We had the opportunity to go to Florida last week for the Southern Baptist Convention. We usually take advantage of these times and squeeze in a family vacation. Well since this one was in Orlando, we visited Disney's Magic Kingdom. It was a long and exhausting week, but we had a lot of fun. My sister came with us and was a huge help.
We left Sunday night around 10:30 and drove all night. We arrived into Fl. around 10:00 am. (Just in time for Martie to go to the the Pastor's conference and hear Matt Chandler) The rest of us went to Denny's to eat since we couldn't check into our hotel until 11:00. Martie stayed at the conference all day! We eventually checked into our hotel and then took naps. When I woke up Carissa and I went to the grocery store to get food for the week. I've found it is cheaper for us to stay in a hotel w/ a kitchen, than to eat out every meal. We stayed at a Residence Inn which also has free hot breakfast. I then picked Martie up and went back to the hotel to make dinner. The kids went to the pool w/ my sister while I was gone. Later that night I went with Martie back to the conference to hear David Platt.
Tuesday Martie and I were at the conference all day. Some very exciting things happened. The most important was the "Great Commission Resurgence" passed. That will have to be another post. Alley (my sister) and the children stayed at the hotel and went swimming. Martie and I went to a panel discussion during lunch. We listened to some great men who love Jesus such as Chandler, Mohler, Aiken, Platt. We came home for dinner.
Wednesday more conference. We had a portion of the afternoon off. We spent that afternoon resting up. More conference that evening. Taylor went back with us. Casting Crowns played and Tony Nolan preached. A great end to a fabulous and historic SBC.
Thursday we got up early had breakfast and went to Disney. It was HOT! My sister almost blacked out a couple of times. (and she was drinking water) I packed our lunch and lots of snacks. Shortly after lunch it started to storm. (like majorly) Thunder, lightening, rain going sideways. We sat in a restaurant lobby and waited for the storm to pass. We considered eating there for dinner until we looked at the menu and saw it was $39 a person!!! There we waited! hahaha Martie eventually ventured out to find somewhere cheaper to eat dinner. 2-3 hours later the rain lightened up. (but it was still drizzling) Fortunately we had brought the umbrella. We went to another restaurant and had chicken fingers and fries. When the storm did pass it was nice. It turned out to be a blessing. It cooled off so much, and the lines were a lot shorter. We stayed for the "electric parade" and the fireworks. It was a long but great day!
Friday we went to the "Holy Land Experience." Martie and I were expecting something very different. However, it was great! They have shows going on all the time. The acting was great. Each show was a different bible story and they always pointed it to Jesus. The whole place was very gospel centered. There was a model of the holy land. We also went through an exhibit called "The Scriptorium." This was very neat. It was filled with old writings and printings of the bible. It walked you through time from the first writings of the bible to the reformation to modern day. This was my favorite exhibit.
We left Saturday morning and drove home. The ride home was more interesting. The kids did wonderful, we had other things get in the way. Traffic at 2:30 in the afternoon, major rain, Tabitha broke out into hives, looooong lines at a fast food restaurant, gas pumps that took foooorevvvverrrr. hahaha BUT.... we made it home! (and actually in good time)
We had a great trip! We are tired, but getting back to our regular schedules. Laundry is getting caught up, the children are getting taught their lessons again, house is getting messy again. ;) Oh it's good to be home!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
coming back to the heart of worship...
Carissa is 5 weeks old as of yesterday. We are adjusting well. The doctor put her on medicine for reflux, and things have started to improve. I'm working on a schedule with her this week. I prefer the Babywise method, but I am flexible to my babies needs. ;) (is that an oxymoron babywise and flexible) So far so good! Her feeding times are 8, 11, 2, 5, 8 and then bedtime. She is sleeping about 6 hours in one stretch of the night. Well that's the update on Carissa.
The others are adjusting well to their sister. We've never really experienced jealousy issues with any of our children when we bring home a newborn. (I guess it normally comes later for us) I've tried to get back on a school schedule, but again I've been flexible with that. I bought the boys a workbook to work through. This has been easier for us to do right now. Taylor is having some major math marathons with daddy. Tabitha has changed so much since bringing Carissa home and since she turned 2!
Our biggest challenge has been...ummmm... let me sum it up in one word....discipline. That's right my everyday challenge. Discipline with my little ones, discipline in my quiet time, discipline with chores... I have been convicted, and I have tried and I fail. I could make up excuses, right? Most of you would say they're good excuses. I'm up at night with a newborn so I am lacking sleep. 4 of my kids are under 5 so there is some exhaustion that goes with that. The clothes and dishes out number my hands and that's a reality.
Well God has called me to a task that's much larger than me. I am right I fail, I can't do it. So what is the answer to my problem? Probably something you wouldn't expect me to say... worship. My heart has not been worshiping correctly. The first discipline I need God to help me with is quiet time. I had an opportunity to have a wonderful quiet time Sunday morning. (one of the craziest days for me as a pastors wife.) Thanks to Stephanie, a good friend, she has been coming over to help on Sunday mornings. Once she took the oldest 4 to church, I had an awesome time in prayer and the word. I really felt, for the first time in a while, that God was right there. So what was so different? Was it God? No, it was my heart and my desire to worship Him. I confessed to Him my sins, struggles, and failures. I praised Him for what He was doing in my life. I prayed for many people. It was AWESOME! I then read His word and this is one part of the scripture that jumped off the page to me: (remember I was getting ready to go worship with the church)
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
1A)">Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
The others are adjusting well to their sister. We've never really experienced jealousy issues with any of our children when we bring home a newborn. (I guess it normally comes later for us) I've tried to get back on a school schedule, but again I've been flexible with that. I bought the boys a workbook to work through. This has been easier for us to do right now. Taylor is having some major math marathons with daddy. Tabitha has changed so much since bringing Carissa home and since she turned 2!
Our biggest challenge has been...ummmm... let me sum it up in one word....discipline. That's right my everyday challenge. Discipline with my little ones, discipline in my quiet time, discipline with chores... I have been convicted, and I have tried and I fail. I could make up excuses, right? Most of you would say they're good excuses. I'm up at night with a newborn so I am lacking sleep. 4 of my kids are under 5 so there is some exhaustion that goes with that. The clothes and dishes out number my hands and that's a reality.
Well God has called me to a task that's much larger than me. I am right I fail, I can't do it. So what is the answer to my problem? Probably something you wouldn't expect me to say... worship. My heart has not been worshiping correctly. The first discipline I need God to help me with is quiet time. I had an opportunity to have a wonderful quiet time Sunday morning. (one of the craziest days for me as a pastors wife.) Thanks to Stephanie, a good friend, she has been coming over to help on Sunday mornings. Once she took the oldest 4 to church, I had an awesome time in prayer and the word. I really felt, for the first time in a while, that God was right there. So what was so different? Was it God? No, it was my heart and my desire to worship Him. I confessed to Him my sins, struggles, and failures. I praised Him for what He was doing in my life. I prayed for many people. It was AWESOME! I then read His word and this is one part of the scripture that jumped off the page to me: (remember I was getting ready to go worship with the church)
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
1A)">Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
2Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
3For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a E)"> fool through many words.
During the worship service we sang, "I'm coming back to the heart of worship." I love this song, but to me that day it was something different. That was the answer to my problem. It had not been all about Him. It had been all about me. My heart is truly rejoicing, because once again the simple but often forgotten truth... Deut. 6:13 "You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name."
In John 15, Jesus speaks of the vine and the branches. Many things have spoken to me in this verse such as abiding in Him, abiding in His love, and lastly vs. 11 brings me much comfort "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."
Well I wrote this post not to boast, but to remind you of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord. I know many of you are like me stay at home moms, or you have children and a husband to serve, you are tired. Well I hope there is some encouragement here and a gentle reminder to return to the Lord with all your heart with fasting, weeping, and mourning; rend your heart and not your garments. Return to Him because He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil. (Joel 2:12-13)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Beach trip
Andrew, Ethan, Tabitha, and cousin Lauryn eating watermelon. yummo!Martie finished school for the semester last Tuesday. We decided to take a spontaneous trip to the beach with his family. We haven't been to their place in over 5 years. We left around 9:30 Thursday morning. We decided to leave early so we could go to Atlantic beach. His parent's place is on the inter-coastal waterway. I knew my kids would want to play in the sand and waves. So just Martie the kids and I enjoyed the afternoon there.
Later we met up with his parents at their place. It is way out in the country. (no cell phone service or computer) :)Our children could run and play all day with their cousins. They went fishing on Papa's boat, they rode the golf cart around and around and around..... It was actually nice to sit and not have anything to do. There were no schedules kept, NO diets kept, lots of spoiling. We have to do that more often.
Yes, this is Mountain Dew that he is drinking. Has he ever even had Mt. Dew??? I was told they didn't know how many honey buns he ate on the boat. :D No wonder he didn't eat ANY lunch! hahaha
The older I get (or the more children I have) I am learning to relax a lot more. So what if it is taking longer than I would like to get back to "normal." We made memories last weekend. Those are the times and things our children will remember.
Later we met up with his parents at their place. It is way out in the country. (no cell phone service or computer) :)Our children could run and play all day with their cousins. They went fishing on Papa's boat, they rode the golf cart around and around and around..... It was actually nice to sit and not have anything to do. There were no schedules kept, NO diets kept, lots of spoiling. We have to do that more often.
Yes, this is Mountain Dew that he is drinking. Has he ever even had Mt. Dew??? I was told they didn't know how many honey buns he ate on the boat. :D No wonder he didn't eat ANY lunch! hahaha
Martie's parents are wonderful, and I loved sitting and just talking to his mother and sister. Thanks Faye, TH, Melanie, Todd, kids for a wonderful time! We can't wait to do it again. Love you all!
Tabitha at the pool
Tabitha at the pool
The first fish Taylor has ever caught.
My little fish, Ethan!
Taylor and Tabitha swimming at the pool.
Hunters BIG catch! Nice job Hunter!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)