Happy Fourth (Belated)

Watching fireworks

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Playin with pop-its!

I have really been wanting to set aside time to blog each week. Not only do I really feel like a little nudge to be out and open with my life and walk with Jesus - but I really think that when Stephen leaves it will be so good for him to read it too!

Enough about that though! The fourth was a blast. We always have the fam over for tons of food and firewords. Stephen gets to do the "dad" thing and light a bunch of crazy fireworks that I am conviced will get bigger as the kids grow! I can see the three of them going to get the "illegals" one of these days! But for right now, Elijah and Kylie are concent to watch such fireworks as the "Golden Shower" (who the heck comes up with those names?!?!)

I have also become increasingly aware that Jesus calls us to not only shine for him in the obviouse places (i.e. - non-christians, unchurched....) but he also calls us to shine for him in the not so obviouse places - OUR FAMILY. I was sitting there thinking that these people know me the best - they know my innerworkings more than anybody - AND they have a front row seat for my transformation. It is like Jesus hand-picked them for me - I just thought "Am I shinning to them like I would be to a total stranger?" "Am I being the same person everywhere I go?"

In my heart that is what I want. I want to let Jesus shine no matter who I am with or where I am. Today, at Life Group - I caught myself reverting a little back to the old me. Without thinking I started thinking more about myself than the others around me and even though I recieved a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit to "submit to Him" I picked to be selfish with my thinking and attention. It was ever so slight and not in anyway close to how it was before - but my mind wandered to thoughts of how to get myself noticed or how to get attention - THANKS be to Jesus for gently putting me back on track and bringing the verse:

Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

Phl 2:3

I am so greatful that He is working on me. I am so greatful that he is "refining" me to make me look more like Him for the good things he has for me. I am so greatful for the people he has placed in my life to guide me and lead me. I am so greatful that he will NEVER EVER EVER be dissapointed in my. I am so greatful that he is ALWAYS FORGIVING. I am so greatful that no matter how crappy I mess up, he will ALWAYS LOVE AND ACCEPT ME. All of these are truths found in the bible - they are so true and I can 100% testify to them.

So, Stephen has about one more month. I probably won't be blogging about that too much - because really, I am at peace with it. I have tons of people asking me how I am doing with it - really ok. I know it will be hard, but I also have a complete trust in Jesus and can't wait to see what He wants to do through this. He will use Stephen over there and He will use me here - it will be awesome to see what He wants to do. AND - we are growing stronger and stronger as a married couple. I love him more than I ever have. Our marriage is stronger than this deployment because we placed it into Jesus's hands. It is much safer there than in our own!!!

Enjoy the pictures!!!!