Beach, busyness and blue skies

I know I always blog about how busy life is... ha ha I don't mean to bore people. This week has been significantly more busy than normal weeks. I am behind on math, and I have a ton of other things to complete. I don't mind it though, I mean I might dislike it at the moment, but I love having a fairly busy life, because I get bored just sitting around, and I'm not good at entertaining myself, so busyness is a good thing for me. Yet I've realized the more busy I become, the more I forget, and I can be so airheaded. I have forgotten things that I know and have been doing for a long time, and I have forgotten about plans. Aaaaghh! It's horrible, this forgetfulness. Maybe someday I'll get my sanity back.

Along with my duties this week, I have had the honor of being with some of the kids that I love so much! I absolutely love children, and it's been so awesome to get to spend time with some of the sweetest kids! So much fun, and so refreshing. Honestly, being with kids is one of my favorite things to do!! I have been blessed to know a lot of great families with kids and I am very close with them. I never tire of it. :)

I realize with this busyness as well that sometimes it creates agitated spirits, because there is a lot to do in a short amount of time. That brings out the worst in people, sometimes. I become more irritable and I don't like it. That is why it's so important for me to have those encouraging influences around me. I am a firm believer that even in the busyness of school and work, spending time with friends is just as important. We were made for community, we were made to gather together and share lives with others, and it is sacrificing so much to give up social ties for other commitments. I have even turned in a few assignments late because I chose to hang out with friends instead of finishing an assignment. Some might gasp, but for me it made all the difference. I figure, I won't do well in school if I don't have friends around, so why sacrifice even more?? I need people. We all do, to some extent.

I am also very blessed to have good, solid people, friends and relatives in my life, this helps so much. It helps to know that someone will have your back no matter what! 

Thus are my ramblings. ;P

Be blessed!

Some great times at the beach, with some great friends!

Help bring Dash and Chip home!

Hey All!
I have a request of you. Please take a moment to drop by the link below and prayerfully consider helping this great family bring their babies home!
http://bringinghomebabykeyser.blogspot.com/2010/04/be-missing-piece.html
Thanks!

Jumbled thoughts.... as usual

I want to write something inspirational, but alas nothing comes to me.
Ha ha.
Anyhow, I'll share a few thoughts that have encouraged me lately. I really don't have anything interesting to say, but I love quotes , so I thoughts I'd share a few :)

A great book, well worth reading is Elisabeth Elliot's 'Passion and Purity.' I am reading it now, and its great. Here are a few from her:
" Then turn the reigns over to God. Bring your will to Him. Will to obey Him, ask for his help. He will not do the obeying for you, but he will help you. Don't ask me how. He knows how, you'll see." (Pg 97)

Just as background information, Elisabeth Elliot was the wife of Missionary Jim Elliot. He was part of the group of fie men that journeyed down to Equador in the 50's and were killed by the Auca's. Some of the wives later went and lived with the tribe. They showed them love and witnessed to them, even though they had committed such a great offense against them. I cannot imagine the strength it would take to do that, but I admire them for it.

Another of my favorite quotes lately has been from CS Lewis. Brilliant man, amazing author.
"I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."

Everyday blessings

I am so amazed at the everyday blessings present in my life. Sometimes I don't realize they're there. But they are. I revel in them. The safe trip to the beach, the good sleep at night, the fun time with friends, just to name a few. I am so blessed.

Pitock Mansion

What beauty surrounds me. I think I'll reflect on that a while.

Imperfection

It is Spring Break! Wahooo! Ha ha I feel so much freedom! Of course with that extra time comes a lot more thinking about the deeper things in life. Heck, I think about deep things often, but I guess I have been even more with this extra time on my hands.

Just today I was thinking about a sweet family I know, and thinking about how 'together' they have everything. They just seem to exude 'Jesus-ness' in every way. And honestly, I wished that I was like that. They seem so perfect. (Ironically I was thinking this while sweeping the kitchen floor...) Then God reminded me that He does not ask for perfect children. He asks for obedient, loving children. I do not need to be perfect. It has kind of been a struggle for me, for some time, feeling like I somehow need to be 'better' or 'more holy.' I often compare myself to others, thinking how 'good' they are, and much I would like to be like them.

I think playing the comparison game hurts God's heart. He did not make me to be someone else. He did not make you to be someone else. He made us to be who he wants us to be. And if we were prefect, we would have no need for God. In some ways, I'm grateful that I am not perfect.

My hair gets messed up (often). I spill things. I speed. I get distracted. I say mean things. I become lazy. I forget things. Our house is messy. I am selfish.

These are things that are true in my life, and they're not things that I am proud of, but they are realities. And some are trivial, while others are more important. But God does not get upset because of our flaws. He helps us. We learn, and grow. Hopefully, we become more like him.

It does make me happy to know I'm not perfect, because I serve a God who is, and that makes me appreciate his goodness all the more. Again, if I were perfect, I really wouldn't fit into this flawed place, would I?

We are called to be in the world, but not of it. But that doesn't mean we'll never mess up. We will. Let's just face it, WE ARE FLAWED! It's easier to admit it, then to live in denial.
But the good news is, that God does not leave us to fend for ourselves. He shows his love, and created a path for us to reach him, through his son, Jesus.

Thank you, God, for your unending love!

I seem to think at about a million thoughts a second. It gets tiring sometimes! I can't imagine what it must be like to be able to literally think nothing at any one moment. I hear it's possible, though I have never experienced it.

Today I laughed a ton with friends of all ages. It feels so great to get away from the busyness of life, and to forget about all of the responsibilities waiting when you get home, and to just have a great time with people that you love and that love you. It doesn't happen often enough. But I am so grateful for the chance to hang out with some incredible people today. I am truly blessed. I have been trying to laugh more, trying to love more and trying to become more laid back. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in time that I forget to live and enjoy the moment. Not everything is about time. Sometimes it's okay not to look at the clock. I'm trying to be alright with more spontaneity and trying to enjoy the little things in life. It is a good feeling to focus on the positives instead of the negatives. It's a choice, it really is. Along with that, I've been remembering that life is a gift, and in words that are much better than my own, this is it:

'I dare you to move
I dare you to move,
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened,
like today never happened before...'

So true, isn't it?! Live, love laugh. What a great motto.
A few other things that stick out to me (I am a very random thinker, bare with me!) are found in some great books. I love books, I can't get enough.
Trying to focus on living fully, going out of my comfort zone, and being alright with doing new things. It's scary, and sometimes things aren't going to work out the way we hoped. We are not called to live in fear, though. We are called to reach out, and get out of our comfort zones. Its easy to be scared, and I am, often. It's hard, and scary, but we are never alone. What a great realization!

"We fear saying the wrong thing or using the wrong tone or acting the wrong way. So rather than do it incorrectly, we do nothing at all. Aren't we glad Jesus didn't make the same mistake? If your fear of doing the wrong thing prevents you from doing anything, keep in mind the perspective of the lepers of the world. The aren't picky. They aren't finicky. They are yearning for a godly touch. Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will you do the same?'
- Just Like Jesus, By Max Lucado

Too many times, fear has ruled, and I have suck back when I should have stepped out in confidence, trusting. I don't want fear to get the better of me. I think God wants me to ponder this for a while.

Life remains busy. It seems as though there is always something to get done. Yet I don't feel overwhelmed. Maybe i am in denial But I like to think that it is God giving me peace. :) What a great feeling it is! I mean really, I know if I really think about it there is nearly always something to be done. Laundry. Shopping. Bank. cleaning. Working. These are just a few of the things we do each day. Sadly oftentimes God gets sort of pushed to the 'back burner.' Because somehow it doesn't seem as essential to spend time with him on a regular basis. But that is faulty logic. It is important. And essential.

Of course... if I were a cat, my life would not be so busy. Ok I know, cheesy transition, but hey, it's not school, so I can do it! My cant is so lazy. She seriously sleeps for like 14.894 hours of the day. It was gorgeous outside, and she was lying on my bed when I left, and three hours later, still lying there! Oh how worry free it would be. I cannot imagine. Ha ha. She has such a good life. Spoiled little thing. She doesn't even know. But hey, it made me think the other day. I love my cat. I love her not because she has ever done any favors for me, or has somehow 'earned' my love, but I love her because she is my cat. Isn't that how it is with God's love toward us? He loves me because I am his, because he made me. It still mystifies me sometimes. I can't do anything to earn his love, I can't give him something he doesn't already have. But he loves me still. I am so grateful to know that. What an astounding and amazing thing! So I will continue to revel in God's goodness. And leave you with this:

“Yet I’ve learned that time alone with God is the most valuable available. Most important, I’ve learned that even Christians can fall into a life of excuses and complacency. The word of God calls us to action. Don’t be content to sit on the sidelines and watch. It’s the equivalent of disobedience. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Get up and in the game today.”
-Crystal Lewis