"Take time"

I was at the party supply store yesterday getting balloons for 2 of the girls in my sr high group to celebrate their birthday While I was waiting for the girl to blow them up, I started to look around They have an awesome candy section but I'm trying to cut back so I started to look at some of the other things on the counter and I saw these little laminated cards. I bought one of them because the words were simple but true It's from an "Old Irish Prayer"


Take time to work
It is the price of success

Take time to play
It is the secret of perpetual youth

Take time to give
It is too short a day to be selfish

Take time to laugh
It is the music of the soul

Take time to love and be loved
It is a God-given gift

Take time to be grateful
It is the key to joy

Take time to meditate
It is the path to peace

Take time to Pray
It is the greatest power on earth

-Adapted from an Old Irish Prayer

Trying to lose weight...How depressing !

Last week I decided to get on the scale at work and weigh myself..how depressing!! I weigh more than I did when I was 9 months pregnant with Kristen So now I'm trying to make some "changes" ..not easy!
Probably the biggest change I need to make is exercise I love to walk with my ipod..i just don't like to walk in the cold :) So I've found some exercises I can do with my exercise ball I had to get for my herniated disc
My other big challenge is my "snacks" I don't overeat at meals but I do "graze" especially when I'm home by myself and I LOVE candy...gobstoppers,Mike & Ikes, and chocolate covered raisins being my favorite
So...this is all new for me ..I was always underweight growing up and was able to stay where I needed to be in my 20's and 30's but when I hit 40.....:(
Now I have to practice what I preach to my patients :)

I'm done :(

I'm pretty sure I will be in last place in the 3rd place basketball bracket
I was doing good until this week and then I just took a nosedive.
Oh well, there's always next year.
Now I have to figure out who to root for to win :)

4:50 pm Ok I had to add this.. I was watching the pregame show about Brad Buckman and how he lost his best friend in high school to bacterial meningitis. He changed his jersey number on his McDonald's all star uniform to his friend,Brendan's,number,#22,so now I have a "girl" reason to root for Texas :)

V for Vendetta ..awesome

Tuesdays...$5.00 Tuesdays at Showcase so we went to see V for Vendetta Zach and I loved it..Darrell didn't hate it but he had an issue with the "female Brokeback Mountain scene" as Zach liked to name it
It's a very"political" movie for those who have an interest in that
I have to say the Guy Fawkes mask will probably give me nightmares
In case you don't know Natalie actually had her head shaved during the scene in the movie so she only had 1 take to get it.
You would think she was really upset when actually she wanted to have her head shaved
She is one of few people (Sinead O'Connor is another one) who looks good with a shaved head

Where's the snow?

I've been up off and on tonight..I get times where I just can't sleep and so I will get up and sit..pray..play on the computer :) etc. Tonight was one of those nights
Just alot of things in my thoughts,people on my heart to pray about,and ...where is the snow?
I expected to get up and see inches of white stuff lying in my yard...instead I see only green grass
I know alot of disappointed kids and teachers this morning.
Hmmm..maybe they'll get an early dismissal instead ?

9:00 am I'm sitting at my computer at work looking out the window at a blizzard of snow ...It finally got here...Snow day :)

Basketball fever

This is the week that NCAA tournaments started It's always a big deal at our house because I live with 2 huge sports fantatics Both of them are Kentucky fans Kentucky survived the first round but I don't know about the next one
Darrell was able to get 4 tickets to the evening games last night from the owner of all the Serra Chevrolet dealerships ,Joe Serra, who happens to be a Michigan State alumni We had great seats We sat a few rows behind the players families We also sat behind 2 guys who were dressed as leprachauns.. I text messaged Kristen to tell her and she thought there were "real" leprachauns in front of me :)
I'm not a MSU fan but you couldn't help but root for them when you're surrounded Unfortunately they came out on the losing side and were in shock with some in tears
The second game was the exciting one with University of North Carolina vs Murray State That one was close right to the end So now I'll be watching the rest on TV but it was definitely worth the experience to see it live

Just be yourself

I read something this morning in my email that made me think Alot of times it seems we are uncomfortable with sharing our faith or feel like we might say the wrong thing It makes us uncomfortable because we're opening up a vulnerable intimate part of our lives
It seems everyone is looking for that "perfect formula": "the perfect prayer", "the perfect verse"...well guess what ...there is no such thing
What you need to be open to is who you're talking to..their background, their past experiences,what they value,etc What may pierce the heart of one person may have absolutely no effect or even the opposite effect on someone else
There is no question that we need to share our faith.."Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you And surely I am with you always,to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
You don't need a formula or 1,2,3 steps..you just need to rely on God and he says he will be with you..you just need to remember that
I like the following quote out of the email I read

Memorized phrases and stock words only mean something to those who are already members of the Christian club. They provide a certain security against not knowing what to say. On the other hand, if you have a living, vibrant relationship with God through Christ, you will never be at a loss for words when asked about your faith. It will be the most natural thing to talk about, and you will be able to phrase your response in terms that will take into account the person you are talking to.
John Fischer

Dayton Bombers Game,etc.

Last night I went to see the Dayton Bombers play hockey with Darrell and my friends from 3rd Place Although they lost 3 to 1, it was alot of fun to watch We had great seats Our tickets were in the 3rd and 4th rows behind the penalty box There weren't any real fights which would have made it really exciting but it was fun to watch how they play and the food was awesome,especially the pizza, and the entertainment ,pee wee hockey players . It was nice to spend time together outside of our Monday night study

I love when we find restaurants that aren't widely known about with awesome food If you like "New York style food" ie cheesesteaks,pizza,coney dogs,hamburgers go eat at "Roc A Fella's" on 48 near Incarnation Church and Bill's donuts It's great

For anyone who loves Donald Miller books ie "Blue Like Jazz,Searching for God Knows What, Painted Deserts, he is coming to Cedarville to speak on Thursday night March 23 for $3

For anyone who loves Delirious? they are coming to Cincinnati Vineyard Thurs night April 6

Spring ..I can't wait

I can smell and hear the signs of spring this morning !
I'm not a lover of winter It's dark alot , it's cold , and i feel more depressed
In spring you have :



flowers
sun
birds
walks
picnics
Easter
spring showers
open windows
grilling out

I can't wait :)

Needing a "Bigger Boat" ......God

I read this article this morning and I've felt this same way..not just about my children but any close relationship where you're helping them figure out what's the right decision...what's the right path


"You're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat" by Michael Staires

There can be no higher calling, no more meaningful assignment, no more terrible and frightening responsibility than being a dad. It has been said that any male can father a child but it takes a real man to be a dad. I think that’s true. It’s been a difficult day.

I spent a couple of hours today talking to my oldest son Riley and trying to get a sense of his plan or vision for the days just ahead. I thought that if I was lucky, I might get a peek of his view for the future—his future. I spent the first part of the conversation throwing out obvious “Dadisms” like “begin with the end in mind” and “plan your work, then work your plan.” I guess I was trying to get him excited about setting some realistic goals for the coming years, then making a wise, well thought-out plan to achieve those goals.

It didn’t take long for his child-like faith and wonder to completely dismantle all my carefully constructed words.

Riley is a great guy. He is 18 years old, and his life stretches out before him like an open road—a road he can’t wait to travel. But Riley sees this road disappearing behind a grove of trees just a few hundred yards up ahead. Where it’s heading, he has no idea. How many side roads and where those roads may take him—he hasn’t a clue. In fact, that’s the beauty of it. An infinite number of choices, an infinite number of destinations. Only God knows where his course will lead. Riley has the strong conviction that to choose a single road would be to limit God (and himself) from all other possibilities. He would much rather keep his options open. Wide open.


Of course, I hear the voices of elders who have gone before me. “If you don’t set any goals, how do you know if you’ve succeeded?” “If you have no target, how do you know if you’ve hit it?” I start to talk, then hold my tongue. I’ve got a decision facing me.

Is Riley a guy in love with the idea of living a life full and rich, without a care of actually accomplishing anything other than the Great Adventure? Or is he a guy in need of a serious dose of maturity and a hefty reality check? I guess—as his dad—I ought to be able to figure that one out. But the truth is, I’m having some trouble. I’m completely overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to answer that question about him or about me.

You know how conversation works: You hear words scroll across your mind and, if they make it past all your filters, you speak them out. I hear words lining up in my brain: “Riley, you just can’t do that.” “How will you afford that?” “That will just never work!” I am immediately in conflict. I don’t know if my years on this earth have brought me valuable experience for just these types of conversations with my kids or if they’ve taught me to be overly cautious or even cynical—especially about dreaming dreams that may never come true.

You know, it’s times like this, sitting here in this coffee shop with my oldest son looking at me for answers, that I realize that Promise Keepers or Wild at Heart or Focus on the Family aren’t really worth a can of spit. I mean, John Eldridge is a great author and all, but he isn’t sitting in my chair looking at what I’m looking at. And even if he was, Riley doesn’t care what Eldridge thinks. He wants to hear from his dad—from me.

In the end, I can only hold him and pray for him and remind him how much I love him and how proud of him I am; how I don’t have all the answers. Not even close. We’ll figure it out together. The way it’s supposed to be.

I’m reminded of the first time Chief Brody gets a good look at the gigantic shark terrorizing his waterfront in the movie Jaws. He says, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!” So, here I am: I’ve been a dad for 23 years now, and I need a bigger God. I need a bigger God to be more involved in my life, more forthcoming with answers, more available for feedback.

Of course our God can’t get any bigger. But we can give him a bigger place in our lives. We can call on him more—depend on him more, admitting our weakness and our ultimate, desperate need for him. We can feel his presence in our lives expand.

My life pushes me toward God. It’s painfully obvious I don’t know what I’m doing, and I need a “bigger boat.” When left on my own I can make exactly the wrong decision in a heartbeat. And if you’re honest with yourself you know it’s true for you too.

Do you need God more today than you did yesterday? Are you putting yourself in a position to be overwhelmed? It’s scary, but it’s the only real way to live. Getting answers will become less of a goal. Getting him will become the goal. Falling into him and holding on for dear life will be the ultimate goal, every minute of every day.

Loving an author's words

I try to watch 722 every week It's where Louie Giglio spoke for 10 years and recently left to spend more time with "Passion" The last 2 weeks there has been a speaker, David Nasser, who really has spoken to my heart

"If you love the author, it's not a chore to read his word"
David Nasser at "722"


I'm reading a book called "Story Recapture The Mystery" by Steven James It tells stories from the bible in a totally new and visual way..ie when Jesus turns water to wine it's told from the bride's perspective The other thing I love is that with every chapter there are poems
The following is one of my favorite


touching the unseen

you seem so far away from me today.
just out of reach.
or maybe i'm the one who's out of reach.
out of touch.
what is it in me that makes you so hard to see?
i need new eyes. spiritual eyeballs that look past
the bills that need paying
and the car that needs fixiing
and the e-mails that keep coming

to see what lies beyond.
eyes that can see in the dark.
and through the dark
to you.

i've been looking
in the wrong place all this time--
in myself rather than in you,
within this world rather than
beyond it where the kingdom
of God resides, where you live,
and secretly smile at my shortsightedness--
and wait.
i'm glad you're so patient.


quest.

Mythirdplace.org

I love 3rd place so I wanted to promote their new site Mike worked really hard on this all week so you have to visit and listen to the podcast ...it's so cool !