I'll let that visual marinate for a bit

I started P90X (again) last night. Let's just say that nothing motivates you to workout more than seeing your own "before" photos.

An Easter rundown.

*I forgot to add in the link for the crack dip at the end of the post. It's there now. You're welcome. Believe me, you don't want to miss it.*

I don't even know how to function this morning. Being it's almost noon, I think I should figure it out. Case in point: I've had to backspace about 12 times just in these 3 sentences because I can't type right. It's going to be a long day.

We had an awesome Easter. But it always feels like a wedding day- you know when you build-up to holidays and look forward to them so much, then they are just over too quickly?

We had a wonderful Good Friday; I spent it at home with the kiddos (still can't remember where the day went), then service at church that night. It was a POWERFUL night. It was beautiful. Everyone involved with the service was dressed in black, and the stage held a wooden cross with  a purple sash and a crown of thorns. Simple, yet so symbolic of our Lord's last hours. Our pastor always has this way of taking a sermon you've heard a thousand times and getting it to you in a new way. I will never grow tired of the way he does that. He walked out to the pulpit on Friday and started with "My name is Cornelius...." He proceeded to tell the story of Jesus' torture and crucifixion from the point of view of one of the Roman centurions. It was amazing. I can never say enough how thankful I am that God brought us to that church- and I wish He had done it sooner! ;-) I realize now we held onto our old church for a long time simply because of the friendships forged there and the ministries we enjoyed, rather than what we should have been getting.

I cleaned ALL day Saturday- and don't think for a second that I'm not embarrassed mentioning that I needed to clean all day, because I am. I realize now that if maybe, perhaps, I had been cleaning the way I should be, my house would not have needed a complete overhaul the day before Easter company. Quite embarrassing. And exhausting. Between cleaning and preparing side dishes for Easter, I was up until 12:30am, then had to get up at 5am Sunday.

I served in the Easter choir at church and it was so awesome. There is just something about a group of 45 people gathering together with the sole (soul?) purpose of singing praises to the Lord that gets my blood going. Songs that we had rehearsed and perfected every week for a couple months finally found an audience- an audience of One. An Audience that had given His life up on the cross for our salvation, and here we were proclaiming His name and glory to anyone that would listen. It was beautiful. I was so sad when our two services were over and it was time to go home.

We spent the afternoon with friends and my parents. It all went so quickly. We barbecued and watched "Old Dogs" (even funnier when you watch it with someone that laughed so hard they almost peed), and had the hunt for a-gazillion-eggs with 4 little ones. I don't know when I stopped knowing how to count, but even after the kids each had their allotted 18 eggs each, we still had many left over. Not that they were complaining. I'm pretty sure I'll still find eggs out there in June when I decorate for Ikey's birthday.

My night came to an end with this lazy butt falling asleep on the couch while Big Hunk watched "Bean". Let it be known that it is still one of the funniest movies and had nothing to do with my need to pass out. I made it into my bed by 10pm, and proceeded to sleep until 10am while the kids played XBox in the next room. All the running around finally caught up with me.

We are now on Spring Break and I can think of nothing more inviting than spending a full 5 days enjoying my kids' company and having fun with NO school responsibilities. That is, after I finish the dishes from our Easter get-together.

I just need to know how I'm supposed to resist the candy, brownies and crack dip that are plaguing my house now? I'm going to start P90X today and after being completely disciplined with my eating and working out the past few weeks, I let myself have a day off yesterday. Now all I want are those mini Reese's my mom so kindly left (not). BH will be taking those to work tomorrow because I DO NOT need them calling my name anymore. I've been good today. So far.

What Day Did Jesus Die?

I posted this last year, but wanted to repost it. I love to know the whole story about stuff like this, and love when it's explained for me. :) I hope you're having an awesome Passion Week! This is no doubt my very favorite time of year. I can't wait for the Good Friday service at church, and our super cool Easter services. I am in the choir this year and I am so excited for Sunday, where we'll be accompanied by a mini-orchestra. I love Easter!!

Happy Good Thursday! :-)

********************
"Many people have been confused concerning the day of the death of Jesus. We know it was the day before the Sabbath, because the Jews wanted to get Him off the cross before the Sabbath. So traditionally people have believed Jesus died on Friday afternoon. But He had said He would be dead for three days and three nights, and we know He rose on Sunday morning, so that would only be two nights. Several explanations have been offered, but this passage here gives us a possible clue.

John tells us "that Sabbath was a high day." The day after Passover was the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was always considered a high Sabbath, no matter what day of the week it fell on. It was a special Sabbath day.

So I believe that Jesus was actually crucified on a Thursday, on the Day off Passover, with the next day, Friday, being the High Sabbath, the following day being the normal Saturday Sabbath, and the third day being Easter Sunday, the day He rose from the dead. This makes three days and nights. It also explains why His followers couldn't come to the tomb to anoint His body until three days later, as they couldn't do that on either Sabbath. We still celebrate the traditional Good Friday, but technically I believe it should be Good Thursday. "

Pastor Chuck Smith, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
an excerpt from The Word for Today Bible

Please scream my name to wake me up.

Sorry, I wrote this on Tuesday and just never got around to publishing. Which only further drives home the point of my whole post- I can't keep on top of everything.

I'm thinking today is not a good day to forego the coffee in lieu of tea. My eyelids are already hurting from the toothpicks that are supposed to be holding them open.

What I would love to know is how I'm supposed to get everything done if I don't stay up until 1am? The piles mountains of laundry my husband had promised to help me fold weren't moving on their own, and I didn't finish working out till 10:30pm. How do moms out there ever get any sleep? So instead I resort to folding laundry as I watch the two-hour premiere of Dancing with the Stars. Sitting there on the (dirty) floor folding endless pairs of underwear and mismatched socks almost made me feel as glamorous as those size 0 dancers with their fake tan. Almost.

Baseball has taken over our lives and I won't have a free moment again until at least May. Seriously, I am so glad I only have one child in sports right now. Those moms that have 3, 4, 12 kids in sports must never leave their car- or if they do, it's to live in the laundry room. A mom on Mikey's team told me the other day that she saw a shirt that said "I have no life, my son plays baseball." That sounds eerily accurate.

While it's not as bad now as it will be when Mikey is older (a day I'm not sure I'll survive to see), two games plus one practice a week is wearing me out. When you add on top of that Awana, church, choir practice (for both me & Mikey, so that's 2 1/2 hours out of our Sunday), Big Hunk's baseball games and our regular homeschool responsibilities, well I'm no expert at math but I think that *may* have something to do with my lack of sleep. I feel like I have no right complaining though because at least one mom has to be reading this thinking "You have no idea."

Mikey is doing so awesome in baseball, and he loves it so much. He's in the AA league which means after his practice games are over, no more coach pitch, they'll have umpires for the first time ever, and actual outs. It's the big leagues people. Okay, bigger. Last Saturday Mikey was having a great day. He hit two homeruns (ie. a great hit followed by tons of defensive errors that gave him enough time to make it home) and all three outs of the last inning were all him, unassisted. *Proud mommy here!* He did so great. Seriously- all three outs all by himself? :-) I am so proud of him. He definitely inherited his daddy's athletic ability. Thank goodness, because it's not rare for me to fall down the stairs for no reason at all, or to pull a muscle waving goodbye.

Other than 3 games in the course of 4 days this weekend, Mikey and I each had choir practice on Sunday, Big Hunk had his baseball game (which I missed) and I was able to go shopping for a couple hours with a good friend of mine, in search of the Perfectly Beautiful, Yet Extremely Affordable Dress for Easter (PBYEADE). I did not find a thing, unless you count my headache from trying to actually shop for something affordable and cute. More on that later.

Now as I start my day, I pray for the energy to make it through to at least noon before I pass out at the dining room table (deja vu). This is where that coffee would really come in handy. My handy.

Kingdom Assignment

Because this post is so dear to my heart and one I've been mulling over in my head for a month now, (remember me promising to write it "today"? About a week ago? Yeah. That one), it's been such a seemingly daunting task that I haven't even tried to tackle it. I suppose I want my passion over this to be so stinkin' visible that you can't help but be passionate with me. And I am afraid that I won't do this justice, so I haven't bothered. These words come to you as the result of much prayer.

Well over a month ago, our pastor introduced us to something called Kingdom Assignment. I had never heard of it, and I'm pretty sure most of the people in attendance that day hadn't either. The foundation for Kingdom Assignment stems from the Parable of the Talents in the book of Matthew. If you're not familiar with that parable, I would encourage you to read it here.

Simply put, we need to use what God gives us. He gives us all talents and abilities- He gives us all a voice. But what do we do with them? Do we hide them away like the third man in the story? Or do we invest them in any way we can, not worrying about how it will multiply and just trust that God will use it how He wills?

Do you use your voice? Or do you keep silent, hoping someone else will speak up?

When I signed up for Kingdom Assignment, we were given $50 to fund our assignment. Our prayer was that God would multiply that money in great ways for His Kingdom. I had so much passion, but little vision. I knew that God would somehow use our project to make big things happen. But what?

Well I prayed (lots) and contemplated. Big Hunk & I talked about it lots and would toss ideas around. But when we really thought about it, it was such a huge commitment and I wanted to be sure we were listening for God's voice and not our own.

It's not all hammered out yet, but we are really hoping to be able to hold a benefit concert. We are still waiting on the go ahead from the band we've invited to be part of this (friends of ours), but we are praying this will all happen in the next month or two. All proceeds are going to Morning Star Foundation in Ch!na (they don't even know yet! I'm so excited!), a home that provides care and love to orphaned children that have severe medical conditions- some of which are in need of life-saving surgery. Below are a few pictures of children Morning Star has in their care right now. Just try not to fall in love with those faces!

Luke

Josiah

Matthew

And here is a beautiful  post my friend Sally wrote about her recent trip there. We had been praying about using this concert to benefit Morning Star when I read this, and her words were completely God speaking to us, confirming that this is what He wants.

I covet any prayers you could offer on our behalf, and on behalf of Morning Star. We have NO doubt that God has big plans and is going to work in mighty ways through this event. We are so excited to be part of this! We just can't wait to bless the socks off of those precious babies over there, clear across the world. And of course we want to bless Bill & Lynsay, the couple that runs Morning Star, like crazy too. :)

bo to the ring

Okay I haven't disappeared. And we survived The Great Teenage Flake Out of 2010, despite the dramatic post that appears to be the last thing I'll ever write again. ;)

I get bored with my own thoughts and never feel like typing them out. But there's cool stuff going on and I'll hopefully share today. <3

heartbroken.

I am not going to go into it all now (mostly because I don't understand it), but Cracker Jack is moving out today. My stepson whom we have always prayed would come live with us one day; the same one that has been in our home for a month & a half. That one.

My heart can't take it.

And if you can spare the time, could you please pray for my little ones? They are going to be so heartbroken when they find out, Mikey especially.

Thank you for your prayers and I will post more as it happens.

When we woke up a little while ago my husband asked my why Cracker Jack was sleeping on Mikey's floor. This has never happened. I think maybe the decision isn't as easy on him as we thought it was.

We felt like our family was finally complete again.

Thankful Thursday: Miss Carol

I'm really excited for our day tomorrow. The kiddos and I are heading out to our old stomping ground to hang out with one of the dearest women we know, and we can't wait.

Back when I was about 8 months pregnant with Ikey, I joined MOPS. I loved it. The year ended quickly, and I of course continued going the following semester with my 2 year old and newborn in tow. Well for some reason Mikey then decided he couldn't handle being away from me, and would get himself so upset he'd even occasionally vomit all over himself when I'd leave. Fun times. But at that time he had the sweetest teacher that just took the greatest care of him, and was so patient even when he was screaming his everlovin' head off. Her name is Carol (Miss Carol, as Mikey adopted to calling her) and as time went on and we were at that MOPS for a couple more years, she became his dearest friend. He just adored her! He looked so forward to seeing her every other week.

Sadly almost 4 years ago we moved from that area, and I was no longer going to attend that MOPS. Miss Carol was so sad because she thought Mikey would never remember her. :*( I of course assured her we would never let that happen, and we promised to stay in touch and see each other often.

As the story always goes, time got away from us and we've only managed to see her twice in these 4 years. (Gosh I feel horrible saying that!) But we have still kept in touch by email and she has been so touched to know that Mikey still not only remembers her, but asks about her often. Before we moved out of the area, she had given Mikey a small photo album with a great picture of the two of them, and he still has it. She is the most amazing woman and I adore her so.

I almost completely forgot that for Mikey's 5th birthday (I believe) Miss Carol made the drive out to us to celebrate his special day. I remember her going out in the jumper with him and bouncing away, and how incredibly happy they were together!

About a year ago, after losing contact for several months, Miss Carol told me that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. It breaks my heart to think of someone so special and loving and caring going through something so torturous. Yet I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she will display the most beautiful amount of grace and faith that others will be so touched by her.

I am so blessed to know this woman, and I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

Ficklicity

It has never been my intent to let this poor little blog become the redheaded stepchild (not that I have anything against redheads or stepchildren), yet I also don't want to be someone that offers twenty excuses every time I start a blog post about how incredibly busy I am (even though, you know, I am) or why I just can't be bothered to type out a few words.

Last week I decided to stop blogging. I convinced myself that it was no longer a passion, and that I would never get where I really wanted with it (that's a whole 'nother post). Then I told myself to shut up.

Have I ever told you that I'm a fickle person? I learned that word really early in my childhood, because I'm pretty sure my mom used it when referring to me about every other day. Sometimes it was just when I was picking out a candy bar, other times it was more important decisions like a major in college. {and sidenote here: why did I spend so much time hemming and hawing over choosing a major when I would end up giving up in little more than a year or so? Can I somehow get that fickle time back?}

So I won't be closing my blog, and I'll try not to complain when I finally do blog about the million reasons I haven't been here. Doesn't matter anyway, does it?

I have a post I've been wanting to share for about 3 weeks now. That's how lazy my brain is right now. Or my body. Okay both. Honestly, I am a total airhead and I can't ever remember! But okay- now I've totally committed to it and I WILL do it.

Later.

Little League is back in a big way. I have to say, since I only have one kid in practices and games that I have to chauffeur, I enjoy this time of year. (When Ikey starts sports, probably not so much.) I love how excited Mikey gets over his practices and his new coach and meeting his new teammates. He just has such a passion for it and I love it.

This year we moved him up to the next level- last year he was in T-ball, then for winter ball (you know, those 80 degree "winter" days in September when we were all sweating) he was in coach pitch. But now we are confident enough in his abilities to understand the rules and to really be able to hang in there with the older kids (most kids are 8 & 9 in this level). I'm excited for him. What am I not excited for you ask? The THREE games in 4 days every other weekend will hold. That I think will do me in.

But I know Mikey will have a blast and I love nothing more than watching my kiddos (or my man) doing the stuff they enjoy. So I suck it up.

I'm sorry, what?

[click on picture to enlarge, sorry it's not big enough]

Am I the only one not connecting the dots here? Did I flash back to 1982 (or whenever it was, because I'm too lazy to look it up) without realizing it? I mean, the wardrobe is back, so maybe I've been in a time warp this whole time and I just always thought it was Style Recycling?