Gearing Up

I am in gearing up mode around here.


Gearing up for:

• Eli's Kindergarten shots today.
• Increased running. Got new shoes last night. (unfortunately they are not cute...but they work the best for me...note to tiny-town: do not look at my shoes at 6am when I am running...they are bright & gaudy ;)
• School begins Monday. It will only be Jake and I at home. Weird.
• Our church's children's ministry on Wednesday evenings will begin early September. As coordinator/teacher there's lots of stuff yet to accomplish and look forward to.
• Tiny-town's restoration. Considering the tornado/flood this summer, tiny-town is really coming along nicely...more pictures and updates coming soon.
• Because of the flooding and busyness of summer we took a hiatus from our ladies Bible study. It was a hard decision, and I'm still not sure it was the right one...I just didn't want to lose most everyone right in the middle of Seeking Him. It's such a life-changing study. All of us have missed it and are looking forward to gathering together again and picking up in chapter 7. Let the revival continue...I'm in much need of it. :)
• We've had unseasonably cool weather here. Not the hot/humid stuff we're used to in August (although I'm SURE it's coming back:) but it makes me feel like fall is around the corner. I love fall...but this summer feels like it just hasn't been quite long enough.
• Blog reading. After a partial break I totally feel out of the loop. I've missed you guys. Looking forward to catching up and making new friends as well!
• I will refrain from telling you how excited I am about the Women's gymnastics all-around competition coming up...and how I keep crying along with Michael Phelp's mom each time he wins. *sigh* Love it.

Through all the gearing up, there is one verse that God keeps bringing me back to over and over again.

Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders' work is useless. Psalms 127:1
It's no surprise to me why He keeps bringing me to this verse. I know all to well that my natural tendency is to rush ahead, on my own and get things accomplished. It's His gentle reminder that I can (on my own) build/prepare/plan until I make myself crazy and it will be USELESS. He has to build it. Not me. I need His leading, direction, and wisdom because mine is useless.

Seeking Him today,

Sarah

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Still Learning...

I head a great little clip on the radio yesterday.


I think it was Chip Ingram, but I'm not for sure. Here's my interpretation.


He talked about how we measure our spiritual growth. How do we know if we are growing in Christ? Is it by standards such as faithfully spending time in God's Word, prayer, tithing, church attendance?


He noted that those are all great things, but if the apostle Paul were asked the question, he would probably not use those criteria. He would most likely ask himself, "Am I loving Christ more and am I loving others more?"


Wow. That there is the kicker. The heart of the issue. The external stuff is all good stuff, but alone, without loving Christ and others more, it's meaningless.


Interesting how we, as people, love to judge ourselves and others FIRST on outside criteria, rather than looking at ourselves and others and examining how loving we are. I do it all the time...but now, I am using a new standard, for myself and others.


First: "Am I growing in my love for Jesus and others?"
Second: "How is it shown?"
Good stuff.


On another totally random thought: Last night I got a new (super kind) comment on this post (you should go look at the comment ;). I didn't recognize the name so I clicked on their profile. Turns out it was the Pastor in the article I wrote about! How cool is that?!? Ya never know who's reading or how they found you...which makes blogging fun and intimidating all at the same time :)


OK...back to the Olympics...which by the way, is KILLING me at night...I'm so tired! I'm even recording it, but who can go to bed and not see the results?!? Not I!

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Highlights:Not the Hair Kind...

As you know, I'm still (technically) on a little bloggy break...largely due to my extensive Olympic coverage watching :) And team USA...definitely making it worth it!

But I can't stay away totally, and risk losing all five readers.

Here's some old and new news from my neck of the woods...

• Tate is doing much better! Many thanks for all your prayers and encourageing words. He came home on Saturday and they believe he has ITP (which I don't fully understand) but it's MUCH better than anything else it could have been.




• Saturday we went to the zoo. Out of all the exotic animals...we have a favorite. It is not exotic...more like disgusting. It's the grossness factor that just keeps us coming back. I of course, took a picture for you.




• 

When you throw food in...they do this. It gives me the heebie-jeebies...and yet I couldn't stop watching...

• Sunday I wore these to church: LEGGINGS! They've been sitting in my dresser drawer for months...it just never felt right...until yesterday. And guess what?!? SO COMFORTABLE!! I may wear them everyday ;)

Here's the top of my (Wal-Mart) dress...I couldn't photograph my entire self in one-shot...I'm just not that good.

• Sunday night we spent the evening enjoying the Olympics while the boys "practiced" their Olympic moves.

The best was while watching the Women's Gymnastics...My 3 year kept saying..

"Mom, you could do that!"

Me: "no, that takes lots of practice"

Jake: "But you could..."

God bless him...he has no idea that his mommy can't even bend over and touch her toes...dang flexibility.

Happy Monday bloggy friends! And Happy Olympic watching!!

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Melts My Heart...

My self-proclaimed "middle-est" little guy, Eli, went from this:

To these navy blue little numbers:

How cute is he!?!

He only needs to wear them while doing school work, so hopefully it's not too hard of an adjustment.

He will be starting Kindergarten in 11 days. And now I am realizing just how fast our summer has gone.

I keep debating on whether I need to take a bloggy break for a week (or so)...and decided that I can still post, and then shut the computer off...no one's forcing me to sit here and read and read and READ :) (and it's only a week...I can do it...can't I?!)

So...for the next week I'm taking a partial blog break (posting but not reading), there's lots of stuff around here that needs my full attention...three named: Noah, Eli, and Jake...oh and one named Ben...you get the idea ;)

Oh, one more thing...no posting ANYTHING good while I'm gone...I don't want to miss anything ;)

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It's Finally Coming!

I have till Friday to get things in order around here.


I have been waiting all summer for this...for Friday, August 8th, 2008.


My name is Sarah, and I am an Olympic Lovin' Fool.


I am. I can hardly contain myself. This is my favorite favorite favorite.


And this is my next favorite. Oh, who am I kidding. I love it all. Even the press announcers.


My boys are too little to remember the last Olympics (which means they don't remember mommy sitting in front of the TV for hours at a time)...this time...they will. I've been trying to explain to them what the Olympics is and represents...the best of the best. I'm not sure they get it yet...but after 2 weeks of endless TV coverage and cereal *wink* for supper...I'm sure they will :)


There. Now you know. If I am absent from blog world next week, it is only because I am doing my basic American duty...Supporting Team USA from my couch (while eating cereal.) CAN'T WAIT!


*image from google images

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I AM Nosy...

During my extensive (one year of community college) higher education experience, I took an interviewing class. Now, 12 years later, I would like to share with you my vast skills learned in this class, by interviewing my little bro about...me. Clever, I know. (by the way, I clarified some stuff in orange, just for you :)


Little background info for you. Little bro, Jay, was born when I was eleven. We have a bond. He is going to be starting his 2nd year at a popular University...only about 15 minutes from me. Lucky, lucky him. :)


This is what I sent to him: Dear Jay...here goes...Feel free to be honest...my readers will love it :)

Q - Who’s your favorite sister?

(Jay) Haha nice try with this one I don’t have a favorite sister I love you all the same and thankful that I do have you all. I have learned so many different things from all of you that have helped me so far in my short life and I know I will continue to learn for a long time.

Q - What’s it like to have me for a sister?


(Jay) Well...... really its like having a second mom;), but don’t worry mom still takes the cake on being the most nosy and checks up the most! I’ll admit I really like having you as a sister so don’t you be going no where. I believe we are similar in our thoughts and how we act on some situations and we both have the same kind of humor which is always fun especially when Jordan is around. (Jordan is our sister Lindsey's husband. He's a youth pastor. It's essential we give him a hard time...youth pastor's love that sorta stuff ;)


Q - What’s my best quality?


(Jay) That’s a tough one if I had to choose something which I rather not because you do have many cuz really look who your flesh and blood with...ME Jay is the answer we were looking for. I would have to say the way you put others before yourself whether it is your family, friends, or your town you always care about how others are doing and if there okay and then yourself.


Q- What’s my most annoying quality?:)


(Jay) Well that’s not too hard.......kidding it’s so hard I can barely think of something. The one thing maybe would be how nosy you are about some things that I have going on because I know you will play 20 questions till you find out what you want to, and there is really no stopping you!!!!! (I am practicing on Jay for when my own boys are teenagers...just think how nosy I'll be then!)


Q - Do I seem cool? Do I seem YOUNGER than 30? (Yes, extremely would be a good answer)


(Jay) Haha yeah really for an oooooollllllddddd sister you are;) haha I am just playing you really don’t seem old at all cuz come on you went to Batman really late at night your cool don’t even worry and I’ll make sure you don’t become uncool promise. (phew!)


Q- How do you feel when I call you every time I drive by your apartment when going to Wal-Mart? (his apartment happens to be on the way to Wal-Mart :)


(Jay) Well it’s fine cuz sometimes you pick me up and we go together, but when I’m not home and at work then you call and you leave a voice mail and we all know that voice mails just really get on my nerves cuz how long it takes to get to them but other than that it’s fine that you call me when your driving by.


Q - Do you read my blog? How often? :)


(Jay) Yes I do read your blog prolly not as often as I should but I do read it just to stay caught up on what’s all going on at your household even though I am kept updated by a certain sister of mine most the time;)


Q - Do I need to pay you more when you babysit ? ;) Have I scared you away from wanting 3 children?


(Jay) No you don’t need to pay me more at all really you don’t have to pay me cuz I do enjoy watching them. As for scaring me away no not at all someday I will have 3 kids maybe a little more but I love those three to death and am so glad they are around. I’m not saying they are easy all the time and sometimes it does look like a tornado just went through where they have been but I wouldn’t change any of that cuz I think they maybe have influenced me into wanting kids more.


Q - What have you learned from me? The good, the bad, the ugly.


(Jay) Wow what to say on this one I have learned so much over my life time from you. Such as putting others first before yourself and how making that small first step to get to know someone is all you need to do to be able to share the word. I also learned that you can’t solve a broken relationship by ignoring the person till they fill with guilt as you did with Dad even though I shared that same anger at what was going on , but everything that I have learned has helped make me the person I am today and help me as in the future.


Q - Does it make you feel bad that Odie loves me more than you? (Jay got Odie when he was 11 and our parents divorced. When Jay went to college last year Odie came to live with us)


(Jay)No it doesn’t because really he still loves me more since I was his first care-giver. I fed him and gave him a place to sleep for a much longer time so I know that he might pretend to like you his true feelings are all aimed toward his favorite person ME!!!!
(this is called de-ni-al)


Q - What do you wanna be when you grow up?


(Jay)I want to be a good Husband and Father that my wife loves and kids look up to I want to be a good friend I want to be a good uncle to my nephews and Nieces to come. I want to walk down the right path and really that is what I wanna be.


*sigh* Who knew I'd learn so much about my little bro by asking him questions about me?!?

Maybe I should make my dad my next interview...m-a-y-b-e.

Jay - Thanks SO MUCH, little bro! Hope you know how proud I am of the young man you have become. Life still has lots of tough choices ahead, and I trust that your faith in Jesus will keep you grounded and "walking down the right path."

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Smallness...

I like small.

Small towns, small churches, small cars and believe it or not, I love small houses. I like the intimacy of it. The cuteness...

It's just part of who I am.

It was three years ago this month that my husband accepted the call to pastor his first church. Small town, small church...we couldn't have been more excited. We knew that God had made us small-lovin' people, and we knew He had prepared us for this place...and were praying that He had prepared them for us!

About six months into my role as Pastor's wife, a group of ladies from my church and I went to bigger-town for a Ladies State Meeting (or something like that.) It was held at a rather large church that also runs a Christian school. It was my first "outing" with them as their Pastor's wife and I felt like an idiot to say the least. Not only was I one of the youngest Pastor's wives, (and not wearing panty-hose) I was the newbie. It got even better when they made all the pastor's wives stand up front to introduce ourselves and then have the ladies pray over us.

Before they prayed, the Pastor's wife of the large church said something that struck me that day. She said something to the affect that they were so happy to have each of us there and that no matter how small our church was, our ministry was just as important as the large churches.

And I thought to myself, "hmmm...I had never thought it wasn't until right now."

I've thought a lot about her words over the past few years. I know her intentions were most likely to encourage us smaller pastor's wives that our ministry was significant. What I wonder though...is it the small churches who struggle with their significance or is it the big churches who struggle to see the importance of the small church?

My husband gets a magazine in the mail called Leadership. It's for pastors...but I will pretty much read anything in magazine form :) Yesterday, as I flipped through the latest issue, I found an amazing article.

A man named David Gibbons started a multi-ethnic mega church in California in the early 90's. It is still there, and thriving. In it's bigness though, he found something lacking. This pastor talks about his journey to his new ministry which is planting smaller churches, from 30-300 people each. He talks of the benefits of the smaller church, but admits to now having to help support his family with other outside jobs. He says, "I'm a better pastor because I have other occupations. My jobs change; my calling remains the same."

God used this little article to so encourage and affirm our little ministry yesterday. To think that this man, David Gibbons, had what many see to be the successful church, and yet decided to go make smaller ones...it really blew me away.

All size churches that are preaching the gospel are important...and all sized ministries are equally important. When I look at Jesus, there is no doubt in my mind that He would have gone upon that cross for the sins of just a few...

I am amazed at what God is doing here...in the small things. And I'm praying today, that I never lose sight of that.

Bigger is not always better...for oh-so-many areas. Just reminding myself of that today.

Happy Monday Bloggy friends!

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