Real life stuff

So here is the latest scoop.  I'm in a race to beat the please-help-me-fall-asleep meds, so I'll try to keep this brief.  Ha ha ha...

I had another job interview on Monday.

They emailed back just over an hour later, asking me to come in (today) for a second interview.

A story of a camping trip

I'm sitting here, listening to the thunder outside, feeling quite content.  Of topic...this is my 900th post on this blog.

The house looks like a cross between a tornado and a war zone is somewhat clean, the kids aren't home from school yet, I have a candle burning that smells like Christmas, my white peach tea next to me, and life is good.

I took a brief blogging hiatus, both from here and from Loving When It Hurts, to go camping.

Have I ever mentioned that I hate camping I'm not the camping type?

3 minutes

Sometimes all you need is 3 minutes.

3 minutes to breathe.

3 minutes to use the bathroom.

3 minutes to pray for patience.

Today,  I just needed 3 minutes to shave my legs.

When We Hurt

This day did not go the way I had planned. I am currently sitting in the emergency room with my eleven year old son.  I am watching him writhe in extreme pain.  It started this morning, when Kaleb told me his stomach hurt. He didn't seem too burdened by it, so I sent him to school.

Then, I had grand plans for how the day was going to go. I would check Facebook, catch up on The Voice, and spend several hours writing for all my screaming fans!

As human plans typically go, my day did anything but go according to plans!

Fear is easy...

...love is hard.

Can anyone else relate to that?

"Fear is easy, love is hard."

When I got my new Android tablet, it came with $25 to the Google Play store.  Perfect!  Since Katherine won't let me illegally obtain music from the library anymore, I have to BUY any music that I want.  I knew immediately that I wanted a Brandon Heath album.  I wound up with that, a couple of Matthew West albums, and a Jason Gray album (plus a couple extra songs).  And yes, I may have gone over the $25 by about $10.

That's how they get you.

They lure you in.

Just like the casinos..."Here have $25.  Then get greedy and spend even more.  We know you will!"

Sleep would be nice

Tonight is one of those horrible nights where I've been struggling to fall asleep.  At first I felt my mind being attacked by the enemy's arrows.  Kris prayed with me and we listened to a couple of songs. And the enemy had to flee!  Don't you just love that about our amazing God?

So now,  I'm watching Walk the Line because my first choice, While You Were Sleeping, seems to have wandered off.  I love comfort movies!

My baby turns 7 tomorrow...well...today I guess.  I cannot believe how fast time goes by or how blessed I am.  God has been so good to me and my family.  Sometimes I ask God "Why me?"  And do you know what happens next?

I believe God smiles at me affectionately and says "Jamie, I love you.  And I'm not finished with you yet."

And just like that...it's enough.

Are you grateful?

"All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship"

I DO have a reason to sing.

I DO have a reason to worship.

I have a reason to be grateful.

To count my blessings.

My heart

Can a heart be tired?

Because I think that mine is.

My heart is tired.

I've been trying to put words to my gloomy mood all day.

I don't feel depressed.

I don't feel lonely.

I don't feel bored.

But I don't feel buoyant or happy either.

Going through the motions

I keep hearing this song.  Shocking, right?!?

But check out these lyrics!  I'll provide the video too, of course.  These words seem to really speak to my heart and where I was when God got a hold of me on Good Friday.

A new blog ministry about marriage

You know, as Kris and I share our story more and God moves in and through us, I feel compelled to, at the very least, use the talents God has given me and write about what He has done in my marriage when I'm not speaking about it.

Over the last few days, I have come to believe that I am supposed to start this "writing ministry" and spin off from this blog.  So, I have begun writing in both places.  If you follow me on Facebook, this shouldn't impact you too much, because I still plan to give you a link when I have a new post up (regardless of which blog it's on).

However, if you are following me here through Google Friend Connect or via email, and you WANT to continue to see what God is doing in my marriage specifically, please follow me at my new blog Loving When It Hurts.  I have ONE whole follower right now.  Thanks Heidi!!  ;-)

Moved to tears...again...

I can honestly (with some degree of shame) say that in 11 years, I have never once shed a tear listening to any of the 9/11 coverage or stories.  I have never wept listening to someone's story from that day.

Until today.

It isn't that I'm not a patriotic person (though I am not highly patriotic).

It isn't that I am cold and unfeeling (though in certain scenarios we all know that I am!).

I think that it is easy for those of us who are far away from the scenario, who did not lose anyone we knew, to be just that...far away.  It was an awful time for our nation.  Yes, of course I felt sadness because of the lives lost and those left to carry on without their loved ones.  It was a tragic moment in our nation's history.

AFTER-SCHOOL activities/Weekend Update

Is anyone else finding that in place of after-school activities, more and more activities are taking place BEFORE school?

No?

Just me?

When Abbey came home and dramatically begged me to be in drama club, I was not about to deny her that privilege.  I responded with an enthusiastic 'yes!' because she was SO excited and said it with such FLAIR.  Additionally, it is FREE.

Things only Abbey could say

I can remember, as a child getting in trouble for sitting in the craziest positions, especially at the dinner table.  I always had to have my legs up or hanging over a chair, or folded up in some odd position.  Kris tells me he had the same problem.  But Kris got an award in 8th grade; he thinks it was for something like "101 Ways To Sit".

And to entertain and annoy us, God has blessed us with a child who shows us just what our parents went through with us.