Myrtle Beach or Bust 2006!!

You've wondered where I've been the past 12 days haven't you?? It's so good to know someone out there misses me!
Well, as you can see by the pictures, we were at Myrtle Beach!
We went with Cris' parents (pop and Nor Nor to Gracie and Isaiah) and had a blast.
Cris and I hadn't been on a vacation or to the beach since our honeymoon in Sept of 2000. We were very desperate for a get away and I was really longing for the beach.
Had it not been for Pop and Nor Nor this trip would not have been possible!!! We stayed in a condo at Myrtle Beach Resort. It had a sauna, work out room, tennis courts, kiddie pool, lazy river, 4 regular pools and of course the wide open ocean!!
Cris and I were able to go out a couple times by ourselves to "ride the waves". We didn't have boogie boards or anything, so we just rode 'em out on our bellies.
A time or two we got trampled by some big ones. There's nothing quite like fresh ocean water up your nose and down your throat at once... not to mention where the sand goes!!
While there, we were able to take in God's awesome creation. We would watch the tide change as it would go in and out all through the day. It's absolutely amazing how God created such a vast ocean that we can have no control over. I felt so small in the big body of rough water. At one point I went quite a ways past were the waves break and Cris said I was "out further than what made him comfortable." I'm a little bit of a dare devil, well until we got talking about sharks... that's when I came in a bit. It was hard for me not to think of Jaws while floating on top the rolling waters. I'd get myself all worked up over nothing. Again, that's the thrill seeker in me.
We were also able to go the a place on the Myrlte Beach strip called the Pavillion.
I have never been to MB so all of it was new to me, but Pop and Nor Nor told us of when they were younger how they came to MB for their vacations and went to the Pavillion for evening fun. It was a neat place. It had a carnival type area where the kids rode rides. It had roller coasters, clowns and games... all kinds of neat things. It really was a neat place. This is the season finale of the Pavillion, after this summer they're tearing it down.
Hopefully it won't be 5 1/2 years until our next vacation!!!

Legacy

"Legacy" by Nicole Nordeman is one of my favorite songs!! The words are so perfect and fitting to how I feel!
"I wonna leave a legacy, how will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to YOU enough to make a mark on things?" Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

We have such a huge responsibility as Christians and as parents. I sometimes feel overwhelmed at the fact that it's up to Cris and I to leave this legacy to our chilren, family and friends. Not just any legacy, becuase everyone will leave something behind. What I want my loved ones to remember is that we chose to love and serve Jesus Christ!

LEGACY (Nichole Nordeman)

Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

Road Trip

Chris and I took some kids from our youth group to Woodford Community Christian Church tonight for their Sunday night youth service. It was HOT!! I mean that literally. The air conditioning was out in the upstairs where the youth worship room is. There was about 100 people in this room with one box fan going. It didn't help.
We danced and worshiped regardless. I left very sweaty and I'm sure most of the kids were quite stinky by the end of the service. The worship band was Seth Heller from Shelbyville, KY and his crew which consists of Matt and Seth Helfrick, Chad (aka Chud) and Eric Roseberry. They are a great worship band!
Our crew had a great time. They love to go and see friends they've made over the years and reconnect with them. They also love the loud worship. Tonight we were able to witness 4 baptisms.... PRAISE THE LORD!!! I know satan was mad about that and the angels in heaven were rejoicing!
Until we meet again, WCCC, Peace!

Lazy summer days??

The kids and I did something today that we had not yet done all summer. We went swimming!!
Oh, we have played in the back yard in the kiddie pool up until today, but I look a little dumb sitting by it in a bathing suit. So today we hit the big time! We went to our friends house and enjoyed their facilities! It felt wonderful.
I grew up with a pool, so from about the time I was 7 I swam all day, everyday, all summer. I was a bathing beauty a water log, whatever you can think of. Todays trip wasn't quite the same as my swimming experiences when I was younger. See, back then, I could get in and out as I pleased. I could fall asleep on a raft, then lay on a lawn chair. I could get out and enjoy an ice cream etc. But going by yourself with 2 young chilren is a different story. They both wanted to either be held, ride in the floatie boat, or jump off the edge. At one point, Isaiah actually fell off the back of the pools edge (it's an above ground pool). Luckily Gina was in the pool with me when he went backwards. I grabbed his legs, and before I knew it I had his ankles and he was slipping fast. I yelled "GINA!!" and she helped scoop him up. He didn't care, he got right back up on the railing again like it didn't happen. (Just like his daddy!)
They would whine and cry that they wanted in then they wanted out. I think I was able to lay on a raft for 10 minutes maybe.
My how things change once kids come along. But I wouldn't have it any other way!!
Just to let you know, Cris didn't go because he was sick. I normally would not attempt taking 2 small children to the pool by myself, but today I couldn't pass it up!

I wanna be like you, daddy!

At our house, when Cris push mows it's a big deal to Gracie and Isaiah.
Gracie commands "1-2-3 start", and it does! Isaiah can't stop saying the word "mow, mow!" Over and over.
They just get so excited. One day this summer while Cris was mowing he took his shirt off like he usually does because it's so hot. Well, Gracie decided she wanted to be like daddy.... so she took her shirt off too and ran around the yard. She thought she was big stuff while being like her daddy.
Then the other day while Cris was pushing the back yard, Isaiah had his little push mower and followed daddy everywhere he went. Up the hill, down the hill, up the hill, down the hill. He was so happy to be acting just like daddy. He squealed and screamed the whole time.
During both of these times, the excitement in our kids' eyes was very evident. It was obvious in those moments they wanted to be just like daddy!!
I find that's how I am with God. I want so badly to imitate my Father. I want to please Abba in all the ways I can, and do just as he does. I pray he sees the same fire and delight in my eyes as I'm immatating him, as I saw in my kids eyes while they immitated there Father.
Phillips Craig and Dean have a beautiful song that says "Lord, I wanna be just like you, cause he wants to be like me." Talking about a child that wants to be like his dad, and a dad that wants to be like his Heavenly Father. We're a constant example to our children. Everything we say and do is either a reflection of Christ or of the world.

"Fruits" of our Labor

Gracie and I picked our first vegetables out of our garden the other day.
We were able to get about 6 yellow squash, 3 zucchine, and a cumcuber.
It is so neat to me to teach our children how you can plant a small seed, water it, and weeks later you have a plant producing vegetables. I get excited myself watching our garden grow.
I love to enjoy the "fruits" of our labor.
This is the same as how God works in our lives. We too, at one time, had a seed planted in us, it was watered, and it began to grow and grow. Over time we have to prune and cut back weeds in order to breath and grow! I hope God is as excited about the fruits of my labor as I get about our garden. You can tell a christian by the fruits of his/her labor. I want to continually be bearing fruit and be an encouragement for others to do the same as well.
The thought that a simple garden can be a biblical point in our lives is such a neat concept to me.
God really can use us in so many ways! May I always be available!!

Colossians 1:10 ...... live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Do you ever wonder?

I write today's post with a heavy, yet thankful, heart.
I sit and think of all the friends I have who have gone through hell here on earth.
We so often hear, and even ask, why does God let things happen to our beloved Christian people?
I think of the things that plague this world such as death, divorce, depression, cancer,marrital strife, husbands cheating on wives, wives cheating on husbands, kids without a mom or dad due to divorce or natural causes, lack of communication among spouses, lack of communication with our own children, drug and alcohol abuse, fatherless children, affectionless marriages, unsubmissive wives, uncaring husbands, sexless marriages, financial hardships, lonliness, lack of self control, and the list can go on and on!
Yet through all these types of things, God is still there as our strong tower!!!
He is our sustainer, our rock, our fortress, our REDEEMER! Praise be to our Holy Lord for that!
What would or could we do in these situations if we weren't Christians relying on our Saviour?
I truly don't know how nonchristians handle todays stresses. I am so thankful that through all of these evil things, I have my Lord and Saviour to lean on. I am a hopeful person in what I feel is a hopeless earth. Do YOU fall into any of these categories? I know I can honestly say I do.
Be thankful with me today that our God lives and is alive in us to make us whole in a broken world!

CIY 2006!!

Well, here they are! I know YOU'VE been waiting for these. Wait no longer.
We had a blast at the Christ In Youth Conference held at Anderson, IN. Yes, I was able to be in my home state for 1 full week. It was great to see the flat lands of corn and beans.
Back to CIY, the youth that attended were Danyale, Brittany, Kayla, Carey. The very adult sponsers were Cris, of course, myself, and Amy!
The worship leader for the week was the Aaron Pelsue band who you'll see pictures of.
They are a very awesome band who can really lead a true worship service.

What a day!

What a hectic day I've had. It's so nice to sit down in peace and quiet while my kids are asleep.
My day started off with Isaiah crawling into bed hot as a burner. Cris said "I think he's got a fever" I took his temp and it was 102 degrees. All morning he hung on me and whined.
At about 10:30 I got the 2 sisters I babysit. Then came the fussing and arguing between Gracie and Brianna (the oldest of the 2 sisters). They get over it quickly though and go about there business. As the day goes on Isaiah's fever goes up. I checked it at 4:00 and it was at 101.6 and by 8:00 it was at 103.6!! Wow, He felt like a sauna!
I'll pick up a prescription in the morning that the on-call pediatrician called in. He said there's a lot of high fever and strep throat going around. I'm very glad this day is winding down.
I just hope we all get good sleep tonite!!
I look forward to tomorrow, I get to have about an hour of "me time" while I get my hair cut!
Over and out.

Happy Independence Day!!

Well, here it is. The special time of year that we know as Independence Day.
As I look forward to my day with my family and friends I can't help but be so thankful for the ones who fought and gave us this freedom! "THANK YOU!!"
I also say "THANK YOU" to Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior for setting me free when he was crucified on the cross!! Wow, what an awesome thought. My thoughts on this day tend to turn toward the freedom I have in Christ because that's what's so very special to me!

As Cris and I have cleaned the house today preparing for friends and family to come over to hang out and eat, I'm so thankful to be an AmerICAN where I CAN be free!

Happy 4th!!

Praising God

The picture you see of me is not the best but is the most recent I have.
It's from our church VBS where I lead worhship that was more like aerobics!!
What a blast!!! New Life Youth Rocks!
www.newlifecoc.org

first timer

OK, I just created a blog account.
All becuase Chad Doerr- An Open Doerr- wanted to know who all was reading and responding to his bloggs. He encourgaed all of us "annonymous people" to create an account.
So, here I am!!!

Looks like it's going to be fun keeping up with blogging, myspace, and two ebay accounts!!!