It's Personal...

I'm in session 5 of Beth Moore's Daniel study. God has used this study to challenge me beyond words. I haven't blogged on it much because it is so personal, so close to my heart that I need it to just stay there for awhile.

This morning, something Beth wrote hit me hard.

For some, the flow of the world can be easier to resist than the flow of Christian mediocrity.

I struggle with both. Until this study, I didn't realize how much the attitudes of my culture are just a part of me. Even more so, how the attitudes of other Christians around me affect me.

Beth says...

We abide in our subgroups by unspoken codes dictating how far we'll go in our devotion to God. Anyone who goes overboard or takes it too seriously is considered eccentric, not extraordinary.

The truth is, worldly individuals already think I've lost my mind. I came to understand that very, very early in my Christian experience. I get that...I understand that. I can handle that. After all, why wouldn't they think I was a little strange?

What I seem to never get used to is the backlash that sometimes comes from fellow believers during the times in my life that Christ has called me to be different. I can be going about my business, quite happy and content and then God goes and grabs my heart again with something like this Daniel study. And during those times...He requires something different of me. Requires a change.

I've learned that sometimes other believers view my changes as judgement on them. And often, I've wrongly viewed other's changes as judgement on me.

And they're not.

I do have a point to this incessant rambling, I'll try to find it...recently God has convicted the parsonage family that it's time for us to do something different in one particular area. It has nothing to do with how anyone else does this particular thing. He's just calling us to it differently for now, and we can either obey what He's asking and risk being viewed as the weirdos, or we can maintain our norm and just go with the way we've always done it.

But only one way leads to obedience for us.

At the end of each day, I want to be the Christian that is an encouragement to the person who tells me God is convicting them and they want to change. I want to rejoice with them when God calls them to something radical. I want to encourage them to trust and follow even when it seems crazy. I don't want to get in the way of what God is doing in someone elses life...I want to cheer them on instead.

I am so thankful for those people in my life that have cheered us on when God called us to something that seemed crazy at the time. And I'm especially thankful for those who've set the example before me, living out a radical faith.

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For the Life of Me I Can't...

Something has happened to me.

For some odd reason I am unable to make simple decisions. It is driving me crazy. CRAZY. I'm normally the gal who knows what she likes. But lately...not so much.

I hem and haw (wow, I say that all the time but it looks really weird when I write it...) over the most trivial things. It annoys me to death when people can't make simple decisions...and now I'm one of them.

And because I can't get away from myself, it's taken annoying to a whole new level. It takes me twice as long to grocery shop, pick something for supper, make plans, and even get dressed in the morning. And when I do finally make a decision, I end up doubting it.

You know what one does when they can't decide...nothing. I just wait and wait and wait thinking I'll soon be able to choose...and I don't. I just put it off a little longer.

I'm sure there's a spiritual lesson in it somewhere. I'm just still stuck in the "what the heck happened to me, bring back the Sarah who can make decisions" stage. Once I get passed it (and it may take awhile) I'll be sure to fill you in.

In the mean time...should I hit Publish Post or not? Did I mention it's annoying?

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I Have No Point...

Because I can't narrow it down to a point....

• I have been watching a ridiculous amount of football. And generally, every team I'm rooting for...loses. I like the Packers, because my oldest son Noah likes the Packers. Last night I was rooting for the Cowboys because my brother loves them...and they won. Next week the Packers play the Cowboys, and because it is against my nature to remain neutral I must pick a side. I'm gonna go with the Pack. See, I told you...it's gotten out of hand people.
• My same little brother who likes the Cowboys (who I call little, but he's actually almost 21 years old...but to my almost 32 years it makes him little) was dealt a blow this past week. He found out that he is diabetic. Very diabetic. It sorta came outta no where, with no family history...and so he's adjusting. And because I'm his big sister, and pregnant, I did my share of crying for him...because giving up the sugar...is something to cry about.
• I am very much on the verge of getting some Christmas decor out...just the greenery and lights...maybe. I love Thanksgiving, I do. I love it even more when I celebrate it with Christmas decor ;)
• I am very annoyed with my pants that won't stay up. It's only gonna get worse as my belly gets bigger. I'm thinking it's time to bring suspenders back. Wait, I take that back. I don't' think suspenders were ever in to begin with...let's start it.
• I am utterly and completely annoyed with our House of Representatives. Praying the Senate has some more sense.
• I finished the book Methland this weekend. I can't even tell you how disturbing it was. Made me want to crawl back into the bubble I live in...you know, with shiny happy people holding hands...now that song is gonna be in my head all day. Hate when that happens.

I think that's enough random for one day.

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Good Questions and Yummy Donuts...

Man this picture makes me want some donuts. My love for donuts runs deep...very deep.
Moving on.
I'm joining in on the fun with Linda over at 2nd Cup. I think all of my readers probably already know Linda, but it you haven't met yet, I highly recommend you take a trip over there. She's a hoot.
1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?I sit there...until I've convinced myself that the stoplight must not work properly at 2AM therefor justifying my need to go through it. And then, I think to myself *wait!* it's 2 in the morning and there are probably drunk people driving all over the place and if I break the law by going through the stoplight they will probably show up out of nowhere and crash into me. Welcome to my thought process...it's exhausting.
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?I might change my tall Peppermint Mocha to a grande because sometimes bigger is better.
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)It just depends. But I am not very good at following up like many people are. I'm always amazed when I leave a comment somewhere and the sweet person emails me about it. Makes me feel special... and then bad because I am not as thoughtful. I do have some good excuses though...I can email ya if you're interested. ;)
4. Your favorite Disney movie is: Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.
5. Do you recycle?I do! Only for the past year or so...I'm a little slow at jumping on this band wagon. I don't really enjoy it though...but I can do my part.
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?Can I say a little of both without cheating the question? My current favorite game is Dutch Blitz. It's a card game with Amish people on it. And I think it involves both strategy and chance...that being said, I am very annoyed that my husband beats me at it 80% of the time.
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?YES. I keep dreaming that we are moving into another parsonage. Still the same church, just moving us to a different house. Anyways, the houses are big old houses and in the dream I'm trying to figure out where I'll put everything and who will sleep in each room and then I'm trying to figure out what colors to paint all the while I'm wishing I could just go back to my small house where I don't have to worry about any of that.
8. What did you learn from your first real job?I'm gonna count babysitting as my first real job because I was a hard-core babysitter and man was I good at it. I could keep the kids happy and safe AND clean their kitchen to boot. I was in high demand. I learned to multi-task with kiddos around. Too bad I don't have my 15 year old energy to keep me going these days.
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?I think I borrow most books. I've just recently started using our little library on a regular basis. I've gotten over my bad habit of not returning books so now it's not quite as scary :) Just yesterday I checked out this book. I KNOW! I saw the author on The Today show and this town in the book is in our general area. My step dad grew up there and we have a good pastor friend who is now pastoring there. I think it will open my eyes to my own tiny town too. I'll let ya know more about it once I pass page 15.
10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?Pretty much all of them. I tend to eat the word never whenever I use it.
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?Not until December. It's all about atmosphere for me.
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
Yes. It usually involves me clapping too. For some reason they just go together.
Go over to Linda's to join in on the fun!

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Pictures...

Just for the heck of it, I took some pictures yesterday and today. Something I haven't done in quite awhile...

I thought I'd document my increasing belly/decreasing lap. At 15 1/2 weeks the lap still wins.

And the baby bump...

And the purple shoes that I've rekindled that loving feeling for recently...

And a new hair cut that was loooong over due thanks to nausea and barfing...

It's good to feel somewhat normal again. Well, maybe normal is a bad choice of word...it's good to feel like me again.

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Details...

I should give you a Julie update. She's doing really great. Is that enough information? Her grades are excellent, she's easy to have around, and has put up with my mood swings amazingly well. Sometime soon I'll have her do a guest post on her thoughts of living here. It's sure to entertain. ;)

Julie traveled with friends to an apple orchard last weekend. Along the way they found a little store in a little town that sold Norwegian stuff. She brought back this mug for us. It says:

Living with a Norwegian Builds Character

It makes me smile. Now, if I could only find one for her that says:

Living with a Pregnant American Host Mom Builds Character

Poor girl. I think my nausea and laying around for the past couple months may have scared her away from ever wanting children. I think it's best that come April, she stays out of the delivery room. ;)

Last winter when we were contemplating hosting a foreign exchange student I remember joking with my Bible Study ladies that I'd probably end up getting pregnant AND hosting a student...because that would of course be INSANE. At the time I was completely joking. Because God certainly would not do that to me.

Or maybe He would. And maybe just to show me who's in charge of it all, He'd set up the fact that baby #4's due date would be the birthday of the Norwegian girl He'd ordained to live with us. None of it is by accident.

Because God is big on details.

PS - Remember when you all voted for the Iowa hospital to win a chance at a new game room? Well, they ended up in 2nd place so THEY WERE ONE OF THE WINNERS!! YAY! Thanks for voting!

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Hearing the Big News...

I thought I'd share with you the video of the boys hearing the news about the baby.

It cracks me up every time.

Little background info: We hid baby items in three separate bags and then had them find the bags. When they did they opened them up together...that's where the video starts.

*smile*

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