Pictures

Will's First day of school, He was for the picture before he was against it(see previous post titled One of those days)
Abby's first soccer game. She played the whole game with a sprained ankle. She is one tough cookie. Beanie Wells has nothing on her.
Scioto River at Donegal Cliffs Park
See we really do love each other.

You Alone

Well God did it again, I don't know why I am so surprised each time God chooses to make his presence known to me so personally. God is totally working on me through music. Last week he used "Crucified with Christ"(see previous post) and this week he used "You Alone" (David Crowder Band version on my blog). Two Sundays in a row God has blessed me with a worship service of praise that has knocked my socks off. How amazing is a God that chooses to allow us to recieve so much joy from praising him. Standing there praising my father and savior for his goodness I also got to proclaim that "I'm Alive, I'm Alive, I'm Alive".

Each day I need to be grateful for the breath God has given me and the blessings he has bestowed on me. It is so easy to get bogged down with the worries and concerns of life that you forget to be grateful that you were given life in the first place. I remember thinking after singing the words of this song how insignificant the Buckeye Loss was compared to the truths I just proclaimed. Lord help me never to forget that You alone created me, You alone are good, that You alone made a way for me. Help me to take the joy that I feel when I am praising you on Sundays and reflect that in my everyday life. Help me to share the joy I feel with others in a real and pratical way. Help me model that joy for my children. Thank you that I am alive in you forever.

Crucified with Christ

I added this song to my blog about two weeks ago. I had just figured out how to create a playlist and was trying to think of songs I wanted and this one just popped in my head. I hadn't heard it in a while but something prompted me to find it. Then this Sunday at church our worship leader sang a solo of this song. After he sang it I remember thinking this is so cool, I love it when I can truly "sense" God's presence in my life. I know he's always there but sometimes God blesses me with a clear "Hello, are you paying attention to me". Nobody but God could orchestrate the use of this song in the past two weeks.

Our pastor proceeded to elaborate on this topic of being crucified with Christ. He used Luke 9:23-24 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it" and Galations 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me". From these verses and Pastor Brad's sermon I was able to come away with two key points. First of all, the cross is about surrendering to the executions that advance my spiritual life. Basically I need to find those things, people or thoughts that are hindering my spirit life and remove them from my life. Although this seems a daunting task at times, I can be comforted by the second take home lesson-the need for daily surrender of all I am for all that he is. Christ has not asked me to do anything that he hasn't done and he lives within me to strengthen me as I do it.

Thankyou Lord for dying on the cross, thankyou that you made a way for me to know you and be part of your forever family. Help me to discern those things that need cleared away and help me to deny myself daily. Thankyou for revealing yourself so clearly and so personally to me these past two weeks. Thankyou for breathing the words of "Crucified with Christ" to Phillips,Craig and Dean so I could be reminded not only of your ultimete sacrifice but the sacrifice required in my own life as well.

One of those mornings

Here are a few scriptures I was lucky to come across today to help me with a morning that didn't go as smoothly as I had planned.

Phillipians 4:5- "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Perfect as I had to yell halfway down the street today for my overly excited kids to stop and wait for mommy as we walked/ran to school today.

Ecclesiastes 7:9-"Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."
Nice reminder when your adorable son doesn't want to pose for pictures on his first day of school.

Nahum 1:7-"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Thanks Lord that you are perfect, your plans are perfect even though mine are not. Thankyou that you are always reliable, always available and always able and willing to forgive.

Kindergarten for Abby

Well it finally came, Abby's first day of kindergarten. She was very excited about attending and was glad that she was able to walk to school the first day. Abby is with a great teacher and has two good friends in her class. She got to wear a new dress and new shoes to her new school. It was so fun the first morning to see her huddled around her friends all excited about what the day would bring. After her big 2 and 1/2 hours of school she got to ride the bus home which she was so excited about. Here are some pictures of her big day.

Abby only got to go to school one day last week so we are looking forward to four days of kindergarten this week. Will starts his preschool on Wednesday which should be fun as well. I will be glad when everything that we have scheduled this fall starts and is on a regular schedule. I am so worried I am going to forget to show up for something.

The same day Abby started kindergarten she had her first soccer practice ever. I went to the sporting good store that day and was like a deer caught in headlights. I have no clue about soccer, I never played it. I found all the right equipment, right sizes and of course the perfect color-PINK!!!! Her are some pictures from that as well. What an exciting time for our family as we get to start school, start sports and start fall. Thankyou Lord for a great first day for Abby and I pray for a great first day for Will as well.