Painful But SO Worth It...

They're cute...I know. I wore them for Easter, I don't mean just church. I wore them all day long. I did take them off for just a bit, while we went out and hunted for eggs. Rumor has it, that my husbands grandma, who's in her 80's gave them a try! She couldn't resist...I know the feeling. They are my latest love in the shoe world. So...guess what these lovely shoes and....

this wonderful Bible study have in common? PAIN!!!! They have both caused me much pain and suffering this week.

The shoes...kill. After church, I had to wrap my big toes, very meticulously, so that the pain from the rubbing would stop, and yet I could not have it showing through the cute peep toe (that was the cause of the pain in the first place!) A little pain has not stopped me before...I have three children to prove that :) These shoes are certainly worth it...and so far, so are my kids. HA!

The Seeking Him study; *OUCH!* Nancy, (we're on a first name basis, she however, does not know this) has been stepping on my toes and pushing me out of my comfort zone all week long! I was going along, totally agreeing with her, and then I got to pages 12-15 "Making It Personal." Yeah...fun times. Hard "Do I?" questions. I found that I had to answer no or I wish for many of the questions. Revival hurts....but is so necessary and worth it...kinda like the shoes :) Okay, okay, more than the shoes!

On a side note...I'm very honored to be mentioned over at www.allthatnaz.blogspot.com go check her out, and I've been reading her other blog (which you'll find after you go to her site) and it's so wonderfully thought provoking and well written. Makes me think I need to take some online grammar/writing classes! Thank you new bloggy friends!

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Icing On the Cake...

The fact that people actually read what I'm writing and comment is amazing...and awards...icing on the cake.

Given By: Enthusiastically ElleBee and Music Mom of 2

Given By: Ponderings of a Pastors Wife





Given By: Mama Belle

Given By: Becoming Me

Given By: Our Moments, Our Memories

Given By: Simply My Thoughts and Cup of Jesus

Given By: MeMe Lorie & Muddlin' Thru Motherhood & Cup of Jesus

Given By: Morning By Morning

Given By: My Cup Runneth Over

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Another Installment...

Well, it's Thursday, so it's another installment of my "Do you think the other Pastors' wives that lived in this parsonage..." bit. If you're new to this, you should click here and maybe here. If you are returning customer, I must say God Bless You for humoring me...and my husband thanks you, because since I've started sharing my list with you...he doesn't have to hear it as frequently :)

This week, I've been thinking about the former pastor's wives as mothers. I've realized that I seem to be in a constant state of flip-flopping. One moment, I'm wishing my boys were bigger..able to do more on their own, and then in the very next moment I wish I could freeze time and keep them 6,5, & 2 forever. As I look through baby pictures, I long to have that time back. I don't particularly want to have another baby...but I do want to experience my boys as babies again. So realistic, I know! I want so much, to be able to enjoy this time...moment by moment, but I need God's help to do that....boy, do I need His help! Ok, here goes the list...

Do you think the other pastors' wives that lived in this parsonage...

• struggled to find the balance between hanging on and letting go.
• had a 2 year old that always prayed for his favorite cartoons first, and then his family.
• was happy on the Sundays that her children fell asleep during the sermon, because then she could actually listen.
• wanted desperately for her children to grow up with a love for ministry, rather than resentment.
• despised the term "PK's" for pastors kids. Why the label? Wondered if those same people call other peoples kids "TK- teachers kid" and "AK - accountant's kid" etc. (thankfully, no one in my church does this:)
• had expectations for her children based on God's standards alone...not other peoples standards.
• wished her children wouldn't ring the church bell on days there is no church :) rascals.
• needed constant reminding from her Savior that these boys were His...He would take care of them...and He loves them even more than she does.
• had a 5 year old who wanted to "deliver God's messages." Not a pastor...but a prophet, like Jonah :)
• had a child who wore clean clothes to bed, as pajamas, so that he didn't have to waste time getting dressed in the morning.
• had a moment, as she tucked them into bed, where she was overwhelmed with her children's ability to love and forgive...unconditionally.
• had to apologize for yelling and losing her cool.
• loved them more than life.

I know the women before me have lived through circumstances that I can only imagine. I am thankful that I can look back at their lives and see how God has been with them, regardless of the circumstances. What amazing gifts I have been given!

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Conspiracy Theory

I have a little conspiracy theory. Its been brewing for quite some time. It has to do with the local car washes in my area. Usually, I just dive through the automatic...because, lets face it, I love a drive thru! But, on occasion, when the rubber floor mats in my van have gum and various forms of taffy mashed into them, only a high-pressure powered hose will do the trick.

OK, so here's my theory. You see, I think the car washes purposefully put the buttons out of order. It never fails that I end up spending precious seconds trying to find the button I need next...all the while the countdown (in big red flashing numbers) is always there...pressuring me! My theory is, that I end up having to put in several extra quarters because of all the time I spend trying to figure out which button I should press next! So local car washes....I'm on to you...I know your little trick...and now all 15 people that read my blog will know too! HA!

And yes, if you're wondering, I did drive back into town the next day, with my camera to take that lovely picture. It's all about the blogging opportunity :)

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Not A Cat

Dear Odie,

You are not a cat. If you would kindly refrain from sitting on the furniture like that, I would be so grateful. Also, your incessant need to bark at everything that goes by the windows, is causing me to want to find you another home. I would greatly appreciate your immediate attention to these matters...before I lose my mind.

Thank You Kindly.

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Invasion From Heaven

There are so many times in my life, that I look back on the order of events that have occurred, and just stand in amazement.

Our ladies Bible study has just started this book, Seeking Him- Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival by Nancy Leigh DeMoss & Tim Grissom. This workbook has been hanging around our house way before we ever started this study. You see, it takes us ladies a quite a while to get through a study :) Lot's of talking and sharing....it's one of the best parts of being together! Each time we near the end of a study I begin the dreaded search process. This usually involves lots of pleading with God for direction, while I'm scouring the Christian Book Store and various other means in hopes of finding the perfect study. In the past, during this process, this Seeking Him book always crossed my path...and I always dismissed it. Oh, I had lots of good reasons...the main one being that I thought it was just "too deep" for where our group was at. Isn't that funny. What God has revealed to me now...is that it was "too deep" for me. I had wanted to believe that it was our group of Ladies that was not ready for it....but God said to my heart, "Sarah, you were not ready to lead it." *ouch* And, He was right.

When Seeking Him crossed my path this time, I was ready! God had begun to work a real revival in my own heart...and now I'm ready. As I look back, it makes me smile to see how God was gently pursuing me...never giving up...knowing that the revival was coming, all the while I was totally oblivious. I am so excited to continue this journey, to see what God has in store. Let me leave you with this quote from the study...love it!

"Revival is not some emotion or worked-up excitement; it is rather an invasion from heaven which brings to man a conscious awareness of God." - Stephen Olford

...invasion from heaven...I'm ready for that!

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Breaking Up is Hard To Do...

It's official...Coke Zero and I are no longer an item. I had to break it off. Our relationship trouble has been brewing awhile...we've been spending way too much time together. Then last week, as I opened my 2nd 24 oz bottle of the day, I saw the words Contains Phenylalanine in bold print, like it was some kind of warning or something. So, I of course Googled it...and couldn't get any info about what it really was!! WEIRD. I'm figuring it's probably not the best thing for me to be ingesting in such large quantities on a daily basis. What's that!?! Cut back, you say!?!? Nope...can't. I think it's all part of my "undiagnosed professionally/self diagnosed" slight problem with OCD. Coke Zero and I can't "just be friends"...we can't occasionally hang out...not for awhile anyways...the temptation is Just. Too. Much! A few years ago I had to break up with Pepsi...too many calories. It was a hard break-up...I think he may have been the one when it comes to pop. But, I'm a survivor :) I'm pretty sure my coffee intake is going to increase substantially, at least for the near future. And, if I seem a little sad or irritable...its just the break-up, I promise...I'll get over it :)

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