Purple "Dirt"

So we have something new and fun at our house- purple sand. Last week at Jeremy's softball game one of the moms brought a sand table full of bright purple sand. It was wonderful! The kids played nicely the whole time and I actually got to see Jeremy make a few good plays. (Usually we are only there in presence I see very little of the actual game!) Grace loved it. So we decided the next day Jeremy and Grace would take a Daddy Trip to WalMart and get her some. We talked it up all day and she couldn't wait for him to get home and take her with him to the store. The sand comes in a 20 lb bag and is on sale for $2 a bag. (it is usually like $9!) So we bought a bunch and put it in a tub with scoops and other sand toys since we don't have a sandbox. Grace calls it purple "dirt." It comes in lots of bright colors but we choose purples since that is her favorite color. Thank you WalMart garden center-what fun!

Contentment Checkup

From a worldly perspective I have never used my Children's Ministry degree since I graduated from Lincoln. I substitute taught (while I planned our wedding), lifegaurded (during Jeremy's internship), was a secretary (for Jeremy when we lived on the edge of Camp End of the World), and then I became a full time mom. I really didn't understand why God was calling me to stay at Lincoln when I choose to stay and get a ministry degree versus persuing a teaching degree. And some might doubt that decision since I haven't ever had a paycheck for that job, but now as a minister's wife I have no doubt God knew exactly what he was doing!

Still I tend to be an overthinker often doubting that I am making decisions that are in line with God's will for my life. So when someone calls you out of the blue and says, "We are looking for a youth minister & part time children's minister would you and your husband be interested?" it is truly a contentment checkup. I didn't even hesistate- I knew the answer was no. Hoorah! No, doubting if this was God's call, or questioning my decision to stay home. I finally feel like I am dead center in the middle of God's current call on my life. What a blessing! I have doubted so many previous decisions, sometimes to the point of it being rediculous. For example, when I decided to end a very unhealthy relationship in college the person asked me to not tell anyone and pray about it for three days because they didn't think I was doing what God wanted. And I acctually did it and questioned whether it was the right decision even though my friends and family were affirming me right and left!!

I love being a stay at home mom and I have no doubt that is the best decision for me & and my family. And I am so thankful the Lord has given me confidence in this area because I think I might have mentioned before I have a very strong-willed two year old! And from God's perspective I am doing the purest form of children's ministry everyday in my own home, I just won't see the paycheck until heaven. And seriously look at my co-workers-aren't they the cutest!

Too Much of a Good Thing-The Great Flood of 08

Well, if you grew up along the Mississippi River like I did everyone talks about the flood of 1993. I was 10 years old that summer. I can kind of remember the news coverage and I distinctly remember being mad because we didn't get to go on vacation due to the Hannibal bridge being closed. The river levels reached during that flood are only "supposed" to happen every 500 years. But, I guess nature didn't read that scientific report because we are having another flood just as big as the historic flood of 1993.

This time the flood has really caught my attention. I have been very interested in the news coverage. On Sunday we took Grace down to the river so she could see everything that was going on. But you couldn't actually see the water because it was too dangerous. So we went up to Lover's Leap. It was crazy!! It was bumper to bumper trafic. We were telling her how people would talk about the flood of 08 when she grew up and she wouldn't remember but we would tell her stories. But it wasn't just curiosity, God was really tugging on my heart. I felt desperate to DO SOMETHING to help. I was torn as a mom. I can't exactly pack up my two kids and go sandbag! So I helped Jermey get all the infomariton and organize our youth kids to go. I couldn't decide whether to try and find someone to watch the girls so I could go or not.... I mean that person could just go sandbag themselves, so it seemed a little pointless. But I found a more than willing highschool girl so I was able to go. And I am so glad! It was really fun working alongside our highchool kids and seeing the wide range of people who were volunteering their time.

Now normally if you asked someone from Hannibal if it is a good thing being located along the river I think they would say yes. The river is beautiful and it helps to support the tourism here. Our family loves to walk down by the river and visit Riverview Park. Isn't it ironic how such a good thing can be disastorous when you have way too much! That seems like a picture of my life right now-too many "good" things. I feel like I have way too many things asking for my time. I long to have my priorities and the holy spirit direct where I spend my time instead of my circumstances and inability to say no. Ever since the Hearts at Home conference I have wanted to sit down and list everything I have committed myself to and do a little pruning. But, I haven't done it....yet!