There is a plan!!!!

Do you ever wish God would tell you "the plan" for your life? Like, maybe on a billboard, or a voice booming out of the sky? So many times I've looked up to the Heavens and said "really Lord? I'm at a loss here!" So many times I've wished He would just make "the Plan" so apparent to me, that there would be no question if it was the right thing or not. 

 A few years ago, when Adam got laid off and we moved to Greensboro, I would've never thought that 2 years later, we would be in the situation that we are in now. I had no idea that God would just move us to G'boro for just a short while, to pick us up out of the miry clay, set our feet on a rock and establish our path. Looking back, I can see how God just weaved His plan to fruition. I sincerely believe that God used Adam losing his job, to take us out of our home church and protect us from all that would happen in the next 2 years and bring us back for a purpose...His purpose. (if you don't know the whole story, let's grab coffee...I'd love to tell ya about it!!) 

 Tomorrow is the last Sunday that Adam and I will be teaching the FaithBuilders at Beacon. It is so bittersweet to me that our time in there is at an end, but it's hard to deny when God is moving!!!  The last 2.5 years have been nothing short of a rollercoaster, but I can see how God has grown me! Has it all been fun, ummmm, NO, (once again...let's get coffee!!) but it has been part of His plan for us....ALL of it!! Growing sometimes hurts, is at times very lonely, and there are usually trials, tribulations & tests for us along the way.  We have endured all of this in the last 2.5 years, but God is good and He has a plan!!! 

Next Sunday starts our second round in the college class...now called the Loft.  I cannot describe how excited I am about it, and how much I honestly love that age group.  It is so crucial!!  College is where young people either turn to or turn away from God.  I also want to be able to "come to them from the future" and maybe help guide them thru this somewhat confusing, yet exciting, time of their life.  More than all of that though, is that I just want to be used by God.  Just like Isaiah said "Here I am Lord, send me", that is my heart's desire...to be used by Him to do His work.  After all, it is only by Him and thru Him that we can ever be seen as righteous and spend eternity with Him.  (if you don't know Him, once again, let's do coffee...I'd love to tell ya how!!) 

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good!!!  :) 

Merry Christmas from the Pews

This is my favorite time of year...a time to celebrate with family the birth of our Savior. It's also time to spend with our families. I find it such a blessing for Adam and the kids to be off for 2 weeks with me. There is going to be some serious seperation anxiety going on January 6th...and it won't be from those 3! :) Last Christmas, I did the 12 days of Christmas for Adam. I basically bought him a little gift everyday...1 box of ceral, 2 gloves, a Third Day cd...you get the idea. It was so fun, and the kids loved helping me with it! But, of course, they asked if I could do it for them this year too...soooooo....I did. What fun it was to hear the wrapping paper being ripped off in anticipation! I loved spoiling my 3 loves!!! We also decided to not buy as much stuff for the kiddos this year. They got 4 things....something they Want, something they Need, something they Wear and something they'll Read. I have to say, this Christmas was less stressful and we focused more on what Christmas was really about!!! So, from the Pews, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!

This is not going to be a popular post

Spoiler Alert:  This is not going to be a popular blog post....

Yesterday was Christmas, so that means that New Year's is next week.  Along with that day come New Year Resolutions. I can say honestly, that I have NEVER kept a resolution I made.  I didn't lose 30 pounds, run a half marathon, read my Bible all the way thru or bring world peace. Usually by February, I've already stopped doing what I said I was going to accomplish in the new year, and feel like a loser.  Anyone with me??!??!!!????

If you know me, you know that I love Facebook and Instagram...honestly I do.  But, in the last few months, I've found myself hiding or defriending/unfollowing people that I'm friends with, simply because they make me feel guilty.  Guilty that I'm not eating "clean", working out every day, following Dave Ramsey's plan, losing 3 dress sizes, reading TONS of mommy books, doing Bible study after Bible study, etc....

Am I happy for those people???  YES!!!  I'm happy that they've made that commitment to do those things, but I've come to realize that seeing that all the time doesn't make me want to do it too. It makes me feel like a loser because I'm not.  I've realized that I'm a MUCH nicer mommy when I DON'T get up at 5am to work out! It's amazing what that extra hour of sleep can do for me!! But hey, if you want to, and it works for you, by all means, do it!  

Maybe it's because I'm older, more cynical maybe, I don't know.  All I know is that I don't want/need a FB or Instagram friend to make me feel guilty.  I have 2 kids and that creates enough guilt anyway....am I screwing them up?  Am I making the right decisions in how we're raising them?  Should I get a job so that I can help with our finances?  I could go on and on....but my point is, I'm taking control of what I'm seeing, and what is making me feel better or worse about myself! :)

 All I know is that today was a pretty perfect day.... a lazy day on the couch, still in my pjs at 2pm, cuddling with my kiddos and hubby, eating cookies!!  I mean, what doesn't sound good about that!!????!! (and no, my cookies aren't "clean") But hey, that's just me....now, maybe that's a resolution I can keep!