I sat in front of him...singing together a familiar song. I could hear his voice, gruff and strained. Instead of focusing on the words of the song, my mind wandered to that man.
"Wow, the struggles he faces every day. He must be so tired from the temptations that stalk him all the time. He sounds so desperate...but hopeful. It sounds like he is clinging to every word, realizing that God hears him. He's pouring his heart out. God is working on the broken road that is his life. I am so glad he is here today."
After a moment of contemplating his life of addiction, it finally occurred to me that the song we were singing was not just for him. Although our temptations and sin may look different, my brokenness and desperation for my Savior is no different. My thoughts were describing me, not the broken man sitting behind me.
Waves of thankfulness came over me...thankful to have the privilege of worshipping God WITH this man. His repentant and hopeful heart was a more acceptable sacrifice to God than my wandering mind.
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in honor of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
"I Can Only Imagine" Mercy Me
Monday
Crossroads
Time...not sure where it goes. The past few months have been a blur of activity. I graduated last Friday. Woohoo! I am glad to move on from this chapter, but am so thankful I was given the opportunity.
Now, I find myself at another crossroads. I solicit your prayers as we try to make the right decisions about our family's future. I am praying our family will be back together soon, praying that we can give our children the love, time and support they need and praying for a JOB!
The lyrics to a song by Nichole Nordeman have been food for the soul lately...
When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes
You are good, so good
In the heat of the day, with each stone that I lay
You are good, so good
With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
When the moon rises high before each kiss goodnight
You are good.
When the road starts to turn, around each bend I learn
You are good, so good
And when somebody's hand holds me up, helps me stand
You are SO good
With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
Cause it's more than enough just to know I am loved
And you ARE good
So, how can I thank you?
What can I bring?
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a King?
So I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell you I'm grateful for holding my life in Your hands.
When it's dark and it's cold, and I can't feel my soul
You are...STILL good
When the world has gone gray, and the rain's here to stay
You are still good
With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
And the storm may swell, even then 'It is Well'
And YOU ARE GOOD!
So, how can I thank you?
What can I bring?
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a King?
So I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell you I'm grateful for holding my life in Your hands
So I'll sing you a love song!
It's all the I have!
To tell you I'm grateful for holding my life in Your hands!!
YOU ARE HOLDING MY LIFE IN YOUR HANDS!!!
Tuesday
Christmas Magic
Trek took this picture of my two youngest kidlets while we waited in line to see Santa.
I remember the magic of sitting on Santa's lap as a child, so excited to see the guy in the red suit.
As an adult, the closest I have come to feeling that Christmas magic is standing in front of the snow covered tree in Rockefeller Center. The vision of skaters on the ice, the shoppers with arms full of packages, the Christmas music playing overhead, and the smell of the clean snow falling from the sky was a dream come true to this displaced Northern girl from Alabama.
Oh, how I want my children to have the opportunities to make wonderful memories. It is the images, sounds, and smells burned in their memories that will hopefully bring great joy to them as adults.
Many times, in the hustle and bustle of our adult lives, it is easy to forget that our children are in the midst of experiencing magical new things. We, too, would be happier adults if we could enjoy the simple joys that our children experience everyday.
Where would we be without our memories? Isn't there so much happiness in recalling a favorite memory?
Take a moment to recall a magical childhood memory and let it take you back....
As an adult, the closest I have come to feeling that Christmas magic is standing in front of the snow covered tree in Rockefeller Center. The vision of skaters on the ice, the shoppers with arms full of packages, the Christmas music playing overhead, and the smell of the clean snow falling from the sky was a dream come true to this displaced Northern girl from Alabama.
Oh, how I want my children to have the opportunities to make wonderful memories. It is the images, sounds, and smells burned in their memories that will hopefully bring great joy to them as adults.
Many times, in the hustle and bustle of our adult lives, it is easy to forget that our children are in the midst of experiencing magical new things. We, too, would be happier adults if we could enjoy the simple joys that our children experience everyday.
Where would we be without our memories? Isn't there so much happiness in recalling a favorite memory?
Take a moment to recall a magical childhood memory and let it take you back....
Monday
Martha Stewart just called...she could smell our supper from her house.
I know some don't believe me when I say things like...
"I can't be trusted in the kitchen"
"I have to be supervised in the kitchen"
"I can't cook, no I REALLY can't"
"I hate to cook"
This is just a glimpse at the wonderful, delectable dishes I prepare while standing in my well-equipped kitchen in my freshly pressed apron...
I just got off the phone with Martha Stewart...she wanted my recipe for
"Freshly Burnt Cheese Sandwiches."
"I can't be trusted in the kitchen"
"I have to be supervised in the kitchen"
"I can't cook, no I REALLY can't"
"I hate to cook"
This is just a glimpse at the wonderful, delectable dishes I prepare while standing in my well-equipped kitchen in my freshly pressed apron...
I just got off the phone with Martha Stewart...she wanted my recipe for"Freshly Burnt Cheese Sandwiches."
Friday
Just call him Jack Bauer!
Trek just sent this to me.
In case you are confused about what you are looking at, this is the view Trek had of the SWAT team pulling up with weapons drawn to take the criminal down.
Wow, what an exciting life my Jack Bauer...I mean Trek leads. Now that I think about it...he does kind of remind me of him...hmmmm.
Mental note: Christmas present for Trek...Two tone Sig 228 pistol.
In case you are confused about what you are looking at, this is the view Trek had of the SWAT team pulling up with weapons drawn to take the criminal down.
Wow, what an exciting life my Jack Bauer...I mean Trek leads. Now that I think about it...he does kind of remind me of him...hmmmm.
Mental note: Christmas present for Trek...Two tone Sig 228 pistol.
Thursday
But I don't have my shopping done!
Here is the crew...bundled up in 15 layers of clothes for our town's annual Christmas parade. Brrrrr!
Monday
Count Your Many Blessings
I'm reminded of a song I learned years ago in worship that says "...count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done." I feel compelled to write them down now, maybe not for the three of you that read my blog, but for me to see how God has worked over and over again, never leaving us alone.
To summarize...
1. Ice Queen goes to school
2. Trek gets laid off
3. House sells
4. Move to new house
5. Trek gets new job 200 resumes later...in city 3 hours away...can anyone say "4:1 kidlets to parent ratio 5 days a week!"
I sit and recall the happenings of our life over the past few months and cannot help but be so thankful....
School is a challenge but is exactly what I had hoped it would be.
Trek lost his job because of the housing slump but with the loss came the loss of so many worry lines on his face.
The house sold after 4 days on the market in an economy where NOTHING is selling right now. I realized in the process that the house is made of just wood and bricks...we took our 4 treasures with us.
We moved to a different house that is a little rough around the edges, but is located where help with little ones is literally steps away.
Trek got a new job 3 hours away...but we are SO thankful for a job! It holds promise of new experiences, new challenges and new adventures! We don't know where the road will lead, but we know it will be interesting along the way.
George had a great first football season. He learned the game from a committed coach that taught him so much about respect and teamwork.
Twirl continues to be challenged to learn more difficult dance routines and more difficult art techniques.
Halloween was a nice reprieve of family time with loads of chocolate in the midst of our crazy life!
Turkey Day was spent with wonderful friends that we came to know because of Hurricane Katrina. Sometimes the best things in life come from the worst of times! This Thanksgiving we were introduced to a strange new bird called Turducken...don't know what it is?...LOOK IT UP! The real question is...does it gobble, quack or cluck?
The road is still bumpy and I solicit your prayers. There have been a lot of tears and worry over the past few months, but I can honestly say that God has been faithful. I have seen his presence over and over. I don't deserve his blessings, but am so thankful for them.
To summarize...
1. Ice Queen goes to school
2. Trek gets laid off
3. House sells
4. Move to new house
5. Trek gets new job 200 resumes later...in city 3 hours away...can anyone say "4:1 kidlets to parent ratio 5 days a week!"
I sit and recall the happenings of our life over the past few months and cannot help but be so thankful....
School is a challenge but is exactly what I had hoped it would be.
Trek lost his job because of the housing slump but with the loss came the loss of so many worry lines on his face.
The house sold after 4 days on the market in an economy where NOTHING is selling right now. I realized in the process that the house is made of just wood and bricks...we took our 4 treasures with us.
We moved to a different house that is a little rough around the edges, but is located where help with little ones is literally steps away.
Trek got a new job 3 hours away...but we are SO thankful for a job! It holds promise of new experiences, new challenges and new adventures! We don't know where the road will lead, but we know it will be interesting along the way.
George had a great first football season. He learned the game from a committed coach that taught him so much about respect and teamwork.
Twirl continues to be challenged to learn more difficult dance routines and more difficult art techniques.
Halloween was a nice reprieve of family time with loads of chocolate in the midst of our crazy life!
Turkey Day was spent with wonderful friends that we came to know because of Hurricane Katrina. Sometimes the best things in life come from the worst of times! This Thanksgiving we were introduced to a strange new bird called Turducken...don't know what it is?...LOOK IT UP! The real question is...does it gobble, quack or cluck?
The road is still bumpy and I solicit your prayers. There have been a lot of tears and worry over the past few months, but I can honestly say that God has been faithful. I have seen his presence over and over. I don't deserve his blessings, but am so thankful for them.
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