To Be At The Beach Is To Be Like Jesus…?

Getting ready for a vacation takes a lot of planning and organizing and packing and organizing and packing and organizing…get my drift?  We are getting ready for our annual family vacation to the Outer Banks.  We have been staying in the same house for several  years now.  We each know every part of this house, how the kitchen is stocked, what bedrooms we will stay in, no longer do we need directions to the home.  We love our home away from home, Davis Dunes II.  I fell in love with this home as soon as we stepped into the front door.

Perfection

This year, since we have all adults (except for Henry), we are trying to be a little more at ease with the menu and dinner plans.  Kind of spreading the duties, so to speak.  Our whole family loves this week and one day, we hope to increase it to two straight weeks.

Yes, me and Sarah…being like Jesus

Pastor Helen Bledsoe preached a message during our annual conference and she said something that has been my mantra since. She said that Jesus spent a lot of time at the sea shore.  He was found walking, teaching and making disciples on the sea shore.  So I have figured that to be most like Jesus, I need to be on the sea shore!!!!  Yes, this coming week, I will be on the sea shore, connecting with my Jesus (lol).

I hope you all have a fabulous Memorial Day and enjoy your activities.  Whether you are celebrating with family or having a quiet day at home, I hope you are doing what you love and are with those you love.  Many Americans gave their lives so that we could be free and have the time to enjoy those we hold dear.  So to all those who gave their lives, I honor you today and thank you.

I am not sure if I will be posting during our vacation.  I might post once or twice so I wanted to say thank you before I let the day get away from me.

Have a great weekend and remember how Blessed you are.

Drinking Coffee, Folding Laundry and Watching TV With My Boy...

Pregnant with Juliana…my hair was super red
No color applied here, all natural

Me with Juliana, getting her ready to to
to her first Nutcracker Ballet 

Growing up I wanted to be a lot of things.  I wanted to be a singer/performer, teacher, a writer, a preacher, an artist…the list goes on but what I wanted the most was to be a wife and a mommy.  Now, I know some may think that is a 1950's answer and I have one thing to say about that…I DON'T CARE! All the other things on my list always took a backseat to being a wife and a mommy.  The other things were there just in case I didn't become a wife and a mommy, they were there to fill my time if life didn't work out the way I wanted it to.

Juliana reading to Henry
"Hello, I am little fish swimming in the sea,
I have lots of fishy friends, come along with me."
His favorite for a YEAR!!

This is on my mind this morning because of what I read on Facebook.  My daughter, Juliana, posted that she was spending her morning drinking coffee, folding clothes, watching Team Umizoomi with her boy.  I have to tell you, I just love that.  Those are the best mornings.  I know she lives for mornings when life slows down and you get to enjoy your baby and your home.  Even doing things like folding laundry becomes a joy and not a drudgery.  It made me think of the mornings in our home in Calvert, all the kids in their jammies, Bo at work, Barney on the TV, a breeze flowing through the windows, and all was right in our little world.  I think I did something right.  Now my little girl is a wife and a mommy.  She is experiencing all the joys of mornings with her baby.  Henry loves books and I love to watch his mommy read to him, over and over and over again. (He gets stuck on one book for a while)

Me as a baby…I think Ronald and Christian
must have injured me on my right eye…
They were not kind then…lol

I pray that you each get to experience a little of your life slowing down.  Do something you love today. Read a book or start a good book.  Go out and take some photos of those you love.  Talk to a friend while drinking your favorite beverage.  Snuggle up against your honey and memorize his/her smell (I like to do this one…it's wonderful).  Look through some old photos and enjoy the memories.  I hope you have a great day full of Blessings.

It Wont Be The Same Without You!!!

This year my parents are not getting to go on vacation with us.  This is the first year since 2009 that they have not been able to go on our Hatteras trip.  So in honor of our missing them this year, here are some pictures from last year.   

Henry helping Mom Mom do the dishes

He's right in the middle of it all.

Papa, Henry and Presley at Ocracoke Coffee Company

Daddy and I playing in the storm Beryl

Daddy on the hammock

Now this is relaxation

Eating dinner by the pool

Henry and Presley, Papa and Julie trying to keep these babies dry

We are sure going to miss them having coffee with us at the Dancing Turtle and nightly walks on the beach.  I love to vacation with my parents because they are easy going people.  I know Bo will miss the  nightly theological conferences in the hot tub with Daddy and Jake.  I don't how they stayed in there that long…crazy men!!  

Music Is A Living Thing

What makes you feel closer to God?  Is it when you touch the face of a newborn baby, looking at it's little fingers and smelling the fragrance of new life?  Or is it when you walk into His beautiful creation, noticing the colors, smells and majesty of it all?  Can you feel it when you hear your little boy or girl sing, "Jesus Loves Me" or when he or she says, "Can I hold you"?

Bo and Jake right after Jake was born

For me, I feel closest to Him when I hear music.  Music is magic to me.  I can see and feel what I am singing.  Music is a living thing to me.  The flow, the intensity, the beat, the words, the rhythm, the heartbeat of a song.  Music is part of heaven and part of earth.  It was before man was.  I think that is why man has such a draw to music of all kinds.  When you are sad, you play sad music because it tells how you are feeling.  Even if there aren't any words, the melody can be solemn.  If you are happy, you play or sing upbeat songs that give you something to clap or dance to.  Music mimics what's happening in the soul of man.

Jacob getting ready to show his piano man abilities

Henry can't get enough of the drums

When I sing songs of praise, I am in the words.  Like the song, "The More I Seek You", I am the one sitting at His feet, drinking from the cup in His hands.  I am the one laying back and feeling His heartbeat.  It's a movie playing in my head.  In the song, "Holy of Holies", I can feel the fight against the crowd, trying my best to get to where He is…in the Holy of Holies.  It comes from my soul and connects me with God.

Bo sitting in the majestic canvas of God's creation

I think in song, I pray in song, I worship in song…music is magic to me.  I am in awe of those who write songs and play many instruments.  I sing what others have written and I don't play an instrument except the one God placed in my body and on the ends of my arms.  But I am thankful for music everyday.  It takes me into a place of worship that feels like I am sitting right in front of my Jesus.

Henry says, "Mommy, can I hold you?

I ask again, what makes you feel closer to God?  Tonight, as I watch the horrors unfold in Oklahoma, the loss of life and possessions, I am reminded that we need that connection with the Prince of Peace, the One who brings comfort to those who are torn apart by catastrophe's.  My prayers are with those in the midst of this life altering storm.

He is our Peace in the midst of the storm

My Love Board

Tonight, sitting in my office listening to Pandora's Solo Piano Radio, thinking about things that I just do not understand and feelings that are at times a little hard to process, an envelope caught my eye.  I remembered bringing it upstairs yesterday when I was preparing for dinner.  I remember thinking, I don't want to lose this.  I had the passing thought, I am going to need this one day to help me or encourage me.  I just didn't know that 24 hours later, it would come in handy.  

About a month ago I had a 31 Party.  31 is a company that sells bags that you can get personalized and use for many things.  My consultant, Jessica Smith, had a card that she passed around to everyone.  She told my guests to describe me in one word (nice things only) and then she gave the card to me.  I read it later and I was touched by the words that others described me with.  Sometimes we need to be reminded how we are loved or even how others see us.  

After I read it, I went through and wrote who each word was from.  I never want to forget what these ladies said about me.  These ladies are a part of my heart.  I am determined to let others know how I feel about them.  

Let me encourage you, as you read this, to tell the people you love, how you feel.  I am thankful for Jessica Smith and her card of positive words.  It has touched my heart more than once.  I hung it up on what I now call, MY LOVE BOARD.

Remember to think about your blessings and there are times, we need to write them down.  I just read a book by Maya Angelou called, Mom & Me & Mom.  She said there was a very low time in her life that a friend told her to write down her blessings.  By the time she was finished she was uplifted and ready to go home and live.  Write it down, put it into words, the blessings of the LORD.   

Kimi Maintenance…A MUST

Well the past two days have been what I call, "Kimi maintenance" days.  I have had my nails done, my feet done and this morning, my hair done!!!  I am ready to go.  Fresh and bouncy and NO MORE GRAY!!!  I am a big believer in keeping yourself fresh.  Not only does the world around you appreciate it but your body is thankful for the attention.

While I was at the salon, which is owned by my best friend who is also my stylist, both of my sisters came in.  To say it was a good morning would be an understatement.  I have enjoyed the last two days very much.  After I got my nails and toes done yesterday, I came home and gave the house a good scrubbing with the help of my wonderful daughter, Scovia.  I even got my dresser drawers cleaned out and organized.  I told Bo this morning, my dresser is so organized, I am not sure where anything is. I could get use to this…an organized life.

Henry at Hatteras last summer

Spring brings life and gives energy.  I have enjoyed this spring and I know I will enjoy the summer to come.

I cannot wait to get him back into the water
He loves the beach

I hope you all have a great weekend full of sunshine and joy.

Learn The Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Dr. Rozell preached at our church last night.  It was a powerful sermon titled "Unforced Rhythms of Grace."  He shared a scripture from the Message Bible that just keeps speaking to me.  

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

We sang a song during the Worship service called, "He Is Here".  The chorus goes, "He is here, He is here, to break the yoke and lift the heavy burden…"  When we are in His presence, there is a peace that we cannot explain.  It's not that all our problems have vanished or that we are living a perfect life.  Our lives can seem to be falling apart, yet we have peace.  

Learning the unforced rhythms of grace means that it will become such a part of who you are, it is now your nature.  Moving to and with the rhythms of grace…receiving it from the Lord and giving it to others and even yourself.  Dr. Rozell stated that when we fail or miss the mark, Grace says, "OK, we will try again tomorrow."  Grace doesn't excuse us from doing wrong or give us a license to sin, it guides us to the truth and lets us see our sin.  Not to condemn us or destroy us but to save us, deliver us, give us freedom and a much lighter load to carry.  Sin is heavy and destructive.  It is because of God's grace that we have a place to go for real rest.  Read the scripture above again.  What does it say, "Come to me…Get away with me…Walk with me…Work with me…Learn…Keep company with me", In His Presence you find peace, freedom, rest, unforced rhythms of grace, a lighter load.  

I encourage you today to enter into the presence of the LORD.  Talk to Him, sing songs of worship, study His Word.  Even in the middle of the battle, you will find peace.

One last quote from Dr. Rozell's message:

Faith is an action based on a belief and sustained by a confidence that God always keeps His Word…You can take it to the bank!!!

A Refreshing Desert

Trees growing in the middle of the rock…amazing

I am back!!!  We had a wonderful time in Arizona.  I never thought I would like the desert but I was wrong.  The desert is so varied.  Where you think that nothing would or could grow, you have flowers and bushes and little trees.  Where there is sand, and dirt and only dry land to the natural eye, underneath, flows water, nourishment, life.

The Grand Canyon

I am so thankful for the time in the desert.  It deepened my love for God's wonderful creation.  It opened my eyes to the depth of the spirit that is imitated in the natural.  Mountain tops, valleys, dry places, streams of living waters…it's all there.  All the colors are in the Canyons, the sky is painted with yellows, oranges, blues and reds, the trunks of the trees are green, black, brown and red…it is breath taking.  In Sedona, the sky plays with the rocks all day long.  Changing the look and feel throughout the day so when you turn around, you are always seeing something new.

Sedona

We think of the desert as a bad place, but I found that it is a place to reconnect to our Creator.  To be nourished in the warmth of the sun and to slow down.  It is a time when you are more aware of how much we truly rely on God to give us what we need.  We take the time to make sure that we are keeping ourselves hydrated.  We tend to linger in dehydration in the green places but to do that in the desert would be disastrous.

Bo at the Grand Canyon

If you feel like you are in the desert in your life right now, don't be discouraged.  Take the time to recharge and rest.  The desert can be a wonderful place.

Me at Red Rock Park

Gone for a week

I will be away from my blog for a week.  I just wanted to wish you all a good week.  I will have lots of new pics to post when I return.

Go out and enjoy your blessed life.

Keeping Balanced...

I am going to confess something to you today.  I like to write about decorating, family, fun, beauty, photography, love, things that make me happy and will hopefully bring a smile to your face.  I struggle when I write something and it sounds too preachy.  

In our society today, we as Christians face a real discrimination problem.  We are encouraged to just shut up and if we do share, please make it pleasant and upbeat.  We are told that to reach others, you have to be icky sweet and share Jesus as a passive, sin condoning, whip of a man, who didn't have a backbone, or make anyone mad, well except for the Pharisees.  People don't want to hear about the Cross.  The Cross is too bloody and we should just focus on the "happy clappy" (dad's words) parts of scripture.  

But if we don't see the Cross and point to the Cross when we share, how will they know?  How will the world see and know the sacrifice?  Bishop preached a message last night called, "The Centrality of The Cross", which means to me, "Keeping The Cross In The Center Of Our Lives."  Keeping the Cross of Christ as the center, it keeps us in balance.  The Cross is sin, love, fear, grace, redemption, freedom, death, sacrifice, tears, joy, faith, compassion, blood, forgiveness, hope.  These are all the things that we deal with everyday.  It all came together, in fullness at the Cross of Christ.  

When Isaac asked his father, Abraham, "behold the fire and the wood but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering" -Genesis 22:7-8.  Abraham didn't know how right he was.  God did provide himself as the sacrifice.  The forever sacrifice.  Jesus, very God and very man, gave himself to be sacrificed for us.  (Bishop Estep's Words)

The conviction that we feel when we look at the Cross is good but it doesn't end there.  Yes, the Cross does show us how we have sinned but it also shows us our redemption.  His sacrifice for our sins was so that we could be made free and clean and whole.  We are made whole when we enter into a relationship with Him.  He did it all for us.  Yes, He loves us that much.  We are not without Hope.  

When I see the Cross, I see Jesus.  When I cannot see Jesus in the world around me, I look at the Cross.  It makes me aware that He did it all not only for me but for you too.  When I have trouble loving, I remember that the ground is level at the Cross.  Available to all.  God is not a racist, social status does not matter to him.  

I am so thankful that I have people in my life who teach "the blood and guts" of it all.  It is the blood that cleanses us from all sin.  

Oh Let The Sun Shine In

My desk, letting the sun shine in.

This is the first day I am writing at my desk in my new office.  I brought up my computer and finally placed it on my desk facing the the huge tree in my front yard.  I wasn't expecting this spot to be as wonderful as it is.  There is so much activity going on outside this big double window.  Everything is catching my eye and the colors of spring are captivating.

I love the way the flowers are glowing in the window.
Not my window, this is from my nieces shower.

There is a squirrel jumping all around from branch to branch, birds flitting in and out of the trees and bushes, a white cat (no clue who it belongs to) is walking in the mulch, nose down like it is looking for something.  I can see a tiny tiny squirrel sitting in the crook of a branch, all snug and cozy.  There is life outside on Coachman Drive.

The sun is shining and the world has awaken from her winter slumber.  When I sat down at my desk this morning, the song that my parents would sing to us if we were grumpy came to my mind.

"Oh let the sun shine in, face it with a grin.  Smilers never lose and frowners never win.  Oh let the sun shine, face it with a grin.  Open up your heart and let the sun shine in."

Now when they would sing us this song there were two possible outcomes.  The first and desired outcome was, it could make us laugh.  The second and undesired outcome was it could make us mad and even grumpier.  The outcome was solely our decision.  It was a lesson learned after many days, making the wrong one.

This is also from the shower, but I love pictures of windows.
Oh the possibilities.  I love this window.  

I hope today, when you look out your window, you make the decision to let the sun shine in.  Embrace the day, bask in the suns warm glow and enjoy the blessings of the LORD.