rejoice

I've noticed something lately. We are a finicky, complaining people. Just step outside and you'll be sure to hear people complain that it's to hot, it's to cold, there's to much snow, it's not sunny enough, it's to windy. We're never quite satisfied. We're always longing for better and more. So I've decided something. Today, I will be grateful for the air conditioning and the pools and the ice in my drink and the sunscreen to protect me and the home that shelters me. Today I will choose to rejoice! Will you join me?

Psalm 118:24
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us REJOICE and be glad in it."

my child's eyes

I wish I could see life through their eyes.
Every day an adventure to be had.
Picking wildflowers.
Swimming with friends.
Eating ice cream.
I love the wonder in their eyes when they discover a robin's egg. Turquoise with spots.
The joy of finding a toad, chasing it down the street, happy screams all the way.
Riding bikes.
Playing at the park, sand in the toes, sand on their arms, in their hair, sticking to their sweaty, sun-screened little bodies.
Doing flips on the rings.
Picnics with their mommy.
Firefly in a jar.
Forts on a rainy day.
Books read in the shade.
Racing up the stairs.
Giggles. Lots of giggles.
Jumping off the diving board.
Licking the beater with chocolate chip cookie dough.
Kisses. And hugs. Lots of them. All the time.
Laying heads on pillows at night exhausted from the adventures of the day. But still the energy for sweet songs to sing.
They drink every ounce of nectar out of life. Every ounce.
They live everyday FULL.
And I pray that God renews my eyes to see life the way they do. To live every moment FULL. Full of wonder and awe and marvel.

Job 37:14
"stop and consider God's wonders."

Lake McConaughy

We met up with Jill and Derek this weekend at Lake McConaughy. The kids LOVE camping and it was so fun for them to get time with their aunt and uncle. Apparently it was SUPER hot the entire weekend but I didn't notice it at all. We spent most of the time in the water or in the shade back at camp. The one disappointment was the beach, or lack there of.

Here's what it looked like two years ago when we camped.


And here's what it looked like this time.

With all the flooding there's not much beach left, but that's didn't stop us from having a great time.

I LOVE Hannah's adventuresomness!

Easter dress

Do you ever have those times when you're shopping in certain stores and you just feel out of place. I'm pretty much a Target, Kohls, Old Navy kind of girl and I just feel a little out of place when I'm at nice stores. I feel like they're looking at me like "what are you doing here." Anyway, all that to say, when Chris and I were in Clearwater I was having one of those days where I wasn't feeling overly confident about myself and I just kinda felt a little out place. We were shopping at all the little beach shops by our hotel and it wasn't that they were upscale by any means but I just didn't feel I fit in with the culture. Get what I mean?

So, we were at a surf store and Chris and I had been looking around and we walk to the back. Apparently one of the female workers thought I have left and started talking about what I was wearing. "Did you see that girls dress! It looked like an Easter basket with pastel pink and blue stripes."

OK--so I know I'm not totally hip with all the styles, but if I'm honest I think I dress fairly well... like a 30 year old...not like a 16 year old beach shop girl. Anyway, I was CRUSHED! I just couldn't believe that someone would be so mean. Plus, I was so embarrassed and I still had to walk out of the shop for all her co workers to see.

Chris and I walked down to another store and I grabbed his hand and started BAWLING! Now I actually find it kind of funny but at the time it was NOT! Thankfully Chris just held me and told me that he loved me. Then he said "I hope this doesn't mean that you'll never wear that dress again." You know what? There was a time not that long ago where I probably would have thrown that dress away and NEVER worn it again! But not now. It's not that peoples words don't hurt me anymore, they obviously still do. But what I remembered that day was what CHRIST says about me. I don't have to live for the approval of others because I already have the approval of the ONE who matters. Not my husbands approval (although he does love me), but CHRIST'S approval.

HE says I'm beautiful!

Zeph 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take GREAT DELIGHT in you, he will quiet you with his LOVE, he will REJOICE over you with singing!"

Ephesians 2:10a
"For you are God's WORKMANSHIP"

Psalm 139:14
"I praise you because I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

And the other cool part of that story is that the day I got back to Orlando to see my sweet Hannah I told her all about the Easter dress. I told her that even mommy's get made fun of and it really hurts, I don't think that part will ever go away. It's what we do with those feelings of worthlessness and rejection and comparing ourselves to others. We have to take it to Christ and remember that he created us and he LOVES us just the way we are!

And, because I know you all are just DIEING to see the dress, here I am in all my Easter basket glory!