Update of sorts

I'm growing vegetables! Or at least trying. I have zucchini, broccoli, and carrots in pots on my back deck. I also have sunflowers. They're all growing and I'm really hoping to get veggies from the plants. I'm not much of a green thumb...I've killed a cactus.

School starts in a week. I've got one kid in 4th grade and the other in Kindergarten. Time flies. I'll be going to 2 schools this year since 4th-6th grade is considered intermediate around here.

I've been doing a Bible study on the names of God. I'm only about halfway through it and plan to finish it, but I've learned a lot about who God is through his different names. I think my favorite so far, the one that means the most to me up to this point, is El Roi, the God who sees. He sees everything...the big picture all the way to the smallest hurt in my heart. The one I'm learning to trust is Jehovah-jireh, my provider. That should be easy if I look back over my life for the past 3 years, but it's not easy. I have to remember, remember, remember the things God has done for me and how he has provided. His provision has been great over the years. He's provided in the small things and the big. There's no reason to doubt that he will continue to provide. I've just got to trust and believe him.

The Heart Reader

I just finished this book by Terri Blackstock. I'm not 100% sure what to say about it. It's convicting. Very convicting. Makes me take a look at my own life and realize that I am so far from telling people about my savior, Jesus. How he is the only one I need. How he gives peace in the hardest of circumstances. How no matter what you've done, he offers forgiveness and mercy. How he is faithful even when I am not. How he has changed my life over the years, starting with the day I gave my life to him. Yes, it takes courage, which he will give. I don't have to have a script to go by. All I have to do is tell people what he's done. It's so hard, though. What do I have to offer? The woman who was in church from the time she was in her mother's womb? Was in church every time the doors opened? Who really didn't do anything "bad." I have no amazing  story of repentance. I wasn't into drugs, sex, or anything like that before I came to know Christ. I was disrespectful toward my parents, my brother. I watched and read things that I had no business watching and reading. I went to church because that's what we did, not because there was anything (at the time) to be gained from being there. It's entirely possible that I came to know Jesus at the age of 7. I don't know for sure because I can't tell that there was a change in my life at that time. I mean, at 7 how bad can a person be, right? If I didn't come to know Jesus at 7, then I certainly did at 15. All I know for sure is that God showed me my heart that night and it was burning. Felt like a literal burning. I was all jumbly and feeling knotty inside when I prayed that night and still was after I asked Jesus in. But, over the course of the next years, I knew I was different. It wasn't always a good different. I remember that I stopped wearing the Christian t-shirts. Why? Looking back, my guess is that Satan got right to work on me. I mean, I grew up in church and had worn the t-shirts through middle school and up to that point in high school. Now, all of a sudden, I *do* have a relationship with Jesus and I'm ashamed to admit that I was a fake before then, so I quit proclaiming him through my t-shirts. I grew some over the next couple of years and used a couple lines from a Christian song in my valedictorian speech and without shame. I let God lead me to the college I attended. I only applied to 2 of them and was accepted to both. The one I *really* wanted to attend did not offer me any scholarships, so I went to the other one. My roomie at UM told me one night that she thought I was pretty shallow in my faith until she needed prayer for a friend and I prayed with her. I'm not one to very openly display what I believe, but I have gotten bolder as the years have gone by. I felt God calling me to missions. At the time, I believed it to be career missions, but looking back, I think it was a calling to a mission trip. Specifically, the one where I met Clayton. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was going on that mission trip a year and a half beforehand. The day it was announced, I knew. The first penny had not been raised/paid toward it yet I knew. God didn't do anything incredible with me on that trip (at least as far as I know), but he did allow me to meet my husband and know not long after we met that he was the one for me.  Here we are, about to celebrate 13 years of marriage, after a year and a half long distance relationship, with only 6 weeks of that time being in each others' presence. Truly a God-thing. There are so many other things I could write about how I have seen God's hand, especially over the last 2.5 years. From job changes to motorcycle accidents to crazy, unbelievable happenings, he has been in the center of it all. Orchestrating. Not a thing comes to me that God hasn't allowed. How amazing to know that he is sovereign and Satan can't touch me without his permission. Especially when I look back over the last year. I *know* my God has something BIG in store for us. We may not see it this side of heaven, but he loves me and my family way more than I can imagine. Way more.

Wow

I was just going back and reading some posts I made over the past year. I'm amazed at how God has carried us through truly hard, confusing times and how He has spoken to me through different people and how my faith has truly been challenged. I was listening to Greg Laurie's radio program this morning and one statement he made really stood out to me: "Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted." While we're still not through with the big things that have happened over the last year, I can say that I believe we can trust our faith. We have definitely been tested. My faith is in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. And I can trust Him.

And in my true blogging form, it's time to mix and match topics. On the subject of running...I planned to get out tonight and run. That didn't happen. (Big surprise there). Tonight ended up being a kid-free night, so Clayton and I went out. I was a little too full still to run. I should be able to fit a run in tomorrow morning after I take him to work and after I get groceries. (His car is in the shop at the moment). Grocery list is already made, so all I have to do is stop somewhere on the way back home and then when I get home put everything away and hit the road. After I run, I'll head to the YMCA for the deep water fitness class I've been taking. I LOVE it! I even want to continue my membership through the winter so I can keep going 3 times a week for it. Now, if I can get my eating back under control, I should be able to get back on the weight loss wagon. I know I gained 4 pounds over the course of 2 months and I'm pretty sure I've put some more on since that last time weighing. After all, I *was* on vacation last week.

Vacation...what a fun week. We drove down to Pensacola, FL on Saturday, June 30. My phone rang just as we were pulling into Newnan, GA for lunch. It was my dad calling to tell me that pork chops were no longer on the menu for supper that night. He and my brother had gone fishing early that morning and caught 13 mullet, so mullet was on the menu. Oh, what a treat. It's been a LONG time since I had fresh-caught-the-same-day-I-ate-it fish and mullet is a must when in Pensacola.

This is a picture my brother (Jason) took of my dad while fishing. 

Sunday was the patriotic service at church. I tear up every year. Every. Year. We also had a cookout in the afternoon. I didn't get any pics of family members who were there.

Monday was the Naval Air Museum. That's another annual event for vacation.

Cousins at the museum.

Monday evening was spent at the beach. It was soooo gorgeous. Jason, Andrew, Kristin, Jacob and I met up with my cousin and her family there. We took pictures and talked. The kids weren't supposed to get wet, but they were soaked by the time we left. 

The "Hot Now" sign was on when we drove past Krispy Kreme, so we stopped for a couple dozen donuts. And coffee. (This was donut stop #1).

Tuesday morning saw Jason, Andrew, and me up at 5 to go back out to the beach to try to get sunrise pictures. We almost missed it.

All of us went back out later in the morning just to enjoy the beauty (and play in the water).

Wednesday was declared a do-nothing day...up until time for the fireworks, that is. However, Clayton and Andrew went back to the museum.

Thursday morning saw us waking before dawn to hit the beach again for the sunrise. This time was 4:30 and it was Jason, Allison, and me that went.

That's about where the pictures end. Of course, I have loads more. Clayton and Andrew went to the USS Alabama during the day and we all went to a baseball game Thursday night. Friday was spent doing pretty much nothing. We were all exhausted, so it was a welcome change. My family of 4 did make it out to the beach one last time Friday night for a seafood supper. We ended up leaving later than planned on Saturday, but made good time coming home. It was great to sleep in our own beds and get back into the regular routine.

Creativity

It seems I've run out of creativity when it comes to blogging. Mind you, there wasn't much there to begin with. I feel as if I've started repeating myself over and over and over and over. See what I mean?

I have a pseudo-update about Clayton's stuff, but I can't talk about it. So, that's a moot point.
Running has all but come to a standstill. (Heh). I'm doing good to get out once a week right now. And I have a half-marathon to train for.
Maybe it's time to do another "I'm thankful for..." post. Yeah, that sounds good, so here goes and in no particular order:

1. Vacations with family
2. Child-free days
3. 13 years of marriage (almost...give me 16 more days and we'll be there)
4. Bible study
5. A desire to be in God's Word everyday - it doesn't always happen and when I miss it, I miss it
6. Keurig coffee maker
7. Coffee
8. Hot Krispy Kreme donuts
9. The beach at sunset
10. The beach at sunrise
11. The beach in general
12. Extended family
13. Air conditioning
14. My Kindle
15. Reading
16. Singing
17. Music
18. Indoor plumbing
19. 2 bathrooms
20. Hot showers
21. Cold showers after a hot run
22. The YMCA
23. Church family
24. Looking back and knowing certain things were God's hands directing me
25. Nutella
26. Photographs
27. Health
28. Friends
29. Working from home
30. Being home with my kids
31. Fruit and veggie basket each week
32. Deep water fitness class
33. Running

I knew this would happen

I did REALLY well keeping up with this blog for longer than I thought I would. Now, it's gone by the wayside. So, here's to picking it up again.

My kids have been out of school for a month now. So far things have mostly been going well.  We joined the YMCA again this year so the kids can swim. Since I'm still working on fitness, I decided to take the deep water fitness class. I LOVE it. I'm going 3 days a week and then letting the kids swim afterwards.

My biggest fitness challenge is yet to come. I decided about 11:00 last night to register for the Kiawah Island half-marathon. So, I did it. December 8 is the date. I won't have to start training until September, but I do want to keep up with running until then. Hoping to get a couple runs in while we're on vacation.

Fun Day

Today ended up being a really fun day. I gave blood this morning (not so fun, but I know it will save a life, so it's rewarding). Kristin and I had lunch with a friend from church, which was great because I haven't seen this friend in awhile. I dropped the kids off with my mother-in-law and came home and worked for a little while. Put out a plea on Facebook about wanting to meet someone for supper tonight and was invited to join some other church friends at a local Mexican restaurant. So, I crashed their supper; they had actually already finished eating by the time I got there, but were courteous enough to invite me anyway. While we were sitting there talking, another family from church came in. We talked to them for a few minutes and then the first family I was with had to leave, so I sat down with the second family while they ate. And listened to their 9-year-old daughter talk. And talk. And talk some more. She kept me very entertained with stories of their pets and other things. She went through so many subjects that I can't remember what all she talked about. She talked about. Not *we* talked about. She talked. It really was a great evening. I laughed and was entertained. And need to do that again. And have Clayton there. At the time, he was on his way to Charlotte to visit his best friend from Argentina who is there on business until tomorrow. He'll be back at some point in the future and I'll get to meet him then, I guess.

All in all, it's been a really good day. I didn't get started working until after I left the kids with my mother-in-law, but have made it over halfway through now, and this is after having spent 2 hours out at supper. Going to try to work some more on it while waiting for Clayton to get home.

Upheavel

Wow. It's been a week. Well, sorta. Still no news on anything to do with Clayton's situation from July. Hoping to hear something soon.

I got news this past week that the doctor I've been typing for for the last 2.5 years is dropping us. There were some files missing (that I never got) and some files repeated (I can't do anything about that) and he's blaming us. So, at the end of the month it's very possible that I will be out of work. I love the way God works, though. I got this news Wednesday. After mildly panicking on Wednesday, God gives me his Word on Thursday. The first instance was on Facebook. A friend whom I've never met posted a quote and scripture about trusting God. I read it, it strikes a chord, and I keep going with my day. In the afternoon, on the radio, the afternoon host reads a quote that she read in her devotional that morning. You guessed it. It's about trusting God. Okay, God, I get it. That's twice now. Later in the evening, again on Facebook (see? It can be used for good) Proverbs 31 Ministries posts Psalm 55:22 - Cast all your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. That's three. Three times in less than 24 hours that God has said to me "trust me." "Cast your cares on me." And the kicker? Clayton comes home from work and said that on his drive home God pretty much asked how much it's going to take for us to trust him. How much indeed? To fully trust in the God who sent his only son to die for my sin. What else will it take? I hope I'm there. Fully trusting and relying on him. He cares. He knows me by name. He knew me before I was even conceived. How awesome is that? He chooses to love me, a sinner so black that I can't even see my way out sometimes or see sin for what it is. I am so thankful that he provided a way out of that sin and that he called me to himself so many years ago. It's time to quit sitting in that knowledge and do something with it. Trust him fully. He's got me covered. He wants to show off in my life and it's time for me to let him.