packing.

Purging.

New.

Fresh start.

Since I went away to college I've lived in 17 different

places. Now, next weekend we'll be moving into my

18th. (If you're confused, please see this post)

Lived in 7 states.

Besides my childhood home (where my Mom still lives)

the longest I've had an address is 5 yrs.... a huge record.

Up until that, it was only 3 yrs.

I've filled the back of a red & white striped Suburban to

drive several states away,

carried dressers across a small college campus,

moved across the hall, or up to the next floor,

had a U-Haul, enjoyed professional packers...

etc..

Moved as a newly wed when all my stuff was brand new,

moved in the winter while it was snowing,

moved while 71/2 months pregnant,

moved with a newborn,

moved while my husband was outa the country and once

while he was outa state... etc...

What do I do first? Next?

1. Go dumpster diving for boxes

2. Clean out closets

3. Clean out weird cluttered corners

4. Pack stuff off that hangs on the walls

5. Use my organizer a lot MORE!

6. Adjust & readjust my expectations of myself

7. Adjust & readjust my expectations of situations

8. Continue to adjust & keep deciding to "just go with it"

My best suggestion is to just take a deep breath.

The important stuff really does get done.

Everything else will just fall into place...

or else it just doesn't need to be.

Smile!

Laugh!

Eat more convenience foods than usual.

And MOST importantly...

keep reading The Word & hanging with Jesus everyday!

Beautiful Colorado

Everywhere. In every direction...
beautiful, contrasting reminders of God's power & love!

(These are taken on my phone... so they'll just give you
an idea of the wonderful sites I've seen this past week.)

Denver International Airport

I love this Man!

This Man ...

- Has a Birthday today

-Is dedicated to JESUS!

- Is committed to me, and I never question that

- Loves & leads our children

-Lovingly leads me & doesn't let me push him around
(and believe it or not, I want that! That's how God created
marriage to be.)

- Is a pioneer... finding new places & way to share the news
of JESUS' love

- Is real. The same. Anywhere.

- Is the person I love MOST in the world

- Is my husband... Chilly...
and I'm in LOVE with him!!!!

Happy Birthday, My Love!

My First... Church building

I'm in my hometown of Greeley, Colorado this week
to be with my Mom while she's recovering from a knee
replacement surgery. (She's doing well)

Between visiting relatives & going to physical therapy
we've been driving past some old familiar places.

Below are pictures of my very 1st church... it used to belong to
First Assembly of God. When I was about a week old my
parents brought me to church for the first time, and from
then on I was there "every time the church doors were open."
When I was in Jr. High we moved to a bigger building.

Inside this building I ...

-experienced the power & love of Jesus

-heard the wonderful stories of Jesus from incredibly

loving & dedicated teachers & Pastors

- was baptised in Water

- was filled with the Holy Spirit

- learned how to communicate during sermons w/out talking

(hey, I loved Jesus, but I WAS a kid, too!)

- learned how to read the "evil eye" from my Mom that meant

I'd better be quiet or I'd be in serious trouble

- learned what real friendship is like

- made decisions that would affect the rest of my life

Truly, I'm grateful for parents who serve(d) God wholeheartedly

and for the dear Pastors, teachers & church family who invested

in my life!

(If You've ever been encouraged by anything I've ever said or done,

then you, too, can be thankful for the beautiful Christian people

who were part of my first church!)

Happy B-day, Riley

My first Baby is now an "adult!"

We spent the afternoon together & the evening with

family enjoying a yummy dinner & the chocolately-est cake

I've ever eaten!

This lovely girl loves Jesus & is following His guidance.

She'd wonderful to be with.

I love her SO much!

Happy Birthday, Riley!

When Ministry HURTS!

A few months ago I sweet lady that was once in our youth

ministry contacted me because her pastor/husband was

experiencing very difficult situations in their church/ministry.

I typed a number of thoughts off the top of my head.

Now, some months later I've decided to post these.

If you're married, read this... even if you don't hold a

" ministry title" this may be helpful to you & your husband...

if not now... at some point.

- It's good that you're very aware that it's the enemy

that's attacking you, not people

- Defending ourselves never helps... it henders

- I've had to smile and nod (and not say a word, OFTEN!)

- It's helpful for wives to listen to their husbands

but not ask too many questions, don't give advice that

requires action and don't join in the conversation with

comments like "Wow, that guy is really a jerk!"

- On the flip side, sometimes, after much listening,

a wife can gently sympathize by saying things like,

"I can see why this is so poopy for you. I love you, Honey.

How is God directing you to respond to this situation?"

- Wives can spare their husbands some (at least a little) pain

by not constantly expressing our own pain.

I'm not saying to be fake, or dishonest, but if wives are

quick to show our hurt & unhappiness then it puts pressure

on our husbands to solve the situation quickly to spare

further pain on the one they love... this can sometimes

cause rash action that's later regretted.

- Wives can find great strength in pouring their deepest hurt

and pain alone with JESUS. (obviously) And then venting

with a trust friend who is NOT in the same ministry location

that she is.

- Your prayers for your husband are your greatest blessing.

- Try to maintain some sense of "normal" around the house

and talk about other things so that "home" is a retreat to him

and not just another place where he has to deal with

more of the same.

- I've learned that guys sometimes process things in silence

(unlike girls who talk out thoughts & emotion). So, be OK with

quiet times together. Him knowing that you're there and

loving him & going about "normal" things will encourage &

strengthen him (possibly more than he may know at this point).

- Nothing lasts forever... except JESUS! and Jesus is worth it all!

While reading the NT I'm constantly reminded that the trials we

endure in the USA are minor.

- Fight to forgive. Of course they don't deserve it...

but neither do we.

- "JESUS!!!!!" (just say His name outloud a few times!)

I love being in ministry... even though I've walked through

some painful situations. If you're dealing with hurt then

I pray that this encourages you & gives you something

practical to put into action.

Wordless Wednesday, August 24, 2010

This REALLY is in DETROIT!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday