More Summer Fun

Vacation Bible School

Well 2010 Vacation Bible School has come to a close. I had a lot of fun volunteering and met some really special new friends. Most importantly, I got to spend some time with my son before he gets too old and too "cool".

Your Purpose

Our pastor sent us this devotional recently from Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life). I really like it:

Choices control your calendar

Sunday July 25 2010

Posted by Rick Warren

We are each responsible for our own conduct. Galatians 6:5 (NLT)

"You have just enough time to do God's will while you're here on earth."

Your choices control your calendar and, as a result, your lifestyle. Your choices are far more powerful than your circumstances. You may not like how complicated your life has become yet, with very few exceptions, no one is forcing you to keep your life complicated.
You have the power to simplify your life.
The Bible teaches, "We are each responsible for our own conduct" (Galatians 6:5 NLT). To me, that means God expects us to assume responsibility for our lives and to carefully choose how we spend our time.
That's why I've spent years teaching people to discover why God placed them on this planet: What is your purpose for being here?
Ultimately, it will be the donation of your life that will count far more than the duration.
In other words, it's not how long you live - or even how much you cram into how long you live - it's really about how you live.
Here are three essential steps to simplify your life:

• First, figure out your purpose, and then let your purpose guide the goals of your life.

• Second, organize your activities based upon your purpose.

• Finally, harmonize your schedule with your purpose; that is, bring your activities into agreement with your goals.

You have just enough time to do God's will while you're here on earth. You've been given just enough time to fulfill your purpose. When you try to do more than God planned for you, it's only natural that you'll find yourself constantly out of time or stressed over your schedule.
If it doesn't fit the purpose of your life, God doesn't want you doing it. In fact, he may be overjoyed that you finally got the message and stopped doing meaningless activities. He may even want you to add "rest" or "have fun" to your to-do list.
My prayer for you is that you will find relief from stress and a new sense of satisfaction as you do only the things God created you to do.

Rain Rain Come and Stay. Do Yard Work Some Other.......lifetime.

Dear God, I am tired and it's only Tuesday. I REALLY don't want to do yard work in the heat this weekend. Would you send some rain my way? A LOT of rain. Thanks. -Me

Here's your sign Friday

Partners in Crime #13 - My tee shirts

For some reason the boy is fascinated by my tee shirts. It started with the Weezer ones, he is a rockin' kid after all, but now I think he likes to just dig like he's looking for a buried treasure. Honestly, organization in this house is lost cause, as a friend once told me it's just "damage control" at this age but do they already have to be in my stuff? Sigh. Today the boy had to have a Halloween shirt and the girl found an old Nike wringer. I guess I can spare them, I do have a whole drawer full of old tees. This pic is during a couch jumping session (sigh again). They do look cute though!

Sign Sunday

Kids Ruin Nothing

So we are in the van and I was putting on some chapstick and mascara and the Peanut says to me "Mom, I want some lipstick!". So I proceed to hand her the chapstick. After I finish applying mascara I look back to find she is digging chapstick out with her finger for no apparent reason, to which I grab it and snip "Ugh, you kids ruin everything!"

So then Hubby says it reminded him of the time, when he was a kid, that he broke a Star Wars glass they had gotten from Burger Chef and his Mom said to him "I can't have anything nice!"... and did I realize I was upset over something that costs less than a dollar (insert big eye roll here). 

I know I know. Their little hearts are much more precious then my $1 chapstick..... or even my curtains (holes...from the dog......right),  couch cushions (limp from jumping fun), clothes (stains from little hands yanking on them), kitchen chairs (that have been glued, re-upholstered, cleaned, and still need much much help). Oh, and my husband MUST have forgotten the $30 bicycle pump he discovered they broke and his iTouch speakers that were even more that he threw a fit about...... but I digress. 

Did my chapstick, or any of the aforementioned items matter that much............well, no not really. I will still try to teach them to take care of the house and will probably get upset when I find something broken (God, please let it not be the elliptical) but I will do my best to treat them that they are MUCH MUCH MUCH more important than any thing I could ever have. Plus, you are only a kid once and there is such a beauty in that, I will try to remember that too. 

Check out this Baby Blues in relation to the subject matter (heehee): http://216.174.43.130/babyblues/s-749578-105714