Boring.

My blog has been BORING lately. I apologize for all you faithful blog readers. I've been slackin' big time.
Totally lame, I know.
I want to do better. Post more pics, more video, more stories, more randomness.
It will happen. Not sure how...but it will happen.
I feel like it needs a new look too.
Anyone have any ideas on how to make this blog better! ?
The look...the content...give me ideas!

Some Spurgeon Love

A word from Charles Spurgeon--
"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."-Exodus 14:13
These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in His love and faithfulness. Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine flat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time. Precipitancy cries, "Do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once-we must do it so we think-instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything. Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle." But Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands. "Stand still"; keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward."

This May Just Need To Happen at My Wedding Someday.

Why do I feel like I could see this happening at my wedding someday?!?!
When the bride came in...I totally cried. Not sure why. Whatevs.
Jill, Laura...Deal with it. You will get your groove on.

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

It's hard to say goodbye. The Brown's are headed back to Iowa and I'm back at work. :( It has been such a sweet time having them here.
I'm getting used to family being here every other month. So September is coming up...who's next!?!?!
We have had so much fun from the Wildlife safari, girls night, bat cruise, barbeque w/ the Cole's & swimming, church, museums, sea world. It's been a full trip and so much fun!
Max was really starting to warm up to me...last night. We had a fun time playing the laughing game together. It was hilarious.
Sea world was excellent. Hot...but lots of fun. Super cheezy, but fascinating. I really want my own sea lion. They are wonderful.
We got completely soaked during the Shamu show. We were in the splash zone, and thought we would just get a little wet. We were completely drenched. With fishy salt water. I smelled like fish and had soggy pants the rest of the day.
We went on this little kid/family roller coaster and Sam kept calling it the "Shampoo" ride, instead of the "Shamu" ride. It was very cute.
We stayed at a hotel last night in San Antonio and I got to share a bed with Sam (5 yr old) I woke up at one point in the middle of the night to him laying completely horizontal in the bed. He is not a very small 5 year old boy either. I finally got him situated back in bed. In the morning I woke up to his nose touching my nose and his eyes wide open!! He give me a kiss on the lips and threw his arm around me! Oh my heart. I love this little boy! He likes to snuggle. I do believe there was one whole half of the bed that was not being used.
There are lots more stories and pics that I'm sure we'll post at some point.
Gotta catch up on work.

Michael Jackson Funeral-Zach Nielsen

Good post and gets you thinking, from my friend Zach.
Check it out here.

Leading & Struggling-Aaron Ivey

My friend, Aaron, just posted a sweet blog that y'all need to check out. Especially if you are a worship leader.
Check it out here.

Hebrews 13:5

Loved this tonight:

Hebrews 13:5b (amplified version) "[God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]"

New Goal=The Moonwalk

No matter how creepy Michael Jackson was...you can't deny that he is a musical genius. He has taken over my playlists and I'm determined to learn the "Beat It" dance. I found myself tearing up during "Man in the Mirror" and I found myself trying the moonwalk to see if I could do it. (I can't) That's my new goal. Two goals in life right now...
1. The Beat It dance
2. The Moonwalk
My sisters got out our old Barbies the other day in hopes that Lily would be interested...not so much. BUT my sisters were very interested. They sent me some pics and in there was this little goodie...It's our Michael Jackson barbie doll, and yes...he's pantless.

Walter Just Made My Day

I'm sorry, but this is stinkin' hilarious. I love this show and Walter just made my day.

My Morning Playlist

My playlist (on shuffle) this morning is kicking me in the pants.
Some days are just hard. I don't know why. Some days I just get sad and I don't really know why. Today is just one of those days. It's one of those days that I have to cling harder and harder to my Love. I'm thankful that God never lets me go.

Here are some things hitting my soul this morning from my playlist:

"When hope is lost I call You Savior
When pain surrounds I call You Healer
When silence falls You'll be the song within my heart
And I will praise You I will Praise You
When the tears fall Still I will sing to You
I will praise You Jesus praise You
When the laughter fails to comfort
When my heart aches, Lord are You there.
When confusion is all around me
And the darkness is my closest friend
Still I'll praise You Jesus praise You" --When the Tears Fall by Tim Hughes

"Oh how many times have I broken Your heart
Still You forgive if only I ask
And how many times have You heard me pray
Draw near to me.
Everything I need is You
My beginning my forever
Everything I need is You" -- All For Love by Hillsong United

"Lord I wanna yearn for You
I wanna burn with passion over You
And only You
Lord I wanna yearn for You
I wanna burn with passion over You
And only You
Lord I wanna yearn." -- Yearn by Shane & Shane

"In the chaos and confusion I know You're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won't delay
This my song through all my days.
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord" -- None by Jesus by Hillsong United

"I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew" -- Love Me by JJ Heller

"The fullness of Your grace is here with me
The richness of Your beauty’s all I see
The brightness of Your glory has arrived
In Your presence God, I’m completely satisfied
For You I sing I dance
Rejoice in this divine romance
Lift my heart and my hands
To show my love, to show my love
A deep deep flood, an Ocean flows from You
Of deep deep love, yeah it’s filling up the room
Your innocent blood, has washed my guilty life
In Your presence God I’m completely satisfied" -- Divine Romance by Phil Wickham

My Beloved

My friend Andrea put this on her blog today.
The beautiful people in this video are from Botswana Africa.
OH MY HEART! It makes me want to get on a plane and go there now.

The song that is playing is "My Beloved" by Kari Jobe
Here are the lyrics...it's a beautiful song.

You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with Me, my love

Under My mercy come and wait,
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you, my child

You're beautiful to Me, so beautiful to Me

I sing over you My song of peace
Cast all your cares down at My feet
Come and find your rest in Me

I'll breathe my life inside of you,
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of My strength

I'll take you to my quiet waters,
I'll restore your soul
Come rest in Me and be made whole

You're My beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with me, my love

This is speaking to my heart today.

Thank You Jesus, that You call me Your bride, Your beloved, Your love. You sing over me with delight. You call me to Yourself and You take me away to the depths of You. Thank You for breathing life into me, thank You for hiding me in Your strength and for making me whole and complete. You are my Comforter, my Restorer. You look at me and You see a pure, lovely, beautiful child. Thank You for reminding me of my beauty in You. You call me beautiful. Thank You beautiful Jesus.

Colossians 1

Loving these verses today (from the message translation):

"Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating."

Getaway Weekend...Please?!

I have been yearning for a getaway.
A getaway by myself to somewhere beautiful where I can sit and read my bible, play my guitar and write songs. I have so many ideas in my head and I am having a hard time focusing on sitting down and putting it all together.
How beautiful would it be to get away and spend a weekend writing, reflecting, praying, reading, worshiping by myself! I would love it!
Several people lately have asked me when I'm going to record my own CD. What!?
It's been on my mind. Along with that come all the insecurities that like to creep in and grab hold of me.
I'm learning that I'm completely powerless over these. There is nothing that I can do to battle these. BUT GOD is completely powerful over them and HE gives me the ability to speak HIS truth to these lies and insecurities.
So...I'm praying and asking God to show me what He would want. I'm asking Him that He would fill me with confidence in the gifts and abilities that He's given me.
Would love it if He opened the door to record my own CD.
But first...I need a getaway weekend.