This Kid

He turns 18 in 10 days.

That makes me feel old.

Shouldn't we still be fighting like little kids?

Investments

Where do you invest your time? Your money?

People these days are investing in everything from stocks, bonds, and the money market. It's all about investing your time and money in what's going to benefit you. However, the gospel speaks to the exact opposite. We are called to invest our time, money and talents into others and sharing the love of Christ to others around us and in this world. 

Lately I've been trying to figure out a way to make a Bible study work that I want to offer to my small group girls. I've been hit with some challenges, and nothing has worked out yet. I've found myself annoyed and frustrated and almost upset with God for not working it out in a timely manner. He quickly got that emotion calmed down and I found myself just asking for him to show me how to stay invested with those girls in practical ways. 

He showed me that little things like investing my time, my money and my talents into their lives and making it known to them that I care about what's going on with them can have a greater effect than a lot of things that happen in a building or amongst a study.

I didn't really realize the impact that these things would have on me or these girls, but what God is doing is so amazing. Take today for example. I saw my calendar as I was getting ready, but I didn't realize what all was going on until I got into the rhythm of the day.

Date number one was lunch. I've planned to spend at least one lunch per week with one of my girls. I don't have everything organized yet, but I hit the ground running with this. Today was Abby's day. I headed off to her school and met up with her for lunch...what I didn't know is that a few girls who I hadn't gotten to talk to yet also have lunch at the same time, so my one-girl lunch quickly turned into this...

I think the Lord just took it into his own hands and it's blown up into something I can't even take credit for. We had an absolutely wonderful time. I swear there's nothing better.

Once work was over, I headed to pick up date number two: Tiffany. She is such a sweet girl. I work with both of her parents and they've been sharing some concerns about her and her relationship with God and asked if I would mind just talking to her. I was more than happy to talk, so I went and picked her up and took her to dinner. 

We had a great conversation about God, what heaven will  be like, and even if animals will be in heaven. While we were leaving a man came up to us and told us how great it was to hear us talking about such spiritual things and told us he would pray for us. God definitely showed up there. 

And to end this day, I left church with a cool high schooler, Morgan. She and I have been talking about boys, friends and the trials of being a Christ follower in high school. We had some great conversation late into the evening and it was great to hear her claim the name of God as a fifteen year old girl. I didn't think to get a picture because we were so deep into conversation. 

As I am sitting here writing this, I am in awe of how much I loved this day. I spent time investing in these girls lives...my time, my money and my talents are being sacrificed for others, and is completely giving God all the glory. It's absolutely amazing and I am humbled that he would use me in such a big way.

Investing is huge, and a big decision. So, I must ask...where or what are you investing? 

September smiles

I can't believe that it's already September. Months go by and I find myself wondering where the days have gone. My world has been full of lots of change and a roller coaster of emotion, but there's been a lot that has left me smiling and enjoying little things I am thankful for....like...

Lunch dates with sweet girls...

letters from my brother...

gorgeous sunsets...

breakfast with my Dad...

my cute brother...

and drawings of my army brother by cousins. 

We've all got a lot to be thankful for...

you've just got to take the time to look around at what's in front of you.

Gonna Miss This

Baby Shower Banner

I was talking with a friend who needed the help of a crafty lady to create a banner for a baby shower. So with a plan and a trip to Hobby Lobby, we headed home to get to work.

We bought: two boxes of cardboard letters, 6 sheets of two different print 12x12 scrapbook paper, glue dots or glue sticks and ribbon to match the paper.

First, choose which sheet you want as your backing to the circles. I chose the plaid pattern so that the pink letters would stand out. These circles are about four inches wide.

I made one for every letter and put a three inch pink circle on top of it. After glueing those together, I punched two holes about an inch apart for the yarn and then adhered the cardboard letter to the circles with a glue dot.

Each circle then looked like this.

 Once you have all the letters and circles done, string them on to the ribbon by going through the back of the left hole and into the front of the right one. You can space them out however you like. I like to hang them in a curve so they are pretty close together.

I leave the same amount of room at the ends of the ribbon, tie a pretty knot and you ta-da, 

you have a banner!

Happy crafting!

Hasta Luego.

I woke up feeling like I just wanted to go back to sleep. Not because I wasn't rested, but because I didn't want to face what today held. My brother, Barton, got to the house, came into my room and made me get up. So we all got up and headed to breakfast. My parents drove separate so I sat in the backseat and my brothers drove us. I had the sudden urge to write him, which I couldn't believe I hadn't done so yet, but I scrambled for some scrap paper. I had just enough in my purse so I got to writing. I wrote out Psalm 91 and some personal thoughts, and away in to my pocket it went as we arrived to Cracker Barrel.

It was awkward sitting as a family of five having breakfast. I was incredibly over hearing my Dad talk about "how it's going to be" and seeing my Mom cry after every word Matt spoke. I started to eat and wondered why I wasn't overcome with emotion like that. I could have cried at the drop of the hat, but nothing was uncontrollable. It felt like it was just me being with my brothers, and my parents tagging along.

We finished up our meal, and to my surprise, both of my parents had things to do and ended up leaving. Barton had to go, too, so that left me and Matt. All along I wanted to be the one who took Matt, but never expected it to work out that way. We made a stop at his best friend's house, and then made our way to the Army office. As I parked I could feel the tears well up in my eyes, but I choked them back. Matt grabbed his stuff and told me he was excited. We talked some, and he said that he knows why I wasn't so upset. He began to explain that he realized that this is more of a "see you later" than a "goodbye" for us three. He said that we, as siblings, are so close that it's not really a sad time. Of course we'll miss him, but we'll keep in contact and share what's going on, and pick up right where we are together again. I think those words from him were comfort from the Lord. We hugged, and as he got of the car I handed him the crinkled note from my pocket. He smiled and said, "Great minds think alike."

As I watched him walk in that door, tears streamed down my face and I drove away. I cried the whole way home. When I parked I remembered the note he had handed me. I quickly pulled it out and opened as I read...

Abbey,

First I love you! You're an amazing sister and an amazing person.

It's funny, everyone asks me why I'm so different from other guys and I always answer "my sister." 

You've influenced me more than you'll ever know and thank you for never losing faith in me.

Thanks to you I'm closer to God, family and finally doing something meaningful.

I love you sis and I know you're gonna do amazing things!

And be a terrific mother and wife! 

I'm going to miss you and Bart so much but I'll be back before you know it.

Always praying for you Abbs!

Love always, 

Matt

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. -1 Peter 5:7

It warmed my heart to read those words. And happy that he wrote out that scripture...he knows I worry like crazy. I felt God just take a lot of worry and cares away in that moment. This whole situation is one God is using for so many things, but I know he's using this for something in mine especially. I'm already seeing some truth and wisdom and am excited to see what else God says.

It's not goodbye; it's see you later.

Army Strong & Gone

It baffles me how fast the last six months went by. I remember after my brother enlisted and he told me we had six months until he left. I remember thinking we had all the time in the world...and the next thing I know it's August.

I can't believe it's already time for him to leave. Church flew by this morning. Maybe because with every person I saw and every time someone asked me how I was I had to hold back tears. I went straight home as soon as I could. I knew he came home today after spending his last week with his friends in Knoxville. I was home cleaning, I heard the door open and heard "Abb?" I just smiled because I knew he was home. We had to get things in order for all the family to come over for his going away party, but I was looking forward to just being with him. We went to the store, grabbed some coffee and dinner and headed back to the house.

Before I knew it my house was full of family. Everywhere I looked there were tons of people. It was crazy but I loved how despite our differences we came together to support Matt.

Every branch of the military represented!

 I tried my hardest not to get upset. I tried to enjoy my family and the time we all were blessed to have with Matt. I walked into the kitchen and saw some sweet mementos that my Mom had laid out.

 There were pictures he had drawn as a child, younger pictures of him, and little things celebrating his joining the Army. I just stood there and it hit me.

My little brother, one of my best friends, is leaving tomorrow morning and even though I am sad and worried I must have faith and trust God. God will protect him and God will sustain him. God will get me through this. God will give us time to talk, see each other and communicate. God is bigger than my worries or distrust.

I kept looking at the table full of sweet memories, and at the end sat this:

 It's then that God captured my spirit in this situation. It seemed like he just whispered into my ear and told me that he was going to take care of my little brother. He reminded me of the special times we were blessed to have over the last few months and that our relationship will not suffer, but grow stronger through this difficult time. He told me that he has a great plan for Matt's life and I need to trust him to do what his word promises.

He reminded me that we are a family...

...and that my brother will always be my brother.

Now he's just army strong.

 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

 Psalm 91