the eternal 29 realization

Well, this is it. This is my last year at being "young" though it really seems "old" to be 29. Today is my birthday and I can't believe I am where I am today. Honestly, I thought I'd be living in Africa by now with 5 kids and a husband in a little hut, tending a farm, sharing God's greatness and seeing people's lives turned around for His glory.

Instead of that, I am in the Air Force learning something new, still awaiting the day when I can step onto blessed African soil. Don't get me wrong; I love my husband and boys, my friends and family, and the military, but I still dream of holding those African babies and witnessing God working in their lives. One day, I hope.

I haven't seen much in my life but here's a bit of what I have seen and/or experienced (not in order):

1. Ronald Reagan's inauguration
2. cassette tapes of 80's & 90's
3. CD's
4. PC that I had to program via a cassette tape and tape recorder plugged into my TV
5. AOL that charged like a million dollars a minute
6. LP's (brother's 100+ collection)
7. 8 tracks
8. Atari
9. Nintendo
10. Nintendo 64
11. What PS & Xbox is out now...?
12. Had a Pinto that was nice.
13. Wished for a Probe.
14. Drove across TX in the "backseat" of an EXP.
15. Lord knows how many dogs...
16. ...or even how many schools.
17. Been to New Zealand, Australia, and deep in Mexico.
18. Lived on both coasts of US and through 21 states (I think).
19. Climbed mountains
20. Swam in rivers
21. Swam in safe lakes
22. Swam in dirty water
23. Been in Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
24. gigantic car phones become a tiny thing that hangs on your ear
25. Helped 4 dogs give birth to wonderful puppies
26. Took a puppy with spina bifada to the vet
27. volunteered countless hours
28. gave birth to 2 wonderful boys
29. got married...still waiting for dream wedding and honeymoon
30. enlisted in the military
31. Have a great relationship with my God.

There are so many more things I could say but I know that each day and each year will only get better and better.

Thank you, Lord, for what you have blessed me with. I love my friends and family and sometimes take them for granted. Help me to be a blessing to them and to remember why they are in my life. You trusted me with their loyalty and love. You trusted me to do obey Your Word at this point in Your plan for Your people. Help me to exceed Your expectations, in Jesus' name...AMEN.

magnified maps

Imagine waking up in a strange pasture with a headache strong enough to stop a train. You sit up to rub your eyes and face, groggilly (sp?) scratch your head and look all around you. You don't recognize anything except...*sniff*...Ugh, what is that smell? Ah, yes--cattle. You recall smelling it once when you were younger, driving for hours on end for that "wonderfully anticipated"--but secretly dreaded by all--family vacation. It was definitely a distinct odor that one could never forget.

You check your body and clothes for any signs of abuse, but you're perfectly clean and whole, except for that aweful headache.

Where am I? you think. "Obviously not in New York City!" you say outloud with a chuckle at an attempt to be humorous.

You slowly stand up and scope your surroundings a second time. Hearing a paper rustle in the soft, warm breeze, you stomp on it so as to catch it with your foot so wouldn't blow away. Carefully, you bend over and pick it up, holding it with both hands.

It's a map. But not just any map--not a map of the earth with a great big "you are here" sticker (dratz!); not a map of the US; not a map of a state. It looks like a map of some town magnified to what appears to be a 1000 times, viewing only a few Farm to Market and County Roads with lots of open space in between.

"These roads don't even have names--they're only numbers!" you shout. With a sigh of frustration, you try to recall everything your Daddy, boy/girl scout leader, teachers, and all those National Geophic Explorer magazines ever "taught" you.

You know you're on earth in some state that raises cattle and has Farm to Market Roads that intersect County Roads. There are no houses that you can see, no mountains, a few hills, and waves and waves of tall grass. You know how to read this map, but it doesn't help 'cause you have no idea where in America you assume you are. Frustrating!

Have you ever felt this way in life? At school, at church, at home, at Wal-Mart?

This same frustration is how I feel about Electronic Prinicples. I know what electrons are and the basic concept of electricity, but what the heck is that instructor talking about?? Impedance, hole flow theory, transistorized somethin'-er-others...arrrrgh!

Oh, well...this too shall pass...barely! :) *sigh*

*The photo was found via www.images.google.com at URL http://imagesource.art.com/images/-/David-Angell/Cow-Pasture-Poster-B12189627.jpeg.*

he is my life

I have a little cowboy. Every move he makes, every funny little thing he says, every time he says, "Mama, I luh you," my heart melts and then swells with passion. He is my life.

I also have a little X-treme athlete. Everytime he leaps from the highest branch, everytime he puts together a new invention or concoction, everytime he surprises me with his incredible talents, my breath escapes me and a lump forms in the back of my throat, my eyes fill with tears. I choke them back and, smiling, hugh him and say, "Well done, son." He is my life.

I have a Texican. He's a great man who cares for me and quite literally gives his life for me day by day. There's no one else who will ever love me the way he does. I would do anything for him. He is my life.

I have a Savior, a Lord, a Friend. He spoke just the right words to cut straight to my heart that affect day after day after day. He sings for me, and gives me flowers. He hugs me with a whirl of the wind and whispers to me as He brushes by. He gave His life for me so that I may live. I may choose to make certain choices that benefit my children and husband, but none of those compare to the choices I make for my God. Day by day my life reflects His image, His glory and grace. Breath by breath I convey His message to the world. Because of this, I choose blessing. He is my life.

(Deut 30:19-20)

just breathe

the more i seek you, the more i find you
the more i find you, the more i love you

i wanna sit at your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand
lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heartbeat
this love is so deep, it's more than i can stand
i melt in your peace, it's overwhelming

The above is a song by Zach Neese. It's so moving. I listen to it several times before bed every night. I love God so much and can't help but trust Him in what He's doing in my life. There are so many things I see Him in every day...it's overwhelming when you think about it.

To be able to just lay back, take a deep breath, and to feel His heartbeat. That is the strength of my life. Just breathe...

what may come

what may come
of the changes suddenly dropped in my lap?
what may come
of the life that unfolds before me?
what may come
in the very near future?
what may come
is opportunity.
what may come
is new connections and covenants.
what may come
is life.

he is yours

My son started Kindergarten Tuesday. I can't believe how fast these last 5 years have flown by. I had 5 years to lay the foundation upon which he will build his life. I still have a lot of work to do, but I can see that the foundation is a good one. He loves God, and Jesus, and going to church. He's an extreme athlete, not much for organized teams sports, although he loves soccer. But I think that soccer was a phase simply because his cousin played it for a little while; he adores her.
He's so mature sometimes that I forget he is only 5 and I don't know how to respond when he acts differently. I need to step up to the plate and provide him a better learning environment at home so that he will be at his best school.
Lord, help me to be the best mom that he deserves. Give me wisdom to guide him to You and to know what he needs even before it shows.
You are so wonderful, Lord. I will keep my promise I made to You...He is Yours.

ignite

Ignite. What a strong word. It is the name of the youth ministry at our church, of which I am a leader--the teacher. Since I became one of the youth leaders, every lesson I teach goes back to getting to know God and studying the Word. It seems I'm always encouraging them to really dig in. Our pastor began a series on obedience; so did we. I really want them to see how important it is to study for themselves what the pastor teaches.

As I was praying just now, I wondered why we chose Ignite as our title, so I did a little research on dictionary.com.

"To cause to burn." "To set fire to."
"To subject to great heat, especially to make luminous by heat."
"To arouse the passions of; excite."
"To begin to burn." "To begin to glow."

Hmmmm...luminous...?

"Emitting light, especially self-generated light."
"Full of light; illuminated." "Easily comprehended; clear."
"Enlightened and intelligent; inspiring."

Wow! Those kids are all of these things! Now, I just need a little salt...

"But John intervened: 'I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned.'" Luke 3:16 MSG

Ignite the glory of God within you so that it will shine brightly for all the world to experience.