A look inside: June 2008

Monday, June 30, 2008

June in Review

In honor of the last day of June, I thought I'd share some pictures I've taken over the last few weeks.

I spent a whole week in Las Vegas with my work (blech!). I thought about taking a picture of myself in the mirror each morning to display my wonderful outfits for you all, but decided against it. I felt a little too vain. But I did have to dress nice each day. That got old after the 2nd day. And I have a guilty confession to make: I packed 8 pairs of shoes. Ridiculous, I know! But I did wear a different pair each day, and had a pair of flip flops to wear at night. This is the only picture that got taken on my camera while I was there. This is a group of debaters from Singapore that IDEA (my organization) sponsored to compete in the NFL National Tournament. Yep, that’s right folks, the National Forensic League National Tournament was two weeks ago. What? You missed it! I’m shocked. Actually, I saw my first Lincoln-Douglas debate and was quite impressed.

On to more important happenings...

Sarah caught two fish all on her own!

Daniel had no such luck.

Olivia caught this little guy all on her own. Seriously, the fish was in the water close to the shore, and she just reached in and grabbed it! She kept saying, "I caught him with my bare hands!"

She then carried the fish around for about an hour or so. I kept telling her to put him back in the water, but she said, "no, he needs fresh air". And then later, without warning, she hucked it into the water, and said "he needs his mommy now". The poor, dead fish just slowly sank under the water. So cruel, I know. Please don't report us to PETA.

I like my catch the best.

These city kids had a blast visiting our good friends who live out in the country. Jon's cousin, Duane, so kindly offered to let Daniel drive his lawnmower. Oh my goodness, they were thrilled! I was scared out of my mind. I was sure he was going to drive into a tree or through their house.

Nothing says summer like a BBQ with friends and family

I can't believe how this month has just flown by!

Looking forward to enjoying many more relaxing, sunny days with my family...there's nothing better.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

And So It Begins!

SWIM SEASON IS HERE!!!

Daniel and Sarah had their first swim meet of the season

Sarah starting her backstroke race

She was neck and neck with this girl the whole way, and inched past her at the end!

Sarah blew away the competition in freestyle!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE! Jon is cheering Daniel on to the finish of his race.Olivia had the luxury of watching the races from the comfort of the kiddie pool. Of all the sports the older kids do, swim team is Olivia's favorite. There's ususally a kiddie pool at each of the pools the kids compete at...So she loves going to the swim meets!

My 3 kiddos...they are growing up so fast!

Words to Remember

"Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had. Let them not promise themselves more honor or pleasure in the world than Christ had. Let each live a life of labor and self-denial as his Master, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple."
~Matthew Henry,
English Pastor 1662-1714

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
~Martin Luther King

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice."
~David Livingstone

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. "
~C.S. Lewis

"I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field; whether married or alone, in happiness or sorrow, health or sickness, prosperity or adversity - I want Thy plan, O God, for my life."
~Oswald J. Smith

songs with meaning

If you hear one of these songs playing while visiting my blog, here is why it is so special to me:

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman: I would listen to this song as a young teenager and dream about finding a love like this song describes. Guess what? God gave more then I ever dreamed.

Any Song by Keith Green!!! I first heard Keith Green as a young child and knew all his songs by heart. As a teenager, I loved his music because he is so honest and authentic. I also read his autobiography when I was in my teens. He is one of my all-time heroes! I remember my friends laughing at me when they were in my car, wondering why I would be listening to songs from the 70's. Yes, the music is cheesy, but the lyrics are simply amazing!

How Could I Ask For More by Cindy Morgan: My senior year of high school I was on homecoming court with four other girls, who were all good friends of mine. We all picked this song to be played during our ceremony. I still love this song!

Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart: The song Jon and I danced to at our wedding. I smile every time I hear it.

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me: This song was played at Brian Ditchen's memorial service. Brian was Jon's cousin who he grew up with, and who I went to school with, and he was a dear friend. He passed away in March of 2004 in a tragic plane accident, he was only 28. It shook the core of our faith. The only comfort came from knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, who Brian lived his life for: Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated believer, and we can't wait to see him again. Every time we would hear this song, it touched us deeply, it still does. Heaven has become very real to us.

The Scientist by Coldplay: My younger brother, Ben, sang and played this song on the piano at my brother Jeremy's memorial service. Jeremy passed away suddenly in September of 2004, he was only 31. Once again our faith was shaken (see next song)....

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day: Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of my brother Jeremy...."To everyone who's lost someone they loved, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough, when you said goodbye....cry out to Jesus" I am reminded to turn to God in the midst of my pain and loss, and it's OK to go to Him with my questions

We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman: My current love song. It so beautifully describes mine and Jon's relationship.

I'm Not Cool by Scott Krippane: This is Daniel's song.Not in a mean way. He absolutely loves this song and sings along with it every time. The funny thing is, it describes him perfectly.

She's a Dancer by Phil Keaggy: This is Sarah's song! It so sweetly reminds me of Sarah...."she's a dancer, she loves to dance, she's a singer, she loves to sing, she's a lady, walkin' round in mama's shoes, standin' tall in mama's shoes" Sarah has also been caught singing into the bathroom mirror. And when she was younger she put on many "dance performances" for us in our living room.

Olivia by Phil Keaggy: Obviously Olivia's song! I've sang this song to her since she was a tiny newborn. She knows the words and sings along now. Whenever I put this song on, she stops what she's doing and gets a big smile on her face, and says "my song!"

Beautiful by Bethany Dillon: OK I'm 32 now. And sometimes when I look in the mirror, the depression creeps in. I don't look like I did ten years ago, I don't see a beautiful young woman looking back at me. And that can get you down sometimes. This song reminds me that true beauty is who I am in God's eyes. I could be perfect in every way on the outside and yet not be beautiful in the eyes of God, and when it's all said and done, my life would have been lived only for myself. I want to be beautiful in God's eyes, I want Him to look inside my heart and smile, and most importantly, be pleased.

Who Am I?, The Voice of Truth, and Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns: All three of these songs are very special to Jon. These are three of his all-time favorites. These songs brought him close to God when he was going through a hard time in his life.

I Am by Nicole Nordeman: The first time I heard this song was at a Women of Faith conference. She played it live on the piano. It was so beautiful and moved me so deeply. God is truly my "I Am", He has been my one firm anchor through every season of my life.