Summer thoughts

I haven't written anything to deep lately. I feel that I'm slacking a bit. But hey its summer! It's not that I haven't been in deep thought or meditation this summer because I have. I started something new in my devotions. Instead of reading others devotions, I have begun taking my concordance out. I think of a topic of the day and many times that topic of the day is where I stay for many days. I look it up and read every verse associated with it prayerfully. Every time God has spoken to me. I have this summer met with God in some amazing ways. I've read about freedom, redemption, grace, love, service, etc.

There is something big going on in our conversations and a door in the deepest parts of my heart has been opened. I have found a measure of healing and grace that I had not allowed to happen for many years. I've always known it but this summer God has really driven home the fact that we are all in a process and that process has so many places that we can delay God's plans and hold back His will and workings in our lives. We CAN stop a blessing from happening in our lives, when we don't hand things over to Him completely - not just to forgive but to also redeem and work for His glory.

Verses like Exodus 6:6 and Jeremiah 31:3-4 have captivated my thoughts and really driven my heart to allow God to work His miracles in my life and the lives of others.

"I am the Lord,

and I will bring you out from under the yoke...

I will free you from being slaves...

and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm

and with mighty acts..."

~Exodus 6:6

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

I will build you up again

and you will be rebuilt."

~Jeremiah 31:3-4

One of our General Superintedents, Jerry D. Porter said, "Our creative God constantly surprises us with new forms and strategies to accomplish the divine mission." This summer for me has been a time of surprise in Christ. He is giving me new strategies to accomplish my call! I'm excited at what is to come and to be completely honest almost as equally terrified at the response. But God is faithful and He is taking me somewhere that no one else has to understand, as long as I do, He will complete His good work in me!

Camping Weekend

This weekend our family was invited to camp with the Boy Scouts out at Maumee Bay State Park.

Friday night Rob had to work so he came out and helped us sent up camp and then left for work. I spent the evening with the kids hanging out at the site, riding bikes and having dinner with Amy and Jason.

Saturday, Rob joined us but not before going to his Uncle Louie's funeral at noon. We had several visitors, Curt came out to visit, as well as Julie and later in the evening our friends, Doug and Traci came out with their kids.

It was a great weekend overall! It was stinkin' HOT!!! But good! The kids swam, rode bikes, played cards, cornhole, and I believe used up all the water in the spickets near our site! They had fun!

The nights were cool and we definitely made use of the sleeping bags. Camping here in Ohio is nothing like camping out west. For one, we have bugs here! Out there its too cold at night for the mosquitos! Nadine has mosquito bites above her eye. She looks like someone hit her in the eye. Her knees are all bruised up from falling off her bike so much this weekend, but she loved doing it!

Rowan faired pretty well, but by this morning his belly hurt miserably! Probably all the smores last night! He wouldn't swim this weekend. He was too busy building sand castles and walls on the beach.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

On another note: Sept 26th is the Put In Bay 5k Run. Rob is running it and I have told him that I will run too! Not just that but that I would beat him as well! CRAP! Me and my big mouth!!! Well, I guess I said it to get him practicing since he really hasn't ran all summer. I was trying to motivate him. However, I said it so I guess I have to accomplish it! I've begun running at the park. I went once last week with Crystie and then I had an appointment with my foot doctor. I haven't been able to run since because of how the doctor treated my foot. But I'm going to start running again this week! Wish me luck! I don't have to win the race or anything. I just have to beat him!!!

Jourdyn's Volleyball Tryouts

My kids are growing up. I can't believe Jourdyn is going into the 7th grade. She is spending every evening this week trying out for the 7th grade girls volleyball team. She is working really hard. She has a slight disadvantage. In today's world, some of these girls that she is going up against have played volleyball for years now because of pay to play teams. She hasn't. Some of them have been to clinics and such and she hasn't. And there is about 50+ girls there trying to get on the teams and only 12 will make it onto both. So she has less than a 50/50 chance of getting picked. But she is out there giving it her best.

On Sunday, we watched Facing the Giants, which gave Rob and I the perfect segway to talking to her about leaving it all the court and doing her absolute best at all times. I'm praying that she makes the team and can have fun playing this year.

Jumpstart

Nadine woke up this morning at 7:30 ready to go to her first day of Jumpstart Kindergarten! She will go half-days all this week! She had her breakfast and cup of milk. Put on her skirt and shirt. I brushed her hair and put a braid in it. The only we forgot in our busy morning is to brush her teeth! Oops!!!!

We were out waiting for the bus at 8:15 and it didn't come until nearly 8:55, but it arrived and boy was she happy! Of course, she wanted to go up all by herself. I refused and walked with her anyways!

She is going to love school!
We took video and pictures and for some reason when I transferred it to youtube we lost all quality with it.