Thankful (for Christmas) on a Thursday

I love this time of year! I just love it!  To me, there is nothing better than hot chocolate with a melted candy cane in the bottom and watching the twinkling Christmas lights over the top of my china hutch.  Add a warm fire and Christmas music, and I am set.

″</span><span style=""> rows=”4</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">″</span><span style=""> wrap=”virtual”><a href="http://themcglothinfamily.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="McGlothin Family Nest" src="http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab30/ginimcglothin/</span>TOATBadge3.jpg<span style=""> " /></a>

121. Heat.  While I was pulling the Christmas decorations out of the attic, I apparently hit a switch on the gas heater and blew a transformer.  So that meant no power to the thermostat.  For.three.days.  Until we broke down and called someone to come look at it.  When I got home (and $200 later), the house was toasty warm again and I have never been so thankful for heat!

122. A Forgiving Husband.  That $200 hit him hard, but he forgave me.  That's something to be really thankful for!

123. Christmas Music.  Every year, I wait for the day after Thanksgiving for the radio stations to start playing all-day-long Christmas music.  If you don't like an old-fashioned Jessica Simpson rendition of Santa Baby, you can ride in someone else's car.

124. Wrapping Paper.  I always hit up the after-Christmas 90% off sales to get my wrapping paper for the following year and I can hardly wait to break it out.  Disney Christmas Princesses and Winnie the Pooh with a Santa hat make me giddy like a kid- well, a kid at Christmas I guess.  Here's a shot of last year's favorite paper and a reminder of how little my baby was!

125. Christmas Services at Church.  We have the best Christmas services at Church of the Highlands.  Simply.the.best.  They are all at the Grants Mill campus (which isn't our home campus, but also isn't too far away) and my favorite part is when they turn all of the lights off, start with one candle, and as we sing Silent Night, the room begins to fill with light as candles are lit person to person, row to row.  Once the auditorium of 2,500 is filled, it is the most beautiful sight to behold.


And yeah for the linky!

Thankful on a Thursday

This week has been one of awakening for me.  Just something in me that clicked that said, "you are not on the right path."  So we've made some changes, and I am so thankful for that.  Really, I think it came from one of the most powerful messages I've heard at Church of the Highlands on Unmasking a Life of Chaos. 

It was all about how the cool response to "how are you doing" these days is... "oh, well we're really busy."  Like being busy is a status symbol of how important we are.  But what we really want, or what the Bible tells us we should want, is a life of intentionality. Living life with an intention.  One of the best quotes from that message was "never let the urgent get in the way of the important."  Wow!  How often have I put something important aside because something less important but more urgent was placed in front of me.

With that said, I have started to say "no."  It's really a new concept for me, I never tell people no.  Not ever.  But when someone approached me about new responsibilities with a volunteer organization, I said no.  I am busy enough with my family and work, and I am now learning to do fewer things, but doing them each better!

<a href="http://themcglothinfamily.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="McGlothin Family Nest" src="http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab30/ginimcglothin/TOATBadge3.jpg " /></a>

Can you tell how refreshed and renewed I feel?  Well, I am so thankful for that feeling! 

101. Refreshment.  That one word seems to sum how I really feel lately, and man it feels good!

102. A New Purpose.  We are going to focus on living with a purpose.  Like Pastor Chris said, living with intentionality.  We are still narrowing this down, but I am so so thankful for the direction we are headed.

103. Date Night.  One aspect of living with intentionality is to think of ONE thing (not a list of 500 things- but one thing) that will enrich your life or your family's life.  And we have decided on date night.  We believe in this special set aside time, God is going to show up and really strengthen our marriage and our family.

104. Sleeping Late.  If you know me, you know how much I love sleep.  And the past few Sundays I have been able to sleep late, either by Claire sleeping late or Luke getting up with her!  And that brings me to...

105. Sunday NIGHT Church.  It's like two Saturdays when you don't have to get up ready early Sunday morning for church.  You have a lazy day, still grill out for lunch while it's nice outside, and then when Claire gets up from her afternoon nap, we head to church for 6:00pm.  So nice!

Show some link up love!

Thankful on a Thursday

Wow, it's another Thursday already?  I feel like I just finish typing the last Thankful on a Thursday post.  I don't know about you, but time is flying by way to fast these days.  Is it the school year that sends things into high gear?  Whatever it is, the lazy days of Summer have sure ended for us.  We are staying super busy and home, work and church, but trying to enjoy every minute we can.



<a href="http://themcglothinfamily.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="McGlothin Family Nest" src="http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab30/ginimcglothin/TOATBadge3.jpg " /></a> 

71. New Dresses. I wish I had pictures of them, because they are BEAUTIFUL! Mom found a black and white polka dot number for me in the most amazing fabric, and coordinating of course with our black and white theme of the rehearsal dinner. And the one for Claire is smocked with little pink flowers around the top and satin ribbons that tie on the shoulder as straps.

72. Our Childcare Situation (aka: Auntie Jessica).  I am so glad that things have worked out so Luke's sister Jessica can watch Claire while we are at work.  She is able to take Claire to the doctor, they go to the park and out to eat.  I'm so glad she is not spending all day with strangers but with family.  I don't tell her often enough how thankful I am for her!

73. Air conditioning.  I had to take Luke's car to work yesterday and it has no air conditioning.  It may be August, but in Alabama that means it's still 90+ degrees.  I'm thankful that he only has a five minute drive to and from work everyday and doesn't have to be in that hot car very long.  And I am thankful that the air in my car is like ice.

74. One week until Jay & Grace's Wedding.  Well really it's 10 days, but I am getting so excited.  I get to see all of our family and to see these two tie the knot.

75. That the Lord knows the wants and desires of our hearts before they leave our lips.  I feel like I have been so blessed with things that I wanted but never asked God for.  But His word ensures us that even unspoken prayers are answered.  Just little reminders that He is in control of our life and His holy and perfect will for us is greater than anything we can imagine.  That, I am truly thankful for.

 
And don't forget to link up with us!  Happy Thursday!
 

The Way God Speaks to Us

First of all, yes- God spoke to me.  Little old me.  And I don't think I have ever heard anything quite so clear.  Secondly, I do not tell this story to pat myself on the back, say "yeah me," or act like I am a perfect servant of Christ.  Because I am not.

With that said, here is my story of how God spoke to me last week. 

It was Thursday after work, on my way home, which given my new schedule puts me about 2 miles from the house around 6:25pm.  I was talking to my friend Anna about a wedding shower I am helping some girls host for one of our sorority sisters, Melissa (who also happens to be one of my favorite peeps- and if she had a blog, I would totally link it here because it would be hil.ar.i.ous! But she doesn't, oh well).  I knew there was this meeting at my campus church from 6-8 called "Vision." 

It was supposed to be for those people who had expressed interest in leading a small group for the Fall semester.  Someone had asked me to host a group of women at my house to clip coupons one night a week, nothing major.  I love pretending to be Betty Crocker and Sara Lee, so why not.  I agreed.  But the small group leader training would take place on Sunday mornings, and when I am not attending the worship service, I am serving in the Nursery/ Preschool.  So a Thursday night meeting really did fit my schedule best.

One more thing before I return to my story is that I drive by my campus church every day.  You can't really leave my house and go anywhere without passing it.  On the way to work.  On the way home.  Even to the grocery.  There it is.  Pass it all the time.  Nothing new here.

So I'm driving home, talking to my friend Anna, and started to think that I was too tired for the meeting... I could attend another night... It started at 6 and it was already 6:30... I didn't want to walk in late... No one would even know that I wasn't there.  Excuses, I know, but I was laying them out left and right.  And then I got closer to the church.  It was approaching on the right, and I planned to pass it right up.  Just like I do all the time.

But the Lord had different plans.  He spoke to me and told me not to pass it up.  Clear as day.  "Gini, don't pass up the church."  So, I pulled in the parking lot (still on the phone), sat there for a minute, then turned the ignition off, and walked inside.  I finally hung up the phone walking down the hall as I was deafened by the sound of what seemed like a hundred screaming kids.  I planned on passing them as well and heading into the auditorium, but somehow I ended up opening up the Nursery room door and asking the other ladies if they needed some help.

Do you ever drive somewhere, but then when you think back you can't really remember the ride over?  No, well at least humor me.  Because, really, that happens to me all.the.time.  Probably because I always have so much on my mind and I take driving time as a way to escape and talk to the Lord in prayer.  So anyway, that's how I felt.  Like I had arrived somewhere with no recollection of the journey.

But I have no doubt in my mind that it was God at work in my life.  He did not ever intend for me to attend the meeting.  His purpose for me not passing church and actually pulling into the parking lot was to serve Him... Allowing those parents to attend the meeting while their children were being cared for.  Those parents may make the choice to lead a small group this fall and help bring people to Christ. 

I think that is why He spoke to me and told me to pull in the parking lot.  And I think it was Him who led me down the Nursery hallway and through the door.  His purpose for me was not to attend the meeting, but to serve Him so that others could.

Some people things things happen for a reason, but I believe things happen for His reason.

Mommy Fail: Earthly vs. Eternal

I would like to be the kind of mom that always has everything together.  We all would like to never forget the cupcakes for church small group, the team t-shirt for Highlands Kids, to bring a meal to the family with a new baby, and the list goes on.  But I have come to find, that with two girls this Summer, I don't have my stuff together.  I just don't.  At least not as much as I would like to.

On the first Wednesday night of each month, Highlands does a baby dedication with the family of these new precious angels, giving and dedicating their lives to the Lord.  I had been waiting for July 7th since Claire was born.  It would be the only first Wednesday of the month that we would have Bella with us until Claire would be nearing 18 months old.  We would go up on stage- as a family, the four of us- and dedicate Claire to Christ.

Well two nights ago I walked into the Wednesday night service, running late of course, to see that baby dedication taking place.  Only, I was not on stage with my girls and their father.  I was standing in the auditorium doorway sobbing.  Mommy fail.

How could I forget?  How could I let this slip my mind.  I had remembered to pack flossing sticks for Bella because the string is too hard for her when she went to my in-laws the night before, but I had forgotten the night I had anticipated for nearly nine months!

I just.broke.down.  Saying to myself that these girls deserve a mother who remembers these sorts of things.  Not the one that remembers the Highlands Kids blue team is behind, needs every point they can get and remembers to grab the blue team t-shirt.  But they deserve the kind of mother who doesn't forget the single day in a year when her family would be together for this oh-so important night.

Not the one who let her husband do the dishes because he knew it needed to be done despite the fact it would make us late. But the kind of mother who lets dirty dishes lie because some things (church included) are more important than clean sinks. Mommy fail.

If I would have remembered.  If we would have been on time, we could have just joined the other new parents and babies up there at the last minute.  I was sobbing.  I have failed as a mother.

Luke had no idea what to do.  He had no idea that this was the only first Wednesday of the month we would have Bella.  I'm not even sure he knew baby dedications only took place on the first Wednesday night of the month or had calculated that this was the one and only for us this year to all be together.  These are the things moms are supposed to know, and moms are supposed to remember.  Mommy fail.

He just held me.  Let me cry.  And then an usher led us to two seats in the far-right upper balcony, because that's all that's left when you get there late.  I cried through worship.  I cried through prayer time.  I'm about to cry just tapping this out.  I will likely be dedicating my baby without her big sister.  Mommy fail.

Alot of people have been telling me lately how "together" I have everything.  Unpacking and repacking for all of these trips.  Never letting the ball drop on a home-cooked meal or at work.  Remembering birthdays, anniversaries, making all the appropriate phone calls and never forgetting to send a card.

Well, I don't have it together.  Not where it counts, and that is about to change.  Never again will I let Earthly things get in the way of Eternal things.  Never. 

So God, was this was the lesson you wanted to teach me?  If so, well done Teacher.  Mission accomplished.  I get it now.  Point taken.

I have been trying really hard lately to have it together.  I mean, really!  To maintain some semblance of a home, excel and move up at work, while finding time to watch my girls grow.  But I have let the idea of having the Earthly things "together" take over, and that is not what's important.

Would I have loved to dedicate Claire to the Lord with her big sister there? Yes.  Would I have loved Bella to be on stage in front of the church that has prayed so long and hard for her sweet, and recently saved, soul?  Of course.  Would I have liked to have been seen as the ideal family of four with a house and a dog and a mom who has it all together?  Well, that doesn't seem so important anymore, does it?

No folks.  It's the Eternal, not the Earthly.

It's okay to want Earthly things (though we've already talked about contentment).  But go after the Eternal.  Don't sob through worship- Raise you arms, clap your hands, sing louder than the person next to you.  Don't sob through prayer time- Get you hiney down there, find a prayer team member, and let them believe with you in prayer, even if you're not sure what you actually need prayer for.

It was a Mommy Fail.  I had failed my girls as a mom in teaching them the importance of the Eternal over the Earthly. 

But I am back, realigned and refocused.  And the devil should be scared!

PS. Thanks, God.  I now know I needed that lesson.  Even if the people sitting in front of us were a bit weirded out by my sobbing.

Grillin' & Chillin'

This is the name of our new Small Group at church.  With something like 14,000 members, it's easier to get to know people through small groups.  (I have a post brewing- if only in my head- about the whole mega-church thing.  Wait and see.)  There are small groups ranging from basketball to basket weaving to Bible study.  We found the perfect group for us- because we are all about both grilling and chilling.

But some of the people we have met through small groups have no doubt changed our life.  They have welcomed us into their homes as we have opened our home as well.  These people have supported us, prayed for us, even calling at 6:00am to check on me before Claire's tubes surgery.  They love us and we love them more than we could ever express.

We are creatures of habit, so it's pretty predictable that we are in Blake and Lindsey Lindsey's small group again.  (Yes, her name is Lindsey Lindsey- spelled the same way both times.  She laughs it off as God's way of telling her who she was supposed to marry.  I called her Lindsey Squared.  But I digress.) 

Blake is the campus pastor of our church.  (We have six, going on seven, campuses throughout Alabama.  Our "home campus" is in Riverchase but we do go to Wednesday night services at the main campus, which is about 20 minutes away.  Again, post on mega-churches coming soon.)

Their oldest daughter Hadyn is eleven months younger than Bella, and even though she only sees her once or twice a year, Hadyn always makes Bella feel like she is her best friend.  And that is something I will be forever grateful for in this tiny little blond five-year old.  She makes my girl feel like she does have friends in Alabama, and friends are hard to make when you're only in the state less than eight weeks a year. 

And their youngest, Liam, is three months older than Claire, and I am pushing for an arranged marriage between the two.  They love playing & stealing toys from one another in the church nursery (and since Lindsey serves in the Nursery/ Preschool with me, they spend a lot of time in there together).  And there's also sweet Harper, and she'll be three next month.  But again, I digress.

So we've been out of small groups since last Summer since we had Claire in the Fall and were adjusting to my life as a working wife and mom in the Spring, we are more than pumped about this season of small groups.  We were back with our old gang from last Summer.  This is Luke's "why are you taking this picture of me" face...

It was the perfect combination of great grilling, great desserts (as you can see we demolished all of the brownies and left only a sliver of red velvet cake) and great friends (who brought these beautiful hydrangeas from their garden).

While we missed the girls during their slumber party at Grandmomma's, we were able to reconnect and enjoy some adult time.  And every parent needs some adult time, right?  You should be nodding your head yes.  After I pick up the girls from Alabama Adventure this afternoon, we'll grab a quick bite to eat and head to the Wednesday night service. 

Bella loves going to the main campus- as she calls it "the big church"- (I mean, they have an indoor play place, who wouldn't love that kind of church) and is really excited about being in Highlands Kids for the first time.  See you tomorrow!

Thankful on a Thursday

I am more than pumped to introduce you to my new e-friend Alysha.  She's awesome and if she didn't live a few thousand miles away, I'm sure we'd be real friends (rather than simply over the interwebz).  But one of my favorite places to stop on Thursdays is with her over at The Tarr Pit. 

So we're linking up and bringing you along for the ride. Visit her here or click on the badge below to check out her always awesome Thankful on a Thursday posts. We simply desire to bring praise to God for all that He has blessed us with- because without Him- we would have nothing.

And since I made the badge (I do have a creative side every now and then), it of course has birds on it.  Did pictures of Claire's nursery or my new blog design clue you into the fact that I love birds? 

Now down to the nitty-gritty...  After weeks of being sick and on vacation, we were so glad to be in church last Sunday. I missed everything about it. And three years ago, I was the last person who would've said they were thrilled to be going to church, but that just goes to show you the power of God.

21. Worship Music. Walking in to the building (and that's all it is- a building- until people come to worship God and make the building a church) with the music already humming, my spirit was lifted immediately.

Turn your volume up (ok- not if you're at work- then put your headphones in) and take a look at this.  It will put you in a better mood right away.  I love the way they are literally jumping, worshiping the Lord.

22. Nursery Workers. I serve in the nursery, so it's kinda like saying I'm thankful for myself, but today I am thankful for the women who care for my girls so that Luke and I can enjoy the service. Claire was cutting another tooth last Sunday and pretty much inconsolable, but those ladies rocked her and sang to her as if she were their own sweet baby.

23. The Message.  You already know from yesterday's post about the message from last week, but really I am thankful for the message every week.  I was always someone who thought church was so boring and could never relate to my life.  But then we found Highlands, and things have never been the same.  Actually, the first few times we went there, I swore up and down they had someone following me. 

Pastor Chris was talking about situations that sounded like the story of my life.  Trials that we were facing.  Heartache we were experiencing.  The message each week gives us Biblical principles that we can apply to our life today.  Not just stories from 2,000 or so years ago.

24.  The Start of Small Groups.  Rather than Sunday School, Highlands focuses on Small Groups.  And with around 14,000 members, it's really the best way to connect with people.  They run on a semester system (Fall, Spring and Summer) and we've been MIA since Claire was born, so we are really excited about jumping into our Summer small group.  Some of our best friends are those whom we met though a small group.  They support us and pray for us, and we love them very much.

And wandering away from the church-theme I had going on today, I am thankful for...

25. Daddies who take care of poop-splosions.  The Great Poop-Splosion of May 21, 2010 really deserves a post of it's own, but here it is in a nutshell...  Claire hadn't pooped in days.  Daddy puts fiber in Claire's bottle.  Fiber agrees Claire should poop.  Claire poops.  EVERYWHERE! 

And this Daddy took care of it all.  While this Mommy proceeded to take pictures.  Not well received by Daddy since this is only picture that doesn't include our daughter's lady parts.

But Luke, I am thankful for you today and everyday.  You are an amazing husband and father!

And I'm also jumping in on Alysha's Link Share.  Now, it's your turn.  Link up with us so others can find your Thankful on a Thursday posts!

Contentment

I'm going to start this with a disclaimer.  Okay two.  First, my faith- our family's faith- is priority number one.  Hasn't always been the case, but it is now.  If you don't know it by now, we love our church.  Love is an understatement.  It is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me.  (Yes, my salvation is better than Luke and my girls.  You may disagree, but this disclaimer is getting long-winded- no surprise, huh?)  Second, I don't claim to be a money expert or a life coach.  If you have questions about this post, please leave a comment or find the link down to the right to email me.  Ok, here goes...

Don't we all wish we were content with our lives?  Sunday's message at church was the third in a Q&A series (which I love) where our pastors are addressing questions that the church had submitted over the past few months. One of those questions was about desiring to be rich.

Is it wrong? Doesn't everyone want to be more wealthy than they already are? Is it bad to want a nicer car or bigger house or live in the better part of town?  Doesn't the church want us to have more money so we can give more money? Here is the answer- and I love that it comes directly from God's word.

I Timothy 6: 6-10 (NIV) says...

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

So "godliness with contentment is great gain."  I think that is a great answer!  Those people who spend their paychecks on lottery tickets and gambling (I know this is a touchy subject in Alabama and I'll address it at some point if I have time) ... but don't those sound like the people "who want to get rich" and "fall into temptation" and "into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction" ??  I don't know about you, but I pray that I never desire wealth to the point of falling into temptation that will ruin my life.

And I love verse 10, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."  Isn't that so true.  How many homicides have you read about in the paper that were the result of robberies, some over as little as $10!  What is the leading cause of divorce in our country?  Money.  Money problems and money fights.  People desire money and wealth so much that their relationships and marriages suffer.

Have you seen the TLC show "The Lottery Changed My Life" ??  Very few of those stories come out with happy endings.  People no longer speak to their friends because they wouldn't share the winnings.  People killed by their family so as to inherit the winnings.  People losing their homes and everything they own because they weren't prepared to handle their winnings.

I'll admit we buy a scratch off ticket every now and then when we are driving through Tennessee or Georgia.  And while we wouldn't turn down any winnings that may result (which we would more than likely use to pay down our debt, not go crazy with a vacation or new car or anything), I think you know that's not what I'm talking about.

And for the part about the church wanting us to have more so we can give more, Highlands says... "We will never ask you to give.  We only ask you to ask God.  Follow His direction and give according to His will."

As for us, we do tithe.  And we tithe 10%.  It's what the Bible asks of us, and until we feel led to give differently, that's what we'll do.  Sometimes it's hard.  When I was laid off, it was really hard.  We weren't sure if we'd have enough money at the end of the month.  But we never doubted our continued decision to tithe.  We always knew that God would take care of us.  And there were times that we shouldn't have had any money left at the end of the month, but we did.  And we were content with no dates or dinners out to eat.  We knew that God's plan for us was greater than anything we could imagine.

Along those same lines of contentment, Pastor Billy Hornsby (who is Pastor Chris's father-in-law and an amazing communicator) spoke about being content with the season of life you are in. Don't be in a hurry to get married because all of your friends are engaged.  Don't rush into children just because you don't want to get left behind.  Be content in your season of life.  You may never be in this season again.

For Luke and I, we went from engaged straight to a family.  Literally.  We got married in June of 2007 and had Bella sleeping in between us for our first two months as husband and wife.  We never really had the "just us" time.  Hopefully we'll live long enough to see our children grown and creating their own lives and we may just get that "empty nest."

But being content doesn't mean that you can't want or pray for things.  The Bible says that we should be specific in our prayer.  Although the Lord knows the desires of your heart before you speak them, you can ask for things.

When we decided to ditch the birth control and try for a baby, it was a decision we made together and one we reached after much consideration and prayer.  Not because we weren't content with our lives.  But because we wanted to expand our family and raise godly children.  Thankfully, the Lord answered our prayers when He gave us Claire.

And we continue to pray for things.  Big and small.  But instead of praying for a pay raise or to come into some money, we pray to be provided for.  God is our provider, so ask Him to provide for your family.  That doesn't mean that you aren't content with your salary or the things you have.  But don't let those greater desires consume your life. 

If you feel like you have been worrying about money, make the decision to be content with that, knowing that God will take care of you, and pray for provision in the form of new friends or mentors.  Pray for more time to spend with people you love.  Pray for the opportunity to minister to someone and share the Gospel.  God provides many things to us, not just money or wealth.  Before you know it, your heart is lighter, free from that money worry.

Ever heard the saying "can't take it with you when you go" ??  That's how we are living.  Things we have now are just earthly things.  And our reward in Heaven is greater than anything here.  Focus on what's really important.

So I'll step down from my soap box.  (But I may get back up soon.  I'm letting a few things brew in my mind about debt, but we'll see.)  It was incredibly difficult for me to hit "publish" on this one, but I feel like it's something I needed to put out there.  What about you?  Do you feel content with your life and what you have?  What are content with but still praying for?

Thankful on a Thursday

Well, I guess you can see this past week has made me reflect on all I have to be truly thankful for.  I have really incredible people in my life, and I should really tell them more often how much they mean to me.

11. My Grammie. I've never really thought about how it will be when she is gone, but I know the lessons I've learned from her will remain in my heart forever. I am thankful that she is comfortable and that I will see her again in Heaven.

12.  My Mom.  I know I was thankful for grandparents last week, but that's because they are so wonderful to my girls.  I am thankful for the wonderful mother she is to me.  She is so strong, inspiring, loving, thoughful, and while I could go on and on, I think you get the idea.  I love her more than words can say!

13. My Mother's Day flowers.  You remember when I posted this?  Yeah?  Well, they are still alive, and are so beautiful on my desk.  I am thankful that Luke knows when I need a little "pick-me-up" and that stargazer lillies are my favorite!

14. My Mother's Day cards. Although I was away from my sweet husband on Sunday, Luke sent me to New Orleans with two awesome cards. The one from Claire and Bella made my heart melt.  It had duckies on the front, and on the inside was Claire's hand print with the words "Best Mommy Ever, HANDS DOWN!" 

Luke's card said "I may not be completely trained, but I am completely in love with you."  He is so thoughtful! 

(side note: My Mother's Day gift was a blog redesign from Blogs by Jocelyn so look for that soon. We have our annual Customer Conference at work this week, so I will be slammed and probably not able to post or respond to your wonderful comments. So my new design may already be up when this is scheduled to post.)

15. My church.  I know I have blogged about Highlands before.  But two weeks ago I was sick and last Sunday I was in New Orleans, so I have really been missing my church.  The worship is amazing, Pastor Chris is an incredible communicator, and I just feel so blessed that we found a place like this.  I know that God led us here, and I look forward to the wonderful things He has in store for Highlands in the future.

What are you thankful for today?  Be sure to go visit Nish at The Outdoor Wife, too!

Happy Easter Sunday (errr, Monday or Tuesday)

So, since I won't be winning any Mommy of the Year Awards (and that's fine by me), I thought I'd share the ultimate Easter mommy FAIL: no pictures of the most adorable little bunny in her Easter dress.  Since my own mommy bought the dress, I just put it back on last night (who cares it was no longer Easter) and took some pictures.

Get ready to squee inside (and if you are not a mommy blog reader, squee - pronounced sckweee- means exactly what it says: that feeling you get when you are so excited by the cuteness that is your baby, someone else's baby or some other cute baby stuff)

We are moving and shaking these days, so pretty much every shot is an action shot. 

And since she is a girl after her mother's heart, shoes are already gone (if you know me, you know I hate wearing shoes and I swore to my mother that I would get married without any on, but I did end up in some fabulous peep toe pumps on my big day)

And there is still nothing cuter than baby shoes and a monnogrammed butt!  (But forgive the dirty sofa- I had to wake Cooper from her nap to stage this pic)

Here's a little tounge, as if to say,

"Nanny nanny boo boo, I'm cuter than you!"

And sorry, I did not make Luke put his Easter clothes back on for a picture.  But I did want to share some AWESOME news about Church of the Highlands!  

From a Dream Team email:

20,924 people attended our 29 Easter services and 3,421 people made decisions for Christ. 

I served in the nursery for two services Saturday and two Sunday.  Luke and I were able to have a great Easter lunch with some friends attending church for the first time in many years.  Overall, a wonderful day to celebrate our risen king!

Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend as well!

Why is this Friday Good?

Well, not good for the Savior, but good for us!

"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that bought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed & afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter."Is 53:5-7

I have to keep in mind that if it wasn't for Good Friday, there would be no Easter Sunday.  I pray that each of you have a blessed Easter weekend and soak in the glory and ressurection of our Lord.

Weekend Update

I can't tell you how weekends both re-energize me and exhaust me at the same time.  I am really trying to take in each moment and enjoy time with my family while simultaneously staring the laundry and dishes in the face, as if to say, I will not let the idea of a perfect and clean house get in the way of playing on the floor with my beautiful baby.  I have really been inspired by Kelle Hampton over at Enjoying the Small Things as she documents her days with the two most beautiful girls (other than my two, of course).  We are both step-mothers and mothers just trying to navigate through life, and she simply takes better pictures and writes more elequently than I do.

But back to weekends... I had a wonderful time with my mom this weekend and loved spending time with Jay and Grace.  Little Claire was a trooper at the party Saturday night, and here she is with Aunite Em and Uncle Cliff.  Cliff's mom gave that yellow dress to me 26 years ago and my mom had saved it for Claire- so weet, I know. 

But she had simply had enough when it came time for brunch Sunday morning.  Between being off of our schedule and cutting the first tooth (YES, CAN YOU BELEIVE SHE IS CUTTING A TOOTH? and yes, I was yelling that) she straight up screamed through the entire brunch.  Mom, Jackie, Uncle Cliff and Auntie Em all took turns bouncing and walking with her as far from the other post-church crowd as possible, but would you like to know who was able to calm her down?  A stranger.  You read that right, I allowed a complete stranger to hold my screaming baby and walk around the restaurant, and you know what?  It worked!  She went straight to sleep to his rendition of "Hush Little Baby."  Not sure what it is about a big man's deep voice and cushy chest that settles my girl down, but it worked and I don't care how or why? 

Honey and Auntie Em were freaking out that this man was going to run out the front door with my baby, but I was at my wits end and would have simply sent my half-marathon running brother after him (note to self: write a post about Jay and Grace's awesomeness in running).  And with her still not sleeping through the night, I was sure he would promptly return my angel.

And while I was enduring the wrath of teething, Luke was at church enjoying Catalyst, our men's conference.  I'm not too sure what went on there, as he won't share any details.  But I know what a powerful God we serve, so I'm sure Luke learned a lot.  After dropping Honey off at the airport, Luke and I enjoyed an awesome Palm Sunday service that outlined all of the benefits we received when Christ died.  And then, of course, it's back to work Monday... Hope you had a great weekend too!

The Weekend Ahead

Honey has arrived!  Although late last night, I swooped her from the airport and returned her to my oh-so-messy house (which she is expected to tolerate and not to clean) and in typical mommy fashion, she took over night time duties.  What is it about moms that make us feel whole again?  That makes us feel like we can do this: work, wife, mother, Christian, everything?  I don't know about you, but having my mom close has always made me feel better.  And Claire feels better too- she slept almost six hours for Honey (although she continues to wake every three hours for me)!

And Honey has been so wonderful as to give Jessica the day off and keep Claire today, so the rest of my in-law family is off to South Carolina to visit Kristin and Christian in Columbia, SC or to see my favorite cousin (really, she's Luke's cousin, but I think I talk to her more than he does) get married tonight in Knoxville, TN.  We were so sad not to be able to attend either of these always-entertaining family vacations, but with the time Luke took off when Bella was here and the time I have yet to accumulate at the new job, anything more than a Saturday-Sunday one-night affair is more than we can do.

But we do have big plans for the weekend ahead.  Luke is off to the men's conference at church this weekend, and we are praying that God moves these men in a very special way.  We feel so blessed to be a part of the Highlands family and the wonderful people there.  This Easter marks two years we've been at Highlands, and we are still amazed at the wonderful, life-giving work they do (note to self: write a post about how we found Highlands).

And tomorrow morning, Honey and I will take of for Atlanta for Jackie and David's wedding shower.  For the non-family readers, Jackie's mom, Auntie Em- as I fondly refer to her, is mom's friend from back in her Zeta days who has become like a second mom to me.  And Jackie was awesome enough (among other thigns) to read in my wedding back in 2007 and I will be reading in hers this May (actually on Luke's and my birthday).  We are also going to see my little bro (ok, he's no longer little, but he will always be little to me) and his wonderful fiance, Jay and Grace.  (Another note to self: write a post about Jay and Grace's AMAZING engagement party.)

And bruch at Serpas will follow Sunday morning before I have to get Honey back on a plane to New Orleans (and subsequently cry that I won't see her again until our Fourth of July vacation in the Smokey Mountains).  And then back to church for a Palm Sunday service.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead of you too!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I know I am late (as usual), but I thought I would stop to say Merry Christmas! Our family had a wonderful holiday starting on Thursday as Jay, Grace, Mom and Dad joined us at Church of the Highlands for our Christmas Eve service. It began with a beautiful arrangement of Silent Night sung by Sara Evans (who had come off tour especially to come be a part of the service). Wow! What a way to start the night. And Pastor Chris's message was just as strong. God could have left us here on Earth, but He loved us so much that He sent his only son to become man, experience every trial of life so that he could empathize with us.

It was just fabulous! And followed up by a great dinner at Maccaroni Grill, Claire's first Christmas morning, lunch at my in-laws, and then picking up Bella the next morning! She is just the light of our lives, and it has been months since we've seen her, so we were thrilled to finally be all together, as a family of four! We travelled to Grandmomma and Grandbarry's house for Christmas with her aunties and uncles and then she fell asleep on the way home (who can blame the girl, she flew all night and only arrived in Alabama that morning).

But we had a whole week to pack in plenty of fun! More tales of that to come!

Busy day to hit the six month mark!

So today is three months from my due date! Crazy to think we are six months along!

Luke and I woke up very early this morning to meet our small group at church for a work day at the Alabama Youth Home in Westover, Alabama. It is actually two homes that house 18 young men between 13 and 18 years old. These are not bad kids, they are great kids with bad parents.

We were able to serve them with new doors and a new coat of paint in their great room. One of our group members was also able to repair their air conditioning, which was a blessing in this hot July heat!

Then we enjoyed a bar-b-que lunch followed by some basketball and frisbee golf and a short devotional time. Luke really connected with some of the boys and plans to return for a basketball rematch and to share some of the many movies in our collection. It was a hot and busy day but a wonderful investment in the Kingdom of God.