Awhile back ago Matt did a sermon that changed the course of our lives. He was preaching about when Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding. Jesus mother told the servants to do whatever he told them to do. Jesus told the servant to go fill the empty vases with water. We know what happened next. Well Bill and I came home and changed our prayers. You see we felt like we were on a sinking ship. Bill's job was in new home construction. As you know in this economy was worrisome. Bill had started to learn decorative concrete and was doing this on the side in hopes it could become a new career. We prayed that God would bless this and continue to bless his current employer. He did. Bill's company was doing more work than most others. However it still felt like the ship was going down. We stopped praying for specifics and started praying "God tell us what vases to fill and we will do it." A few days later Bill got asked about a position at a different company. We didn't think much of it. It was commercial and he had want to make the move from residential to commercial for a few years. About one month later Bill accepted a position at the commercial company. Things are not perfect as construction is difficult right now no matter where you are. But it is refreshing to be in a boat with others that are bailing out the water as well. God's timing is perfect. I often remember this time when I'm frustrated that God is not answering my prayers the way I think he should. I tell myself be quite Jennita and fill whatever vase he tells you to for inside that vase he might just have a miracle......
So many of you know I make all the kids sandwiches for the week on Sunday, put them in ziplocks and refrigerate them. That way I just throw them in their lunch bags each day. Well on my constant quest to send them a healthy lunch but not spend and hour each day making it I have a new thing I do and though I would share. I go to the store and buy whatever fruit is on special that week. When I get home I cut it all up and put in plastic containers. I found these small containers at Target that have an ice pack that snaps in the top to send in their lunch. Each day I fill that up with a little of each fruit and they love it. So much better that a fruit cup and only a little more work! Happy lunching!
My niece threatens to put a soccer mom sticker on the back of my SUV, not mini van. You know the one with the soccer ball surrounded by flames? I protest that I'm not. Truth be told I am. All three in soccer means at least one has practice four nights during the week and we live at the field on Sat for 3 games. When Macey was little I would go and just watch really. I'd clap for her and high five after the game. I would hear other parents yelling and cheering and I thought they were a little much. Macey was not really into soccer as a 5 year old. She just wanted to wear the uniform and be on the team. Around age 7 something in her switched. She started really trying. When that happened something in me switch too. I was yelling and cheering, on the edge of my seat, jumping up and down when she made a goal. I was a little much. Last season was tough. Macey got placed on an awesome team. 3 girls dominated with their skill. Macey shut down. I was so upset with her. Not because she didn't score, but because she didn't try. See since she could not shine as a forward she sat back content to let everyone else on her team do the work. They were in first place undefeated all season. Who doesn't want to be on that team. She had brief moments of effort but mostly just stood around. We talked about effort and giving it your all this year. Be a team player. This season her first game was Sat. I was at Women of Faith. While talking to Bill at the break he starts yelling "Go Macey, again, again, go go go. She just scored!!!!" Tears flew down my cheek. I missed it. I was so proud of her. Not because she scored, that was bonus. It was because she tried. As I thought about it I realized how God must feel when looking down at us. We know that we can do all thing through him who gives us strength. But how he must cheer and well up with pride when we try and do our best. Isn't that all He asks of us is to try? Did you give Him something to cheer about today?
I turned 35 on Sept. 6. The middle. Not in my early thirties, not in my late. Smack dab in the middle. I find myself here in a great number of ways. You see almost to 40. Wow. That seems like an age that brings wisdom. You know the line "She is in her 40's so she probably knows. She has lived it." Well that is only 5 small years away. At 40 I will have a daughter who is going to be wanting a driving permit, she will be 15. At 40 I will have a son who will be 12, one year away from the "teen" years. I will also have another daughter who will be 9. Wow. But here at 35 I sit in the middle of so many more middles. I don't eat unhealthy, but I don't eat as healthy as a should. The middle. I'm not overweight but I'm not as thin as I should be. The middle. I don't ignore God but I'm not doing everything I should be to build his kingdom. The middle. So begins a new series of blog posts that will highlight my progress. You see I am comitting the next 5 years to not be the ones of the last 5. Fear is my core sin. It is why I'm in the middle. No risk, nice and safe. What if I work out and eat right and don't look amazing? What if all the extra skin just hangs and I look worse? What if I put my senf out there like God asks and it blows up in my face? Well, oh well. I'm going to do it. I will not let fear stand in the way of what I'm going to share. I have a great deal of highs and and an awful lot of lows in the last 35 years. I know that God allowed those experiences to grow me. I also know that He wants me to share so that they might be a hope for others. If one person finds hope in my story then I'll do it. Here is to transparency.....
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