Celebrating with friends...

Many precious people come into our lives...and when something AMAZING happens in their life. As a friend you can't help but want to shout it from the rooftops.

I couldn't help but celebrate with two precious friends today. Join me...

The first is a youtube video Stephen Corbett did back at my old church. He is AMAZING!!! If you have ever met Stephen, you know he is one of the most humble, genuine guys you could ever be around. His family is so precious. He has a knack for creating funny 2-5 minute video clips to compliment whatever the lesson is for that particular day at church. Supposedly this particular video has gotten 2 million + hits on youtube, causing MSNBC to become interested. Watch this clip from MSNBC...it is after the commercial.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/28897578#28897578
Actual clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYI_aOyCn9Y. It looks like the video has now been seen almost 2.5 million times.
Thank you so much Stephen for sharing the love of Christ!!!

The next person I want to celebrate with is Emma Mitchell. Some of you may remember her from MOPS or playgroups I hosted back in Abilene. Emma is also one of those dear friends that touches your heart in a real way. They are living in Korea now, military, of course. You can visit her blog from mine. They recently announced they are expecting their third child. For several years they had tried to get pregnant again with no luck. Then she had a few miscarriages. So her being even brave enough to share the news is remarkable. I couldn't be more excited for them. She is such a wonderful mom, and what a huge ANSWERED PRAYER to see little Baby Mitchell growing and thriving.

PRAISE GOD!!!! My heart is so excited for what the future holds for both Stephen and Emma. The Lord is so good!!!

I feel so blessed today! The snow is a radiant white, and yet the weather is gorgeous and the sun is out...warming my very soul. What an amazing morning already!

Abilene doesn't know anything about cold.

Oh yeah, you heard me! Abilene doesn't know what real COLD is. Try it being 10 degrees with humidity of 80%...NOW that is Chill You 2 The Bone Cold! We have been snowed in for two days now. My electric meter is spinning like crazy and we have it set for 64 degrees in here. At this rate, I've calculated it, and for just yesterday...we will pay $18 for the use of electricity. So I told Trav to consider shutting this place down and moving into a nice hotel room. For what we pay in rent/day and now electricity...the hotel room is looking better and better. :)
The girls are loving it! We walked down to the school yesterday and had fun sledding. They have some awesome hills that I've wanted to go down for months. Oh, yes, I joined them. It was a blast. The extra laundry afterwards, not so much. Which if I could find my other camera I have pictures of that. It is lost though in the shuffle of Barbies, My Ponies, coloring pages, dinosaurs, and cars. The great part about "Snow Days" is that Trav gets to stay at home. Though, I'm irritated with him at the moment. He keeps hogging the computer saying, "I need to get my work done. Don't interrupt." Then I think how many times I want to say the same thing to him and the girls. If only I could focus on one task, "my work", with no interruptions. LOL
I need to post a recent picture of Ellie. She is growing so fast! Fortunately, while I was outside playing with the girls...she was enjoying jumping in her exercise saucer by a cozy fire. Don't worry, she has a little body fat to keep her warm. hee hee. I love to kiss her little fat legs. Which speaking of, as I was about to type in my blog address, I watched the most interesting news report concerning Lindsey Lohan. She has gotten super thin on a diet of candy and Red Bull. For those of you that know me best, do you think I could switch the Red Bull with Dr. Pepper and call it a day? This hibernation thing isn't quite working. LOL
You know the worse part about being snowed in. I was suppose to go to my Beth Moore study Tuesday morning and have both girls in school. I didn't mind so much playing with the girls at home, but actually doing all my homework for the study and not getting to discuss it...stinks. You know it isn't easy keeping up in a Beth Moore study.
Well, I better get back to shoveling off the drive way. Send some warm weather our way!!! Look at the last picture on the post. We can't even see our cul-de-sac. The trucks aren't even trying to keep up with the snow.

I'm a fun person!

Okay, okay...so I am having a little fun here. LOL

A dear friend here in O'Fallon said my blog is getting a little depressing...so this is for her.

Let me think of all the fun things/blessings I'm enjoying while living in O'Fallon...

1. I love having three little girls. Well, right now they are fighting over princess dominos, but whatever. I'm sure they can work it out...IN THEIR ROOM! hee hee Seriously, they are absolutely precious and having Ellie is like the cherry on top!

2. Ellie is growing up so fast...well, that is bittersweet. But she is at that really cool age where everything excites her. She absolutely loves her exercise saucer. She gets to jumping so fast. My favorite part of the day is hearing her laugh. She has the most beautiful laugh. Guess who can make her laugh the most, though? You guessed it, MOLLIE!

3. I love the shopping here. I bought six coordinating outfits for $20 at Kohls for Baby Ellie...chocolate brown and pink...TOO CUTE! And yes, I have coordinating bows (big ones) to match.

4. I'm really loving Carlie and Mollie's school. It is such a wonderful network of friends. A few of my friends have kids both at the school and also at the MDO program so we get to talk a lot while dropping off/picking up. It is also so fun when your oldest has a dear friend and they have a sibling that gets along great with Mollie. It makes for really fun play dates.

5. Which is my #5 blessing. The weather was so beautiful today. At one point it got up to 50 degrees. So a few of the gals and I went to a great park and let the kids run wild. SUPER FUN!!!

6. Plus, I got to have my own little play date today. Some girlfriends and I tried out this new tea room in downtown O'Fallon, called Dragonfly Sweets. It has great food and a really cool atomsphere. Ellie slept almost the entire time. So it was sort of like I was kidless. :)

7. I love teaching Bible Hour at my church...very challenging, humbling...the whole gambit of emotions...but so rewarding. I love when their eyes light up or they volunteer to answer a question.

8. Travis is especially attentive lately. He really has made a huge effort to help out around the house, and the Love Dare stuff seems to be working. Thanks, Anne.

9. I'm flying home to Galveston in two weeks...to thaw out! Super excited to be at the beach and have at least a few warmer days.

10. Tomorrow is FRIDAY! I'm so looking forward to the weekend. Plus, on Fridays, I can get a 40 oz soft drink and a caramel latte with whip cream for $1.08. Gotta love a bargin! Lattes are FREE on FRIDAYS! Thanks to Sharifa, I am addicted to lattes now.

11. Which makes me laugh, because I still get so many crazy stares as I'm working out at the YMCA carrying a 40 oz soft drink. Yeah, this is a slow transformation. Though, I am considering, just considering, doing a Body Fusion class Friday morning. Not quite sure what it is like, but I love being around Renee so I am game.

12. We just got a Monkey Joes! Again, super fun! I bought a frequent card...so for $6 my girls can have a blast jumping on every kind of bounce house you can imagine.

13. My mom and dad were especially generous this Christmas, and one of my gifts was a galvanic spa. Oh girls, it is suppose to iron away all my wrinkles. I'm loving it! It takes about 15 minutes, and it feels AMAZING. I take a hot bath with Epson salt and then do a treatment.

14. I have a secret addiction. I love the new version of 90210...drama, drama, drama.

15. Cathy started a Bunko group. Some of you may remember Cathy Brock from my MOPS group in Abilene. They are stationed here now. The first one was super fun. I got 4 Bunkos! Oh yeah, read it and weep...The only bummer was that though 16 girls were there they did like 1st prize, 2nd prize...so the money amount was lower...but yeah, it was a blast!

16. Speaking of, I got lost and used my really cool cell phone to call Cathy. I love the convenience of it. I've got to be careful, though. In the first two days of this pay cycle I've already used 70 minutes and I'm only allotted 450/month.

17. Finally, I decided to do a Bible study at First Baptist this semester. Now mind you, I drop Carlie off at 8:15. Then spend an hour praying with a group of friends there at the school and then I head down the hall to my Esther study at 9:30...which last until noon. So my Tuesday morning is pretty much shot...but boy, has it been a huge blessing! The Lord is speaking so much to me.

So is that enough, ______? No really, thanks for reminding me to "Count my blessings, and name them one by one..."

A word from Beth...

God is AMAZING! Just yesterday I was so torn, because there are so many gray areas today...who knows what side to be on concerning the many issues that face us as a nation and as citizens. My heart was yelling, "Lord, could You just give me a clear answer?"
Then I go to do my Beth Moore study (Esther), and boy did today's text hit me right on the forehead. Highlighted in purple is Beth's writing, "I sometimes want God to push hold (pause) on a story line and boldly state His opinion concerning what just happened." Wouldn't it have been nice if right after that youtube clip, I could hear God's commentary on it. God replies, "Now, Mrs. Rosen you know that isn't nice! or to Rick Warren...Don't sweat it man! They hated me, too." It would have been wonderful to hear God's words. Then I could reply, "Ditto, for me!" Then reading on, "God sometimes allows our confusion to coax us into further study of the entire Word. Only by measuring actions by other Scriptures can we clarify right and wrong in certain morally ambiguous narratives. That is the way God meant for the Bible to work. All Scripture is God-breathed, but different parts- such as the Law, the Prophets, Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles-have different primary purposes. Only together are they complete...God is so wholly secure in His own spotless integrity that He feels perfectly comfortable giving us an account of something without making Himself accountable to us. Man, that kind of stinks. You mean to tell me Beth that I've got to dig deep into the Word to figure out what is right? I know human nature has basically been the same for centuries, but can't God give us a press release when new issues come up...concerning global warming, terrorism, the economic crisis, the Aids epidemic, world poverty...?
But then again, if He did, we would not be just robots...programmed with pre-determined responses. I guess I better get busy girls reading my Bible, because I am ignorant in so many areas.

Please pray...

Please, join me in praying... for clarity of thought/purpose towards the issues that face our nation today and as Christians. My mind can not even begin to grasp the complexity of the many trials and struggles we face. I can list a whole number of different issues...that in their complexity it is hard to choose a side to be on. I love this quote from Irresistible Revolution,"Sometimes we speak to change the world; other times we speak to keep the world from changing us." My sincere hope is to be so in tune to what God's will is for my life and this nation that I know without a doubt the role I am to play in it.

Many gray areas exist. It is hard to know what to do.

For example, in the last two days, I got two interesting emails.

This one is a quote from http://www.hrw.org/ (Human Rights Watch)...I signed up to receive weekly updates on a variety of Human Rights issues after reading Irresistible Revolution...

"Upon taking office, President Obama should immediately renounce the Bush administration's abusive approach to fighting terrorism and embrace new policies that respect basic rights...We expect President Obama to take rapid steps to change course - to close Guantanamo, end the military commissions, and abolish the CIA's abusive detention program."
---Here we see an organization fighting to release those that in some form or fashion were connected to the terrorist attacks of 911.

This is the a quote from the second email:
"I'm writing to let you know about a terrible piece of legislation called "The Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA). FOCA would establish the right to abortion as a fundamental right (like the right to free speech) and wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide. It will eradicate state and federal abortion laws that the majority of Americans support and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future."
---Here we see an organization fighting for the sanctity of life...an unborn child.

One group hoping Obama would respect the humanity of those individuals caught up in the culture war. One group hoping to oppose Obama's stand on abortion.

Are you confused, yet? I mean here we have a group fighting for the basic rights of people that adamantly are hostile toward America/Americans...and yet don't say a word about the millions of babies that are aborted each year. Then we have several groups that support the sanctity of life, and yet say nothing about the abuses happening around the world.

I believe ALL LIFE IS PRECIOUS! So why do I feel so torn when I read emails like this. Who is right? Who is wrong? It makes me think of Joshua 5:13, "Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' 'Neither,' he replied, 'but as commander of the army of the Lord I have come.'" Do you every wonder what to do? What to believe minus the media's spin on it?

I have been so blessed today to see Obama trying to bridge the gap and lead a very diverse nation. In Obama's spirit of unity, it was comforting to see Rick Warren lead the opening prayer today. His book, The Purpose Driven Life, inspired me and came at a time that I needed spiritual renewal. I wonder though how Obama will continue to be a beacon of hope. I was so discouraged as I watched this youtube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdeub37MGBc&feature=related. It breaks my heart to see such heated words. Mrs. Rosen's anger at the audacity of Obama choosing Rick Warren. Then in the next breath saying, she wants to open the lines of communication.

This hostility towards others and fear of someone who is different from you will never bring healing to this nation. May I be someone open to walking a mile in someone else's shoes and extending the hand of hope that we can disagree but not be disagreeable.

Reflections from Esther Study

It has been pretty amazing taking the time out to do my homework each day for the Esther study (by Beth Moore). Between that and teaching Bible Hour at church, I've found myself constantly in the Old Testament...and BOY has it been inspiring, refreshing, comforting.... For some reason we tend to avoid the Old Testament. It is like we get to the story of King David/Solomon and then skip right past the prophets...to a precious child born in a manager. I understand. Would you get excited if your Sunday school teacher said, "Oh, next week we will begin a long series over the prophet Obadiah."
Now, I know this will sound a little weird, but last week's lesson for Bible Hour was over Jeremiah...so I began to read about the prophet, Jeremiah. Now you have to realize I've been teaching the Bible in chronological order...somewhat for weeks. We studied Moses, than Joshua, then the Judges, then the Kings and now the Prophets. Realizing, of course, I have to make it very simple because I'm teaching 3 yr. olds- 1st grade.
So as I'm reading Jeremiah, I'm thinking, "How can I explain what a prophet does?" Then I go to MOPS that morning, and our coordinator shares the verse out of...GUESS WHAT? Jeremiah "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Her testimony was AMAZING...drug abuse, abortion, domestic violence and yet all the time God is wooing her to come back to Him...convincing her that He has a plan, a future for her. It gave me hope.
So I go back to reading Jeremiah again that night, and read about God continuing to tell His people "Come back to me!" and how they continually fail to...choosing to worship idols instead. Until ultimately the destruction of the Temple where the Babylonians took everything precious and sacred to God's people away...the Ark of the Covenant...even the pillars...EVERYTHING...including the people. So God's people where then called "Exiles." They were scattered like seed...forced to live in countries far away from everything they had ever known. --Can you relate? I can now.
In so many ways, I left Jerusalem (aka Abilene, Texas/Bible Belt) and went to a foreign land. I felt God's presence so strong when I was there. My brothers and sisters in Christ lifted me up when I was too weak to even pray. They were a huge support network, especially during Travis' surgeries and constant chronic back pain. MOPS mentors took me under their wings...an AMAZING church with incredible elders. It was convenient to go to "The Temple." I felt like I was growing in my walk. Everything was good. Interestly, though, how distance can make a huge difference. I can only image how the Exiles felt being so far away.
Two of the most precious people to me there in Abilene, I can count on one hand the times they have called me while living in O'Fallon, IL. It crushed my spirit. I mean how do you tell someone that simply getting a card from them in the mail or eating lunch with them meant the world to you? I cry out, "What did I do wrong?" So I have felt like a scattered seed...thrown to the wind...trying to grow where the military placed us, for several months. Then as I read on in Jeremiah, I came across this verse, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again." (Jeremiah 31: 3-4) Can you relate? Oh, how wonderful God is! He is rebuilding me!
Eventually, the "Exiles" were able to go back to rebuild the Temple. The Persians conquered the Babylonians and under King Cyrus they slowly made their way back. Esther and her people were some of those displaced Jews. Did you know the book of Esther never mentions "God"? Weird, isn't it. Beth makes the statement that though God isn't mentioned, He was definitely there. She shared how there have been times in her life, in midst of her book writing, where God seemed to be silent, distant. She thought perhaps she had done something wrong. Then after much seeking Him, the flood gates opened of His love, His mercy...a huge renewal in her life. In some ways I think that is beginning to happen for me again. Jeremiah 29:12 says,"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
In the pages of the Old Testament I have found hope. "This wild God of mine, who knows my every thought and intention, who sees my every failure and sin, loves me." pg. 192, Captivating by Stasi Eldredge. Other quotes from the book, Captivating, that I love...
-pg. 197 "The story of your life is also the story of the long and passionate pursuit of your heart by the One who knows you best and loves you most."
-pg. 208 "He often takes us aside from every other source of comfort so that He alone can have our heart's attention."
I think I will continue to linger in the Old Testament for awhile...perhaps some of you will join me there.

Confession...

No, I'm not going to confess my deepest, darkest secrets! Most of you know them anyway. LOL

I will admit though that I'm feeling less overwhelmed since my last post. I don't know. I guess it was so crazy making it through December...so much to do and so little time...that I needed to be able to breathe a little. I came back from the holidays with this huge burden of, "Oh, I need to blog about making a gingerbread house with Aunt Niese, then there was our trip to the Ice House at Opryland, and then there was actual Christmas, then there was those cute hats my mom bought the girls, ...." It is crazy. I can't blog about every great memory or latest funny thing the girls have done. There are way too many. I'm thankful to even have the time to take the pictures.

So I admit, I'm a MESS! I can't do everything! I can't even go to the gym lately because I hurt my foot wearing cheap shoes. So if you can accept the fact that I am not perfect, then I will continue to blog. I may not be funny, or witty, or all-inspiring, but it is nice to share. Also, in my defense...I've become passionate about helping out with Bible Hour at our church. I wanted to post two pictures of things I've been working on. I made my own "Ark of the Covenant" for $2.50 from Christmas items 75% off, and I also made a "dozen" disciples and tribes of Israel. We are trying to get the children to memorize the 12 disciples and somewhat understand the 12 tribes of Israel so I thought of having these little men in egg cartons. They are goofy...I know, but I have enjoyed seeing the children's eyes light up as they carry the Ark or play with the disciples. I hope the disciples don't mind being put on a dozen wooden eggs. Does GRACE cover that? LOL Also, I thought I would share that Ellie is now 5 mths. old. It is going by way to fast, and she is keeping me so busy. The unfortunate thing with parenting is we make the mistake of "blinking" and before we now it they are grown.

Signing Off...

In some ways it saddens me to say this, but I think I'm going to quit blogging for a little while. I'll still love catching up on everyone else's, but for now I need a break. Oh, I have some wonderful memories from Christmas to share with you or I would love to post about Ellie rolling around like crazy and eating cereal for the first time...but those thoughts/feelings won't be seen in a blog like setting quite yet.
I guess my heart has just been heavy with reflection...wondering whether I have my priorities straight... I guess my change of heart happened as Christmas cards came in this year. Oh, to actually have a letter...something tangible to hold...it seems so "old fashioned" now with email, facebook and blogs...but I tell you they meant the world to me...especially those who took the time to write a personal message inside or those from my precious Senior Saints...the generation not so computer savvy. I think of precious Neil McDonald back in Wichita Falls, Texas sharing of her recent health problems. Gayla Pope sharing of her battle with cancer. I wanted so badly to seat down with them and share a cup of coffee and just talk...but everything seems so busy. Life is so busy in fact that I can count on one hand the people I call or that call me on a weekly basis...and two of those are my mother and mother-in-law...the other my dear, precious friend, Lynn, who I have loved like a sister for almost nine years...interestingly distance never made a difference for her. We haven't lived in the same place for more than 6 years, and yet she calls me almost every week. Perhaps it is the New Year that has caused my heart and mind to wander. I've been wondering what true friendship really looks like and even what true Christianity looks like...somewhere along the way I've gotten confused. A book that has really disturbed me and caused me to hope to break out of the box I've found myself in is Irresistible Revolution, by Shane Claiborne. Here is a quote from his book, "We can admire and worship Jesus without doing what He did. We can applaud what he preached and stood for without caring about the same things. We can adore the cross without taking up ours. I had come to see that the great tradegy in the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor." Before you blow off the last sentence, "Oh, I'm not rich." Then start looking at the people Shane is talking about. If you have food, transportation, shelter, and clothing...then you meet the category for being "rich." If you are brave and not afraid to change or be challenged watch this clip on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPANKUHabx4&feature=related