Why don’t I trust Him? He never lets me down and yet I still worry and fret and make backup plans. Really. Today, I made a backup plan. What was I thinking?
I volunteered to teach Youth Bible Study tonight, since Corey cannot be at church. As the day approached, I began to flounder. I had no idea what to teach on. All of my ideas felt contrived. I had no passion on any one subject that made me want to talk all about it in front of a room full of teenagers. I mean, there is plenty I am passionate about, but none of those things felt right for tonight.
Yesterday, I gave up. I told God that I would talk about whatever He wants me to. It was up to Divine Inspiration.
By the morning, I was terrified. I pictured myself stumbling through apologies for having nothing prepared or winging it and boring them to death. So, I threw together a Power Point presentation with some meaningful quotes, figuring I could use them as discussion starters if all else failed. I felt very blah about this and figured it would be a short evening, but at least I had something prepared, right?
Then, after coming home from running errands, I went out to check the mail and noticed a box in my driveway, just under the carport. A glance at the return address told me it was from my friend, Liz, who is a missionary in Hong Kong. I have to tell you, I have a special place in my heart for Liz. One, she was Haydn’s first crush. As a baby, he would just stare at her in awe. Amazing for a kid who cried most of the time, otherwise. Second, Liz came to my baby shower when she didn’t even know me and let me borrow books, etc… She reached out to me in a very dark time, and I will always see her as radiating light, for that reason. Third, Liz has had some experiences I would like to have. She got to live in Kentucky as an adult. She spent a summer in New York. And, now, she is in Hong Kong and has traveled other places this year, as well. I am a teensy bit jealous. There are a million other reasons to love Liz (did I mention her brilliant curls), but these will suffice for now.
I rushed into the house and opened the box immediately. First, a beautiful green shirt she says will go perfect with leggings. How well she knows me. Second, a keychain from Bali (my dream retreat). Third, a book that deals with travel and spiritual concepts. This fits my summer challenge and my heart, right now, so perfectly.
Looking at these things, I knew what I had to teach tonight. It is one of those passionate subjects I had an epiphany about this week. It felt too unformed to use tonight, but this box from Hong Kong also contained a piece of the Holy Spirit, a hand reaching from one part of the Body to another. God filled me up and said, “This is it.”
And, just like that, my backup plan is out the window. How could I have ever doubted He would show up? He always drops in like this. Last minute, unexpected, Perfect.
Heather
The title is a song lyric. Know which one?
^Twilight is a wee bit addicting. But, also VERY frustrating and annoying. LOL! It’s the whole in love with a Vampire thing. There just aren’t many happy endings. You either die while he is still 17 and gorgeous or you become a Vampire to stay young with him or you find some miracle cure that makes him Human again, but risk that he could die instantly cause he is well over a century old… None really satisfy me. But, still, I keep reading. Gagging at all of the teen-love sap. I think, what gets me the most tho, is that Edward reminds me of my first love. Brian was no vampire, but he was into some pretty dark things, and he often warned me that he was dangerous and I should stay away from him and that he was leaving me for my own protection, etc… We are friends now, 10 years later, but the relationship did not end well.
^Savannah will be going home today. We had a wonderful visit with her. She is addicted to my Wii Fit. Last night, I took her to see Kit Kittredge, along with my friends (Cat and Amanda) and their daughters. It was a fun girl outing. I never get to do girl outings, having sons and all, so I was tickled pink. I know that sounds corny, but how else can I put it? It just thrilled me. I am always happy that Savannah and I get along so well. I am a stepdaughter, so I try to tread the line I wished my own stepfamily had. I treat her like my own little princess but also keep always in mind that she HAS a mother, and her mom is a good mom to her. She doesn’t need me to be her mama, so I will be whatever she does need, when she is here with us. Sort of like an Aunt?
^Of course, while she was here, my flash quit on my camera. I can’t afford a new one right now. Though, I have my heart set on THIS ONE. Leila sent me home from her house with HER camera, but I managed to leave the battery charger on her counter and the batteries died that night. Amanda took some pics yesterday and I hope she will get some more today. If not, Savannah should be back here next week for her 2nd summer visit and we will get some photos then, as well. I did make this scrap page with the one photo that turned out well from my camera.
^My in-laws are keeping the boys for a week, so it will just be Megan and me for a few days. I plan to watch High School Musical with her and do girlie things. I will keep up school too. We are going to learn about Peru. I have a good friend from Peru, so I will take Meg to see her, probably, and let her ask Sheila (pronounced Shay-la) questions.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Heather
- Corey taking the kiddos for the day
- Hanging out on Leila’s couch
- My “Blog Off” shirt
- Mt Dew Voltage
- 1 full week of Wii Fit
- Next week, I will be down to 1 kid
Head over to BeckyPerry.us to see others or add your own link.
Heather
It has been a while since I have done a general update blog. I love the current meme. It is a simple way to keep things up to date. The kids are all occupied with the many adventures one can have in a back yard, so now is a good time to play catch up. Then, I have to make lunch for 4 kiddos. *grins* Read the rest of this entry…
… Savannah is here. We picked her up this afternoon. She has fallen right into our life at home with no struggles. She and I were on the Wii Fit earlier. She loves to Hula Hoop on it. Megan gave her a present - a pretty bracelet that she has turned into an anklet. She is as beautiful as ever and very excited to be here.
It’s that time again! Check out Becky’s site for more info.
- Scrapping
- Craft supplies
- Helping someone
- Megan Williams
- Having plans for the weekend
- A clean house
Heather
Cause I need some silly fun, and a Meme seems like just the thing. I stole this one from Janet.
I had an epiphany during my shower-prayer, this AM. I was thinking of the phrase “Beauty for Ashes” from Isaiah 60. It is a verse I meditate on often. However, it suddenly clicked in me this morning that…
Savannah IS beauty for ashes.
Corey’s first marriage went down in flames. And, from the ashes of that death, sprang life. Savannah is the most amazingly alive little girl you will ever meet. She is beautiful physically and spiritually.
It is a good morning. God is good.
Heather
I have never participated in the Hump Day Hmm before, but Steph emailed me the link for this week, and the topic stuck in my mind. It is on the subject of fixing things that may or may not be broken, according to how you look at them. Check it out at The Artful Flower. Read the rest of this entry…
My youngest son is obsessed with what day it is and what we do each day, what time it is and what we do at certain times. For such a scatterbrain, I have two children that ADORE structure and schedules. Well, today, we had this conversation (keep in mind that I am so tired of re-explaining the days EVERY day).
David: Mom, what day is it today?
Me: Tuesday.
David: What do we do on Tuesday?
Me: Try to take over the world.
David was quiet for a bit and then I heard him repeat my words to himself in utter confusion.
As I typed that last line, he asked, “Mama, what time is it?” I said, “8:59.” He said, “Oh.” This information does not change anything, but it makes him feel better.
Heather
My beautiful stepdaughter definitely counts as part of the 1000 Gifts series.
Tonight, my church is going to see a parade of cute male butts in tight pants.
The church calls this a Baseball Game, but that’s just semantics. ;)
Ahem.
Take me out to the ballgame…
Heather
- The Wednesday Sisters (book I am reading for review)
- Mountain Dew Revolution
- Em, who turns 24 today
- Haydn doing a somersault in the floor
- David sucking 2 fingers and looking adorable
- Hubby understanding and loving me
- My chair, waiting for me to sit in it and read all afternoon
If you’d like to participate, check out www.beckyperry.us
Heather
Part of the 1000 Gifts series.
excerpt from Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: Read the rest of this entry…
I have found myself in the midst of a crisis of faith. That phrase seems, somehow, both larger and smaller than what I am experiencing. Larger, because it makes me think of someone not sure they believe at all, any longer. That doesn’t fit me. My faith in God has not been shaken - not at all. Smaller, because what I have felt engulfs everything about me. What I believe and feel about my faith has everything to do with everything I am. Read the rest of this entry…