Take a Selfie

My husband thinks taking pictures with me is dumb. I just want a nice picture! It's a good thing I love him! 

Talking to Allie

Teddy Visit

Teddy came for a visit, he was out here working,  it was such a blessing to see my little brother! We had a really good time and some dang good bbq that my dad will only make when he is in town. We found out that the Perry’s will be moving back! YAHOO does this sisters heart good. Teddy is bringing his office here, we could not be more excited to have Allie and Steph back. Teddy too, but mainly Allie and Steph! And sister coffee runs! 

Professional Help

I finally sought professions help for my hair! 

Muffins with my Muffins

I was blessed to go to Moms and Muffins this morning! Love my babies! 

My Rotten O

Owen had one job. I was blessed to lead worship at our North Campus last weekend and asked Owen to make sure he wore clean socks. Well they were clean and I bet he had a pair just like it in his drawer. I love this kid, he makes us all laugh! 

My Running Partner

We might as well make the best of losing an hour, and run! Lilly is my running partner she is way cuter and way faster than her momma. I love this time with her. I pray my body becomes stronger so I can run with her in her teens, she tells me all kinds of things as I’m trying to look cool and not die!

Love These People

Saturday Morning Beauty

The beauty of Saturday morning. After my run I came home to a sleeping family. My favorite time of the week, my family is content and I have a cup of coffee and book. Totally perfect! 

The Struggle

 

The struggle is real. Some of you may read this and think I’m being a little ridiculous but it’s a true statement, coming from my heart. I have tasted something so sweet in worship. I know what it’s like to be undone in front of The Lord, I know what it’s like to leave worship on a ten and fully exhausted.  I get it, I get that my eternity is waiting and those moments of worship that I love, long for and hate to let go are waiting for me in a form I will never feel, see or quench this side of Heaven. I was able to have the most enjoyable time of worship at our Fusion service. It was like Heaven on earth for a whole hour and a half, we pray and sing fervently to our Lord. The day after an event such as this is brutal to return to the mundane of my office it’s wretched when all I can think of is His praise and how I will never ever be able to fully satisfy the desire to give Him glory this side of Heaven. The older I get the more I have realized I have really messed up. I have a great job, some would even say I have lucked out in my position. I’m the regulatory specialist for a major financial institution. People work really hard to get this job, I have worked really hard to get this job and it’s not at all what I want. I would love to rewind the clock and discover my love for ministry at  the time I turned seventeen. I pray for my sweet Lilly and Owen that they follow their hearts and choose wisely a joyful career. I pray that Gary and I instill great work ethic but an overall happiness  in what they choose to do! My God is truly great, maybe it's not too late.. 

 

60 Pounds!

I have not done a weight loss post in a while so I thought I would update. I have officially lost 60 pounds! I literally have 40 more pounds to go! The first 50 seemed so easy I just ate less and walked, this last bit is definitely proving to be more challenging. I have started running, only about a mile each night since it's light out and let's face it I literally can only run a mile without dying! All while keeping a morning workout and lunch hour walk. I have also really cut my diet down. I'm eating veggies and lean protein until I hit my 100 pound goal. Overall I feel really good. Praying I loose the rest of this weight soon because I literally have one pair of jeans and one pair of work pants and all my tops are to big. I don't want to invest in clothing until I lose and can maintain. Loving this journey, God is my strength! 

My Favorite Game

I adore my husband! He loves me and the kids, he works incredibly hard and truly loves The Lord! 

All these great things do not stop me from teasing him. After church we went to lunch followed by a quick stop at Pro Bass. Because we have had summer weather we were not prepared for the little mini blizzard that blew threw. The kids and I stayed in the jeep since we did not have coats and Gary ran in real quick. Well any trip to Bass Pro is not quick with my husband, this is good since it have me and the kids a chance to move the car! I wanted a picture of him searching for the jeep so badly but I was laughing to hard! He is a good sport, and before anyone feels too badly for him he usually wins these little wars! 

Snow Dayz!

Love doing life with these people! 

My Reminder

Even as an adult I have these moments of feeling insignificant as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, worship leader, friend, co-worker and most importantly Lover of Christ. I ask myself often am I doing enough.. I have fallen into thinking that what I do seems small, behind the scenes and unequal with my abilities. Does anyone notice me, my work, my heart, does anyone even care? Yes someone does notice me and that  is my Big God, the one and only God I serve, and the Only I need to notice me. God knows my character and my deepest hearts desires  and I’m thankful for the reminder in Luke 16:10. God gives me just enough pennies to make dollars, he give me just enough... I don’t need to be seen, awarded, given a pat on the back because I am seen and my heart is made known to my Heavenly Father.  I pray that I never lose heart in doing good “insignificant” work and I don’t grow weary in my Love for Christ, family and worship! I love big and my God knows my love.. So I’ll keep planting seeds in my small insignificant way and soon the tree will stand tall.

 

Love Day

My sweet Lilly plans a Valentines Day Party every year. I love her heart for others. My parents came up and we all had a romantic day of pizza! :) 

They Love Eachother!

70 Degree Weather..First Hike of the Year..Nuff Said!

Basketball Girl

Lilly was amazing playing basketball this year. This was her first time ever playing and Gary and I were so proud of her! From her first game to her last she never failed to mesmerize us in the way she improved. We were so excited to see her make baskets and become aggressive. I think Grampy’s pep talks did the trick!  It was so much fun! I’m a little sad that the season is over, who knew 4^th grade girls were so competitive!

My O

This kid is such a little lover. Owen has a heart that is so special. He has a rotten twinkle in his eye and is one of the most hilarious people I know. Owen is a deep thinker who questions everything and likes to make discussion over the simplest tasks and I love and appreciate that about him. But what I love so much is that he loves me and loves to cuddle. I was sitting on the steps waiting for Lilly to get dressed so I could curl her hair and Owen quietly sat down next to me and put his head on my arm. I love these little moments and I can see them fading into the wind. He is growing so quickly and becoming quite the little replica of his daddy.

Season

Purpose is a strange thing to ponder. I am involved with a women’s group at my church that is doing a daily devotion about walking with God in the season of motherhood. One theme is purpose. What is my purpose? Do you know yourself well enough to know what your purpose is in this life, in this season. I feel like we have great balance in this group because we have mothers of all ages including women who have raised their children and are now grandmothers. It’s fantastic to have different opinions and seasons all in one room.

 

I can’t help but feel a little like the odd lady out in a sense, and have felt this way in church for some time.  I am incredibly focused on Christ, I feel saturated in Him but long for more and more and more. I want to talk about Christ in my home and how I work in a secular world all while passionately pursuing Him, I want to think and see and dig into politics and the crumbling of the world around us and how we as women and  mothers who are passionately pursuing Christ are raising kids to remain faithful to God during turmoil in the world. I want to boldly pray with these women about our hearts, kids and seeking the narrow road. I’m not getting that and I’m hungry to solve the world problems in discussion and prayer. I’m not a deep emotional thinker, but I am dang well aware of the sickness and perversion of the world and my purpose as a mom is to make known to my kids they can either follow the world or they can be bold and brave and stand up to the evil and be righteous. I am not as concerned with the popularity, sporting events or academic world of my kids as I am concerned with the heart of Christ inside my child. Don’t get me wrong supporting and encouraging Lilly and Owen are incredibly important to Gary and I, we love to encourage, push and watch our littles grow improve, succeed and reach for goals,  but how important is a temporary high of the world? What really matters is with Christ all things are possible. Once our children get this truth they will be world changes who are unstoppable!

 

SO my purpose is to teach my kids to long and beg for more of God not more  compliance with the world. I pray they are thinking and choosing Jesus in every step…