Finding our Being

Do you ever feel like your life is just happening, and you are going through it, but you somehow can't seem to get a grasp around it? That's kind of how I've been feeling lately. I really long to sit and read more, or post more, or just be still, but it seems like most of my "free" moments get sucked into cleaning or organizing or playing or just trying to have a conversation with a friend for even just a moment.

Last night I was challenged by this verse:

"In him, we live, move, and have our being." (Acts 17:28)

Even though I've known Christ for many years, most times, I don't feel like I'm living, moving, and having my being in Christ. I know I truly am in Him, but most of the time, I'm just "living, moving, and being". So, where in the craziness of the day, month, year, LIFE, do I find my way to have regular life while somehow I'm resting in Him? Even sitting down to post about this, I am confronted with feeling guilty for taking a moment to ponder rather than doing something else more "pressing".

Sometimes it seems impossible to find this life "in Christ", and yet, I know that this is where I find true rest, peace, and joy. All the things that we would say we want our life to be, and yet, we struggle so to have them. I think the groping to find Him in the midst of pain, hardship, trial, and just mundane life, is just what He wants us to do. A sacrifice of praise isn't a "sacrifice" if it comes out without pain or struggle. It's pretty easy to trust Him or praise Him when everything is going well, or when we feel really close to Him. Or when life is just working out the way we hoped it had. But, when we choose to push past the hardships of life, and choose to have life "in Him" is where we find rest for our souls.

The verses right before this one in Acts says,

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:24-27)

I hope that you will join me today, and choose to live, move, and have your being, in Him. Whatever it is your facing; maybe it's fear about the future, or regretting the past, or even day to day anxieties that can feel overwhelming, but whatever it is, let's move past being in us, and choose to know Christ in the midst of our lives. I want to be able to know Him in my living, moving, and having my being. And He truly "is not far from each one of us."

Nothing Much to Do

Daddy's at work. Saturday afternoon...sitting on the couch with the laptop and kids only means one thing...

A Rare Gift, Indeed

Sometimes I look at her and wonder how she got so cute. She's full of so many ideas and desires...all bursting at once. She can get attached to the silliest of objects in seconds, and have it be her "baby" or "best friend", and then have to undergo serious detachment sessions. Last weekend, it was an icicle she found on our walk. Tonight it was the hot water bottle. I mean, SERIOUSLY? As rational as I am, I find it VERY hard to be too sympathetic. And I'm an extremely sensitive person.

I swear she belongs on a stage. But she'd be too scared to go out there and have everyone watch her. She truly is one of a kind. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Good Things in January

Back at the beginning of this month, I asked my friend Kari, if she would feel totally copied if I also started doing a "good things" post at the end of each month. She said that she herself had gotten the idea from another friend, and that she would love to have more people link up to hers. Of course, being the event planner that I am, I thought "good things party" immediately. Well, no streamers or balloons, but if you can track your memory back through this past month, go link up over at Kari's, and join in our fun.

Jan. 1 - Visit to PA and lots of New Years fun with family

Jan. 2 - Great Pop Pop's 90th birthday party and the time to celebrate such an amazing man!

Jan. 3 - A very uneventful and relaxing trip home to NC complete with stops at Cracker Barrel and Red Lobster all thanks to traveling with DiDi and Pop Pop

Jan. 4 - Fun time shopping with my birthday gift cards!

Jan. 5 - Got to hang out with my big sister at Friendly Center...very rare indeed!

Jan. 6 - My birthday...fun surprises from family and then out for dessert with sweet friends.

Jan. 7 - Got to spend some alone time at Barnes and Noble and picked out some classics I've been wanting to add to our library.

Jan. 8 - My parents took my big sis and I to Village Tavern for lunch and gave us big fancy presents from Williams-Sonoma and Pampered Chef...needless to say, we felt very pampered. And then Randy and I went out dancing to beach music with two other couples and laughed so hard my sides hurt.

Jan. 9 - Got such a special present from this friend that it made me cry. And it was my sister's birthday...went and celebrated over at her house with yummy dinner and delicious cake for dessert.

Jan. 10 - went to church for our Women's Fellowship and heard an amazing lesson taught on Abigail by author Sally Breedlove. What a treat!

Jan. 11 - Had dinner with some new friends from the neighborhood and was inspired by their handmade chicken coup and baby chicks!

Jan. 12 -Made it to aerobics! Definitely something to celebrate! ;)

Jan. 13 - Got to storytime with Asher, Maddie, and Taylor...only 20 min. late. Better late than never! Thankfully our storytime is complete with several books, letter of the day, song to go with it, movie, and craft, so we only missed the first few books. And yes it is the best storytime in town!

Jan. 14 - taught some kids about Jesus and really saw them start to get it!

Jan. 15 - Randy went out of town on a guys retreat so the kids and I went to Chick-Fil-A with Diane and her kids (her hubs was out of town, too, so we did it up right!) Then, I vegged out on the couch and watched Miss Congeniality after I got the kids to bed.

Jan. 16 - had a great time in Greenville with old friends! And got to take my kids on a 4-wheeler for the first time thanks to "Aunt Heather"!

Jan. 17 - went to the Tipsy Teapot for brunch with the Barclays, reconnected with some family that I hadn't seen in 10 years, and went to the Flowers for 24 premier! Busy but fun day!

Jan. 18 - Watched the 2nd half of the 24 premier.

Jan. 19 - My sweet friend Kayli dropped by and helped me rearrange my house. Also had my Arbonne party and racked up on some goodies.

Jan. 20 - The three little ones and I ventured over to Blair's house for lunch and playtime at the park...it was a gorgeous day in the middle of all those rainy days, so it was perfect!

Jan. 21 - made a new favorite recipe for dinner swap.

Jan. 22 - set a new record for how many times I got to aerobics in a week...3 times!! I know I'm pitiful, but it really is an accomplishment!

Jan. 23 - went to the Yancey House with a client and loved designing a wedding and reception; swung on a tire swing, and had a blast over at the Hoots house.

Jan. 24 - Got to see one of my old "kids" get his Eagle Scout award and then River and I got to hang out with some of our best friends.

Jan. 25 - Hung out with a new friend at Tate St. Coffee House which brought back tons of memories from college...and found out about a new deal they're doing over there...you buy one of their travel "green" mugs, and then get it filled for .70 Monday-Friday from 5-7. Cheapest cup of coffee in town!

Jan. 26 - Had coffee and caught up on life with my sweet friend Emily.

Jan. 27 - Made it to storytime with Asher, Maddie, and Taylor...only 10 min. late!! Getting better!

Jan. 28 - Had a great time at Bible Study and was very excited about the snow coming.

Jan. 29 - Kids got the cutest haircuts ever and had a fun family date to Five Guys afterwards. Also had our friend Danny stay for dinner and all cheered as the snow started to fall.

Jan. 30 - Tried to go sledding in our homemade sled, but really just had fun together in the snow/freezing rain/sleet...then got warmed up at the Browns with hot chocolate and cookies!

Jan. 31 - went SLEDDING for real!!! My kids are daredevils!!

I know that I'm not really supposed to go into Feb. just yet, but remember just for a moment what happened on this day in Greensboro 50 years ago, and say a quiet thank you for all that God has done to restore our broken country since then. There's still much to be done, but I'm so thankful for the 4 brave men who changed our city forever.