The Ocean

I am an analytical thinker. Logical. Numbers are my thing. Puzzles.

Analogies have always helped me to understand Biblical principles. My best friend from college, Amber and I would always make up analogies in the midst of trying to understand what God was trying to teach us - everything from road maps to chocolate chip cookies. We'd always end our conversational lessons with 'You know, it's like....' and then we'd paint that picture with an analogy.

My favorite has always been the ocean. God is much like the ocean. It's huge - we can never see all sides at the same time. It never stops moving - it's huge- it's life-giving - it's always there - there are so many characteristics to the ocean - the waves, the breakers, the calm, the shallow, the deep, the living creatures above, below, and in the ocean. There are parts of the ocean that are calm and parts that rage. It is surprising and predictable all at the same time. The list could go on and on. I've never tired of pondering how much I see God in the analogy of one His creations.

Today, I took my Bible and sat at the end of the island and watched the ocean and prayed. How good is God that He has called my family to live by the one part of creation that has consistently pricked my spirit to think on Him. To listen. To wonder.

He has literally, physically moved me to a place where He beckons me to come spend time with Him. I am blessed.

Ahhh, how we love new paint.

My goal when I moved into my new, although very old, home last year was to give myself one year before feeling fully 'settled'. Well, thanks to the undying perseverance of our very, favorite B, we reached the finish line 2 weeks before the goal!! B helps me to focus on the task at hand. She arrived Thursday night and we didn't stop all weekend!! We painted the guest room, hallway, and office bookshelves. A very tedious task. Then, we organized the poo at of my office - throwing away items that I hope KTB doesn't talk about - saving items that I hope she doesn't talk about either. It's quite a humbling experience to have someone watch you go through things piece by piece and decide if it's keep-worthy.

All in all - my office looks spectacular. If I was better at it. I'd post a pic. We painted them black with red background. We have new baskets instead of shoesboxes to hold things. It would make any clean-your-house show proud. We stored things in the attic where they should be. It makes me just want to take a deep breath. Life is just better when B is on the island. Thanks to the BB, as E would say.

As I traveled back over the causeway this week, I was listening to 'Glorious' by Chris Tomlin. I looked over at the sunshine on the ocean, the bluesky, and the green marsh. My windows were down and it felt great. I was overwhelmed to tears by God's goodness. His grace. His mercy.

Mark and I have finally hit our stride in life. What a fabulous season. His job is great, mine is great, the boys are amazing. We are making friends in a new community and beginning to feel a little bit a part of it all. We clearly feel His call on our lives, His satisfaction at our station & season in life. We are so blessed. It overwhelms me.

Of course, this doesn't mean complacency. But contentment. Paired with the desire to continue to go deeper and allow more of Him.

Thank you, Jesus. Amen!

Gorgeous Beach Day!

It would appear from my recent blogs that I am obssessed with the weather. I am not. However, today was beautiful!!!!! And as a mother of 2 preschool boys who have excessive energy that exudes every fiber of their being - outside is a must for a thoroughly good time. So, yesterday and today we hit 70* and we took advantage of every minute! Yesterday, we took a picnic to Epworth and taught the boys how to play Frisbee Golf. They were totally taken in and wanted more.

Today, (after we skipped church and blamed it on the time change) Mark suggested we go to the beach. Did you all catch that.... MARK SUGGESTED it!!! For all you MBMUMC Choir Tour alumni, you know.....Mark hates the beach. Sand...sweat .... he wishes it were paved - but that's another blog entirely. There is something so sweet about a day spent with your family at your husband's suggestion when you know he doesn't really want to do it but does it b/c you do!!! (Did you catch that?!) He confessed afterward that he didn't mind b/c it's technically Spring and he didn't think he'd get that sweaty. He did have a minor seizure every time one of our boys face planted or rolled around in the sand though. All in all - a GREAT day at the beach.

When we got home, Mark wanted to know if I felt like helping out with a good garage cleaning! I love garage cleaning! It's the ultimate 'straightening job'. You aren't really 'cleaning'. I mean, who actually can 'clean' a garage? I hate cleaning. I'm no good at it.

So, bear with me a few minutes as I ponder this. So, I came back in and began unloading the dishwasher after folding laundry and realized: I love doing laundry and dishes. I hate cleaning my house. I love straightening the houe. But I hate cleaning my house. I love painting my house. But I hate cleaning my house.

Here's what I think I realized: I love laundry, dishes, and painting b/c YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED. Laundry is done when there are no more clothes in the hamper and they are all in your drawers or closet smelling sweet. Dishes are done when there are no more in the sink or the dishwasher. Painting is done when you look around and all the walls have new paint on them.

Cleaning. Cleaning in my mind's eye is never done. Let's take the bathroom for instance. You clean the obvious: the toilet, the bathtub, the mirror, and the counters. If I'm feeling exceptionally clean, I mop the tile. But there's always more, you could take a toothpick to the goop in the faucet. You could take a toothbrush scrub to the tiles on the floor AND the shower. You could wipe down the walls. You could dust the molding around the floor. You could clean every nook & cranny of that nasty toilet b/c 2 little boys tend to look around while they pee thus sending drops of you know what into unwanted places. Seriously... the bathroom is NEVER DONE. I haven't even begun on other rooms. This is just one room. And I have 2 bathrooms!!!!!!!!

Now, I know some of you are thinking my laundry is never done either. I have a friend. I won't name any names. Her initials are CB. Her last name rhymes with Wedingfield. God love you, CB. I'm not sure her laundry is ever done. Despite her large, lavish laundry room, there are times I can't even sort out the clean from the not-so-clean. Some of us love laundry. Some don't. I can accept that. But somehow, in my mind's eye - for me, that chore seems like I can finish it. And know it's done. Even though, before bedtime hits, there more dirty clothes in the hamper.

What does this say about me? I'm not sure. I want to know the task is completed. I cannot tolerate the nagging sensation that more could be done when in fact I do not enjoy the task one bit to begin with. It's just going to get dirty all over again. Does this even make sense? Is anyone out there?

So, today I enjoyed the beach and then realized I'm crazy. Nice.

New Shoes & LA pics

Asa sleeping in his new Nikes.






Mark and Asa went shoe shopping yesterday. Mark loves shoes, you know. It's quite the thrill to buy new shoes, even if for your 5 year old. Not a cheap thrill, but a thrill nonetheless.

New shoes make you run faster. Did you know that? And, sometimes you might need to sleep in them to make sure they fit right. So that's exactly what Asa did last night.

Thought you might want to know.








I don't even know how to turn this picture the right way!!!




It took me long enough...I know. Here's the blond hair - thought I uploaded a pic of us and Kirk Cameron and his wife. I have SERIOUS issues with uploading pictures. It takes forever and I am no good at it. So, Aaron - take a good long look at these - they might be the only ones I post for the next 6 months.

Hope all is well. Our marriage retreat went awesome. We meet for the next 4 Tuesdays. Keep praying! Eli spike a fever the night before we started - he showed no symptoms before bed or even after he woke up. We prayed all night. He was hot as fire! He's fine now. He was fine the next morning actually.

It's freezing here. The end.