Thursday, April 29, 2010

Spring fever

So it's been two weeks since I last posted anything and I know myself well enough to know that if I don't write something today, it'll be two more weeks before I think about it again. I just finished writing my research paper for my Systematic Theology class. I'm so glad that the final is next week so I can have some time to relax! (well, as relaxed as you can be with 3 kids 3 and under haha)

I'm so glad it's finally getting warm outside and we're getting to spend time most days in the great outdoors. I'm making it a goal this summer that we go outside every day if it's not raining. Everyone stays in a better mood, we get some exercise, and the house stays cleaner too!

Jody's been busy with his new graphic design business and I'm so proud of him! He's already got lots of work and he's really loving getting the chance to use his creative talents. If you haven't checked out Websterville.net, you should! Look him up on Facebook too and share it with all of your friends!

Well, I'm off to finish cleaning the house before I pick up the boys from Parent's Day Out. I'll try to keep up more regularly again!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

House Cleaning for Dummies

At the park yesterday, one of my good friends told me about a website called Fly Lady, that helps her systematically keep her house clean. Upon returning to my dirt and fur-infested home, I decided to check it out and I was completely impressed!

She has divided the house into 5 zones that are targeted on a rotating cycle of 5 weeks. Each day are various tips to help you declutter, clean, and maintain your home so that it is always ready for company. You can subscribe to free daily emails or just check out all the tips online. Most everything is done in just a few minutes for each project, making it ideal for all of us who have decided that we don't have time to keep our homes super organized and clean. Everything is manageable and is presented in a straight forward manner that motivates you to get off the couch and get cleaning.

I've been in crazy cleaning mode the past few weeks anyway and now finding this site has encouraged me to keep going. Not only is my house cleaner, but I get a killer workout with Taylor or Elyse on my back while I clean. :)

The Fly Lady advocates getting rid of "CHAOS - can't have anyone over syndrome", making your home a welcoming place for company and for your family as well. It's a great feeling to know that if you wanted to invite someone over to your home, that the only thing you would have to do is set out another plate for dinner rather than spend 2 days trying to get everything in order first.

I highly encourage all of you to check out the Fly Lady and see how quickly making some small changes will revolutionize your home. Even those of you who already have a sparkling clean house will find some great time and energy saving ideas on her website.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Update

I haven't blogged in over a week! Between a trip to Knoxville on Wednesday and Thursday, a visit to Sparta for the boys, and trying to catch up on house stuff around here, life has been crazy. Jody's been crazy busy trying to finish getting his website up and running and I've been trying to help him get resumes out and beginning the process of sorting through all of the "stuff" we've accumulated over the years.

I'm still amazed at the amount of stuff that has come to live in this house in less than two years, not to mention all of the stuff that made the move from Knoxville! We've officially finished going through all of the closets and I think I've already gotten 4 contractor size trash bags full of things for a yard sale. That both excites me and depresses me. On one hand, I've got all of these things that can be given to other people who want and/or need them! But on the other, I have all of this stuff that I don't need. I'm continually faced with the purchases that have been made over the years and am reminded of how blessed we have been.

God has been extremely faithful to us over the years. God has always provided Jody with a job (or two) that provided for our family and we are confident that He will once again do the same. Please continue to be in prayer for us as we seek God's direction.

On a side note, please read Jody's latest blog: The Care and Feeding of Your Youth Minister. He is an incredibly talented writer and deserves a great audience.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Hi! My Name is....

Today we moved everything out of Jody's office and turned in our keys to the church. It's an odd feeling to not know what's ahead for us, not knowing where we'll end up or even knowing what job he'll end up in. The possibilities are endless and now it's up to us to try to discern where God is leading us next. The thought is a little overwhelming at times, but also very freeing as we learn to trust God with every decision and see how much greater His plan is than our own.

Next week, for the first time since we were undergrads, we'll be visitors in a church. It will be an eye-opening experience for us to be able to see church life from a completely different perspective. Since both of us grew up in and have always been involved in relatively traditional Southern Baptist churches, we plan to see how some local churches are approaching ministry and sharing the gospel in new innovative ways.

As long-term church members, you often forget what it's like to be a visitor. I remember when I was beginning vet school and began looking for a church home in Knoxville. I'm not an overly outgoing person and hated the thought of walking in by myself to a huge church where nobody knew me. At the recommendation of a friend who used to live in the area, I visited one church. On my first Sunday there, I walked in by the Welcome Center and was immediately greeted by someone. That same person walked me through the HUGE building to my Sunday School room and introduced me to the teacher. The teacher then took the time to introduce me to several students, one of whom immediately started a conversation. She stayed with me the entire time and then took me up to the sanctuary and invited me to sit with the other college students. She even asked me to come back for Sunday evening services. I was completely impressed by her warm welcome. I knew then that I had found my church home. Since I was a college student, I was out of town quite frequently. I always knew that if I missed a Sunday, though, when I returned everyone would ask where I was. Even though I was just a visitor, I mattered to them and they wanted to get to know me.

Now we begin again as visitors and all of the questions begin to float through our heads. What should we wear? What will our kids do? Will they find some place where they are comfortable? Will we fit in? Will we be singled out as visitors? Will anyone remember us if we come back next week?

Just thinking about this makes me wonder why anyone who hasn't been to church before ever walks through the doors. I'm comfortable with church and I know what to expect but the idea of going somewhere new is intimidating for me. I can't imagine how difficult it has to be for unbelievers to go. This will definitely be a learning experience for us and it will be something to remember when we see visitors elsewhere.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Replace Me

"Replace Me"
by Family Force 5


Desperation

Needing You
Every last breath
I scream for you
Shatter me into a million pieces...Make me new

Crush me, tear me, break me, mold me
Make me what You want me to be
I am yours for You to use
So, Take and Replace me with You

This was one of the favorite songs the youth used to sing at South Clinton in our Ignite services. If you've ever heard this song, you'll know that it isn't exactly your typical church worship song. It's very loud, high energy, and even has some screaming! But if you read the lyrics, you'll soon realize that it has an awesome message.

As I was sitting in my car listening to this song on the way home the other day, I was struck with the truth of the lyrics. Am I so desperate for Christ to fill me that I scream for Him with every breath? Do I really long for Him to replace me with Him?

I've heard many sermons preached on how God is the potter and we are His clay, being molded into His likeness. However, most stop short of describing how intense of a process it really is. When a piece of clay hardens in the wrong shape, it is broken into pieces and reformed once again. "Crush me, tear me, break me, mold me." This is not a gentle movement, but a complete transformation. Change is difficult and often painful.

As I've said before, I'm a planner and I like to know what the future holds, but God's plans almost never seem to match what I have in mind. I get so focused on what will be happening sometimes that I forget to take things one day at a time. Rather than allowing God to gently mold me day by day, I start heading down my own path and the clay starts to dry so that He is forced to rock my world in drastic ways.

Jody and I officially begin our great adventure today as he starts looking for a job and we wait for our house to sell. We're not sure where we're headed but we know that God is faithful and that He will provide for our needs. We know that God has something great in store and that when we look back on this part of our lives, we'll be able to see His hand on everything that has happened. But that doesn't mean that it won't be difficult at times. Our responsibility is simply to trust God and allow Him to continue to replace us with Him so that He is all that is left.

John 3:30 - He must become greater; I must become less.